The 2006 replacement for the Cadillac DeVille has a new look as well as a new name—the DTS.
The look didn't appeal to everyone then—and still doesn't today.
This is one of the reasons why the 2006 version of the Cadillac DeVille is such a pleasant surprise.
Cadillac's largest sedan is the last Cadillac auto in the lineup to get the edgy styling treatment that marks today's Cadillac "look" and arguably gets a very tasteful, refined execution. Maybe practice makes perfect?
In any event, the front end of this new sedan has none of the harshness that typifies the sheet metal of the CTS, and the new rear sheet metal on this large car is elegant, both in its length and its resemblance to the old Cadillac Eldorado.
In another wise aesthetic decision, designers moved the license plate off the trunk lid to the bumper, providing clean, unfettered lines for the sheet metal. And yes, as in other revamped Cadillacs, the taillights are light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
An additional surprise for buyers of this new, large Cadillac: the DeVille name, which dates to 1949 as a car model nameplate, is gone. Cadillac's full-size sedan now is called the DTS to better bring this car into line with the names of other Cadillac cars, such as CTS and STS.
Pricing also is newsworthy. At introduction, the starting manufacturer's suggested retail price of $41,195 is $4,850 less than the starting price for a 2005 Deville. The DTS will be available in dealerships this fall. At this price, the DTS starts $860 less than its main rival, the 2006 Lincoln Town Car. But note the 2006 Town Car is priced far less than its 2005 version, too.
Cadillac officials said that providing value for the money was among the goals of the new DTS. It looks as if keeping abreast of competitor pricing was a goal, too.
Refreshed Car, Not Wholly Re-Engineered
Basically, the major updates for 2006 involve the new DTS styling outside and new interior, additional safety and convenience features, revised suspension tuning and the addition of first-ever 18-inch wheels and tires on this big car.
The DTS rides on the same, front-wheel-drive platform—with new reinforcements for a more cohesive, quiet ride and better crashworthiness—and uses the same Northstar V8 that the former DeVille had. It can be fitted with five or six seats.
The DTS is nearly an inch taller than its predecessor, which helps provide 0.3 inch more rear-seat headroom.
Most other dimensions are about the same as those for the 2005 DeVille. For example, the DTS stretches 17.3 feet from bumper to bumper, just 0.6 inch longer than the DeVille. In comparison, the 2006 Town Car is 17.95 feet long. The Town Car also is 1.4 inches taller than the DTS.
The DTS trunk space—even with the nicely-done rear styling—has shrunk a bit from 19.1 cubic feet last year to 18.8 cubic feet this year and remains smaller than the 21 cubic feet at the back of the Town Car. Indeed, it's smaller than even some family cars, such as the Mercury Montego.
Note that the Town Car also remains rear-wheel drive.
Two Northstar Engine Choices
Cadillac retains both variations of the 4.6-liter double overhead cam Northstar V8 that were in the 2005 DeVille, and horsepower of 275 and 291, respectively, are on par with the earlier car. But in the base DTS, torque of 292 lb-ft at 4400 rpm is less than the 300 lb-ft at 4000 rpm that was in the base 2005 DeVille.
The up-level version of this V8 now has peak torque of 286 lb-ft at 4400 rpm rather than the 295 lb-ft at 4400 rpm that was in the DeVille. Cadillac engineers explained they changed the camshaft profile and made other engine tuning updates to give the uplevel engine a more "European (driving) character."
But regardless of the engine, each DTS comes with a 4-speed automatic transmission that dates back to the early 1990s. It's a durable, well-tested piece of equipment; but frankly, it is outclassed by more modern transmissions that have five, six and even seven gears that can offer improved responsiveness and fuel economy.
The DTS' 4-speed doesn't include a shift-it-yourself manumatic feature, either, even when it's in the DTS with the up-level engine. When asked, a Cadillac engineer said the company was looking to keep price low, so a new transmission was too costly. Besides, he said, officials didn't believe that the typical DTS buyer—now in the 60s—would use a manumatic very much.
The V8 can burn regular gasoline, not premium, according to Cadillac. The fuel economy rating is 18 miles a gallon in city driving and 27 mpg on the highway, Cadillac said.
Other Features
Alas, the transmission isn't the only place where the DTS seems a bit behind the times.
While the DTS includes standard anti-lock brakes, stability control—called Stabilitrak at Cadillac—and six airbags, the car doesn't offer some of the safety features offered on other luxury cars.
For example, an automatic brake-drying system that BMW is adding to its sedans—even the entry 3-Series—is not available on the DTS. The system helps ensure good brake performance in wet weather.
Lexus and Mercedes-Benz offer an automatic pre-collision technology that helps prepare passengers and the vehicle for impact if it senses an impending crash. But this isn't even an option on the DTS.
In addition, the DTS arrives in showrooms at launch without a factory-installed rear-seat entertainment system. These systems are readily available in a host of other vehicles on the market. Cadillac officials said they were still studying what kind of demand there might be for this feature.
Thank goodness the DTS is full of features that make travel comfortable in other ways. Seats are new and ergonomic, for example, and there's more seat track travel for front seats. The DTS-exclusive Tehama leather is especially nice to the touch—not too soft to make people fret over its durability, and not too tough to be confused with vinyl.
The new dashboard design is uncluttered, and a new analog clock in the middle of the dash, new ceiling material and LED illumination for the speedometer, tachometer and other gauges add an upscale feel.
Second-row room is accommodating, with 41.6 inches of legroom and 38.6 inches of headroom. This compares with 39.6 inches of rear-seat legroom in the Town Car and 37.4 inches of headroom. Note, though, the Town Car is wider than the DTS, so there's more second-row shoulder and hip room in the Town Car.
The DTS radio is part of a new, attractive family of radios being installed across General Motors Corp. vehicles and, interestingly, includes an iPod integrator.
The DTS even comes with heated windshield washer fluid, which helps clear ice away in winter driving.
Ann Job is a freelance auto writer.
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