Overview & Reviews

Owned by General Motors, Cadillac is America's most prestigious domestic luxury automaker. For most of its existence, the company was known exclusively for its cushy, senior-friendly sedans, but in more recent years the automaker has revised and expanded its lineup in a successful effort to attract a new, younger generation. Cadillac's roster now includes SUVs (its Escalade is a favorite of both rappers and suburban moms), a crossover and even a high-performance wagon.

Born in 1902, Cadillac was founded by Henry Martyn Leland, a manufacturer of automotive components. He named the company after a noted French explorer who discovered Detroit in the early 1700s. Leland helped create one of the company's earliest offerings -- the Cadillac Osceola, noted for being the industry's first concept car and the first closed-body car made in America. Only one Osceola was made, but it helped spark a trend; closed bodies caught on and spread like wildfire through the industry.

Cadillac quickly gained a reputation for specializing in precise craftsmanship and for using standardized parts. The success of early Cadillacs like the Model A and the "30" made the brand a sales success, so much so that the automaker was purchased by General Motors in 1909. The marque became GM's luxury division, and its list of innovations grew. Cadillac was the first U.S. auto manufacturer to produce a V8, the first to use thermostatic control of a cooling system and the first to offer dash-controlled headlights. During the 1930s, the brand earned a strong reputation for producing powerful and smooth V12 and V16 engines.

Soon after World War II, Cadillac history hit a high point as its tailfinned and chrome-laden cars became the epitome of American postwar automotive style. Cadillac's tailfin took its cue from Lockheed's P38 Lightning Aircraft, and was the brainchild of designer Frank Hershey. Vehicles like the Coupe de Ville and Fleetwood El Dorado made Cadillac a staple in upscale neighborhoods and among the Hollywood set.

By the 1960s, Cadillac's flashy tailfins had given way to a new styling cue: vertical taillights. This attribute was in evidence on one of Cadillac's most successful new cars of that decade, the Fleetwood Sixty Special. The Fleetwood offered luxury features that were cutting-edge for its day, such as fold-down writing tables, footrests and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel.

The gas crunch of the 1970s, however, started a downward trend for the company. Cadillac's Titanic-sized behemoths that ruled the highways in previous decades were increasingly out of touch and out of favor. Cadillac responded to the changing times by downscaling the dimensions of many vehicles in its lineup. Despite this smart maneuvering, the automaker's fortunes suffered in the late '70s when it unveiled a diesel engine that quickly earned a reputation for spotty performance.

The 1980s saw the redesign of the Seville, a vehicle whose unique bustle-back styling sparked a trend and inspired its share of imitators. That decade also witnessed the rollout of the Cimarron, a small car that was essentially a rebadged Chevy Cavalier, the latter an economy car not exactly known for excellence. Understandably, the Cimarron never caught on with the public. Things got worse when Cadillac launched a series of underpowered, unreliable V8s during the first half of that decade that, along with the notoriously unreliable diesel, cost the automaker thousands of customers, millions of dollars and immeasurable damage to its reputation.

By the early '90s, Cadillac started a major turnaround as it brought out redesigned, stylish models with vastly improved engines. Shortly after the new millennium bowed, the company adopted its "Art & Science" design philosophy. With styling cues that included sharp, almost severe lines and stacked headlamps, Art & Science was first seen on Cadillac's 1999 Evoq concept roadster. By the mid-2000s, this bold new look had reinvigorated the company's sales, and was seen on hits such as the Escalade SUV and the CTS sport sedan.

This fresh styling, coupled with improvements in performance and overall product quality, has done a great deal to help Cadillac recover much of its previous status. Today's Cadillacs, which include coupes, sedans, crossovers and SUVs, are known for offering powerful engines, chiseled lines, sharp handling and a full accoutrement of luxury features.

User Reviews:

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  I will never own another Cadillac after owning 2, a CTS and STS - 2009 Cadillac STS
  By Michael Rose - August 29 - 6:26 pm

  My 84 year old grandmother bought and drove the STS and babied it and had meticulous maintenance done until she died. I took the Cadillac with 60,00 miles and now has 85,00 miles and is the shop every month or two getting major very expensive repairs done. Just a headlignt that needed to be replaced and only available through dealership was $1,800. I had to replace both catalytic converters and dealer wanted $2,400. Manifolds had to be replaced and were extremely expensive. My CTS I got rid of after the computer died three times and is $1,300 each time. I will never buy another chevy or Cadillac EVER!!! My new Ford Mustang GT is just incredible and an awesome vehicle and one I can trust to never breakdown and should get 200 to 300 K easy. Please do your research before buying one of the worst cars made in America, the Cadillac...

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  2009 Cadillac CTS AWD 3.6DI - all options - 2009 Cadillac CTS
  By LV - January 7 - 11:12 pm

