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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  excellent! - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By firstcaddy - November 6 - 2:00 am

  ive had this car one week and would not trade it for anything. got the 5 speed manual and runs awesome. very comfortable seats and excellent engine power at any speed. only two things to modify: the glove box is too small, and the car revs too high at highway speeds in 5th gear: either add a 6th gear, or change the 5th speed gear to get better gas mileage. everything else about the car rocks!

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  2008 Cadillac CTS is fantastic! - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By joe2306 - November 5 - 5:16 pm

  I have now had my 2008 CTS for about 10 days. I took delivery of a black with black leather with the 304 horsepower engine and all wheel drive that also has the 18 inch wheel package with all season tires and the upgraded suspension, etc. I also have the premium luxury collection (PDQ) that includes almost every option available on the car. For background, I have owned the Lexus 400 series, the BMW 7 series, the BMW 5 series, the Audi A6 4.2, the Audi A8 and a number of other similar cars. This car is every bit as nice, particularly when you compare the price This car is fantastic. It is beautiful inside and out and the stereo and nav functions are great and easy to use. Go see it!

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  STS is Dynamite! - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By MATT B - November 4 - 8:18 pm

  The standard personal choices via the touchscreen, and unbelievable ride and power of the 6-cylinder engine, have truly amazed me. We are really, really happy with this car. I am only 34 years old, and will buy over and over again, if Caddy stays on this course!

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  Best Bang for the Buck - 2007 Cadillac CTS
  By LYLE - November 3 - 2:23 pm

  I have this car for two weeks now and I am very satisfied with it. I hate when some people write a review on a car without ever owning it. Thats just plain hot air. If you are looking for Detroit quality, this is the one. Mine is loaded with all available options including DVD navigation. Two major options are the 17" wheel sport package, which by the way is the only wheel package that you can get with the navigation system and the 3.6 luxury package. I was luck enough to find the car in stock at a dealer in New Jersey. Apparently, not too many are ordered like this one in white diamond with all the bells and whistles. I literally bought this car over the phone. Not to bad for Detroit Iron.

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  Blissed-out BLING! - 2007 Cadillac Escalade
  By SUPERRPH - November 2 - 9:45 pm

  I love this truck! My 9 year old son calls her the Escalady, what a lady she is! I have driven my 2007 Escalade for 6 months and 12,000 miles. I still cant get over all of the yearning stares (male and female, young and old) and comments about what a beautiful vehicle it is. After all the Escalade is at the top of the food chain. Power is delivered smoothly over the entire power curve. The engine runs quietly at cruising speeds. Push down your right foot and experience spirited acceleration along with a throaty harmonic sound of unbridled power and arrogance. Its fand finish is luxurious. The import luxury SUVs dont even come close! I looked at them all! Cadillac is back on top.

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  Great Car - 2000 Cadillac Deville
  By Rich H - November 1 - 12:08 pm

  I bought this car from an auction and I love it. I have had no problems so far. This is my 3ed Cadillac, I had two Eldorados before this one, but I had many problems with the other two. Its performance is great and so is its handling. You have a lot of confidence behind the wheel. It is also a very nice looking car, the people who I worked with thought it was a Mercedes. I just laughed.

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  Next Generation Cadillac - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Joe Fuller - November 1 - 10:00 am

  The 0% financing closed the deal for me in April. I put an Altima and the CTS side by side in my driveway. While the Altima was quick and looks nice too, it cant compare to the "wow" factor of the CTS. The CTS is tight, quick and fun to drive. I didnt see another one on the road for two days. Lots of people commented on my new car at work. Im 46 and its perfect for me.

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  Great Car - 1996 Cadillac Seville
  By Arthur - October 31 - 2:35 pm

  I paid over $45,000 for this car brand new so I hoped that it would be worth it and it was. There are so many features it is amazing and they all work well. The Northstar engine still runs like it is new with 139,000 miles on it. I have been very fortunate and not had any problems with the oil burning.

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  First time truck owner - 2007 Cadillac SRX
  By HB Gourley - October 30 - 12:02 pm

  I picked up my new 07 SRX on 10/28/06 and it is a very nice ride. I ordered one with the 5.1 surround sound and DVD player. The ride is controlled and very quiet with power to spare. The 6-speed automatic transmission seems to be better on gas than my 06 XLR with same 320 horses and the five speed automatic.

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  Great Handling! Great Ride! - 2006 Cadillac SRX
  By Rick t. - October 29 - 1:08 am

  The more we drive this Cadillac, the more we like it. It really handles well. I cant stress this enough. It is a tight, nimble vehicle. Its acceleration is very acceptable for a V6. The huge sunroof is enjoyable and we find ourselves using it almost all the time. It is easy to park and not as bulky feeling like full size SUVs. Its gas mileage has been 22-23 mpg highway and 16 around town. We do drive fast and live in a hilly area of So Cal.