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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  I like my CTS - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By Margaret - May 4 - 12:56 am

  I have only had my Cadillac CTS for 22 days, but I already like the way it handles. It has a short turn radius, and I like the way it responds with the speed I need when I need it. It is a pleasure to drive - a great car.

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  I like my CTS - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By Margaret - May 4 - 12:56 am

  I have only had my Cadillac CTS for 22 days, but I already like the way it handles. It has a short turning radius, and I like the way it responds with the speed that I need when I need it. It is a pleasure to drive, a great car.

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  First Year Glitches - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By deco drive - March 25 - 10:00 am

  I love the way the car handles, though has a blind spot in the middle of the auto when pulling out. The CTS has handled great but am discovering some mechanical problems with it after owning it for a year. It is now in the shop for 5 days for water intrusion into the interior of the auto from the a/c system. The passenger side set frame is rusted from the water damage and the carpet needs to be replaced. This is not something I consider a minor glitch and hopefully is in isolated manufacturing problems with the a/c system. I would consider a 2004 CTS but would not recommend a 2003 CTS.

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  great car - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By bigt519 - March 7 - 2:00 am

  great to drive , sun roof is fun. very fast scary fast will get speeding tixs with this super wagon. looks have to grow on you interior very roomy.

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  CTS #2 - 2016 Cadillac CTS
  By broberts - January 25 - 10:39 am

  Liking the car so far (1month now). The fuel saving feature - where the engine cuts off at a stop - is a pain. Glad there is an override feature. The SUV does not have the override and that was at least one of the eliminating features for me to consider that vehicle. Very nice acceleration. Good gas mileage so far.

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  You get what you pay for... - 2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By Lovemyext - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Ive only had this truck for less than a week and I am totally in love. Ive owned numorus Cadillac cars over the years and I was always impressed with the level of comfort. However, I have always owed a pickup truck as well. Now, this way I can kill two birds with one stone. My EXT might not get as many looks as an H2. But I know for a fact the guy behind the wheel of that H2 is not NEARLY as comfortable as I am in this truck. And the H2 might be bigger but I also know I can out run him with the awsome power this caddy has under its hood.

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  05 srx - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By bankrez - September 12 - 9:26 am

  have only driven new car 1400 miles....so info pretty much estimated. to this point drive is very good. interior storage space is very Poor. mileage in city good at 16.5 on road 21.7....ok. have had 4 other cadillacs, this auto does not surpass others in any way.

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  V8 Hybrid - 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
  By Rajjoub - August 19 - 9:36 am

  It is pretty SUV with a nice drive. I love the hybrid. The driver can not listen to CD player when the children using the DVD? The Bluetooth system is not very good. It does not pull up contact list, does not allow you to use the car keypad number, and there is difficulty pairing the 3G i Phone from apple

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  A great little SUV - 2013 Cadillac SRX
  By Larry Schadle - August 15 - 2:55 pm

  A great over the road car.... Good mileage, 24-26 highway and 20-21 city... Comfortable for 400 mile runs and great looking.... It drives great with very little correction needed to keep it straight. One bad wheel bearing since my last review.......

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  ext. review - 2004 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By serg - July 31 - 10:00 am

  love the car. I got the big rims and tires on it, get attention every where i drive it. Enjoy the the way i could convert it to a classy car at night and enjoy the pick up truck option.