Luxury Sedan Features & Storage Comparison

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The Town Car has benefited from a nicely executed reskin, including a fresh hood, grille, fenders, and quarter panels. Yet, it breaks no new ground and the changes aren't terribly obvious if you're not a student of Town Car styling history. We fully approve of the new quad high-intensity discharge lamps and 17-in. Euroflange chrome wheels, which look both sporty and luxurious. While some may prefer the Lincoln's freshened, rounded shape, we feel the Cadillac's look is crisper, bolder, and more contemporary. It stands up well, even when measured against the coolest from Japan and Europe.

Inside, the Town Car's remodeled instrument and door panels are finished in a new burled walnut appliqu—but it falls short of the rich-looking Zebrano timber in the DeVille. Last year, we had a tough time figuring out if the not-so-supple leather on the Town Car's seats was real or vinyl. The new, and decidedly softer hides, artfully embroidered with the Lincoln logo, closely match those in the DTS. Lincoln also improved the grade of carpeting, which looks deeper and feels softer.

Lincoln has added lots of handy stowage areas. A clever center armrest storage bin is hinged on both sides for easy access by driver or passenger. The glovebox is 20 percent larger, and the armrests are now hinged over door-panel storage bins. And there are road-atlas-size pouches in the front-seat backs. The Town Car's new dash is neat and tasteful. An attractive visual and tactile cue is a leather-wrapped and polished-wood steering wheel. Most of the controls are within easy reach, even for smaller drivers, thanks to the wheel-mounted cruise, climate, and audio buttonware. Still, the Lincoln's dash just doesn't match the curved panels and bright instrument cluster in the DTS. And driving the Lincoln would be more comfortable if it had a rest for the driver's left foot, like the Caddy's.

Long a favorite of the livery trade, the RWD full-frame '03 Town Car enjoys stiffer structure, freshened styling, interior refinements, and more trunk space.

What of toys and features? Our well-equipped Town Car was fitted with an elegant dash clock, a handy trip computer, a secondary digital speedo, power-adjustable pedals, and a rear-parking-assist unit. As for the DeVille, if Mr. Bond is tired of driving around in the BMW 7 Series featured a few years back in "Tomorrow Never Dies," he might consider the DTS. The Cadillac has a navigation system, Night-Vision, high-speed stability control, OnStar, a backing-assist system, and a trip computer. Many of these goodies are pricey options, but Cadillac still would win the interior war without them.

An upgraded 239-hp SOHC V-8 moves the air-suspended Lincoln with grace, if a bit off the pace.

Limo drivers complained about the Town Car's lack of useable trunk space, so Lincoln did some renovation back there. The mini-spare has been relocated to the right-hand wheelwell, freeing up the large shelf behind the rear seats. The remaining deep well is now filled with a removable covered bin for groceries or loose items such as tools or jumper cables. Engineering has also widened the opening by 7.8 in. A power pull-down system is now standard on all models. Our Cartier Edition Town Car also had a powered decklid that can be opened or closed using the key fob. Nothing is new about the DTS trunk, but it was already well-trimmed, with a flat, deep load floor.

High on the luxury-car shopping list is safety; both of these cars are ready to handle serious trouble. Each enjoys a high-mass and deep-crush-zone advantage over everything except full-size pickups and sport/utility vehicles. Both offer standard four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock. Beyond those basics, the Town Car has traction control, dual-stage front-impact airbags, and front-seat side-impact airbags. The DeVille packs standard tire-pressure monitoring, stability and traction control, daytime running lights, front-impact airbags, and front- and rear-seat side-impact airbags.