Cadillac DTS

Cadillac DTS (2011)

General information

Incorporating traces of the years gone by the 2011 Cadillac DTS is a sedan that looks to preserve some American luxury car traits. Vertical taillights and a large egg-crate grille do the trick just fine. If you can ignore these retro styles (or even appreciate them), the DTS does a decent job on the design front.

The DTS with its V8 engine and a regular spread of modern tech is trying to catch up with lost time (and severe competition). There are plenty of cars in the same range and higher that manage to outshine the Cadillac DTS and make you wonder if it is even worth shortlisting to your final few.

Interior

The one thing that few cars can beat a Cadillac in is its generosity with space. Sitting in a Cadillac DTS is always a comfortable proposition. Though it’s a little smaller (about 18 inches) than some predecessors, it is still quite spacious. In all the configurations, the seats are comfortable and there is ample head and leg room for both rows of occupants. Luggage space offered in the humungous boot is almost 19 cu ft.

The noise reduction provided adds to the luxury sedan effect. One of the more prominent misses in the DTS is the quality of the material used.

Specifications

A 4.6 litre V8 engine lies under the hood of the DTS, delivering 275 hp and 400 Nm of torque. The top end version, Platinum, features a tweaked V8 that provides a little more with 292 hp and 390 NM of torque. A 4 speed auto transmission works to deliver this power to the front wheels.

The DTS’s acceleration leaves a lot to be desired, especially considering the V8 engine it packs. The DTS Platinum goes from 0-100 km/hr in 7 seconds, which compared to most V8 powered sedans (and in some cases even V6 powered models) is not at all an impressive feat. The fuel economy for the base model is estimated at 6.4 km/l for city and 9.8 km/l for highway drives with a combined average of 7.6 km/l.

Driving Experience

If you prefer a smooth, comfortable ride over a zippier, sportier one, then the Cadillac DTS delivers. Sharing the suspension system called Magnetic Ride Control with the Chevrolet Corvette, the V8 powered DTS Platinum offers the best drive. The suspension system automatically adjusts the firmness of the suspension based on the road conditions you’re driving over.

It is important to keep in mind though that the DTS is by no means a sport sedan despite the suspension and powertrain upgrades. Also, due to its bulky build, it poses a parking problem.

With the smooth ride and comfortable interior, the car is best suited for chauffer driven, no-hurry kind of rides.

Ups and Downs

If you aren’t looking for an American luxury sedan in particular, you can safely overlook the Cadillac DTS and go elsewhere. With the cabin and boot space being the highest (and probably only) selling points, there really isn’t much to offer here.