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2008 Cadillac DTS Bottom Line

November 7, 2008

By Marty Padgett's avatar Marty Padgett, Executive EditorMarty Padgett

TheCarConnection.com's editors read the latest road tests on the new 2008 Cadillac DTS to write this comprehensive review. Our car experts also drove the 2008 Cadillac DTS to be able to deliver more opinion and details on the car, to compare it with other cars in the class, and to help you decide if the DTS is the right car for you.

Likes:

  • A true six-seater
  • Bulletproof edition
  • Creamy highway ride

Dislikes:

  • Nautical size
  • Nautical handling
  • The price of a fill-up

Buying Tips:


The 2008 Cadillac DTS shouldn't be a problem to track down, and crafting a deal should be no problem. There are two powertrains, and there's no reason to avoid the 300-horsepower V-8 since its only penalty is 1 mpg less on the highway.

The 2008 Cadillac DTS is a front-drive, full-size luxury sedan of the old-school variety. It remains the most traditional model in the Cadillac lineup, and you're as likely to see it used as an airport car, a bulletproof sedan, or transportation for the Pope or the President as you are to see it driven on the road by civilians. It's also commonly used as the basis for hearses.

That said, the Cadillac DTS has some enormous virtues, not the least of which is its size. It can seat five or six passengers, depending on seat configuration, and all those passengers can be full-sized adults. There's plenty of head- and legroom for all in the DTS's huge cabin.

The DTS offers buyers a choice of either a 275-horsepower, 4.6-liter V-8 or a 300-horsepower version of the same engine. Both come mated to a four-speed automatic gearbox, which doesn't help the DTS get more than 23 mpg on the highway.

The 2008 Cadillac DTS is designed to appeal to buyers who favor a large and powerful sedan with conservative styling, a soft ride, gentle handling, and a plush interior. The exterior shape is creased and angular like the current generation of Cadillacs, and in darker colors, it's reasonably handsome. The interior is well-executed, though the large seats in leather are slippery and unsupportive. Large gauges and a tall center stack on the dashboard with a touch-screen video display are the hallmarks of the dash, along with lots of wood veneer.

Stability control with brake assist and Magnetic Ride Control help refine the car's ride and handling characteristics. Six airbags and a long list of amenities are standard, but the Cadillac DTS gets only four-star crash ratings for front and side impacts and for rollover.

A Lane Departure Warning system and a Side Blind Zone Alert system are new options for 2008. Other popular options such as XM Satellite Radio, a cargo mat, and rear sunshades are now offered with a wider variety of optional equipment packages than before. A Platinum Edition gets a "handcrafted" interior and special badging.

Other Choices:

If you like the 2008 Cadillac DTS, also consider:

Reason Why:

In this class of cars, the competition is far from fierce. Lincoln's Town Car is the old man on the totem pole, and Ford likely will cancel the model in the near future--it's mostly sold as a fleet car, anyway. The Buick Lucerne shares its underbody and running gear with the Cadillac DTS, but you may prefer its styling. Chrysler sells a long-wheelbase version of its 300 sedan that sports more rear legroom, but it's still primarily a five-seater, and its interior isn't as nicely finished as the Cadillac.

The Bottom Line:

The 2008 Cadillac DTS makes no apologies for being big, though it could use a more modern transmission and better crash scores.

TheCarConnection.com's editors read the latest road tests on the new 2008 Cadillac DTS to write this comprehensive review. Our car experts also drove the 2008 Cadillac DTS to be able to deliver more opinion and details on the car, to compare it with other cars in the class, and to help you decide if the DTS is the right car for you. Likes:A true six-seaterBulletproof editionCreamy highway rideDislikes:Nautical sizeNautical handlingThe price of a fill-upBuying Tips: The 2008 Cadillac DTS shouldn't be a problem to track down, and crafting a deal should be no problem. There are two powertrains, and there's no reason to avoid the 300-horsepower V-8 since its only penalty is 1 mpg less on the highway. The 2008 Cadillac DTS is a front-drive, full-size luxury sedan of the old-school variety. It remains the most traditional model in the Cadillac lineup, and you're as likely to see it used as an airport car, a bulletproof sedan, or transportation for the Pope or the President as you are to see it driven on the road by civilians. It's also commonly used as the basis for hearses. That said, the Cadillac DTS has some enormous virtues, not the least of which is its size. It can seat five or six passengers, depending on seat configuration, and all those passengers can be full-sized adults. There's plenty of head- and legroom for all in the DTS's huge cabin. The DTS offers buyers a choice of either a 275-horsepower, 4.6-liter V-8 or a 300-horsepower version of the same engine. Both come mated to a four-speed automatic gearbox, which doesn't help the DTS get more than 23 mpg on the highway. The 2008 Cadillac DTS is designed to appeal to buyers who favor a large and powerful sedan with conservative styling, a soft ride, gentle handling, and a plush interior. The exterior shape is creased and angular like the current generation of Cadillacs, and in darker colors, it's reasonably handsome. The interior is well-executed, though the large seats in leather are slippery and unsupportive. Large gauges and a tall center stack on the dashboard with a touch-screen video display are the hallmarks of the dash, along with lots of wood veneer. Stability control with brake assist and Magnetic Ride Control help refine the car's ride and handling characteristics. Six airbags and a long list of amenities are standard, but the Cadillac DTS gets only four-star crash ratings for front and side impacts and for rollover. A Lane Departure Warning system and a Side Blind Zone Alert system are new options for 2008. Other popular options such as XM Satellite Radio, a cargo mat, and rear sunshades are now offered with a wider variety of optional equipment packages than before. A Platinum Edition gets a "handcrafted" interior and special badging. Other Choices:If you like the 2008 Cadillac DTS, also consider:Lincoln Town CarChrysler 300 LWBBuick LucerneReason Why:In this class of cars, the competition is far from fierce. Lincoln's Town Car is the old man on the totem pole, and Ford likely will cancel the model in the near future--it's mostly sold as a fleet car, anyway. The Buick Lucerne shares its underbody and running gear with the Cadillac DTS, but you may prefer its styling. Chrysler sells a long-wheelbase version of its 300 sedan that sports more rear legroom, but it's still primarily a five-seater, and its interior isn't as nicely finished as the Cadillac. The Bottom Line:The 2008 Cadillac DTS makes no apologies for being big, though it could use a more modern transmission and better crash scores. TheCarConnection.com's editors read the latest road tests on the new 2008 Cadillac DTS to write this comprehensive review. Our car experts also drove the 2008 Cadillac DTS to be able to deliver more opinion and details on the car, to compare it with other cars in the class, and to help you ...

Other Choices:

In this class of cars, the competition is far from fierce. Lincoln's Town Car is the old man on the totem pole, and Ford likely will cancel the model in the near future--it's mostly sold as a fleet car, anyway. The Buick Lucerne shares its underbody and running gear with the Cadillac DTS, but you may prefer its styling. Chrysler sells a long-wheelbase version of its 300 sedan that sports more rear legroom, but it's still primarily a five-seater, and its interior isn't as nicely finished as the Cadillac.

Next Steps:

Check Insurance Rates

for the 2008 Cadillac DTS

Check Financing Rates

for the 2008 Cadillac DTS

Check Local Classifieds

for a 2008 Cadillac DTS near you

See the Cadillac DTS in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

Comments (1 total)

  1. By L. Tong #1, Posted: 12/2/2008

    Retiree

    We may have bought that ODD DTS. Ours appear to be noiser than the 2002 Deville we had; the catch for the rear seat beats are too short for the passenger to easily attach; between 25-30 mps transmission noise is distinctly heard; passenger light behind driver not operating...

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