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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  dhs2000 - 2000 Cadillac Deville
  By marcin - October 28 - 10:55 pm

  nice looking car, smooth ride( dont buy if like taking fast corners)but extreamly expensive to repair. after 100000 miles mark all electrics starts to give up.exelent cruser on highway up to 27 mpg, not so good in the city, i live in chicago and not offten get more then 13mpg in city.

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  First and Last Cadillac - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By Kerj - October 9 - 11:28 am

  I bought my first new Cadillac in 2006 and was pretty excited. But, now after 60,000 miles Ive had coils replaced, wheel bearings, tie rods, rear seals, and now told oil usage of a quart per 2000 miles is acceptable. If luxury cars by GM are produced to this quality level, I can see why they need bailing out!

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  Disappointed New Car Owner - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By Susan Burnett - October 3 - 11:28 am

  This purchase was the 1st new car I had ever made. I bought this particular car based on the recommendations made by Consumer Reports. As of today, I have owned it for a little over 4 years and, it has less than 46,000 miles on it. It has had the following problems: full set of replacment tires before 25,000 miles, a LOWER END OVERHAUL before 35,000 miles, a headlamp at 3 1/2 years, a battery at 4 years, a water pump at 45,000 miles, and numerous small problems. As of today, I most likely will never buy a new car again. I will, however, continue to buy GMC products.

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  Highly Unreliable - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By Big Al - September 27 - 9:33 am

  In less than 24 months of ownership car has spent over 6 weeks in the shop being repaired or awaiting parts for a repair. 2008 CTS has had issues with timing chains. Cadillac had to redisgn the part because of high failure rates according to the Cadillac representatives I have spoken too. In addition, I have had persistent keyfob issues, accelerator sensor failures, nicked wiring harness, etc. Cadillac has been less than sympathetic about the LEMON they sold me. The car has been in the shop so often, it probably knows the route by heart.

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  If you Enjoy Boating Youll Love a DTS - 2010 Cadillac DTS
  By Big Al - September 27 - 9:25 am

  Handles like a large cabin cruiser - reliability suspect. Brand new car but front passenger window wont open.

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  Lemon???? - 1999 Cadillac Catera
  By sally_d_00 - September 9 - 10:09 pm

  When I bought my Cadillac Catera last year, I thought I was getting a steal. Little did I know, I was in for a huge expense. Within four months i had problems with the car skipping, then the sunroof would open on its own. Then within another three months I was paying for a Cylinder to be fixed. It was misfiring. BIG EXPENSE!!!!! But wait theres more. Last month, I had to pay for my seals to get resealed. $600.00. They shouldnt need resealed at 93,000 miles. Now, my steering wheel is acting up. It is clicking and LOCKED up on me while I was driving. I would NEVER recommend this car to anyone!! Ever!!

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  Transmission transition twitchy! - 2016 Cadillac ATS
  By Alfred McMullen - September 1 - 6:23 am

  When I got the got a few months ago, I was more excited about the electronics than the feel of the car. A few weeks into driving I discovered how erratic the transmission shifting was--you can actually feel the car going into gear and ,in some instances, the engine downshifts, which I consider unsafe. Even with disabling the "stop engine" mode, you can feel the noticeable changes in shifting. It is an unsatisfactory ride and I have owned or leased over 40 GM cars.

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  This car could kill you - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By Garrie - August 30 - 6:15 pm

  This car almost killed me when the engine literally blew up on the highway(It stopped dead and I was in the middle lane with a huge truck on my tail.) It had 62,000 miles on it and was regularly serviced. Like a fool I replaced the engine. At 92,000, just after it had been serviced, the motor froze and stopped dead again. Rather than get a new engine, I gave it to a charity and watched my beautiful car being dragged away.

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  Most Unreliable Car Ive Owned - 2001 Cadillac Deville
  By EX-GM Fan - August 25 - 6:21 pm

  I bought this car two years ago with 69,000 miles and drive it enough to use one gas tank a week. Its looks/comfort are up there with Mercedes, but I have owned many different cars and this car is by far the most unreliable car Ive ever owned. In the past year I have had all the window motors/regulators replaced, one engine mount was cracked in half, all new brake pads a few months ago and now they squeak all the time. The dealership said it is a common problem though even though there is life left on the pads. The tire pressure sensors are all broken, the transmission fluid sensor is broken, coolant sensor is broken, and the heated front drivers seat is broken...HONDA HERE I COME!

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  Transmission Failure - Unhappy Owner - 2009 Cadillac CTS
  By Jerry Schofield - August 19 - 9:48 pm

  Expect this from your dealer and cadillac. If your automatic tranny fails like ours, cadillac will have you wait two weeks for the parts and a failed attempt to rebuild your transmission at least twice before they deem it appropriate to replace the transmission. Our new CTS spent 20 days of the first 29 days of ownership in the shop. As a "valued" Cadillac owner youll spend dollars for nickel and dime service. The new "GM" is just as bad as the old "GM" or worse. No matter how great the car looks or drives, you wont enjoy ownership if youre treated like this. I do have regrets about buying a Cadillac. Chances are, you will too. Shame on you "Cadillac"!