Cadillac Seville

Cadillac Seville: generations compared: what actually changed

Injection: Distributed injection (multi-point) on all 4.6 AT and 4.9 AT and both third-generation 4.5 AT; Central injection (single-point or single- point) on 4.1 AT versions and generation-1 Gasoline 5.7 AT and generation-2 6.0 AT. Diesel 5.7 AT injection: not measured.

1 generation (May 1975–April 1979) is the only RWD Seville and the only one with a 3-speed Automatic and Dependent, leaf spring rear suspension. Two versions share the name 5.7 AT: Diesel 105 hp / 5700 cm³ and Gasoline 180 hp / 5733 cm³. The Gasoline unit makes 75 hp more from 33 cm³ extra displacement. Ground clearance is 137 mm. Kerb weight, gross weight, tank, 0–100 km/h, top speed, fuel consumption, CO2, eco class, and wheel size are not measured. Valves per cylinder on the Diesel 5.7 AT are not measured.

2 generation (May 1979–April 1985) switches the whole line to FWD and a 4-speed Automatic. Four versions: 4.1 AT 125 hp, 4.1 AT 135 hp, 6.0 AT 145 hp, 5.7 AT Diesel 105 hp. The 6.0 AT is the largest engine in the entire Seville catalogue (5967 cm³) but only 145 hp — about 24.3 hp per litre, the weakest Gasoline specific output. The Diesel 5.7 AT repeats 105 hp / 5700 cm³ / 278 Nm from generation 1, so the generation change did not raise Diesel power. Clearance rises to 137 mm (same as generation 1). Kerb, tank, 0–100, top speed, fuel, CO2, eco class, wheels: not measured.

3 generation (May 1985–April 1991) keeps FWD, Sedan, 4-speed Automatic, 76 L tank, 1725 kg kerb on every version, 130 mm clearance. Four versions: 4.1 AT 135 hp, 4.5 AT 155 hp, 4.5 AT 180 hp, 4.9 AT 200 hp. From the weakest to the strongest, power rises 65 hp while kerb stays 1725 kg, so kg/hp falls from about 12.8 to 8.6. 0–100 km/h is not measured on any third-generation version. Top speed is 210 km/h on 4.1 AT 135 hp and 4.5 AT 155 hp, and 240 km/h on 4.5 AT 180 hp and 4.9 AT 200 hp — 30 km/h extra for 25–45 extra hp. Front brakes are Ventilated disc (versus Disc on generation 2). Fuel use, CO2, eco class, wheels, gross weight: not measured.

4 generation (May 1991–April 1997) is the first generation with measured 0–100 km/h on every version and the one with the most versions (five). Tank stays 76 L; clearance stays 130 mm. Four of five are named 4.6 AT (270, 275, 295, 300 hp); one is 4.9 AT 200 hp. Front brakes remain Ventilated disc.

5 generation (May 1997–December 2003) cuts the line to two 4.6 AT versions (279 hp and 305 hp). Tank drops 6 L (70 vs 76). Front brakes change from Ventilated disc to Disc. The 305 hp car is 119 kg heavier than the 279 hp car (1920 vs 1801 kg). Mixed fuel is measured here and nowhere else in the catalogue.

Engine specs: every named version

Injection: Distributed injection (multi-point) on all 4.6 AT and 4.9 AT and both third-generation 4.5 AT; Central injection (single-point or single- point) on 4.1 AT versions and generation-1 Gasoline 5.7 AT and generation-2 6.0 AT. Diesel 5.7 AT injection: not measured. Engine placement Front, transverse is measured only on fifth-generation both 4.6 AT and fourth-generation 4.6 AT 270 / 295 / 300 hp; not measured on 4.9 AT, 4.6 AT 275 hp, and all earlier cars.

Horsepower, 0–100, top speed, mpg

Fastest 0–100 km/h: fifth-generation 4.6 AT 305 hp, 6.8 s. That is 1.2 s quicker than the other fifth-generation 4.6 AT 279 hp (8.0 s), 0.5 s quicker than fourth-generation 4.6 AT 300 hp (7.3 s), and 2.7 s quicker than fourth-generation 4.9 AT 200 hp (9.5 s).

