New 2010 Cadillac DTS

If it’s good enough for our president’s limo, it’s good enough for our luxury ride. The 2010 Cadillac DTS is a full-size smooth-cruiser with chief-executive luxury appointments.

CED (chief executive driver) power lurks under the hood thanks to a 4.6-liter V-8 that is tuned for either 275 or 292 horsepower, depending on the model. This sweet motor is paired with a four-speed automatic transmission to deliver 15 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. Power and fuel economy numbers are competitive with V-8 offerings in the Volvo S80 and Acura RL.

Interior space far exceeds the comparably priced BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Volvo S80—not to mention the far more expensive BMW 750 and Jaguar XJ.  Some interior metrics like rear legroom is several inches ahead of luxury sedans within sight of the DTS’s price. In the DTS are standard/optional features such as leather seating for five with heat up front, simulated wood trim, dual zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, OnStar, XM Satellite Radio and CD player.

The Luxury model includes a sunroof and a six-CD changer. The Premium model includes climate control for the rear, real wood interior trim, a DVD-based navigation system and optional Bose speakers. The Platinum model adds NavTraffic to the XM Satellite Radio setup, exquisite Tuscany leather seating, hand-cut and sewn leather on the dash and doors, wood and chrome trim and a synthetic suede headliner.

While the DTS you find on the showroom floor will not feature five-inch-thick bullet-proof glass or explosion-resistant construction, it does an excellent job of keeping the occupants safe. Dual front, front-side and two-row head airbags cushion occupants during impact, while a well engineered chassis and body structure has both great strength and appropriate crumple zones for energy absorption. The 2010 Cadillac DTS achieves a Five-Star rating for the driver on front impact, and Four-Star ratings for the rest of the impact tests. A blind spot warning system, along with lane departure warning system, antilock brakes, traction control and stability control all help the driver safely maneuver the DTS.

Power, luxury, and safety combine with the cool factor of driving the same car President Obama rides in daily to make the 2010 Cadillac DTS a great luxury car. You get all that at a price that leaves most similarly-sized competition looking under-equipped or ridiculously overpriced.