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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  Satisfying Fun Vehicle - 1990 Cadillac Allante
  By skinsfan - November 15 - 2:00 am

  This was once a bad ass car. Initially selling for $55,000 and up. The engine is a thing of beauty a durable strong 4.5L V8 with lots of power. The weakpoints on this vehicle would be the convertible top (was not manufactured durably enough as it leaks). The electronic system also has occasional flaws. And, because it comes standard with a Bose sound system, if you want to change anything, you must remove the entire system. All in all a very fun car to own, but not recommended for a day to day driving vehicle.

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  Cadillac Heritage - 2001 Cadillac Deville
  By dveer - November 14 - 2:00 am

  I traded in a 1996 DeVille for my 2001, so I use the 96 as my basis for comparison. I do miss the land yacht that was the 96. The 2001 has less elbow room than the 96. The two inches lost in width makes a big difference in the interior. OK, enough complaining. Once on the road, I find that the 2001 rides great! The tighter chassis set up gives the car a much more sporty feel. My gas mileage is still improving. (about 20 mpg overall)! Very Happy with the car.

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  Great car - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By mgoblue2 - November 12 - 2:00 am

  Our first caddy. Love this car. Handles great an overall wonderful car

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  Another leaking cadillac - 1997 Cadillac Deville
  By YankeeLady - November 8 - 2:00 am

  Have owned 3 Cadillacs all had fluid leaks. 92 needed new transmission and water pump before 40,000 miles. 97 needed water pump at 45k miles and had 3 batteries. Then it started to stall but dealer couldnt find anything wrong. A/C came out of defrost vents at times. With cost of car, it should not be a problem. With supposed quality, a much longer warranty should be given.

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  STAY AWAY from a used Catera - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By Birn - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I have a 97 Catera that I bought new. I like a lot except when it is in the shop, which has been quite often in the past year. Many things have gone wrong that shouldnt have gone wrong at all, or at least not so soon. My first car was a GM (86 Pontiac Sunbird), and I swore I would never buy another GM car. Now I remember why, and this time I really, really wont buy another GM. Cadillac had a good marketing strategy-- build a car for younger buyers and get them hooked on the Cadillac brand--but the strategy has backfired (at least as far as Im concerned) because of the poor quality of the car.

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  Unibody Cadillacs are Bad Cars - 1995 Cadillac Deville
  By 1995 Cadillac - November 3 - 2:00 am

  I had a 1991 that stalled while I was driving it so I traded it in with 65,000 miles to buy the 1995 as no one could repair the hazzardous problem. The 1995 deville did the exact same thing at 73,000 miles and it stalled while your driving it at highway and local speeds. This is a hazzard that all cars should be recalled. Horrible cars that look great. Buy a Lincoln towncar, they go forever and are safer cars.

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  First and Last Caddy - 2002 Cadillac Deville
  By clark6630 - October 26 - 2:00 am

  I have been a GM family member for 30 years and finally decided to buy what I thought was its best product--caddy deville. I like the power of the 32v Northstar, like the comfort of the interior(heated seats and all), the exterior is still growing on me--too much plastic/fiberglass/average paint. The sound system is okay--hides the engine noise when the A/C is on or during acceleration. Instruments are not impressive, but located in good places. Should have opted for the DTS. Column shift still growing on me too. Still should have gotten the DTS.

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  too many sensors - 1997 Cadillac Eldorado
  By D. Green - October 22 - 2:00 am

  bought on ebay. car has high miles, otherwise nice. love the car, but many sensors have gone out or have intermittent problems causing computer to turn on warning lights. A/C went out 3 times this summer, $900 to fix, still not real cold

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  Nice for a short time - 1997 Cadillac Deville
  By Andrew1 - October 22 - 2:00 am

  Driving long distances is a pure joy, the comfort of the cockpit is wonderful. However when a little problem arrises, the Dealership has money signs in their eyes. The braking system in conjunction with the traction system is poor. The acceleration is good. Overall I would rather short term lease this car, because after 60,000 miles you are in no mans land.

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  The car that has dollar signs in its eye - 1991 Cadillac Seville
  By jvillegurl - October 21 - 2:00 am

  At 175,000 miles, everything that can go wrong on this car has gone wrong. The brakes, the bearings, the speedometer, the whole electronical system all have gone out. I currently have 17 oil leaks and counting. I do not suggest buying this car unless you have a bank account with this cars name on it. Every repair is very expensive, just to change the 8 spark plugs its $300.00!!(In Florida)