Acceleration

Executive	Cartier L	Class Average
4	4	6.5

Town Cars trail Cadillac DeVilles for acceleration, though they're sufficiently quick, at under 10 sec 0-60 mph in our tests. The heavier Cartier L doesn't feel significantly slower. Transmission provides seamless upshifts but is hesitant to downshift.

Fuel Economy

Executive	Cartier L	Class Average
4	4	4.2

About par for the class at 17.3 mpg in our tests. Uses regular fuel.

Ride Quality

Executive	Cartier L	Class Average
7	8	8

Absorbent and hushed, spoiled by mild float over humps and minor tire pattering on some freeway surfaces.

Steering/Handling/Braking

Executive	Cartier L	Class Average
5	5	6.6

Even with Touring "sport" suspension, far more body roll and less grip than most import-brand rivals. Steering reasonably accurate, but too light and numb. Traction control is essential in the snow belt, but Town Car's system can kill power at the just wrong moment for maintaining speed on slippery surfaces. Braking short and stable for such softly sprung heavyweights, but with nonlinear pedal action and marked nosedive.

Quietness

Executive	Cartier L	Class Average
7	7	7.5

Fine, but not best in class. There's little road noise and just a muted engine note. Wind rush rises above 60 mph but doesn't intrude.

Controls

Executive	Cartier L	Class Average
7	7	5.3

Ultratraditional dashboard design, but handy and guess-free. Power-adjustable pedals allow shorter drivers to sit a safer distance from airbag. Interior materials less classy than those in Cadillacs and most import-brand rivals.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Executive	Cartier L	Class Average
7	7	7.8

Standard bench can squeeze three across, but middle passenger must straddle transmission hump. Head room is abundant, as is outboard leg room. Visibility is hampered by thick roof pillars, slim rear window.

Room/Comfort (rear)

Executive	Cartier L	Class Average
6	8	7

Cartier L's 47.1 inches of rear leg room is tops among regular factory automobiles. Other Town Cars have good rather than great leg room. All have generous head clearance. Still, three adults is a squeeze, and the ill-formed rear cushion isn't as sofa-comfortable as it looks.

Cargo Room

Executive	Cartier L	Class Average
6	6	4.9

Trunk volume concentrated in a deep center well that makes loading and unloading heavy objects a strain.

Value within Class

Executive	Cartier L	Class Average
3	3	4.6

Cadillac's DeVille is far more modern and better executed, but Town Car delivers traditional American luxury, spaciousness, and isolation, and its base prices are among the lowest in this class.

Total Score

Executive	Cartier L	Class Average
56	59	62.4

Scores for all Premium Large Cars

Low Score		51
Average Score		62
High Score		78