2002 Cadillac Deville Luxury Car Reviews & Ratings

From inside the DeVille, as from outside, it's hard to believe that this car is actually a little smaller than the familiar Cadillacs of 1994-99. Once behind the wheel the DeVille feels as roomy as ever, if not more so. Heated front seats are available on the base model, standard on DHS and DTS; so is four-way power lumbar support. DHS and DTS add power lumbar massage. Adaptive front seating, optional on DHS and DTS, uses sensors to detect pressure points and automatically adjusts 10 individual air cells to conform to the occupant's body, changing the seat contours every 10 seconds if necessary.

The rear seat is also inviting and comfortable. There is plenty of room available as you open the rear doors and climb in. Legroom seems endless; even with the front seat at its rearmost position, the tallest of our testers could easily fit. Independent climate controls for rear passengers offer both fan and temperature adjustments.

The high-beam indicator is located next to the digital trip odometer and nearly the same blue color. This makes it difficult to see, so it's easy to leave the high beams on by mistake, blinding other drivers.

The optional ultrasonic rear parking assist system is really slick and very well executed. When backing up, it offers a chime as you approach a garage, a kid on a tricycle, or another parked car. A small yellow light above the rear windshield, visible in the rear view mirror or when looking over your shoulder, illuminates. A second yellow light illuminates as you get closer. A third red light illuminates when you're right on top of the object. Besides the safety benefits, it's very useful when parking the car or maneuvering in tight locations. It's becoming a must-have feature for those of us who sometimes find parallel parking a challenge.

Cadillac has added several new technological features for 2002. An Advanced Vehicle Navigation system is available, as is XM Radio (satellite digital) technology. The car also gets dual-stage air bag inflators, an additional power outlet on the front passenger seat's umbrella tray, express-up front windows, extended oil change intervals and even a new exterior color - Blue Onyx.

The new navigation system incorporates voice recognition technology so the driver can keep hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. A 6.5-inch touch-screen is mounted in the dashboard. The screen tilts down to load the navigation DVD, entertainment DVD or an audio CD while the vehicle is in Park. However, the screen will show the movie on an entertainment DVD only while the transmission is in Park.

One navigation DVD covers the entire United States and Canada. For those who want to play music CDs while the navigation system is engaged, a glove box-mounted six-CD changer is available.

Last year, OnStar, which is standard on all DeVilles, added Personal Calling, which allows drivers to initiate and receive hands-free, voice-activated phone calls without an additional cellular contract, as well as Personal Advisor, which delivers Internet-based news headlines, sports scores, stock quotes, and weather reports.

The DeVille DTS model's suspension filters out vibration and bumps, but it feels much firmer than Cadillacs of yore. The DeVille doesn't float around like those older machines, which could sometimes induce nausea in rear-seat passengers. Though not as firm as a BMW 5 Series, the DeVille's suspension settings provide a well-controlled ride. Bumps are felt, but muffled to comfortable levels. Go around a fast, sweeping turn and potholes and bumps won't upset the suspension, a benefit of the DeVille's highly rigid chassis. This makes the DeVille safer and more comfortable to drive in tight quarters, which is important in the big city where you're often surrounded by big trucks and aggressive cab drivers.

Aluminum suspension components reduce unsprung weight (the weight that moves with each wheel as it reacts to the road variations), so the springs don't have to be as stiff to keep the wheels in firm contact with the road. This translates into more comfort on the highway without having to sacrifice handling. The highway ride is as supple as you would expect of a Cadillac. Yet, the new DeVille does not feel like the proverbial boat once associated with big American cars. It's smooth and stable at high speeds. The steering is precise and direct, so the car always goes where intended without having to think about it.

Braking is sure, stable and effective, with nice firm pedal feel. Completely redesigned last year, the system combines large four-wheel disc brakes with a small, lightweight anti-lock system. The ABS works very well on this car: Jam on the brakes and you still have control of the steering. Just remember to steer. An electronic brake distribution system helps reduce stopping distances by distributing the braking force front to rear for optimum performance. In normal, everyday, around-town applications, the brake pedal feels smooth and progressive, making it easy to slow the car down smoothly.

