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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  Best Car I ever owned - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By debij - September 23 - 9:27 am

  Awesome Car, great interior, great gas mileage. couldnt be happier with Cadillacs new design

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  Esdcalade is the Best Car on the Road - 2007 Cadillac Escalade
  By Tia Darrole - September 22 - 11:10 pm

  America makes the best car on the road. I love it. My kids love it. Guests love it. It just plain has every feature and true luxury. And all the features work well. This car is a pleasure. Much better than my old Lexus and Mercedes.

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  Dont waste your money - 2008 Cadillac Escalade
  By R.Shoe. - September 22 - 8:45 am

  It is nice to drive and looks sharp. That is about it. Engineers must have been high when the interior was planned. The rear pass. windows dont roll down all the way. Was told GM makes these doors to small around the wheel well hence window rolls down 1/2 way - no its not a safety thing. There are no pockets in the back side doors. No Storage. All of the seats are SO uncomfortable. They are like sitting on concrete. The third row seats have no place to put anything. For the third row both cup holders are on the left side of the car. There is a water leak in sun roof. Too many problems to list. No wonder GM is having financial problems.

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  love it - 2004 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By Mohamed - September 21 - 10:00 am

  it is the best itlooks good it handle great

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  Great Value, Lots of Fun - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By CTS GARY - September 21 - 10:00 am

  Have 1st 04 delivered in SW Florida. 3.6vvt is OUTSTANDING(plus it takes regular fuel). Sport package is stellar, ride firm but compliant. Lumbar support for 04 is welcome. The 48th new car Ive owned, this is the best overall for fun to drive plus luxury. Fit and Finish perfect. Quiet and solid. New(for 04)Mirror polished Sport Wheels are awesome. Traded a 2001 Aurora (that I liked VERY much)but the 04 CTS is in a different class entirely.Unqualified recommendation to anyone shopping this category.Great value.

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  2009 Cadillac Escalade AWD Platinum - 2009 Cadillac Escalade
  By Matthew - September 19 - 11:37 pm

  I stepped inside GMs full-size super luxury SUV, and I was immediately enveloped in luxury. With so many standard features like a voice- activated Navigation system, DVD entertainment system, a heated leather wrapped steering wheel with radio and climate controls, heated and cooled front and 2nd row seats, bucket seats, a universal garage door opener, and SO much more, this car will easily destroy competitors like the Lexus LX570 and Land Rover Range Rover, in luxury. The Honda Civic Sedan gets to 60mph in 11.3, this Escalade Platinum gets to 60 mph in 6.1 thats pretty impressive for any car and very impressive for a large SUV. Cadillac has done a SUPERB job on this model, and I love it.

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  My First Car "What a Beauty" - 2001 Cadillac Deville
  By ElCubanazo429 - September 19 - 10:26 pm

  This car my family has had it since we bought it in 2004. About a week ago my parents gave it to me with 55,000 miles and it drives great. My experience with this car mechanically has been great no problems have appeared. Beautiful car, power, and workmanship. Great Job Cadillac! P.S. For me those foreign cars are no good, American muscle for me. God Bless

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  Problems after warranty - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Problems with 2005 - September 18 - 11:21 am

  I loved my SRX 2005 until recently. I had a seat belt break. The laminant on the dash is peeling off. My sunroof rattles, and now I have water in the back compartment under the third seat which has caused my headrests to mildew and also my 3rd seat has some mildew areas. It has been a major inconvenience to find where it is leaking from. Ive read other reviews and on the 2004 model a few customers have had leaks under their 3rd seats from the sunroof. Has this been a problem for others. Maybe this is something Cadillac should look in to. Maybe there should be a recall on this problem before others have to deal with it.

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  cadillac has pride - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By o.johnson - September 18 - 4:05 am

  I purchased this auto with 45,000 miles. It was a rental with me being the first owner. I can tell you that I feel like this auto came just out of the showroom. I have owned 7 cadillacs and being almost 60 years old. I am impressed with my cts.

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  Beware - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Sara - September 17 - 11:56 am

  Car is a definite eye catcher. Major problems since 50,000 miles. I now have 112,000 miles and looking for new car. Past winter problems with heat coming in on one side and not the other. Was in shop 7 weeks in 2 months time and still not fixed. Continuous computer problems with Heat digital knobs on dash. Engine leaked oil had it towed 3 x after $4,000 out of pocket expense from the engine gaskets busted etc.If you do not drive much probably ok to have for a while I average over 20,000 miles a year or more due to my job not recommended unless you have money to spend on costly repairs.