[Ghrankenstein]

Traditional customers who felt the seats in the STS were too Germanic-firm will love even the base buckets in the DTS. The outer “pillow” is squishy and soft, and its perforated Nuance leather surfaces are grippy despite the lack of side bolstering. It takes confidence to trust the new seats in sporting corners, but the trust pays off. Underneath, the firmer layer supports, and will be especially welcome for long trips, a job the Deville is used to taking.

Bonuses in the Luxury III package are heated and cooled seats, with individual heating and cooling units like the old Deville DHS and Deville DTS, and new simplified controls for the massaging front lumbars. Devilles had finicky controls nested in the seats’ lumbar knobs. A separate button now controls the massage feature. It seems minor, but keeping in mind the DTS’s continued role as the industry’s ultimate long-distance cruiser, the lumbar massage is one thing I’d definitely want to have on my side when I hit the halfway mark to Kansas City. Rear seats don’t recline, but have power lumbars, heat, and the obligatory rear climate control.

The DTS Luxury III and Performance Package offer two leather upgrades. I can’t really comment on the Tuscany leather option, even though it’s also offered in the STS, because the seats in that vehicle are already Germanic-firm. Whatever luxury in them is lost in the STS, but the leather should redeem itself in the DTS. From what I’ve heard, though, if you really want to treat yourself, the Tahama leather, which is barely treated after its dark cashmere (e.g. “Bomber Jacket”) anniline dye, is a uniquely personal surface akin to a favorite bomber jacket. You'll have to wait a few months if that's what you want.

Buyer’s Note: Cadillac recommends no aftermarket treatments to any of its DTS leathers. Follow the owner’s manual for best care.

I’ve picked apart this interior from top to bottom, and I feel that the minimal shortcomings are little more than what I could find in any vehicle. Overall, it’s pretty, comfortable, and functional. And I think that DTS owners will really enjoy the new upgrades.