Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2007 Cadillac STS-V VS 2007 Chrysler 300C Near Phoenix, AZ

The STS-V has standard head airbag curtains for front and rear seats, which act as a forgiving barrier between the driver and outboard passenger's upper bodies and the window and pillars. Combined with high-strength steel door beams and lower side airbags this system increases head protection in broadside collisions. Head airbags cost extra in the 300C SRT-8.

The Cadillac STS-V has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The 300C SRT-8 doesn’t offer Daytime Running Lights.

The STS-V has standard OnStar®, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The 300C SRT-8 doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies.

Both the STS-V and the 300C SRT-8 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

The STS-V comes with a full 4 year/50,000 mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car. The 300C SRT-8’s 3 year/36,000 mile basic warranty expires 1 year and 14,000 miles sooner.

The STS-V comes with free roadside assistance for 5 years 100,000 miles. Cadillac will send help if you run out of gas, need a jump start, lock your keys in or need any assistance on the road. Chrysler doesn’t give free roadside assistance for the 300C SRT-8.

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the STS-V 2 years and 64000 miles longer than Chrysler covers the 300C SRT-8. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the 300C SRT-8 ends after only 3 years or 36,000 miles.

The STS-V’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the 300C SRT-8’s (6/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the STS-V has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engine in the 300C SRT-8.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2005 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac 7th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 10th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ surveys of the owners of three-year-old cars provide the long-term dependability statistics, which show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Chrysler vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac fourth in reliability. With 69 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chrysler is ranked 13th.

The STS-V’s 4.4 supercharged V8 produces 44 more horsepower (469 vs. 425) and 19 lbs.-ft. more torque (439 vs. 420) than the 300C SRT-8’s 6.1 V8.

As tested in Car and Driver the Cadillac STS-V is faster than the Chrysler 300C SRT-8:

For more instantaneous acceleration and better engine flexibility in any gear, the STS-V’s engine produces its peak torque at lower RPM’s than the 300C SRT-8 (3900 vs. 4800).

On the EPA test cycle the STS-V gets better highway fuel mileage than the 300C SRT-8 (14 city/21 hwy vs. 14 city/20 hwy).

For better traction, the STS-V has larger tires than the 300C SRT-8 (F:255/45R18 & R:275/40R19 vs. F:245/45R20 & R:255/45R20).

The STS-V’s 275/40R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio), which provides a stiffer sidewall than the 300C SRT-8’s standard 45 series tires.

The Cadillac STS-V’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Chrysler 300C SRT-8 only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The STS-V has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The 300C SRT-8 doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the STS-V is 3 inches wider in the front than on the 300C SRT-8.

The STS-V Sedan handles at .90 G’s, while the 300C SRT-8 pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

As tested by AutoWeek, the interior of the STS-V Sedan is quieter than the 300C SRT-8:

With its sedan body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the STS-V offers cargo security. The 300C SRT-8’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.