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:
Showing 1021 through 1030 of 4,788.00-
SRX V8 Review - 2004 Cadillac SRX
By Mark Meyers - May 22 - 2:00 amAwesome Vehicle with good handling. Has good acceleration at wide open throttle.Would highly recommend.
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I bought American with NO regrets !! - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
By Musicwine - May 22 - 2:00 amAn American SUV that blows away all the competition. The engine is smooth and powerful. Looks are incomparable and amenities are abundant. Great company, great service and great SUV. I am picky and still highly recommend this wonderful vehicle. Pricey but well worth the cost of admission !! I am so happy with Cadillac that I am turning in my Mercedes S430 for another Cadillac
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Oh Yea - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
By Mikla - May 22 - 2:00 amThe 2004 Escalade is a pleasure to look at and drive. It offers comfort, ease of controls, safety, more than adequate hauling capacity both interior and exterior. It provides a commanding view of the roadway for the driver and is easily controlled given its size. The fuel consumption is around 12 mpg city, but what do you expect for a large SUV. The luxury and comfort and handling abilty are worth the cost.
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07 Escalade - 2007 Cadillac Escalade
By Brandon James - May 21 - 4:27 pmHad it for about 1 1/2 months. Drive it as often as I can. Always look forwad to getting into it. The ride is smooth, quite and comfortable.
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SRX Smokes - 2004 Cadillac SRX
By DavisFamily - May 21 - 10:46 amGreat car to drive. Drive both the V8 and V6...big diff. with the 8 in performance, little diff. in fuel economy. Tight suspension, similar feel to the Acura we traded. I would highly recommend.
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A Huge Step Up - 2008 Cadillac CTS
By A HUGE step up - May 21 - 4:43 amI have owned quite a few cars over the past 20 years all in the luxury market. I do alot of driving a year with pharm. sales. I would say in my experience this is one of the best cars Ive driven for the money. Great performance and handling, easy to use features, feels luxury unlike in my opinon the previous CTS. An awesome ride.
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Eldorado Owner - 1994 Cadillac Eldorado
By Joezaier565 - May 19 - 10:16 pmVery pleased with the performance and power of this vehicle! My first Cadillac, originally wanted or was most interested in obtaining a Seville, but opportunity to purchase my Eldorado instead and upon seeing it wanted to own and havent been dissapointed with it yet, with the occassional exception of problem with dash lighting.
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What a blast - 2000 Cadillac Eldorado
By pketch - May 19 - 11:22 amBought used off lease. ETC Crims Pearl.How did I get so lucky? Drives like you would expect. First year aluminum roller rocker followers. The use of premium fuel is not required. A real plus with fuel getting ready to $4. Gas milage is great for the size and power. Under estimated by EPA. 22+ around town 28+ on the road. Transmission has to be one of the best. The shift is almost unnoticible. But best off all they tell you at GM to drive it like you stole it. The G force when you punch it will set you back in your set. The styling, being that GM tried to emulate the 67 (first year) I say they nailed it. Those classic lines are all over it. In short love the car, love to drive it
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Love it! - 2016 Cadillac ELR
By Jeff Bauman - May 16 - 12:56 pmI knew this would be an awesome car. Mis-understood by the market. I have owned several Cadis. This one has the nicest interior. Show stopping exterior. There is lots of talk out there about lack of horsepower. I am thrilled with the "pick-up". Being electric, the torque is really awesome! I can punch holes in traffic easily and I leave everyone in the dust at stoplights. Does NOT feel underpowered at all. My commute to work allows me to use electric only. WOW!
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srx appraisal - 2004 Cadillac SRX
By ler - May 16 - 2:00 amTruly surprised at the quality and performance. Styling is unique and features are very surprising. Cant wait to drive in an extremely heavy snowfall. The all wheel drive and handling feels like you are "glued" to the road.
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