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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  Some things to learn from Olds... - 1997 Cadillac Seville
  By R. Gotfried - October 31 - 11:22 pm

  Bought my STS 2 yrs ago, with 50,000 mi. in great shape. The STS has great styling. People ask me what it is and what year, as it still looks sharp. Ive had problems with oil burn since I got it & have to top it up several times between oil changes. A few of my beefs relate to the stupidity of GM not sharing some good features between similar vehicles. My last car was a fully dressed 1997 (same year) Olds LSS..I called it a baby Caddy, as the interiors were almost identical! The superior features: 1) Double folding sun visors for side/front coverage 2) Reading lights in centre iso above window 3) Hole in rear arm rest to allow for skis/longer items to pass thru Learn from Olds!

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  Gas Guzzler - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By Poor Gas Mileage - October 29 - 2:25 pm

  This vehicle guzzles gas worse than an SUV. Dont be fooled. It doesnt get anywhere near the 18 city/26 highway. Im currently getting around 16 MPG in mostly highway driving. The vehicle has an 18 gallon tank that will only take you around 230 miles. Dont buy or lease this car if you are concerned about the environment or your own vehicle ownership costs!

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  Really fun to drive - 2017 Cadillac XT5
  By Ruth - October 29 - 2:21 am

  I upgraded from a Honda CRV (which was great). However, in this car I feel like a queen. I really like the safety features that tell me that a car or pedestrian is approaching and from where. When there is a danger, the driver seat vibrates that alerts you to look at instruments to see what the problem is. I was disappointed that there is no CD player. CDs may be on the way out, but most of us still have favorite CDs. It would be nice to be able to use them. Also, I was disappointed that no spare tire (unless it is purchased as an addition) or donut was provided. I only received a can of "stuff" to inflate my tire. However, Cadillac does provide excellent roadside assistance so I wont have to purchase that with my insurance. All in all, I am extremely pleased with this purchase and would recommend it to anyone who would like a really neat SUV.

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  Love It! - 2000 Cadillac Deville
  By Caddy Lover - October 29 - 12:52 am

  This is an awesome vehicle! This is my fourth Cadillac and it carries the tradition perfectly. The mirrors tilting can be controlled by the feature programming as can most functions and are programmable to seat memory. the new design is good: still looks like a big ole Cadillac but is modernized and stylish. Peeforms well for a large vehicle and comfort has always been Cadillacs benchmark. has about 80k miles and runs like a clock standard maintenance only! uses some oil about 1.5 quarts per change but is not bad giving the volume it starts with (almost 7!). I hope to keep this car as long as possible and keep it next to my Fleetwood Brougham until my son can drive it. Cadillacs Always!

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  Lots to Love About an Escalade EXT - 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By miriam wright - October 28 - 6:56 am

  I purchased my 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT on September 25, 2004. It has been the best and most fun vehicle I have ever owned. It handles like a dream and looks fabulous!!!

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  Dads old Car - 1990 Cadillac Deville
  By Dancingfox - October 27 - 4:11 pm

  Dad had to almost pay the dealership to take this car, so he gave it to me. Im 30, two kids, so no payment vehicle is a plus, but to my surprise this is an amazing car. Down side is gas milage, and locks for the car seats. Upside, reliability, and I can still fix 90% of the problems cause everything isnt computerized like my 2003 Impala. Good ride, Nice features for a 1990. More so than my 2003 really. Good solid engine with massive power. A real good car.

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  Love my SRX crossover - 2008 Cadillac SRX
  By RJ - October 27 - 2:35 pm

  I love how this SRX handles and rides. I test drove the Lincoln MKX which did not compare to the ride of the Cadillac SRX. I have 6500 miles and drive six (6) hours to my cottage in Michigan. It is a treat to drive that distance now. The interior is gorgeous and everyone always compliments the vehicles overall appearance. Great job Cadillac. The Bose sound system is like nothing I have ever experienced. I cannot wait for winter to see how it performs with the AWD feature. It is really a fun car to drive. My wife loves the SRX and especially the black exterior I chose.

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  King Of The Road - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By Scottiro - October 27 - 11:22 am

  After shopping used CTSs for about 1 year- I finally purchased a Pearl 04 CTS (w/black leather). The reviews have been great on this vehicle and the craftsmanship is extraordinary. I bought my Caddy with 60K on it but paid about 4K under blue book. So far, so good. I previously drove a Jeep Wrangler so this is an entirely different experience.

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  Classic look, but impractical. BEWARE! - 1993 Cadillac Allante
  By goguidogo - October 27 - 10:35 am

  I hear that new parts for the Cadillac Allante body are out of production, and no plans are being made to produce more since so few Allantes were ever manufactured. If you buy an Allante and have any trouble with it in a wreck or with normal use, you may be out of luck when it comes to finding replacement parts for the body. The Allante is a classic beauty, but it was not a well-thought-out car. It is very impractical, and the interior pieces are of cheap plastic that do not withstand wear. The 93 Allante is the best one to own. Great power/performance! GM put the right powertrain and transaxle in it,but the car is overly-complicated and the computer systems are not reliable.

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  2008 CTS DI - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By Jim G - October 26 - 10:46 pm

  Great vehicle to drive. A bit heavy but it feels good once it gets rolling... AWD takes a bit of performance away. I swear my 2007 (non-DI is quicker and faster) But a truly great car. Love the entire redesign.