Considered to be Cadillac's entry-level sedan from 1989 to 1996, the DeVille lasted for eight generations.
Year-to-year changes
1991
As of the 1989 model year, the sixth generation Cadillac DeVille consisted of a 2-door coupe and 4-door sedan. Both also had Fleetwood counterparts of their respective selves, while the sedan also had a "Sixty Special".
1993
The 2-door coupe and the Sixty Special sedan were discontinued after this model year.
1994
This pair of sister ships (the base and Concours sedans), new to the Cadillac lineup in 1994, were further refined for the seventh generation. Competing against the Lincoln Continental, the Lexus GS 300, Infiniti J30, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 5-Series luxury sedans, the DeVille and Concours were modern front-wheel-drive designs with ample seating for six adults.
The DeVille was powered by Cadillac's venerable 4.9-liter aluminum pushrod V8, a troublesome engine in its earlier applications but thoroughly debugged in 1994. The 4.9-liter developed 200 horsepower. The Concours was powered by the more contemporary 4.6-liter Northstar V8 engine. With dual overhead cams and multiple-valve technology, this smaller engine developed a good deal more power, 275 horsepower, to be exact.
Minor differences in exterior styling belied the difference in the drivetrains of what were really two well-differentiated vehicles. The DeVille appealed more to the traditional Cadillac buyer interested in a large soft-riding luxury car. The Concours, riding on blackwall tires and with less bright trim on the exterior and interior, was more likely to appeal to a buyer who might otherwise have chosen a Japanese or European luxury car in the same price class.
1995
Big news for 1995 was Concours' electronically controlled suspension that used accelerometer and position-sensor information to provide a smoother and more controlled ride. The Northstar engine received five more horsepower thanks to a tuned plastic intake manifold. A switch was also added to allow the traction control to be turned off under some road conditions.
1997
A new "d'Elegance" trim level joined the base and Concours sedans. All were sold through 1999.
Retail prices
2DR Coupe
Model year | List price | Effective date |
---|---|---|
1991 | $30,205 | February 10, 1991 |
1992 | $31,740 | October 13, 1991 |
4DR Sedan
Model year | Trim level | List price | Destination charge | Effective date |
---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | Base | $30,455 | February 10, 1991 | |
1992 | Base | $31,740 | October 13, 1991 | |
1995 | Base | $34,900 | $635 | August 1, 1994 |
1995 | Concours | $39,400 | $635 | August 1, 1994 |
1996 | Base | $35,995 | $640 | September 1, 1995 |
1996 | Concours | $40,495 | $640 | September 1, 1995 |
1997 | Base | $36,995 | $665 | July 27, 1997 |
1997 | d'Elegance | $39,995 | $665 | July 27, 1997 |
1997 | Concours | $41,995 | $665 | July 27, 1997 |
Today, a modern-day rear-wheel drive 2017-2018 Cadillac ATS costs as much as a base 1995-1996 Cadillac DeVille, but is actually smaller in size than that old car.