DeVille was the first Cadillac to be solely designed using AutoStudio, a computer-aided design tool. Although it looks large and rich, the current DeVille is shorter than the 1999 model it replaced. Large front lighting clusters giving the DeVille a bold appearance. A grinning eggcrate grille extends between the headlights. Updated Cadillac wreath-and-crest emblems extend the classic-but-contemporary theme. For 2003, Cadillac has integrated turn-signal indicators into the side mirrors, a feature that is genuinely useful, alerting drivers alongside of you of your intention to turn or change lanes.

In profile the DeVille looks like a Cadillac. Large doors, massive body panels and expansive glass are broken only by a highlight trim piece along the lower body section. Large, full-arch wheel wells are filled by 16-inch alloy rims and Michelin all-season tires on DeVille and DHS, or 17-inch wheels and Michelin performance tires on DTS.

From the rear, the DeVille carries the traditional Cadillac ambiance, but with a far more contemporary flair. New tail lights help distinguish 2003 models. The fins of yesteryear may be gone, but those twin vertical slashes still shout Cadillac loud and clear. The tail lamps rely on Cadillac's industry-leading LED technology to light up significantly faster than normal incandescent units, giving drivers of following cars an extra fraction of a second warning, which is all it takes, in some cases, to prevent a collision. The rear turn signals are distinctive and stand out brightly when blinking.