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Premium large car; Built in USA
  • 2-door coupe
  • 4-door sedan
  • transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $1,100 – $1,900*


1992 Cadillac Coupe DeVille 2-door coupe


1990 Cadillac Sedan DeVille 4-door sedab


1990 Cadillac Fleetwood 4-door sedan


1992 Cadillac Sedan DeVille Touring Sedan interior


1990 Cadillac DeVille ABS system

Pros:
  • Acceleration
  • Antilock brakes
  • Traction control
  • Passenger and cargo room
  • Quietness
  • Ride
  • Drivability
Cons:
  • Fuel economy
  • Electronic instruments (early models)
  • Rear visibility

If you’re looking for a strong, refined engine plus appealing comfort and a host of convenience features in a full-size front-drive automobile, Cadillac might have just what you seek.

Overview

Restyled in 1989, the DeVille/Fleetwood was two feet shorter than a rear-drive Brougham and carried a transverse-mounted V8 engine. Both 2-door Coupe de Ville and 4-door Sedan de Ville versions were available. Fleetwoods were the plusher variants, while the Fleetwood Sixty Special–only in sedan form–ranked as most luxurious of them all. By 1990, a driver-side airbag was standard. So was GM’s “pass-key” theft-deterrent system. Also new for 1990 was a 180-horsepower engine, courtesy of multipoint fuel injection. Antilock braking was standard on Fleetwoods, optional on DeVilles.

Yearly Updates

1991 DeVille/Fleetwood
A new 4.9-liter V8 arrived for 1991, along with an electronically controlled transmission. DeVilles got standard antilock braking. Fleetwoods gained Computer Command Ride (optional on DeVilles) that varies shock damping according to car speed. Cadillacs got a new grille, “power dome” hood, and 15-inch aluminum wheels. EZ-Kool solar-control glass was designed to absorb more ultraviolet and infrared rays. Late in the model year, a DeVille Touring Sedan debuted, with monochrome paint, 16-inch performance tires, quicker-ratio steering, thicker stabilizer bars, and walnut/leather interior trim.
1992 DeVille/Fleetwood
Traction control became optional for 1992. Standard on the Fleetwood and DeVille Touring Sedan, it was optional on other DeVilles. Computer Command Ride was now standard on the Fleetwood and Touring Sedan.
1993 DeVille/Fleetwood
The Fleetwood name was dropped after 1992, transferred to Cadillac’s rear-drive model. So, the upmarket model adopted a Sixty Special designation. A new Special Edition option group debuted, with “phaeton” roof and gold trim. All models got speed-sensitive steering. Speed Sensitive Suspension, formerly optional on base models, now was installed across the board. DeVilles were restyled for ’94 on a new chassis, with a Northstar V8 engine.

Engines

transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

DeVilles began the decade with a 4.5-liter, overhead-valve V8 engine that sent 180 horsepower to a 4-speed overdrive automatic transmission. Compression ratio of 9.5:1 demanded premium unleaded fuel, and the V8 produced 245 pound-feet of torque. A new 4.9-liter V8 for 1991 was accompanied by an electronically controlled automatic. Horsepower grew to 200, torque to 275 pound-feet. A single “powertrain control module” computer coordinated operation of the engine, cruise control, and transmission. Cadillac claimed more precise and smoother operation. A new interlock in ’91 prevented shifting out of park unless the brake pedal was applied.

ohv V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 4.5/273
Engine HP 180
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 245
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic

 16/25

 16.1
ohv V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 4.9/300
Engine HP 200
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 275
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic

 16/25

Road Test

Cadillac’s 4.5-liter V8 is impressive, moving these luxury heavyweights with authority. You get ample power for brisk takeoffs from stoplights, as well as for safe highway passing. Cadillac estimated a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 9.5 seconds–not bad at all for a big sedan. The 4-speed automatic transmission stays out of overdrive until the car reaches a cruising speed past 40 mph, and downshifts rapidly for passing/merging.

The 4.9-liter V8 installed in ’91 models turned these cars into some of the most powerful front-drive sedans around. Even if slightly rough at idle, the 4.9 is a fine V8, delivering ample power for quick takeoffs and easy passing. A slicker automatic now complemented the engine with prompt, smooth gear changes. No economy improvement occurred, so expect 25 mpg on the highway but no more than 15 mpg or so around town. We got only 11.3 mpg in the city. Premium fuel is required.

Computer Command Ride improves both ride and handling. At speeds past 60 mph, CCR-equipped cars offer a stable, smooth ride with almost none of the bounding and floating of previous models. But CCR feels too soft between 40 and 60 mph, so you get a lot of bobbing up and down over wavy surfaces. With the regular suspension, in particular, handling and roadholding favor conservative driving. Those Cadillacs bounce and float too much at intermediate speeds.

Interior space is bountiful, cargo room ample. Even back-seat occupants can stretch out, and the spacious trunk has a flat, uncluttered floor. Occupants enjoy easy-chair softness. Doors are tall and wide, so there’s easy entry to the huge cabin. Chunky styling and nonflush glass contribute to noticeable wind noise around roof pillars; otherwise, you cruise in near silence. Thick rear pillars and a narrow rear window limit visibility.

Ratings

Model Tested: 1992 Cadillac DeVille

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 6
60%
Fuel Economy - 3
30%
Ride Quality - 7
70%
Steering/Handling - 4
40%
Quietness - 7
70%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 5
50%
Room/Comfort Front - 8
80%
Room/Comfort Rear - 5
50%
Cargo Room - 5
50%

Other

Value - 5
50%

Total: 55

Specifications

2-door coupe
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
110.8 203.3 73.4 54.8
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
18.1 18.0 6
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.2 37.9 42.0 40.3
4-door sedan
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
113.7 206.3 73.4 55.1
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
18.4 18.0 6
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.3 38.1 42.0 43.6
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 1993 DeVille 4-door sedan

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Front Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision 79
Injury 47
Theft 55

Trouble Spots

Automatic transmission
Description: 4T60E transmissions may drop out of drive while cruising, shift erratically, or have no second, third, or fourth gear because of a bad ground connection for the shift solenoids. Poor grounds also allow wrong gear starts. (1991-93)
Automatic transmission
Description: 440-T4 automatic transmissions may shift late or not upshift at all. The problem is a stuck throttle valve inside the transmission. (1990-92)
Brakes
Description: Some early build models have unexpected ABS brake-pedal pulsation below 10mph due to moisture getting into the rear-wheel speed sensor(s). (1991)
Brakes
Description: Some models may be hard to shift out of park due to maladjustment of the brake-shifter interlock system. (1991)
Engine noise
Description: A rattling noise at startup is often caused by automatic-transmission pump starvation or cavitation, or a sticking pressure-regulator valve. (1991-93)
Engine stalling
Description: The engine may stall when coasting down to a stop due to a faulty throttle-position sensor (TPS). (1990-91)
Transaxle leak
Description: The right front axle seal at the automatic transaxle is prone to leak and GM issued a revised seal to correct the problem. (1992-94)
Vehicle noise
Description: Noises from the front, often mistaken as coming from behind the dash, are due to the front spring coils clashing when driving over bumps requiring sleeves on the lower spring coils. (1991-92)

Recall History

1991-93
Description: Transaxle oil-cooler hose can pull out of coupling, causing oil leak that could result in fire.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on June 17, 2014.
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