2006 Cadillac DTS

"It's not you," my friend called across the parking lot shaking his head as I leaned on the red 2006 Cadillac DTS I was test-driving. "Maybe in about 25 years," he added, laughing.
Such is the plight of the big Caddy sedan. No matter how edgy designers make its lines, no matter how much horsepower engineers pump under its hood, no matter how solid it may be for the money, image of a large Cadillac sedan remains that of a ride for those heading over the hill.
That's unfortunate, because Cadillac's replacement for the long-standing DeVille - the DTS - represents great value in its class. But others in that class, primarily from Japan and Germany, don't face Cadillac's stigma. The sight of a young man driving a flagship Mercedes or Lexus sedan doesn't look like he borrowed Daddy's car.
Cadillac understands its predicament and fights it as much as is reasonable with this DTS. The dilemma is how to build a new image without alienating a loyal, but aging, customer base.
So what you have here is a car with its treads planted in two generations - a tenuous position at best.

The good news
Few cars say "Road Trip!" like this Cadillac DTS. It's one comfy ride. Before you even sit down, the all-new interior welcomes you like a spa with that seductive fragrance Cadillac infuses in all its vehicles. It smells divine.

Slide your backside across standard leather seats and adjust the cushy leather driver's bucket seat any of 8 ways, including power lumbar support. You'll get no lip from your front seat companion since he/she enjoys the same customization.

If you get the Luxury II model like I did, those front seats will also be heated and cooled. Two of your three backseat passengers also get the toasty treatment, as do the driver's fingers thanks to heated steering wheel. With ample room all around for hips, elbows, knees, shoulders and heads, everybody settles in for the ride. The allure of the Big American Car becomes evident.

The same can be said of power. GM's venerable 4.6L Northstar V8 continues to be among the silkiest and strongest for the money. This V8 is available in two configurations for the DTS: one packing 291 horses, the other 275. According to GM, the optional 291-horsepower 4.6L V8 "is a responsive, higher revving powerplant with more peak horsepower," while the standard 275-horse version "puts more emphasis on quick launch and part-throttle response with greater peak torque." Having tested the lesser 275-horse engine, I can safely say both are plenty capable of moving this large car with the kind of authority luxury owners expect.

Among the other refinements to this '06 Caddy are a smoother, quieter, more stable ride and bigger brakes. Improving fit and finish to be on par with class leaders was another priority. The DTS also pioneers new dual-depth front passenger airbags that deploy either a large or small air bag depending on severity of crash, seatbelt usage and position of the seat.

As one might imagine, the DTS makes available a big bucket full of options. But, thankfully, it does not wade into the overly complicated gadgetry favored by the imports. You don't need the owner's manual to adjust the climate or listen to the radio, even with XM satellite included. For many - myself included - that comes as a plus.

My particular favorite in the nifty-extras department is the new "HotShot" system that heats windshield washer fluid and sprays it four times in 90 seconds. The wipers come on simultaneously to clear ice, snow and/or dirt, a process that continues automatically until switched off. No more relentless scraping, transporting warm water (always a bad idea) or waiting forever for the windshield to clear. Give these people a medal.

The bad news
Despite refreshing the exterior to reflect the angular architecture favored by the rest of Cadillac's lineup, the DTS still looks like a traditional American land yacht. Unless you've always loved the DeVille and all it represents, you likely won't be drawn to this DTS's overbearing presence.

Beyond its heralded comforts, the interior disappoints me. The rough feel of the steering wheel is off-putting (where is the nice touch of polished wood and buttery soft leather?), and materials used for the dash do not exude the quality I expect of a luxury sedan - not even one that costs less than its rivals. It looks too synthetic.

As for ride and handling, the aforementioned refinements certainly advance the DTS's driving characteristics. This front-wheel-drive model is a far cry from its wallowy, unwieldy ancestors. But that's not saying enough in today's competition. With large luxury cars performing like small sport sedans, the DTS remains more the careful cruiser. Nice for the open road, but less so for the urban derby.

In all fairness, a performance package comes with the 291-horse model that retunes things for a more athletic drive. I have not yet tested that. Perhaps I will be overjoyed.

And if I might nit-pick for a moment: Can Cadillac please do something about the extraordinary reach to close the doors from the inside. I have to hang all the way out of the car to grab the handle. It busts the luxury vibe. Especially when it's raining.

Finally, fuel economy is no prize. At 17 mpg city/25 highway, the DTS is on par with others in the large car class. That doesn't excuse it; that simply points out how dismaying the problem is across the board.

Is it worth it?
Even with $3,085 in extras, this 2006 Cadillac DTS comes in at $47,575, destination included. That buys those heated/cooled seats, heated steering wheel, XM satellite radio, express-open sunroof, 17-inch chrome wheels, in-dash 6 CD changer, front/rear sonic park assist and then some. Considering its many standards in performance, safety and luxury, the DTS stacks up as a remarkable value in the large luxury class. But you have to settle for softer ride and handling, forego the cutting edge technowizardry of its pricey competitors, not object to puny gas mileage and, perhaps most of all, embrace the Fat Cat Cadillac sedan image. The latter requires a certain measure of personal security, but I'm sure you're up to it.

Particulars
Front-engine, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
Price
Base: $43,695;
As tested: $47,575
Notable standard equipment
Leather seats, 8-way adjustments driver/front passenger, auto dim compass mirror, electronic tri-zone climate control with rear controls, heated outside mirrors, tire pressure monitor, 6 airbags
Major options as tested
Heated and cooled front seats; heated rear outboard seats, multi-driver memory settings; heated steering wheel; XM Satellite Radio; universal home remote; auto dimming driver side mirror; sonic park assist front/rear; stability control; brake assist; heated washer fluid; express open sunroom, in-dash 6-disc CD changer; chrome wheels
Safety
Airbags: two front (passenger dual-depth); two seat-mounted side impact and two head curtain side impact
Three-point seatbelts at all positions
All-Speed traction control
Stabilitrak-Stability Control (option)
Brake assist
Brakes: larger 323 mm brakes; 4-wheel antilock disc brakes
EPA crash test rating: n/a
Engine
Type: 4.6L DOHC Northstar V8
Power: 275 bhp @ 5200 rpm; 292 lb-ft torque @ 4400 rpm
Drivetrain
Transmission: 4-speed Hydro- Matic 4T80-E
Front-wheel drive
Exterior/Interior Dimensions
Wheelbase: 115.6 inches
Length/width/height: 207.6/74.8/57.6
Base curb weight: 4009
Luggage capacity: 18.8 cubic feet
Suspension
Front: Independent MacPherson strut-type w/ side-load compensation, 29 mm hollow stabilizer bar, L-shaped aluminum lower control arm, 80 mm hydraulic ride bushing, 24 N/mm spring
Rear: multi-link independent w/ coil springs and semi trailing arm, 18 mm hollow stabilizer bar, 48 mm diameter trailing arm bushing, monotube shocks, 28 N/mm spring
4-channel StabiliTrak w/ brake assist, standard on Luxury II
Gas mileage
EPA rated at 17 mpg city/25 highway

During her 16 years reviewing new vehicles, Beth Stein has written for Nashville's dailies (circ. 185,000), national magazines and BestStuff.com. She appeared coast-to-coast on-air for Road Test Magazine, Car And Driver Television and Motor Trend Television.