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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  An aging 91 STS is still a hoot to drive... - 1991 Cadillac Seville
  By delerium75 - May 26 - 9:06 am

  I bought this car 7 years ago in 2008 as a second car. It had 84K miles on it then and has 104K on it now. The STS is the sporty version of the standard Seville. Numerous upgrades over the base car include faster steering, FE2 suspension and interior upgrades really helps separate this car from the base model. While the 4.9L carrys over from the base car, the STS does have a numerically higher final drive ratio for added snap. Its a well handling, powerful car and the short body, while somewhat small inside, does pay dividends in handling. You can still tell theres some mass hanging in the front end but its easy to balance with the throttle. A surprisingly great old car.

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  Follow up to my September 2014 review - 2013 Cadillac XTS
  By gjohn1964 - May 22 - 2:47 pm

  Please see my email below. While I will never argue this is not a beautiful car, I must give it poor marks for reliability. For the third time, the rear suspension has collapsed. While my local service department is helpful and sympathetic, this is a defective car. Im hoping Cadillac does the right thing and relieves me of the remaining months on my lease and takes the 2013 XTS Luxury edition back. Cadillac, please do the right thing.

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  This car rips! - 1994 Cadillac Eldorado
  By dreez108 - May 4 - 9:50 am

  My 1994 Cadillac Eldorado is my first car, and im proud to own such a reliable and fun car. When i bought it at $900, it had 97,780 miles on it, and it ran like it was brand new. For a car thats 20 years old, i only need to fix a computer that runs the heaters, new rear tires, and exhaust leaks. Either though its FWD, it has its benefits, it wont get stuck in the snow. And the power delivery is incredible for what it is. This this hauls ass! The tires spin at half throttle and will burn the tire right off. The comfort of driving this machine is great too. blue leather bucket seats. (at least mine is) Handling is surprisingly great for a heavy fwd sedan. The fastest its gone is 157mph. FAST

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  Going back to Lexus... - 2014 Cadillac ATS
  By kanger3 - May 4 - 9:25 am

  The sharp exterior styling brought me to this car, and the great salesman got me to drive off with it. Ive had this car for 12months (16K miles) now and have run into one issue after another...A blowout from the run-flat tires was the first issue. I paid $400 for a new tire because they said it was road-hazard. Then the USB ports stopped charging. Then the car threw up a check engine light (code P0023) dealer replaced a fuel solenoid. One month later, threw up another check engine (code P0021) dealer replaced fuel solenoid in Bank B. Its been a week, and now the car is idling rough and lacking power. No engine codes...YET.

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  Very Disappointing - 2010 Cadillac DTS
  By 1george - April 29 - 10:14 pm

  I always dreamed of owning a Cadillac. Now, I own a DTS and my dream is broken. I drive for Uber and looked at Lincoln Mkx,Town Car,Chrysler 300 and the DTS I selected the DTS based on back seat size and FWD.The car is comfortable and the FWD works well. However, this car rides like crap.The front end bottoms out over the slightest bump in the road. I took it to the dealer to ask about this and they told me that a lot of DTS owners complain about this problem and they told me there was nothing I can do to improve the ride. This is the worst driving car Ive ever owned.

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  Love my CaddyO. USA, USA! - 2011 Cadillac CTS
  By texastownhall - April 27 - 12:37 pm

  For less $$ than entry level new Accord, Camry or Altima, I bought a used 2011 silver Cadillac CTS. And I love it! It had 18K miles, looks great. Didnt get the extended warranty (the car still had 11 months of factory warranty remaining). Nice simple yet elegant interior design, exterior looks great too. Radio backup camera are nice. Heat seat warmer works fast as well as the air and heater. Now the new CTS looks even better. I did had a chance to drive the 2014 CTS last year. However, CUE touchscreen was not my thing (hard to touch the right button while driving).

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  Great All-round Vehicle - 2012 Cadillac SRX
  By firetoice - April 16 - 12:30 pm

  I purchased this vehicle in September, 2011, replacing a 2010 SRX. Super for longer trips comfortable, quiet, solid, efficient. Fuel economy through 50,000 miles of mixed driving: 24 mpg. Unfortunately, this model has increased in price by ~$7,000 since I purchased my 2010, though I still believe it is a good value.

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  Love My 2014 SRX - 2014 Cadillac SRX
  By cuizas - April 13 - 2:51 pm

  Really enjoy my 2014 SRX Luxury, especially like the safety features with side sensors and front and back. Takes a little getting used to but I have found I am becoming more and more dependent on all these safety features. I had a a fairly new SUV and found on the highway it was not as safe on long trips so traded up to the SRX Luxury, havent regretted my move.... Have owned many luxury cars over the years, including Cadillacs, but this is my new favorite.

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  STUCK WITH A LEMON - 2013 Cadillac ATS
  By rzuff77 - April 6 - 11:37 pm

  This car has been a lemon since about 5k miles and very disappointed with my purchase. Around 10k miles performance was awful 0-60 in about 15 seconds and I kept taking it back and finally they decided to replace the turbo at 15k miles. Still has the same problem but also shift rough and has a hesitation issue no one at the dealer can replicate. I currently own 5 GM vehicles but it maybe time to thin out my stable or at least dump GM. The dealership has been downright rude and awful and 800 Cadillac service is joke. Never calls you back and wastes your time.

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  Unbelievable Quality/ Style for a 24 Yr Old car - 1990 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Robert Garner - March 30 - 8:06 pm

  Bought mine used as a weekend car as I live in a large metropolitan city and can walk to work and various shopping around my condo, it had 132,000 miles on it and 1.5 years later only up to 133,074, runs like new, everything inside and out looks as if its 1990, all the digital instrumentation works perfectly, as well as the onboard 1990s computer console (state of the art for the 90s) all I had to replace was the trunk closure motor, (as the trunk closes automatically), my oil change place cannot believe a 24 year old car still looks this good. Have to say well worth the $2800 I paid for it