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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  CTS 09 FOR $39,000 Is Outstanding! - 2009 Cadillac CTS
  By Darren Cimino - October 25 - 8:26 pm

  Folks, GM/Cadillac is offering incredible cash back pricing on the CTS. I was able to load up fully and remain under 40 Grand. Cannot believe BMW or Mercedes is not having a heart attack over this American car. Absolutely love this vehicle running on regular gasoline!

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  I love the 91 Seville - 1991 Cadillac Seville
  By n. fanning - October 24 - 12:41 pm

  I just bought a cherry 91 to replace my old one. The car is perfect in every way, but must not be neglected. It is beautiful, powerful, fast and nimble. Everything about it fits me.

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  2008 cadillac escalade 4WD - 2008 Cadillac Escalade
  By doug delano - October 24 - 10:36 am

  Not sure where to begin, this is my 2nd slade and the best. GM does need to give this monster motor multi-displacement and possibly engine off at idle, but appreciate its ability to run on mid grade nicely and regular in a pinch with no problems. 3rd seat layout is a joke and it went in my mini storage the 2nd day. Exhaust note at idle and low rpm is absolutely beautiful! And at freeway speeds muffler tech. makes the hearty growl disappear (Huh, howd they do that ?) Ive got 6600 miles on this brute and oil life is still projected at 38% left. Pretty cool with factory oil, and it hasnt used a drop.So much more to praise ride/sound/build/comfort/Power/etc qualities. Platinum model next

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  Stick shift Caddy - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By Stan Thompson - October 24 - 12:31 am

  The car is very responsive, solidly crafted, and in black with chrome rims is gorgeous. The stick shift has loosened up nicely after the first forty-five days. Seating is very comfortable and two hour drives produce zero stiffness.

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  Good traveling vehicle - 2011 Cadillac STS
  By Chuk - October 22 - 8:51 pm

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  American luxury - 2008 Cadillac DTS
  By Don - October 21 - 12:54 pm

  Great car. Handles better than the 05 Deville I traded. Smooth power from the V-8 with decent mileage for the size of the car. I get 26 mpg on the Hwy. Comfortable and quiet ride in American luxury tradition, yet still decent handling. Good value for the money.

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  Love my Deville - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By Stan - October 21 - 11:33 am

  We purchased this Deville three months ago. We got a great deal on it. It has 165,000 miles but it remain is just like new condition inside and out. Runs like a dream. We had to put brakes on it but that is all. We have already driven it a few thousand miles because we do not want to get out of it.

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  Get more pay less - 1991 Cadillac Deville
  By DSPJOHN - October 20 - 2:37 pm

  I love this car. I got this car because it was all that i could afford at the time. i paid $2000 for it thinking it would breakdown soon after i bought it. (i needed a temporary car) Now that ive had it for more than a year its proof that this car is reliable. its not only the car the reliability its the look of the car this car gets respect on the road. Its not just the look its the roaring V8

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  garbage - 1999 Cadillac Catera
  By jose - October 18 - 9:47 am

  I had this car from like new. It had about 16,000 miles. It ran like a champ but then one day it decided it was time to retire. It has 74,000 miles on it and I already had to replace the transmission, starter, ac motor, ac fan, all in 1 month. It started leaking oil not a small leak but a leak that had me adding oil every morning and washing my driveway.

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  Something special - 1993 Cadillac Deville
  By CHARLIE - October 16 - 4:26 pm

  I live in Michigan, I bought a 1993, 2-dr coupe, 4.9, the most beautiful car red with White interior and half White leather top, from a 90 year old woman who bought it new, ( she paid cash ) in Bristol, Tennessee. Last month. It has 48,500 miles on it and it has not been out of garage except around block by nephew once a week, I wanted to share that story with the Cadillac owners, it is still there, I will go change oil and get her soon. Respects.