Cadillac Seville reviews

1999 Cadillac Seville Interior Features

The Seville's interior looks great and is highly functional. The center console, sweeping up into the instrument panel, houses a handsome radio and climate-control center. The look is elegant and expensive. The instrument panel illustrates how Cadillac engineers have been influenced by Lexus. The gauges use a three-dimensional Vacuum Fluorescent, or VF, display that is as easy to read as it is sophisticated.

Cadillac deserves special kudos for the tasteful use of richly grained zebrano wood in the Seville. The front bucket seats are among the most comfortable we've found on an American luxury car. They are plush, but not overstuffed, with enough lateral support to keep you firmly planted as you maneuver the Seville through tight curves, yet the bolsters are low enough to make getting in and out easy. The front seatbelts are anchored to the seat so they fit more precisely and feel much more comfortable to wear.

There's an extra 1.7 inches of headroom in the new model, and slightly more shoulder room, though there is a slight loss of rear leg room due to the shorter body length.

Seville offers an optional adaptive seating system that many potential buyers may dismiss out of hand as just another costly gadget. For short commutes and around-town driving, they'd probably be right, but on long drives, the system is comfortable and noticeably less fatiguing. Hidden under the plush leather upholstery are special sensors designed to measure a body's pressure points and then automatically adjust 10 strategically placed air cells in the seat cushion.

The Bose 4.0 sound system is an example of how Seville makes extensive use of computer technology to enhance both driving attributes and creature comforts. It's something audiophiles would be wise to consider. It punches out nearly 425 watts of music power through its eight speakers, which include a 12-inch subwoofer. The Bose system is smart enough to automatically adjust volume and tone levels to compensate for changing cabin sound conditions.

An option well worth consideration is GM's excellent OnStar system. OnStar starts with a basic cellular phone, then adds a Global Positioning Satellite, or GPS, receiver that constantly tracks the vehicle's position. Lost in unfamiliar territory? Press a button and you're connected to a special service center that will provide directions. Advisors at the OnStar center can call for a tow truck if you break down, or send out a signal to unlock the car's doors if you inadvertently leave the key in the ignition. They can provide valet services, such as making airline reservations or sending flowers for a special occasion. Most important, they will check in on you immediately after an airbag deploys and will summon help to your location if you don't respond.

The Seville offers both dual front and side-impact airbags. There's also an emphasis on active safety, as noted below.