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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  Fantastic SUV - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By earle - September 4 - 10:00 am

  We purchased the SRX after bringing one home for the 24 hour test drive. You have the convenience of a suv, but the comfort and drivability of a luxury car. At first we did not like the appearance of the SRX, as it is very different looking. Now we think all of the other luxury suvs are very dated looking. We highly recommend this vehicle.

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  Window Regulators - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By phyllis (Denver Co.) - September 2 - 9:46 am

  Ive had the deville for 2 yrs and have had to replace all 4 window regulators. I dont even use the back windows. Ive been told that the 2004 deville window regulators were suppose to be defective, if so why were they not recalled? Otherwise the care is a wonderful car to own.

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  This car will save GM - 2009 Cadillac CTS
  By Larry - September 1 - 7:27 pm

  Drove from Indianapolis to Vail and back. I encountered every conceivable weather condition except snow --sunshine, rain, and even hail high buffeting winds and still air temperatures from the 40s to the 90s. Indianapolis is 500 feet above sea level. Vail pass is 10,200 feet. I kept the cruise at 77/78, except in Colorado, where I found it easier to drive with the cruise off. The car is so smooth, quiet, and comfortable that I frequently found myself doing 90 when I was not using the cruise. The A/C was flawless in the 90 degree sun, and the cooled seats were wonderful. The drive was almost like playing a video game from my easy chair. I got 26.3 mpg going west and 27.1 returning east.

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  Great ride - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By joe - September 1 - 11:26 am

  This is my first caddy and I am so impressed by everything about this car. It rides like a dream. I was kinda scared to get one because of all the electrical buttons. I thought they would break easily and give me problems, but it seems I was wrong, thank god! I was a Honda man for the past 13 yrs, but after experiencing a deville Im not ever riding in another Honda again, unless its to go buy another Cadillac and I need a ride to pick it up LOL.

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  Junk - 1997 Cadillac Deville
  By scharfenberg - September 1 - 3:21 am

  I would never by a Cadillac again. Ive replaced the motor due to head bolts stripped out of motor. They make an 800 dollar kit to fix the problem but it did not work due to already being done the wrong way. If I were you stay away from 96 to 2000 or you will have a bill of 3500 dollars like i did. If youre thinking about buying one I have this to say to you. Its the biggest pile of junk there is and if I were gm i would be ashamed of putting my name on it.

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  2006 DTS Performance Sedan - 2006 Cadillac DTS
  By Lloyd - August 31 - 9:34 am

  The DTS is very easy to own and operate requiring minimal maintenance as scheduled. Very good quality car with great performance, ride and features. I love the style as it is an eye turner, many people take a second look as I drive by.

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  cts 2004 - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By aubreyjaundoo - August 29 - 10:00 am

  This car is well made and fun to drive.It lives up to my expectations,good value for the money.The only minus point is the small glove compartment- nothing fits in there!

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  wind noise - 2007 Cadillac Escalade
  By cfmulvaney - August 27 - 12:05 pm

  When we saw the new 07 escalade we just had to have it. The vehicle turns many heads, it looks good but the workmanship can be better. The horrible wind noise, and when we take it in for service they dont hear it. The third row seats are very hard to fold up and take out, dont know if we would purchase a escalade again, maybe we just got a rotten Apple from the orchard.

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  Pretty but always in the shop! - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By darkspd - August 26 - 12:04 pm

  This car is fun to drive, great power, comfortable and always broken. Every two weeks this car must go in for a major repair (under warranty, thank goodness). Engine (oil leaks and consumption), tranny (went out twice in 2 weeks, factory replacements are terrible, second time they had a local shop rebuild it right), power steering, A/C 4x, drive shafts front and rear, rear differential, sun roof motor (still has intermittent problems), drivers seat and controls, paint (twice), weather striping (doors and sun roof), radio with control display, CD player, interior lights and switches. Im probably forgetting some stuff but I hope you get my point.

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  My Caddie, my comfort. - 1996 Cadillac Seville
  By Milano - August 25 - 1:32 pm

  Bought the car from dealer with 40,000 miles on it. Dealer has free 90 days warranty. Brought it back week before warranty expired, and dealer fix the problem of leaking oil. Also dealer did all recalls. Some minor electrical glitches which I was able to fix with the help of code reader, and parts from local junk yard. Today the car has 105,000 miles with just oil and gas. Driving often to Vegas 800 Miles one way. It is blast to go over mountains or Utah plains, super AC, plenty of power, Bose music system with CD exchanger is mobile concert hall. In town 19 mpg, out of town 28 mpg. I will go with Seville again even they do not make them anymore.