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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  Head gasket blues - 1994 Cadillac Deville
  By jtropics - July 15 - 2:00 am

  Sure, I bought the car as is and I knew there would be some problems, but I did not think that the head gasket was shot and would cost me an additional $3000 to fix. Coolant was leaking into the engine and the car overheated every few miles. Private repair shops sent me back to the dealer who basically said "too bad"...if I want to keep the car, I have to pay for the repair.

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  J529HS REVIEW - 2000 Cadillac Escalade
  By J.D. - July 12 - 2:00 am

  GREAT VEHICLE. I HAS A LOT OF POWER. NOT GREAT ON GAS IN THE CITY, BUT EXCELLENT ON THE HIGHWAY.

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  IF you get a lemon - make lemonade!! - 2002 Cadillac Escalade
  By Street - July 11 - 2:00 am

  We havent even owned this vehichle for 11 months and it has been in the shop 6 times for multiple mechanical and electrical problems. In fact, it is currently in the shop for its 3rd A/C system and after giving 55,000 for this vehicle, Cadillac wouldnt offer me a loaner vehicle. The car has been in the shop for almost 2 weeks now, while I have nothing to drive and still paying 1000/month payment.

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  94 STS Review - 1994 Cadillac Seville
  By gridley7 - July 9 - 2:00 am

  Overall the quality of the vehicle is top notch, but I have had the transmission and A/C Compressor replaced in the last year. Both were very expensive repairs, but worth it considering the overall value of the car. All repairs are expensive. I would own another STS, but not without a warranty.

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  glassjaw - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By rainman - July 9 - 2:00 am

  It has had nearly all of the interior plastic knobs and parts replaced. Brake job at 23k mi. Door lock on driver side easily gets out of sync and freezes. Leaks oil currently. I have had it at the dealership just about every 3000mi for an oil change and something else that has gone wrong. But it was usu. under the extendend warr. With all of this I still love the car.

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  Better then Hyundia - 2001 Cadillac Catera
  By Tamerack - July 9 - 2:00 am

  Traded it from a Elantra for a bigger family car. The key already broke and the battery already died. The cheap Korean car didnt have those problems.

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  30 Years of Caddies... - 1993 Cadillac Deville
  By Tinnituskid - July 9 - 2:00 am

  and this one is my favorite. Bought this car new and have been driving it constantly (125,000 miles). Audio is spectacular, big V8 provides good pickup for such a large vehicle. Ride is still smooth and the seats have lazy boy caliber comfort. Decent highway gas mileage, cheap to fix, seats many comfortably/safely.

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  2000 deville - 2000 Cadillac Deville
  By kwili - July 9 - 2:00 am

  a real nice car, fun to drive, very responsive and very comfortable.

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  Great car... very under-rated! - 2001 Cadillac Catera
  By Downsize - July 5 - 2:00 am

  The person who posted on 4/13/03 must be nuts or probably drove the car into the ground. Giving it "4"s on the interior and exterior design--whyd you buy it? I recently purchased mine used and found it to be a GREAT buy. Orignally 36K and got it for $18K with only 9000 miles. Runs great, rides great, has a ton of features I didnt expect and never had a problem but then again I respect and take care of my vehicles.

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  Lots of bugs after 40k miles - 1998 Cadillac Catera
  By bill1 - July 4 - 2:00 am

  Lots of small problems which are expensive to replace. Difficult engine compartment in which to work.