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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  Pleasantly surprised - 2008 Cadillac SRX
  By pan - June 28 - 7:25 am

  The SRX is a pleasure to drive. The 6-cyl engine has more than enough power and the car is filled with luxury features. Quality throughout. Better gas mileage than comparable Japanese cars (except for hybrids). Very nice.

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  Finally Splurged - 2016 Cadillac XTS
  By David Coleman - June 27 - 5:22 pm

  There were limited sources for the Premium model when I was ready to buy, there were lots of Luxurys available however the bells and whistles of the Premium kept it my choice to buy.

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  Better than expected - 2007 Cadillac Escalade
  By Michael - June 27 - 12:35 pm

  The new Escalade is extremely impressive with 400hp, creature comforts galore, and attractive styling. The comfort level of the new Escalade is extremely high. The seats are a little flat with little side support, but amazing seat warmers make up for it, same with the second row. The GPS and rear view camera system is the best I have ever experienced, even better than other Cadillacs. The styling is far better inside and out than all other competitors. The engine sounds great and has decent pull for such a large vehicle, even though the amazing engine suffers in fuel economy. I average about 12 with mostly city and the occasional highway.

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  CTS 08 Gorgeous! - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By Christoph Capzi - June 26 - 8:00 pm

  Suspension on this car might be the best I have ever driven. The balance between handling and overall comfortable ride is spectacular. MPG has surprised as well with 22 combined!

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  Very nice - 2005 Cadillac Deville
  By very nice - June 26 - 8:37 am

  Nice car for the price. It is a large sedan and handles well for that category. Nice ride and features. Surprised that stabilitrak is not standard on the so called DHS. Plastic pieces seem rather cheaply manufactured. But overall still very much like this vehicle and would certainly buy again.

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  bells & whistles - 2017 Cadillac XT5
  By larry snyderman - June 25 - 12:31 pm

  takes a little while to get used to the operation of dashboard controls after a month I think I have it down not that happy with the shift lever operation but so far I have to say I love this car the lane keeping is very handy although if you take your hands off the steering wheel it tells you do no do that.also it shows you the distance you are from the car ahead of you in seconds but over all i love it a much better car than my old lincoln MKX

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  Love it - 2007 Cadillac Escalade
  By thompsrw - June 22 - 5:15 pm

  Ive had my 07 now for about 3 months. All in all I love it. Reading through a few reviews made me worried because of the reliability etc. Ive not had a single issue with mine. Only issue I have is the gas mileage. But lets be honest, were not buying an SUV this size for gas mileage. Turning radius is incredible, speed and power is perfect and the looks both in and out are top of the line- bar none. Expensive but worth it. Ive test driven and owned several other luxury SUVs - BMW, Navigator, Range Rover etc., and Im still glad I bought it.

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  Great Wheels - 2007 Cadillac Escalade
  By Hilbilly - June 21 - 7:44 pm

  Got my new Slade about a month ago. So far has 1000 miles. Love the power and comfort. The 403 hp enables me to quickly pass just about anything but a gas station. But I knew what I was in for and am pleasantly surprised by the highway mileage of 19 mpg. Around town its less but thats the price you pay. Seats are very comfortable and long drives are no problem. Love the audio/nav system and the muted ride when the road is a bit rough. But its still a truck. That said, theres absolutely no other vehicle IÂ’d rather have than this one. Three friend recently bought Toyota Sequoia, Lexus GX and Aston Martin. Ill take my Escalade over them any day.

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  2006 DTS Performance Sedan - 2006 Cadillac DTS
  By Lloyd - June 20 - 8:43 am

  Awsome vehicle very comfortable with performance and great handling. The Performance edition with the larger engine gives a little extra punch, the ride is much better with the enhanced suspension and ride package, takes bumps and railroad tracks with ease. Brakes very well stops on a dime while holding the road. Navagation system combined with onstar is easy to use and very accurate. Bose soundsystem with centerpoint sounds awsome especially with XM or a CD in play. I am very comfortable in my driver seat for a long drive thanks to 8 way power seats with memory and the cooling and massage features.

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  My first Cadillac, and not my last! - 2007 Cadillac SRX
  By TX Lady - June 15 - 3:04 pm

  I absolutely love my SRX! I looked at these for two years before finally taking the plunge with a 2007 V6 with the third row power folding seat. I wasnt sure I really wanted an SUV since I had driven a luxury sedan for years, but the transition was effortless. My husband wanted me to get the Ecalade but I felt that was just too big but the SRX is perfect! The ride is wonderful, and I have no problem parking and turning like you can have with other large SUVs.