2007 Cadillac DTS

All-American Classic

Cadillac's largest sedan brings added sophistication and quality but upholds the best of the brand's heritage.

See Cadillac DTS Images

The quintessential large American luxury car, the DeVille, was redesigned for 2006 and renamed the DTS, according to Cadillac’s current nondescript naming system. Despite its considerable size and heft, the Cadillac DTS is an agile sedan with rewarding driving dynamics and a well-detailed and comfortable interior.

For 2007 the DTS continues with only minor revisions that include newly standard chrome wheels (with center caps that feature the Cadillac logo), a restyled keyless entry key fob and a new analog clock on the dashboard.

Get a Cadillac DTS Price Quote

There’s wider availability of features, like XM satellite radio and rear sunshades, that were previously limited only to the costliest options packages. Mystic Gray replaces Blue Ice, Gold Mist replaces Light Cashmere and the very pink MaryKay V replaces MaryKay IV on the exterior color palette; at midyear, White Diamond will replace White Lightening and Cognac Frost will supplant Glacier White.

Cocoa interior accents replace last year’s Cashmere hue, and the center stack is now finished in Dark Argent metallic trim.

Find Cadillac DTS specs

In a nod to the DTS’ international appeal, the optional DVD navigation system adds maps for Korea and Taiwan, and Arabic replaces Italian as an alternate language in the driver information center.

The Cadillac DTS remains a large and comfortable V8-powered sedan for those who favor a cushy interior and a fairly soft ride over stiffer sport seats and sheer handling prowess. Unlike the rest of the vehicles in Cadillac’s current lineup, which are all rear-wheel drive, the DTS is the company's last and only front-drive sedan. RWD has traditionally been favored by automotive enthusiasts because front-engine cars with this drive configuration tend to have better weight distribution front-to-rear than front-wheel-drive cars, which makes them inherently more balanced and thus creates superior ride and handling dynamics.

That said, the Cadillac DTS does not suffer for its front-drive layout and is a pleasure to drive briskly on winding roads. A 275-hp version of the familiar Northstar 4.6-liter V8 engine is standard, while a higher-output 292-hp version of that engine is optional. While these remain fairly inefficient, their fuel economy is still better than with many midsize SUVs: The standard V8 is estimated to deliver 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, while the higher-output engine is rated at 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway.

Cadillac engineers have done an admirable job of minimizing torque steer (when the steering wheel jerks to one side during strong acceleration), but it’s still evident during full-throttle acceleration. Despite other luxury automakers including smoother-shifting five-, six- or even seven-speed automatic transmissions with their larger cars, both engines continue to be coupled with a four-speed gearbox. More gears in the transmission usually improves both acceleration and fuel economy.

See Cadillac DTS Pictures

The car’s suspension is well-tuned, allowing a plush ride while keeping body motions well in check — there’s none of that pillowy, floaty feeling when going over bumps or transitioning from one tight turn to the next. The steering and braking systems are also responsive.

Cadillac DTS Vehicle Summary

Traction control, an important safety aid, is standard while StabiliTrak stability control is surprisingly optional and only available as part of costly options packages that range in price from $3,000 to $7,370. A Performance Package ($7,370) includes the more-powerful engine along with GM’s Magnetic Ride Control that governs wheel and body motion via special shock absorbers with fluid that has tiny metal particles. A variable magnetic current makes the shock absorbers stiffer or softer according to road conditions and driving style. While this system does work well, it can be hard to detect a notable difference between it and the standard suspension, which works just fine.

A nicely designed interior follows current styling trends with large gauges and a tall center stack on the dashboard. The standard controls for stereo, heating and A/C are well thought out and intuitive. The optional navigation system adds a video display that incorporates stereo and climate-control functions. The interior is spacious and features high-quality materials and good fit and finish. It remains silent even at high speeds. Six airbags are standard, as is a long list of comfort and convenience features.

See all Cadillac models in the Cadillac Showroom

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the Cadillac DTS five out of five stars for frontal crash protection on the driver’s side and four stars on the front passenger’s side, with four stars for front and rear side-impact protection and four stars for rollover resistance.

Is the Cadillac DTS for You?

Did You Know …

See Cadillac DTS Pics

Prior to being retired in favor of the new DTS for the car’s 2006 redesign, the DeVille nameplate had been a mainstay in Cadillac’s lineup since 1949 when the original Coupe DeVille was launched as a two-door hardtop convertible. A Sedan DeVille version was added for 1954. As large as the current Cadillac DTS is, it’s hard to fathom that the car was noticeably downsized in 1985, along with the rest of the automaker’s lineup, for the sake of higher fuel-economy ratings. Buyers initially balked and thought the shrunken sedan too small for a Cadillac. The DeVille coupe would be dropped for 1994, leaving only the sedan to soldier on through the 2005 model year.