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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  good vehicle - 2000 Cadillac Escalade
  By Erma - September 8 - 2:00 am

  this vehicle drives and rides good,classie vehicle air conditioning and heating could be inproved more comfort for each passenger

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  Nickel and Dime - 1996 Cadillac Seville
  By Wammie - September 5 - 2:00 am

  This car can nickel and dime you to death. In 2 years of owning this car I have had problems with... Suspension, Transmission, Driver Seat Conroll Module, Passenger Door Lock, Trunk Pull Down (Worst car feature ever), Starter, Electric windows.

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  Beauty and the Beast - 1994 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Adrock - August 27 - 2:00 am

  This car is Jekel & Hyde. Shes gorgeous and eats mustangs and camaros for breakfast, very fast. After a few years, with excellent upkeep, the interior seems to be falling apart. If you can find a one-owner owned by some old folks, buy it. If it has multiple owners or over 60k miles, stay away- things are getting ready to break one after another

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  Just little probs.... - 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By The Naked Truth - August 25 - 6:30 pm

  The Ext is great, but it does have its problems. The knobs on the midgate window support (when folding down the back seats) are prone to break off, leaving your glass "less than secure" while hauling. The power windows sometimes seem to work harder than necessary (mine was on the front pass. side). The locking mechanism on the embedded side boxes have failed on both sides, never staying quite locked, and will blow open at highway speeds(however, Ive only experienced this while riding without the cargo securing sections on the truck). The leather is nice, but the carpeting is 2nd grade. Drivers side control for outside power mirrors is "jinky" for lack of precise movement

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  more than a few problems - 1996 Cadillac Seville
  By ppd1969 - August 5 - 2:00 am

  Ive had to replace A/C compressor, have had electrical problems w/ windows, doors(remote) and trunk actuator, check oil level light never clears. Other than that is fine.

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  The best ride - 2000 Cadillac Escalade
  By T HALL - August 3 - 2:00 am

  you know what Ive owned Chevrolet,GMC,jimmys and they all just fall apart .Several months after my purchase of GMC, I noticed rattling noise while driving. Sometimes I think the doors are going to fly open. Not a peaceful roadtrip vehicle! ever so comfortable this truck has the power with out all noise great on roadtrips and it has every thing you need in a truck but the only thing I mite not like about the truck is its so nice that you dont want to take it off roading .and the service that you get with a Cadillac theres no comparison .

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  STS - 1999 Cadillac Seville
  By Jgordon - July 31 - 2:00 am

  Had to get things replaced like an airbag light came up on the dashboard. When speed up to 60-70MPH it would rattle (got fixed) After a long drive shut it off and then you try to start it up again and it takes about 2-3 tries. Overall a good ride.

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  200 Seville - 2000 Cadillac Seville
  By jbm - July 26 - 2:00 am

  MY car would stall when it was going really slow...coasting, etc. It was repaired under warranty. Something to do with slow torque...... Otherwise it has been one of my favorite cars. My first favorite was my 1989 Seville.

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  Nice car - 1996 Cadillac Deville
  By caboose - July 25 - 2:00 am

  The only thing I wish that childrens car seats fit better. We also have had many computer problems with this car, like speeding up on its own, overriding my options in heat/air control.

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  etc eldorado - 1999 Cadillac Eldorado
  By player - July 22 - 2:00 am

  luxry with performance will sum up this vehicle in one sentence. bought this vehicle used with 25,000 miles 2 yrs old and was nothing but a nightmare the dealer was wonderful took care of all my problems but got tired of going there every month. To many electrical problems (car wouldnt start,windows2x,power seat,cruise control 3x, stabilty control 4 attempts before it got fixed,etc. traded for something more reliable