The DTS has lots of power and growls under hard acceleration. The DeVille comes with the superb Northstar V8 engine, which develops 300 horsepower for the DHS and DTS (275 horsepower in the standard DeVille). The Northstar engine was significantly re-engineered for the 2000 model year. These refinements make the DeVille more responsive, more fuel efficient and quieter, all without sacrificing performance.

We were very impressed with the calibration of the transmission and the way it communicates with the engine. Press the throttle to the floor and instead of accelerating in fourth gear, then violently downshifting to second the way many transmissions do, the DeVille shifts immediately but smoothly to third for smooth, quick acceleration that accomplishes your objective of gaining a position in traffic without upsetting your passengers, or piece of mind. Slam the throttle to the floor, however, and the DeVille smartly shifts to second, the Northstar engine growls to life and the car rockets ahead. In case you're wondering, the DeVille's electronically controlled 4T80-E four-speed automatic transmission uses a viscous converter clutch for maximum smoothness with fuel efficiency. It's a great drivetrain.

Electronics help the driver control the DeVille in emergency maneuvers. Cadillac's StabiliTrak 2.0 skid-control system makes it virtually impossible to get the DeVille to go out of control. We say virtually because nothing can save you if you break the laws of physics. However, we reached some very high thresholds in the DeVille without breaking nature's law. On a closed circuit, we were able to steer into a turn very abruptly, trying to spin the car out. In situations that would have caused most vehicles to pirouette into the weeds, the StabiliTrak-equipped DeVille stayed the course. StabiliTrak's computer lightly applies the brakes to individual wheels to keep the DeVille in control. This type of system can be a godsend when surprised on strange roads or caught out in emergency traffic situations.

The DTS adds the Continuously Variable Road-Sensing Suspension (CVRSS 2.0), with transient roll control, lateral support and enhanced stability, which adjusts shock-absorber damping every few milliseconds, providing optimum ride and handling. This enhances comfort by soaking up road irregularities and isolates passengers from the outside elements.

Also available is Cadillac's Night Vision infrared system ($2250). Based on military systems used during the Vietnam and Persian Gulf conflicts, Night Vision makes it easy to see wild animals, pedestrians, and objects at night. The system allows the drive to see critters way down the road, far past the reach of the headlights. In theory, Night Vision can greatly enhance safety. Here's how Night Vision works: An infrared camera mounted in the center of the grille transmits an image about the size of a rear-view mirror onto the lower portion of the windshield. (It's sort of like the heads-up display used in fighter aircraft.) The image position is adjustable; it can be raised or lowered and the intensity can be changed.

It takes a little adjustment to get used to seeing the Night Vision image projected in the lower area of the windshield. It can be glanced at, sort of like the way you glance at a rear view mirror, glancing at it often to see whether the path is clear. It can add a bit of security by being able to see perpetrators lurking in the bushes, thinking they're out of your vision. But the system can also be a bit distracting. You don't want to try to drive by strictly watching the night vision screen, which is sort of like driving through a television monitor. This is a promising technology, but you should take a good look at it to determine whether it's worth the extra bucks for you.

The 2002 DeVille is offered in three distinct models: base DeVille retails for $42,590.

DHS and DTS are both priced at $57,520. DHS stands for DeVille High-Luxury Sedan and DTS for DeVille Touring Sedan. Each has its own character and features.

Of the three, the standard DeVille fells like the traditional Cadillac DeVille, balancing luxury and value. DHS and DTS depart from Cadillac's old ways. They share many features, but as their names imply, one stresses luxury while the other highlights a sportier driving experience.

The base-level car and DHS come with a full bench front seat for six-passenger capacity, while the DTS has bucket front seats. The DeVille uses Cadillac's traditional digital instrumentation, while the DHS and DTS get the analog (dial) instruments that are sometimes preferred by enthusiast drivers.

Even the Nuance leather on DHS and DTS models is designed to match the tastes of different buyers: Where the DHS has elegant gathered leather upholstery, the DTS has stretched perforated skins for a sporty look. Yet both offer a supple fit and feel.