The Seville IV marks the moment when Cadillac genuinely tries to pit a firmer and more agile large front-drive saloon against its own DeVille. Lower, tauter and more driving-focused, it aimed to attract buyers who also looked at a Mercedes S-Class, while still accepting an American interpretation of the concept. Today it reads as an atypical grand tourer, comfortable without being soft, provided the chassis is still in sound health.
Under the bonnet, this generation centres on the 4.6 Northstar in two states of tune - LD8 for the more relaxed versions and L37 for the STS - always paired with the 4T80-E automatic. The real subject is not power, but the ability to maintain stable cooling, normal circuit pressure and a clean gearbox when hot. As so often with these 1990s Cadillacs, smooth running can mask maintenance that is already well behind schedule.