  I have owned a 2003 Toyota Corolla S (bought new until 22k when totaled), 1997 Nissan Maxima Se (used 94k, sold at 170k), 2005 Scion tc (new and sold at 177k) those three vehicles were maintain and had little to no major repairs. I sold the Scion tc and purchased a used 2009 Cadillac CTS with all factory options at 75k miles. The vehicle seemed well maintained inside, out, and mechanically. I had purchased it from a reputable BMW dealership for $18k. Here are the things that have gone wrong with the car. 1. Right Rear Knuckle bushing needs replacing (audible knocking sound over all bumps) *warranty 2. Front right wheel bearing needed to be replaced. *warranty 3. Rear left wheel bearing needed to be replaced. *out of warranty $528.00 4. ECM needed replacement * out of warranty $1100 5. Driveshaft needed replacement (1st time) *1200 6. Timing chains needed to be replaced around 108k *warranty under GM 120k warranty specifically for this problem otherwise a $2300 cost 7. Door handle sensor needed to be replaced on passenger door *$575 8. Auxillary water pump needed replacement $250. 9. Purge Valve needed replacement $50 part did it myself very easy to replace 10. Driveshaft failed for 2nd time, needed replacement $1200. 11. Drains for water had seeped into trunk compartment wetting all the electronics near battery. Dealership couldnt find out what the issue is, i figured it out through a forum where other CTS owners have had similar issues. *free since fixed on my own. 12. Driveshaft failed for 3rd time, needed replacement (covered under parts warranty) 13. Driverside catalytic converter failed needed replacement *$1250 14. CD/DVD player stopped working *decided not to fix it. otherwise $750. 15. Bluetooth for phone works intermittently, doesnt always pick up calls and does always hang them up. *just dealing with it 16. power lumbar seat failed and no longer works * just dealing with it otherwise $513 to fix 17. Front left wheel bearing. $528. This car was a HUGE disappointment, being it was my first luxury vehicle. Granted I bought it with 75k, i made sure full tune up was performed along with all the fluids changed (transmission, differential, transfer case, coolant) when i first purchased the vehicle. Things have failed on this car that do not fail on reliable manufactures. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM VEHICLE EVER AGAIN. ESPECIALLY A CADILLAC. Next vehicle will be a Lexus, or even hate to say the new Genesis or Equus look good and have good reliability ratings. Too bad I really wanted to support an American brand. My car was service at Englewood Cadillac in NJ and Brogan Cadillac in Totowa, NJ. They know me by first name at both places because my car has been in there so much, along with other customers I tend to see every now and again. Lots of problems, everyone i know with a used Cadillac has a horrible experience with them. SO DISSATISFIED WITH THIS CAR, PLEASE DO NOT BUY ONE.

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  money pit - 1999 Cadillac Deville
  By jean-paul - December 21 - 11:26 pm

  northstar engine is garbage.

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  Typical GM Incompetence - 2007 Cadillac DTS
  By No more GM - November 10 - 8:08 am

  Car has many, many problems, including cooling system probs, power steering pump, suspension problems, brakes are horrible, sunroof leaks, needs rear control arm ($1200 job), & too much more to list. going back to foreign car! For a 55k car new, GM is a joke!

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  Read this review - 2014 Cadillac ATS
  By Tom Murphy - October 5 - 10:14 am

  I have had this car for 15 months. 3 recalls new brakes new tires rear end alignment You should really think about going somewhere other than Cadillac because this is a troubled model. The room inside is terrible. The dealership surely will let you know that you bought the wrong car. They really should not call this a Cadillac.

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  nice car,,hard seats,,seat memory worthless - 2015 Cadillac SRX
  By g w - August 22 - 10:35 pm

  wife loves car.but seats are hard as concrete,,headlights cool,,no one tells u but when going slow they move with steering wheel, bad gas milage but new before bought. also center console open up ,neat storage that people demo car ,most dont know.and the seat has two memory positions but if you are the taller person..u cannot just press button u have to manually move seat back and start car to use your memory

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  Dont like the car. - 2015 Cadillac ATS
  By Sue - August 22 - 1:13 pm

  Need to drive this ATS on the highway, before committing to buy or lease. Its noisy and a rough ride. Doesnt feel like you are driving a Cadillac. We are very sorry that we leased this car.

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  Beautiful but many costly repairs. - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By Linda Noonan - July 24 - 10:13 pm

  I loved the look and smooth ride. I bought my STS with 7K miles, certified pre-owned with extended warranty. At 18k miles the fuel pump went then 33K miles the water pump went after that it was something BIG each year. Cat converter replaced, intake position sensors, replaced vent solenoid, motor mounts, right & left lower control arms just to list a few. (seriously!) Transmission started clunking especially while driving slow or going from reverse to drive. Always garaged and maintained, I had to stop the $ bleeding at 85,000 miles when the transmission/drive train was about to drop out. The Cadillac dealer said new drive train $3,500 and there would be possible other issues. Im done with Cadillac, this was my third, my beautiful Eldarado had mechanical troubles as well. Too bad, they were such beautiful LOOKING cars. Perhaps it is the aluminum North Star engine? Since my experience I have heard of others having numerous problems with this system.

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  dont buy this year make and model of cadillac - 2011 Cadillac SRX
  By Craig - July 21 - 4:39 pm

  the car shutters when driving slow, the dealer says its a design char. I call it a flaw and I have never had a car that shuttered when you turned the wheel. well let me take that back. I have but I replaced the power steering unit and I fixed it. I have a 2004 cts drives like a dream still. this car sucks. I just bought it and I cant believe this new steering unit is not powerfull enough to turn the wheels. I drive underground a lot to park the car and it shutters. I mean really. its a Cadillac it should be up to min. of industry standards if not exceed them. Hell I could of bought a Honda and not had this much trouble. I cant believe the dealer knows bout the steering and still sold me the car. they saw me coming. why not fix it for good then sell the car. not just pawn it off on another customer. Cadillac should not do that. Im frustrated the dealer wont help me. Im afraid im going to have to get legal help. the transmition geezh. it revs too high then when it shifts it gives you whiplash. it underpowered a poorly designed car. its a lemon. they wont admit it. dont buy this make and model get a cts instead.or if you want to get a suv buy anything else and certainly not this make and year. one nice thing about the car.... the sound system.. Period.

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  WASTE OF MONEY - 2013 Cadillac XTS
  By benjamin776 - July 6 - 10:33 pm

  The worst car I have ever had. 12 warranty claims in 24 months. Dealer wont allow me out of lease. Would never buy another Cadillac ever.