Low-gloss surfaces, with a three-dimensional "animal" grain, were chosen for the upper instrument panel and upper door surfaces in order to reduce glare and absorb sunlight. Three leather upholstery offerings include a base leather called Nuance, a more supple, semi-aniline Tuscany hide, and a specially tanned leather called Tehama, found only in the DTS. The base Nuance interior also benefits from fitment of a material crafted from a vinyl/silk blend for seatbacks and armrests. Claimed to be as durable as vinyl, it has the look and feel of leather.

The "wood" trim used on Luxury I and II models is a good-looking but faux burl material, while Luxury III and Performance versions get a darker, genuine burled walnut. Found on the shifter head, center console and upper and lower sections of the instrument panel and around the center stack, the wood trim creates a flowing theme throughout the entire interior.

Chrome elements include the door handles, select knobs and switches, shifter column surround, and in rings that wrap the four analog gauges in the instrument panel: white-on-black LEDs readouts for speedometer, tachometer, fuel and temp gauges.

The entire console itself was pushed down and forward to give the forward cabin a more spacious feel as well as enhanced sightlines. Facing the driver is an attractive four-spoke wood and leather steering wheel with a finely etched wreath and crest center badge. Tilt function is standard; on Luxury III and Performance models, the wheel has a power tilt/telescoping function with memory. On Luxury II, III and Performance models, the wheel is heated.

On five-passenger models, the center console flows between the front seats and contains the shift selector and storage bins. On six-passenger models, the shifter moves to the steering column, and the front bench seat has an integrated center armrest, which transforms from an integrated back cushion into an armrest with two levels of storage.

The new center stack design is attractive, and easy to see and use. A low-gloss ebony mica finish nicely sets off the radio and HVAC control heads, the controls set flush into the console for a well integrated look. Nestled between air outlets high up in the center stack is a sharp analog clock, in keeping with other high-end automobiles whose clocks also measure out time in the old, traditional way. It's a good way.

The rear seat is large enough for a couple of six-foot-plus males with a few extra pounds of girth, and fitting a smaller fifth passenger in between is no problem. The seatbacks are nicely raked for long-range comfort, and even kids will appreciate the optional heated rear seats.

Comfort is, of course, a primary component of luxury, and we drove both Luxury III and Performance editions of the DTS to get the full dose. We especially like the tri-zone climate control, and the optional cooling for the front seats. However, the heat and cooling controls are set high up and forward in the door panels, making it hard to see if they've been turned on. It's one of the few ergonomic miscues in the DTS; otherwise, there are no difficult or hidden controls or complicated electronic interfaces to mar the luxury experience. Worthy of praise is the ease of using the complex audio system.

Frigid days and scorchers are handled well by the DTS. We like the cooled front seats and Adaptive Remote Start, a new factory-installed convenience for cold, wintry mornings, when the ability to get the engine and interior defrosted and heated (including the front seats) before starting out is most appreciated. Residents of Phoenix and other boiling points will find the system useful to crank up the A/C before climbing in on those 115-degree afternoons. Owners in the frigid north will also appreciate the heated windshield wiper fluid. Throw that ice scraper away.

Another new feature is radar-based adaptive cruise control, but we couldn't find traffic conditions that would allow its use. This system automatically slows the car down when catching up to a slower moving car in your lane, then speeds up again when the offending vehicle moves over or speeds up.

We did find good use, however, for the high-intensity discharge projector headlamps, augmented by IntelliBeam, which automatically switches from high to low beam and back again depending on oncoming traffic. Good nighttime vision is as vital to safety as good brakes.

Our ears were assaulted (but only in the nicest way) by the optional Bose audio system, with something called Centerpoint signal processing for multi-channel surround sound. Eight speakers do the surrounding.

A DVD navigation system with voice recognition and a 6.5-inch color screen is also available. You can even watch movies on it when the car is in Park.