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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  safe car - 1990 Cadillac Eldorado
  By JENNIEM - October 21 - 2:00 am

  I have had my eldorado for 4 years now and have had absolutley no major problems with it. It has been in three fender benders, which I was rearended, not one time did my car end up with more than a scratch. While the others had body damage. It has power that you wouldnt think an older town car would have. When you push it goes! The interior is roomy and comfortable enough to sleep in if you had to. Great car, Id recommend it to anyone. even at 180,000 miles it still runs strong and quiet at the same time.

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  disenchanted - 1997 Cadillac Seville
  By eyeswideopen - October 21 - 2:00 am

  Luckily I bought an extended warranty with this car. Nothing but trouble. In the three years that I have owned this car, I have been to the dealership 22 times. This is unacceptable. I never had anything this problematic when I drove cars made in Japan. Reliability and build quality are not a part of GM enginerering it would seem. I will never buy American again.

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  Reliable Review 85000 miles and counting - 1998 Cadillac Catera
  By sandman - October 17 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle has a safe, well controlled ride that inspires confidence. It is a little expensive to maintain (ie, tires, brakes every 40,000)if you drive alot of miles. It has been very reliable. Maintainence is important with this car!!! I have had several German cars and this 1 is no different. Early models 97s early 98s had some electrical issues. If buying used look for late 98 or newer. Car rivals small BMW, Mercedes if you get one without eletrical glitches. Excellent room comfort and ride. Good used car buy resale is poor due to early eletrical issues. Recall Out for timing belt issue. Be safe change timing belt every 75,000miles.

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  Buy Junk? Buy car from r kitchen! - 1999 Cadillac Deville
  By jpm - October 16 - 2:00 am

  No lemon here. White Diamond with excellent looks and great performance for us 40+ somethings in the world. Still like the de Ville for sure. Would love to have more time on my warranty, as I only have 25000 miles on the car!!! And I bought the certified extended warranty!!! Every forty something should have one!

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  eldorado - 1996 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Steve Miller - October 13 - 2:00 am

  These car is extremely fun to drive albeit the 300hp ETC tends to "nosetail" at full push. Get it with Bose system and the ride only gets better. It lumbers in evasive manuevers, but the sheer "push you back in your seat" will impress. This car depreciates so bad, its a great buy in any used condition. Reliability?? Too much fun to think about the fact this car has 3 fuseboxes.

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  eldorado - 1996 Cadillac Eldorado
  By steve miller - October 13 - 2:00 am

  These car is extremely fun to drive albeit the 300hp ETC tends to "nosetail" at full push. Get it with Bose system and the ride only gets better. It lumbers in evasive manuevers, but the sheer "push you back in your seat" will impress. This car depreciates so bad, its a great buy in any used condition. Reliability?? Too much fun to think about the fact this car has 3 fuseboxes.

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  Car with Class yet Fun to Drive - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By John M. Gallant - October 10 - 2:00 am

  The looks and style shows class on the outside. Behind the wheel you can feel the workmanship. Maybe a little under powered, but the handling makes up for that. This car corners and stays flat and very stable.

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  98 Concours White Diamond - 1998 Cadillac Deville
  By JJR - October 6 - 2:00 am

  Love the color & sporty interior with big car room, chrome wheels +, Been in shop 8 times in 6 mos, air cond EVC,Heater core,sensors,starter,dont know if car or My Caddy dealer is the problem? 41,290 miles.

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  Another dripping Cadillac - 1997 Cadillac Deville
  By dublinlady - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Cadillacs are supposed to be well-made luxury vehicles. Ive owned 3 and they have all had a fluid leak at less than 50,000 miles on all. My 1992 needed a new transmission at less than 40k miles, and my 1997 had oil leak and needed new water pump at less than 45k miles. 3 batteries in the 1997. Then, the a/c started blowing out the defrost vents. Noisy brakes, hestitating. Then it started stalling out. Car now gone.

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  Maybe not perfect, but something special - 1992 Cadillac Fleetwood
  By Viclane - October 1 - 2:00 am

  This is the first Cadillac Ive owned, but Ive had the opportunity to drive several. I love this car, it has class and smart lines at the same time. Mine has a few problems to fix, like the ABS control module and computer ride, but the performance of the V8 is outstanding and even with shocks that need replacing it rides great. The Bose Gold CD system is great except I have one rear speaker that is bad. The handling of this large car is outstanding for its size.