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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  Great! - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By DKescalade - August 14 - 2:00 am

  Stepping on the accelerator tells the difference btw this vehicle and others. The low gas mileage is expected for this engine. I dont regret having paid $57,000 for my new Escalade.

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  Fun but non-reliable car - 1999 Cadillac Catera
  By bdmparker - August 10 - 2:00 am

  Purchased used (20K) miles 2 years ago. Taken in 2 local dealership over 15 times since purchased. Car has cut out at stop lights/signs over 4 times & refused to start. Check engine light on, seat heat went out, power moon roof would not open, power window stopped working, coolant tank leaked, brake light switch defective so no brake lights etc. When car works, fun to drive. My warranty just expired so in process of looking for another car. Not a minute too soon because as of this morning, the car is stuck in my garage, refuses to start.

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  A Great Mommy Car With First Baby - 1994 Cadillac Deville
  By RT BEHM - July 31 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car for my wife after she left the work force. We wanted a large car to travel with our daughter. The car was purchased for $5,500. It looks brand new. I believe it now needs new struts which are pretty expensive. But for $5,500 what do you expect. It seem secure and safe for in town travel. I would love to find a fleetwood once this one craps out. My plan is to drive it 200,000 miles.

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  Good overall Car - 1998 Cadillac Catera
  By jonjon5000 - July 29 - 2:00 am

  My car was pushed to the limit by the previous owner, so its kinda loose. The armrest is taken up by the cupholder (pretty dumb to me), and the interior is too ugly, but otherwise this car has no complaints. Too heavy for good gas mileage. Really worth $8- 10k, though.

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  2002 Caddy DeVille - 2002 Cadillac Deville
  By jgjarv@stargate.net - July 29 - 2:00 am

  Great road car,a little large for small town driving. If vyou want a good car for both I would not recommend this car.

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  seville - 1996 Cadillac Seville
  By TWF - July 27 - 2:00 am

  its fun to drive and has pleanty of pickup. The heated seats are just great after a round of golf and a sore back.

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  Luxury - 2003 Cadillac Deville
  By paulie - July 18 - 2:00 am

  The Cadillac Deville is an excellent car. It features an excellent ride, extremely quiet cabin, exceptionally comfortable seats, very roomy interior, wonderfully strong and smooth V8 engine, many cool features, excellent brakes and commendable handling for such a large vehicle. On the downside, some interior materials are cheap and Ive heard it has a poor reliability record (although my car has fine reliability). Also, the frontal crash test result for the driver is only 3 stars. Overall, though, the DeVille is a superb vehicle. I recommend it to most luxury car buyers but some cars (like the BMW 5-series or Mercedes-Benz E class) are even better.

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  4th 95 DeVille - 1995 Cadillac Deville
  By LOTR - July 16 - 2:00 am

  I have had two 95s and my father in law has had 2. We both had each one to a minimum 170,000 miles. We both are in sales and for my money there isnt a better car. I am looking into a 98 now. But I will run this one until I drop the transmission. That is the one major repair that you will have with the car, sometime between 160,000 and 200,000. On all of ours except the one I have now @ 170,000.

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  Feel the lux & speed for yourself! - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Nikita - July 15 - 10:00 am

  Enjoy the space of an SUV, combined with luxury and speed. An added plus is the expanded sun-roof ...almost like a SUV convertible (primary reason for choosing the SRX).

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  whats up with cadilac - 1997 Cadillac Seville
  By mmooreII - July 15 - 2:00 am

  I purchested this car on the dealerships raiting of this auto and before I could make the first payment I had to pay out$90.00 for o2 sensor, and two weeks later the charcole filter $400.00. three weeks later the check light is on and a slight knocking shound, this car purchest used with 53000 miles,service maintance history good, whats up. Im a sad cadilac owner.