The 2008 Cadillac DTS is a full size sedan that offers
luxury and comfort in a complete package. The DTS is
loaded with safety features, and has a warm, spacious
interior. This Cadillac delivers strong acceleration
performance and handles quite well for a car of its
size. Cadillac DTS is a thoroughly modern interpretation
of the big, luxurious, powerful, stylish machines that
once made Cadillac America's most-desired automobile.
There were a few updates for 2008. Two new options
harness the latest technology to enhance safety. The
Lane Departure Warning system is designed to help
drivers avoid a collision caused by an inadvertent lane
change, for example if the driver drifts off to sleep.
Side Blind Zone Alert enhances awareness of objects that
might otherwise escape the driver's vision, for example
a car the driver simply did not know was there. A new
Platinum Edition is available for 2008 that comes with
all the performance goodies, plus a bright and cheery
handcrafted interior and special exterior trim.
Cadillac DTS Power and Drive
The 2008 model uses Cadillac's 4.6-liter Northstar V8
engine which develops 275 horsepower, and a
higher-output version is available that delivers 292
horsepower. The DTS offers impeccable road manners, with
crisp handling and good grip that inspires composure and
driving enjoyment on winding roads. It handles
surprisingly well given its size. It takes turns with
poise and dignity, making it an enjoyable steed when the
road goes curvy. The DTS is front-wheel drive. Smooth
and powerful, the Cadillac DTS glides over miles and
miles of open road in supreme comfort. Maybe that's
expected, but the DTS also handles surprisingly well for
such a big car, making it a satisfying drive when it's
time to turn the steering wheel. The DTS has a worthy
powertrain in the form of its smooth-running Northstar
V8 and robust Hydra-Matic four-speed automatic
transmission. Under full throttle, both versions of the
4.6-liter engine emit a mellow bellow that says V8 but
not in a flashy way.
2008 DTS Design
The 2008 Cadillac DTS is a big car. Its overall length
of 207.6 inches makes it five inches longer than the
Escalade full-size SUV, and nearly a foot longer than
the STS, Cadillac's next-largest sedan. With its
vertical headlights and tail lights, and its grinning
egg-crate grille, the DTS has acquired the design
heritage of the Cadillac family and adapted it to 21st
century reality. It acknowledges tradition, yet remains
fresh and modern. The nose is particularly expressive,
with jewel-like xenon headlights framing an expansive
chrome grille adorned with a center-mounted
wreath-and-crest badge. The overall look is brought
together by Cadillac's characteristic spline line, which
rises from the top of the front fender, runs along with
lower edge of the side windows and then flows over the
rear fender. Cadillac boasts that the DTS has some of
the tightest production tolerances in the world, and it
certainly looks the part of a well-honed luxury machine.
Inside the 2008 Cadillac DTS
The DTS cabin was completely revised for 2006, and only
detail changes have been made since then. Three
different leathers are used, depending on options and
packages. The base leather is called Nuance; a specially
tanned leather called Tehama, claimed to be exclusive to
the DTS, is optional. A more supple, semi-aniline
Tuscany hide is included in the Platinum Edition. The
Nuance interior benefits from fitment of a material
crafted from a vinyl/silk blend for seatbacks and
armrests. Claimed to be as durable as vinyl, it has the
look and feel of leather. Door handles, selected knobs
and switches, shifter column surround, and rings that
wrap the four analog gauges are chrome, which works with
the wood to create an upscale feel. Instruments use
white-on-black LED readouts for speedometer, tachometer,
fuel and temperature gauges. The cabin has a spacious
feel and good sightlines for driver visibility. Facing
the driver is an attractive four-spoke wood-and-leather
steering wheel with a finely etched wreath-and-crest
center badge. The Luxury I and II packages include a
heated steering wheel on a tilting column; Luxury III
and Performance add a telescoping function. The rear
seat is large enough for a couple full size adults; and
fitting a smaller fifth passenger in between them is no
problem. The seatbacks are nicely raked for long-range
comfort. Seat heaters are available for the outboard
positions.
’08 DTS Model Lineup
The 2008 Cadillac DTS comes in one trim level, with
three available Luxury packages, one Performance
package, plus the new Platinum Edition package and a
moderate list of stand-alone options. Standard equipment
includes leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate
control, eight-way power front bucket seats with
four-way adjustable power lumbar support, eight-speaker
AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio with RDS and integrated antenna, XM
Satellite Radio with three-month trial, Magnasteer power
steering, cruise control, power windows, power
programmable door locks with Pass-Key III Plus security,
illuminated visor mirrors, remote starter, driver
information center, auto-dimming rearview mirror with
compass, rear seat pass-through, OnStar with one-year
Directions & Connections service, automatic headlamps
with wiper activation, fog lights, solar-control glass,
self-leveling suspension, and P235/55R17 all-season
tires on machined aluminum wheels.
The Luxury I package adds park assist, heated and cooled
front seats, heated rear outboard seats, rear seat
adjustable headrests, four-way power rear lumbar
support, heated windshield washer fluid, Rainsense
Generation II intermittent wipers with structureless
wiper blades, heated power-adjustable mirrors with
turn-signal indicators and driver's side auto-dimming,
leather wrapped and heated steering wheel, and tilt
steering column.
Luxury II includes all the content of Luxury I, plus
tri-zone automatic climate control and a universal
remote transmitter.
Luxury III includes Luxury I and II, plus an upgraded
stereo with a six-disc in-dash CD changer and eight Bose
speakers, cargo net, IntelliBeam headlights, front
four-way massaging power lumbar, power tilt/telescoping
steering column with memory settings, trunk mat, rear
illuminated vanity mirrors, genuine Dark Burled Walnut
wood trim and 17-inch chromed aluminum wheels
The Performance package includes all but a few of the
Luxury I, II, and III items, plus the higher-tuned
292-hp V8, performance algorithm shifting, Magnetic Ride
Control, and P245/50 H-rated tires on 18-inch chromed
aluminum wheels.
The new Platinum Edition package combines the 292-hp V8,
Performance Algorithm shifting, Magnetic Ride Control
and 18-inch chromed wheels with special materials on the
inside and an extra dash of flash on the outside; a
power sunroof, DVD navigation, and other conveniences
are included as well.
Conclusions
Though its styling is restrained, the DTS is loaded with
the latest technology. Yet, unlike many luxury cars
these days, there's no need to study the owner's manual
to make the DTS do its job. This is a rational luxury
car, easy to operate in addition to being large and
luxurious. For more research, read another
2008 Cadillac DTS review. The current DTS was launched as a 2006 model,
sporting fresh body lines, a redesigned interior,
upgraded running gear, and suspension refinements,. At
the same time, Cadillac abandoned the 57-year-old DeVille nameplate. Up through 2005, a DTS badge had
indicated a DeVille Touring Sedan, a sporty version of
the old DeVille. DTS now stands for the whole revised
and revamped model line. It's fitting, given that
today's DTS is sportier than yesterday's DeVille. Safety
features that come standard on all models include six
air bags, including a dual-depth front-passenger air
bag. Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and Brake Assist,
StabiliTrak electronic stability control with all-speed
traction control, child-safe rear door locks, and a tire
pressure monitor come standard. Lane Departure Warning
and Side Blind Zone Alert are available on select
models.