Highest top speed: fourth-generation 4.6 AT 300 hp, 248 km/h — 8 km/h above fifth-generation 4.6 AT 305 hp (240 km/h). The 305 hp car is quicker to 100 km/h but 8 km/h slower at the top. Fifth-generation 4.6 AT 279 hp is listed at 180 km/h, the same ceiling as fourth-generation 4.9 AT 200 hp, despite 79 extra hp.

Fourth-generation 4.6 AT ladder: 270 hp → 7.7 s / 242 km/h; 275 hp → 7.8 s / 243 km/h; 295 hp → 7.4 s / 245 km/h; 300 hp → 7.3 s / 248 km/h. The 275 hp car is 0.1 s slower to 100 than the 270 hp car despite 5 extra hp and the same 1736 kg kerb and 407 Nm. The step from 270 to 300 hp is +30 hp, −0.4 s, +6 km/h.

Fuel (only generation 5 is measured): 4.6 AT 279 hp uses 13.8 / 9 / 11.8 L/100 km (city / highway / mixed). 4.6 AT 305 hp uses 19.5 / 11 / 14.1. Extra cost of 26 hp: +5.7 city, +2 highway, +2.3 mixed. On a 70 L tank that is mixed range of about 593 km (70 / 11.8 × 100) versus about 496 km (70 / 14.1 × 100) — roughly 97 km less. Generations 1–4: city, highway, mixed not measured. CO2 and eco class: not measured on every version.

Power per litre (hp ÷ litres): 305 hp 4.6 AT ≈ 66.8; 300 hp 4.6 AT ≈ 65.7; 295 hp ≈ 64.6; 279 hp ≈ 61.1; 275 hp ≈ 60.2; 270 hp ≈ 59.1; 4.9 AT 200 hp ≈ 40.9; generation-1 Gasoline 5.7 AT 180 hp ≈ 31.4; generation-2 6.0 AT 145 hp ≈ 24.3; Diesel 5.7 AT 105 hp ≈ 18.4. The 4.6 family is in a different specific-output band from the 4.9, 5.7, and 6.0.

Dimensions, weight, tank

Length, width, height, wheelbase, and wheel size are not measured for any Seville version.

Kerb (kg): generation 3 all four versions 1725; generation 4 4.9 AT 200 hp 1725; 4.6 AT 270 hp 1736; 4.6 AT 275 hp 1736; 4.6 AT 295 hp 1795; 4.6 AT 300 hp 1815; generation 5 4.6 AT 279 hp 1801; 4.6 AT 305 hp 1920. Heaviest listed car is 195 kg above the lightest listed. Generations 1–2 kerb: not measured.

Gross: generation 5 4.6 AT 279 hp 2241 kg (payload 440 kg); generation 4 4.6 AT 295 hp and 300 hp 2280 kg (payload 485 and 465 kg). Gross not measured on the 305 hp car, the 270/275/200 hp fourth-generation cars, and all of generations 1–3.

kg per hp (kerb ÷ hp): 300 hp 4.6 AT ≈ 6.05; 295 hp ≈ 6.08; 305 hp ≈ 6.30; 275 hp ≈ 6.31; 270 hp ≈ 6.43; 279 hp ≈ 6.46; 4.9 AT 200 hp ≈ 8.63; 4.5 AT 180 hp ≈ 9.58; 4.5 AT 155 hp ≈ 11.13; 4.1 AT 135 hp ≈ 12.78. The 305 hp car is not the lightest per horsepower because it carries 1920 kg.

Tank: 76 L generations 3–4; 70 L generation 5; not measured generations 1–2. Clearance: 137 mm generations 1–2; 130 mm generations 3–5 (−7 mm).

