1994-1999 Cadillac DeVille/Concours: Road Test

Concours is the performance prince, but even a base DeVille boasts impressive acceleration, with brisk passing response. Power is plentiful with the 4.9-liter base engine--and even better with the later Northstar. With any of the Northstar V8s under the hood, you can expect surprisingly sizzling action, which belies the car's heft. A Concours, with the most potent V8 ready and waiting, actually rivals some sports sedans when pushing the pedal to the floor. Even better, Cadillac's 4-speed overdrive automatic transmission shifts with buttery smoothness. Fuel economy is poor. Only on the highway did we average better than 20 mpg. Overall, a Concours averaged just 15.8 mpg in a long-term trial. Worse yet, all engines demand premium gasoline. Because of a stiffer structure and better engine mounts, these two ride much more quietly than in previous years, with less noise and vibration. Both suspensions do a good job of isolating the cabin and keeping bouncing to a minimum. The Road Sensing Suspension does a commendable job of maintaining a stable, comfortable ride and minimizing body lean in turns. Agile may not be an appropriate word to describe either DeVille, but these sizable sedans handle reasonably well for cars in their category. Later models with StabiliTrak feel much more agile in hard driving, with no penalty in ride quality. Road and wind noise are minimal, though not necessarily nonexistent. Brakes are strong and fade-free. Steering is firm and responsive, but lacks true road feel and precision. Inside, you get ample six-passenger seating in a spacious cabin, plus dual airbags. Basic dashboard design is borrowed from the Seville, so climate controls are just to the right of the steering wheel, where they're hard to see and reach. The trunk opens at bumper level and has a wide, flat floor that can hold loads of luggage.

Value for the Money
Don't judge the latest DeVille and Concours just by their conservative styling, which continues to appeal mainly to older drivers. Both Cadillacs offer tempting performance and roomy accommodations, and represent good value for the money.