As Cadillac's largest sedan, the 2009 DTS can't be missed on the road, offering class-leading room and comfort at a lower pricetag than its somewhat more refined and modern Mercedes and Lexus competitors. Staying its course, it receives some minor tinkering this year, adding standard OnStar 8.0 with optional Bluetooth on all trims, a speeding alert system on the trip computer, and redesigned 17-inch wheels. The optional navigation system gets updated with real-time traffic information.

Definitely pointed toward an older crowd preferring comfort over performance, the 2009 DTS seats up to six adults (with the optional front bench seat) and offers 132 cubic feet of interior volume. The large 18-cubic-foot trunk easily holds four golf bags, although the rear seats do not split-fold to extend that space. Legroom averages around 42 inches in both front and back, with nearly 40 inches of headroom.

With such large dimensions, this front-wheel-drive full-size sedan requires and gets plenty of power, thanks to its 4.6-liter Northstar V8 engine. Luxury I, II, and III trims feature a 275-hp version, while the Performance trim tweaks the engine's mechanics to boost that number to 292 hp, with 0-60 times around 7 seconds. The standard four-speed HydraMatic automatic transmission feels somewhat overwhelmed by the engine, however, unable to take full advantage of its muscle.

Luxury trims are aptly named, decked out with leather upholstery, 8-way power front seats, and wheel-mounted audio controls. As you move up through the numbers, tri-zone climate control, massaging front seats, a heated steering wheel, power lumbar in the rear seats, and a Bose sound system become standard.

Performance trims ride on a sport-tuned suspension, which despite the firmer ride easily and comfortably absorbs road bumps. Its standard Magnetic Ride Control provides increased stability and roll control over the Luxury trims. Other Performance improvements include larger 18-inch wheels, memory settings for the driver, a blind zone alert system, and the seat massaging feature for both front and rear passengers. ABS brakes, dual front-side and side curtain airbags, traction and stability control, foglights, and xenon headlights come standard on all trims.

As expected from the Cadillac name, the 2009 DTS offers luxury, spaciousness, and easy driveability for consumers not particularly interested in the more direct driving experience found in the sportier STS. An extremely quiet ride and extensive features list wrap passengers in upscale comfort, though some reviewers find the interior less luxurious than more-expensive models from Mercedes, Lexus, and Lincoln. And despite its large size, the 2009 DTS exhibits impressive off-the-line acceleration, with controls and steering wheel oriented toward optimal driver comfort. Its dimensions hamper maneuverability, and the lack of interior storage space, floaty handling, and poor 15/23 mpg can be a drawback for some.