Which version to choose

Want the shortest 0–100 in the data: fifth-generation 4.6 AT 305 hp, 6.8 s, 240 km/h, 1920 kg, 19.5/11/14.1 L/100 km, 70 L, Disc front and rear, Independent, spring both ends, Front, transverse, compression 10.55, peak 6400 rpm, 4 valves per cylinder. Versus the 279 hp 4.6 AT in the same generation you pay 119 kg, 5.7 L/100 km extra in the city, and you gain 1.2 s and 60 km/h of listed top speed. Torque is 2 Nm lower (405 vs 407) at 400 rpm higher.

Want the highest listed top speed and the best kg/hp among measured masses: fourth-generation 4.6 AT 300 hp — 248 km/h, 7.3 s, 1815 kg, 4568 cm³ (3 cm³ more than the other 4.6 AT), 400 Nm at 4400 rpm. Fuel not measured. Tank 76 L. Ventilated disc front.

Want 4.6 pace without the 300/305 hp peak: fourth-generation 4.6 AT 270 hp (7.7 s, 242 km/h, 1736 kg, 407 Nm) or 4.6 AT 275 hp (7.8 s, 243 km/h, same 1736 kg, same 407 Nm). The 5 hp gap does not buy a quicker 0–100. 4.6 AT 295 hp sits between them and the 300: 7.4 s, 245 km/h, 1795 kg, 393 Nm (the lowest torque of any 4.6 AT). Compression and bore × stroke on the 295 and 300: not measured.

Want the lightest listed kerb and do not need 4.6 output: 4.9 AT 200 hp in generation 3 or 4 (both 1725 kg, 373 Nm, 4893 cm³, 2 valves per cylinder, 92 fuel). Generation 4 adds a measured 9.5 s and 180 km/h; generation 3 has 240 km/h and 0–100 not measured. Specific output ≈ 40.9 hp/L versus ~59–67 for 4.6 AT.

Want 180 hp without a 4.6: third-generation 4.5 AT 180 hp, 240 km/h, 1725 kg, 332 Nm, 2 valves, 0–100 not measured — same listed top speed as generation-5 305 hp, with 125 fewer hp and 195 kg less kerb. The other 4.5 AT (155 hp) shares 4467 cm³, 9.0 compression, 92 fuel, 210 km/h, and torque not measured: 25 hp is the whole gap.

Want 4.1 AT: generation 3 4.1 AT 135 hp is the one with a measured 210 km/h, 76 L, 1725 kg, 98 fuel, 4 valves, Central injection (single-point or single- point). Generation 2 4.1 AT 135 hp matches 135 hp / 319 Nm / 4100 cm³ / 98 but kerb, tank, and top speed are not measured. Generation 2 4.1 AT 125 hp is 10 hp and 41 Nm weaker, on 80 fuel.

Want Diesel: only 5.7 AT 105 hp in generation 1 (RWD, 3-speed, Drum rear, Dependent, leaf spring) and generation 2 (FWD, 4-speed, Disc rear, Independent, spring). Power, torque, displacement, and boost (No) do not change. 0–100, top speed, fuel, weight, tank: not measured. There is no Diesel after April 1985.

Want the last RWD Seville or the only 3-speed: generation 1 Gasoline 5.7 AT 180 hp (407 Nm at 2400 rpm, 9.8 compression, 101.6 × 88.4, 92 fuel) versus the Diesel 5.7 AT 105 hp in the same generation: +75 hp and +129 Nm on paper, both with 0–100, top speed, weight, tank not measured.

Do not choose on length, wheels, mpg (except generation 5), or CO2: those are not measured. Reliability and typical faults are not in this dataset.

Practical ranking from the arithmetic: (1) generation 5 4.6 AT 305 hp for 0–100; (2) generation 4 4.6 AT 300 hp for top speed and kg/hp; (3) generation 4 4.6 AT 270 or 275 hp if 1736 kg matters more than 20–30 hp; (4) generation 5 4.6 AT 279 hp if you want the only mixed figure under 12 L/100 km (11.8) and accept 180 km/h and 8.0 s; (5) 4.9 AT / 4.5 AT / 4.1 AT only if you are buying a 1985–1991 car and accept 0–100 not measured; (6) generation 1–2 only if RWD, Diesel, or 6.0 AT displacement is the point, because performance, economy, and mass are not measured.