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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  GMs hard at work - 2009 Cadillac CTS
  By kwbaron - December 20 - 5:25 am

  These are concerns expressed on this blog that no longer exist in this vehicle. Flash to pass is on this vehicle and it works with the HID high beams, I believe an industry first. Bluetooth is standard. It is now impossible to step on the brake and gas pedal at the same time. There is a single address book for the Bluetooth, navigation and OnStar systems. I compaired this vehicle to a Infinity 37x, Acura TL, and Lexus GS 350. All are excellent vehicles. Only the CTS DI AWD has the interior luxury of the Lexus (done in the distinctly GM style), the performance and efficiency of the direct injection engine (it runs on regular gas) and handling characterics of a European sedan.

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  German piece of... - 1998 Cadillac Catera
  By German piece of.... - December 18 - 7:36 pm

  Ive always liked the body style and actually fell in love. This car changed my driving habits (I actually became more patient and more aware of other drivers) but it didnt last long. I only got to enjoy my Catera for a year. After I bought it is when I found out is worthless. To this day Im still paying on it but cant drive it. Overheated five days after I bought it (dealership paid for repair) transmission was slipping, engine started knocking, A/C quit, low gear would kick in automatically while stopped, and first battery died all of sudden for no reason.

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  Prettiest pile of junk I ever owned - 1992 Cadillac Eldorado
  By bob - December 16 - 6:22 pm

  This is a beautiful car but that beauty is only skin deep. Below the skin is a mechanical junk pile of the poorest engineeering I have ever seen and I am an engineer. I thought I was buying the ultimate in American automotive engineering. In 110,000 miles I have gone thru 3 alternators, 4 water pumps, at least 5 serpentine belts, one catalytic converter and numerous failures to pass smog tests. The drivers side window does not operate properly. The radio, Bose system, is all snap, crackle and pop. Oh, and now the drivers side view mirror does not work, and the heater has given up. Like I said, it is the prettiest pile of junk I have ever owned.

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  You should know... - 1990 Cadillac Allante
  By craigster - December 16 - 10:10 am

  Besides being an obsolete car and no longer supported by GM for many parts, my Allante was not very good. Until the Northstar engine, in the last model year, the performance was very weak for a V8. It has consistent and continuing problems with its electrical and braking systems (anti-lock accumulator). When I did need a part (like a key which was previously mentioned by another owner) it was hard to get as well. As many have said, I loved the look of this car and thought it would be a collectible - but it is not. It is basically an orphaned model which GM would rather forget they ever made. So I am now trying to unload it but with little success. Just some words to the wise, folks.

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  STEFANIES BO BO - 2004 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By STEFANIE - December 15 - 10:00 am

  IT IS A GREAT CAR AND IT RIDES VERY SMOOTHY ALSO IT LOOKS GOOD.....VERY

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  EXT - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By TCIGAR - December 15 - 10:00 am

  GREAT VEHICLE FUN TO DRIVE ON THE OPEN ROAD

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  First American car ever in 16 years - 2009 Cadillac CTS
  By cts fan - December 12 - 11:40 pm

  I have had Toyota, Honda, Honda, Mini, Scion, VW and Honda. This is my first upgrade into the luxury category and I was thinking of a Lexus until I drove my new CTS. This car has it all. Looks, design, comfort, fun factor, reliability and safety. And did I mention looks!. I absolutely love it so far. It is just amazing.

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  One of the Best Sports Sedans Made! - 2009 Cadillac CTS
  By PJR - December 12 - 6:10 pm

  The 09 CTS is an absolutely fantastic car! I compared it to BMW, Audi, and Mercedes and liked the CTS best - no contest. You give up nothing at all, and the car is significantly less expensive than its rivals. Fit/finish, ride, handling, power, comfort and features are all 1st rate. Unlike some of the imports, this car fits both taller drivers (Im 65") and shorter drivers (my wife is 53") very comfortably. Its really quiet on the road - no wind noise, squeaks, or rattles. The DI engine is responsive, powerful, and runs on regular gas. I frequently get comments from friends and co-workers: "You bought a what?!?" Then when I show it to them they say "Oh, now I get it. Great car!"

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  A dream come true - 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood
  By Devon - December 11 - 2:33 pm

  I am in hog heaven. This car is a dream come true. I just brought it from a one owner it looks brand new. It feels like I am floating when I drive it. My father got excited when he seen it. This car is showroom ready. I dont have to do nothing to it but drive. The first time I nailed the pedal the power of the 5.7 LT1 engine almost push me in the back seat. I am in love.

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  Our 2008 DTS - 2008 Cadillac DTS
  By L. Tong - December 10 - 9:52 pm

  We owned our third Cadillac on August 31, 2008. Overall the 2008 DTS is comfortable and the engine has a lot of get up ond go. However, 2008 DTS appears to be noiser than my previous 2002 Deville. From the front of the vehicle gear noise can be heard between 25-30mph. release the accelerator and the noise is gone. Below 25 or above 30 mph the gear noise cannot be heard. Suspect the transaxel. The side seat buckles in the back seat are set down too far making it difficult or next impossible for an average size adult to connect the latch to the buckle. Question, have the car companies stopped using undercoat on vehicles?