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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  This Car Stinks! - 2001 Cadillac Catera
  By mo - September 26 - 7:34 am

  Do not buy the Catera! It is the absolute worst car ever. I have had problems from the radio not working to replacing head gaskets. The car has probably been in the repair shop at least twice a month since I got it. Please do not purchase this car!

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  Not Very Good - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Serango - September 6 - 8:36 pm

  My 05 Cadillac SRX makes terrible noises that dealerships cant locate. The noises sound like grinding metal.

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  A Mechanics Dream - 2000 Cadillac Catera
  By lizzyb - August 14 - 12:21 pm

  This car stayed in towed more than it stayed on the road. Every time you fix one problem, another problem arises. The tow guy and I were on a first name basis. As a matter of fact, I had his number on speed dial. It is the worst piece of junk that I have ever owned. Cadillac really messed up with this one. They need to go back to the drawing board.

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  Lemons - 1997 Cadillac Deville
  By Fletch - July 1 - 11:10 am

  My DeVille had roughly 900 miles and the front tire rim and all went flying across 3 lanes of traffic. I bought the car new off the dealers show room floor and its title stated 3 miles, but the odometer read 35 miles. I drove it for less than 5 minutes when we noticed a vibration in the front end, took the car back 5 or 6 times then the front tire came flying off. I wanted paper work for all the times the car was back in the shop, but the dealer wouldnt give it to us since they KNEW for a fact they sold us a lemon. With 35 miles on the car somnone from the dealer had to know there was a vibration and the car had flaws, also a new car should have 5 miles or less when titled we got hosed big time.

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  Avoid at all Costs - 1998 Cadillac Catera
  By AVOID AT ALL COSTS - June 14 - 2:09 pm

  Ive had this car 3+ months, it only had 67,000 miles when I bought it. I have already spent $900 for a new radiator becuase an electrical short caused the fans to quit, causing the radiator to fail. Ive put a new battery in it, costing $150. Today, I am spending $600 on new brakes, rotors, and sensors. Possibly more once they have had to look at the back brakes. The AC doesnt work, power steering fails on twisty roads, and there is a short in the electrical system causing the radio and interior lights not to work unless the key is in the off position. And the vehicle now only has 71,000 miles. Not to mention the heated seats are out as well. Whats next, Im working two jobs just to pay for repairs.

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  Never again - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By Jeff - June 10 - 9:20 am

  I thought this car would be fun and practical. I have the STS 4, all wheel drive. I have owned it for 7 months and have already made four trips to the dealer and the issues are still not corrected. I have had on-going problems with the all wheel drive and leaks, seals, etc. It has excessive wind noise (which is a a joke for a $60,000 car, my Honda is much quieter). My car has a horrible issue with its acceleration / transmission and the engine nearly seeming to stall out when I want to accelarate on turns and corners. It has a poor HVAC system. It would take a librarian 6 weeks of reading to figure out all the electronics on the car and how to use them. The interior is way too small. Plus there is no back seat space. I am not happy.

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  Keep AWAY from this Car - 1998 Cadillac Catera
  By LeeinATL - May 23 - 10:08 am

  This car has been a nightmare since I purchased it! The stack of paper from repair work is as thick as a book. The trade in value for the car is as much as the repairs it needs to be able to trade it. I have spent so much on the car that I could have bought another in the time I have owned it. I was even advised by the head of a local Cadillac dealer to get rid of it. This car has been a nightmare for GM and they are not standing behind it.

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  An Example of why GM is failing - 2006 Cadillac SRX
  By fdoamerica - April 14 - 8:05 am

  Problems ... shut the door the side mirror dislocates. The drivers door has a 1/2 inch gap between side panels ... where is the quality control? The performance is anemic and the handling heavy with an understear. This is Cadillac, the flagship name of GM?

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  CTS Howls and Whines - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By Len Turi - March 17 - 9:30 am

  My CTS howls and whines at all speeds and RPMs. Cadillac states that this is 100% within its standards and is characteristic of the vehicle. This does not give me peace of mind that the car is operating safely.

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  GM/Cadillac Could Care LESS! - 2005 Cadillac Escalade
  By CrappyCad - February 14 - 4:23 am

  My 2005 Escalade has been in the shop 9 times within a 7 month period for various problems. Now Caddy says they wont fix the whistling noise in the engine, the continuous buzzing of the navigation system, the clunking of the transmission and the blurry, defective driver side mirror. I was told I have to live with it. I hope no GM/Cadillac customer will just "live with" poor quality. From one Caddy customer to all the others...they will NOT back their product. They have over 120 technical service bulletins for just the 2005 Escalade alone, while most vehicles have maybe 10-20 a year. Oh, and GMs customer service stinks! Yeah, Im mad!