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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  What a Car!! - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By clish3 - July 13 - 10:00 am

  Outstanding!! I looked and looked beforeI settled on th CYs over a Benz. The car has lived up to my expections. It is a great ride , great performance and most importantly great craftmanship. This is my first GM model in 15 years and Im back!! A classic car.

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  ?? - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By R W Becker - July 13 - 10:00 am

  Difficult to master the electronics. Navigation system absolutely requires the instruction manual and is still difficult. OnStar cellular telephone service doesnt make sense at $ 1.00 per minute and a separate telephone number. The OnStart 30 minute demo time had nothing that worked correctly. Rear visability is very poor. Automatic Speed control buttons at the bottom of the steering wheel are not convienent.

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  All in All a Great Choice! - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By JFB - July 12 - 2:17 pm

  I have owned many cars in my life and I must say this is the nicest. I bought my CTS for the Caddy logo and style. I have owned it 2 weeks and it lives up to all my expectations. The dealership was professional and efficient. They certainly performed up to the Cadillac standard of excellence. So does the CTS. The car has great standard features and great appointments. The fits and trims are every bit as exacting as the foreign competition. The OnStar and XM radio are a great addition. This car makes my long commute enjoyable!

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  The Best Cadillac Model Ive Ever Driven - 2001 Cadillac Deville
  By James Henderson - July 12 - 11:47 am

  I purchased my DeVille DHS in February and so far it has been the best car purchased Ive made. Ive owned over five Cadillacs, all of them have been great cars but the DHS is the absolute best. The smooth handling, climate control, a/c, OnStar, and the memory seats stole my heart. I hope to keep this car for a very long time.

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  We still love our Escalade! - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By Dar - July 11 - 10:59 am

  We have been very happy with our Escalade. At about 70,000 the transmission went out and our extended warranty took care of. They did a repair and not a replacement. Other than that this has been a great truck. I wouldnt hesitate to buy a newer one next year.

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  Nice Truck - 2006 Cadillac Escalade
  By xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx - July 11 - 10:38 am

  My 2006 Cadillac Escalade has the perfect ride and great handling. It is greqt looking, too. I love its smooth cornering.

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  2007 CTS 3.6L Sport Sedan is Awsome - 2007 Cadillac CTS
  By Doug - July 10 - 9:53 pm

  The 2007 CTS 3.6L Sport is the most fun I have had since I drove Porches 15 years ago. I didnt know a sport luxury car could be this much fun. The OnStar and XM radio features were unexpected fun and insurance in the case of OnStar. Getting into the car and having the seat and mirrors go to my preset postions is a nice feature. The car has more than enough power @ 255hp ( I didnt get the CTS-V - V8 because of gas mileage).

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  One year old and not one bug or repair - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By ParVenu Playboy - July 10 - 6:33 pm

  This is the first American car Ive bought in 20 years. So far it has not had one single bug (unlike my BMWs that go computer out of control). I got every option available and love the huge sunroof, magnetic glide ride and Bose stereo system. The first generation satellite radio cut out all the time in the city. The only regret I have is the poor gas mileage. My SRX only gets 11 mpg in the city and 18.5 on the highway.

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  Best Engine Ever Made - 1993 Cadillac Seville
  By Caddyman - July 7 - 4:52 pm

  Not only does the Cadillac Seville house the best engine ever made, but its also a blast to drive. The comfort is amazing, the power is astonishing and yet you still can get 27 MPG on the highway. Amazing. The car has a very sleek look for its age. I was amazed by the looks of it. I thought it was a 2001! Simply put, its the best car Ive ever owned.

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  05 AWD Cadillac Escalade BEST SUV CADDY MADE 02 17 - 2005 Cadillac Escalade
  By JD - July 7 - 4:31 pm

  If your looking for a top notch American Quality SUV then the 05 Escalade beats them ALL hands down. Ive driven Domestic and foreign and wont let my 05 Escalade go. I can get a new 2017 but dont want it. THIS YEAR AND MODEL YOU CANT FIND. I HAVE DEALERS CALLING ME TO SELL AND ANSWER IS NO. IM PUSHING 150K AND KNOCK ON WOOD NO MAJOR ISSUES JUST MAINTENANCE. IF YOU CAN FIND ONE LOADED LIKE MINE YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED. GO CADILLAC......