Cadillac STS vs Acura RL 03/04/2011
Cadillac had a great February, with a 70 percent year-on-year sales increase over 2010. One of the more popular models for buyers was the STS sedan. We put it up against a competitor, the Acura RL, to see if it was worthy of such sales figures.
These two cars are extremely close in price, with the STS at $47,280 and the RL at $47,200. The warranties seem to cater to two different segments of drivers. Those who plan on topping 12,000 miles per year will likely enjoy the increased coverage in Cadillac's 5 year/100,000 mile pledge, whereas drivers who will be using the car more sparingly will go for the extra year in Acura's 6 year/70,000 mile warranty.
Both cars come with V6 engines that are extremely close in performance, with the STS producing 302 horsepower and 272 lb-ft of torque while the RL offers 300 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. There's virtually no difference, but Cadillac does score a win with its fuel economy of 18/27 mpgs, a significant upgrade over Acura's 17/24.
The interiors are also very close. The STS offers drivers the excellent OnStar system and parking assistance standard. However, Acura counters with heated seats, an iPod hookup and power sunroof.
This one's a toss-up, but if we had to choose, we give the slight edge to the STS, even though you can't really go wrong with either.