Power: 4.6-liter 294-horsepower V8

Fuel economy: 17/24 mpg

"And do you have a preferred route to the airport, sir?"

You may find yourself asking that when you sit down in one of the most commonly used models in dial-a-car fleets. Cadillac has undergone a resurgence in recent years, what with its lauded STS, CTS and SRX models, but sadly, the praise must stop there.

The DTS (formerly known as the Sedan DeVille) is the last big-engine/front-wheel-drive model in the company's lineup, and after driving it, you can see why all the other models are either rear- or all-wheel drive. The problem with front-wheel-drive cars is a condition known as torque steer: When too much power is sent to the front wheels (which also have to steer the car), the wheels pull to one side as you accelerate.

With a 294-hp V-8 under its hood, the DTS sends a lot of power to the front end, and you can find yourself gently fighting the steering wheel to keep the car in a straight line.

The DTS is also one big hunk of iron. On the upside, that means its back seat is the roomiest of the bunch here, and the trunk could easily swallow, say, all your daughter's go-to-college luggage. But it also rides like a big hunk. The suspension is tuned more for soaking up potholes than for taking corners, which leaves you feeling disconnected from the road.

The interior is nice. Fit and finish are excellent, and materials are suitably fancy-but at over $54,000 (the highest sticker in this test) it had better be. So unless you spend more time in the back seat of a car than the front, there are better choices.