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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  Make sure you get an extended warranty - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Juniorverse - August 6 - 9:17 am

  Bought my 03 with 21K on the clock, have had several mechanical problems. Thermostat, battery, steering wheel position sensor, lower control arms, trunk shocks, manifold gasket. Things the dealer WONT repair: peeling headlight lenses, burned out trunk mount brake light, peeling interior plastic, sun visor falling apart. Car looks great parked at the dealership for its bi-monthly trip for repairs. Make sure you warranty this car for as long as humanly/financially possible or you will be in the poor house keeping this car on the road.

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  Stick with a luxury import - 2008 Cadillac STS
  By GM Never Again - August 4 - 10:36 am

  The car is fun to drive and is great when its not in the repair shop. I have had my STS in service 2 times in the last three months (BRAND NEW) for different problems. GM and Cadillac treat you like you bought a Chevy.You pay a high end price and get low end service. To sum it up, they suck and I will never buy a GM product again. High end imports are more reliable and give much better customer service.

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  Cadillac Deville 2003 unreal value - 2003 Cadillac Deville
  By 2003 DEVILLE CAD - August 3 - 6:50 pm

  The five year old 2003 deville Cadillac I purchased has been a headache and wallet drain ache. It has been many times to dealership for this or that repairs under warranty or I am paying the bill. Then the dealership damages it and wont repair unless I pay. The gm parts are expensive ($7.00 plastic retainer) and you wait for them to order them. The noise caused by the self leveling system is aggravating to hear. The car is so big and bulky that you can not maneuver it easily. The power steering is soft however. Yet that steering had to be repaired also to be soft and noiseless. The quality and workmanship is not worth the money you spend to buy. Next car I purchase will be a new one and not gm.

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  A year later - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By ctshadaflood - August 3 - 11:20 am

  Just about one year later, The $48,900 loaded CTS had two leaks in the sunroof making water run into the car though the A frame. The Fuel Pump went the 1st week with 400 mile on the car. Since then all is ok except the hard ride has created more rattles than a NYC Gypsy cab. Im Very disappointed. Craftsmanship is still crap. No wonder GM is hurting

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  All cars have the goods and the bads. - 1997 Cadillac Eldorado
  By RON - August 2 - 2:44 pm

  My 97 Eldorado is showroom new. I live in Palm Springs California. The car over all has been exceptional. Period. I read these other reviews and Wonder about some comments. First its not really meant to be raced. I have not replaced all these items mentioned from other reviewers. The car has always been kept in the garage. It is the Pearl color with every option. The interior looks as if it just came off the show room floor. You must always take this type of car to the Cadillac dealer. Only they have the correct tools and replacement parts. It is taken once a year for its check up. It drives as if new. It always gets 28 mpg on the highway.

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  Solid Deville - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By Pauljvl - August 1 - 4:55 am

  To all the comments I read this Cadillac is quite very comfortable and just replacing the stock tires with the Best tire for this car and I tried a few the New Toyo Versado this ride is superb handles respectable and now very quiet ride. The engine has very good go with 300 lbs or torque it can move quite well. the air conditioned seats are fantastic no more sweat on a long ride. and the fuel economy is a very good 18- 28 on the highway, to get all this for $20k in a used car as a certified low mile Caddy and bumper to bumper warranty with 0 co pay for 100k miles this is excellent piece of mind.from a highly rated automobile.

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  good deal! - 1994 Cadillac Deville
  By don - July 31 - 3:03 pm

  Bought this 94 when i returned from Kuwait. Had sold a 93 Fleetwood Id had the yr before deploying. 94 gets better MPG city and hwy and is a better ride. All options worked and have continued too. Have over 140k miles on it with only base repairs based on mileage. Driven RT across country will NO problems. The only "strange" thing is the engine backfires and gets sluggish for no apparent reason and with no regularity. No the FI, or plugs/wires. Once it starts cannot accelerate. I pull over and cut the engine, re-start and no more problems, until its next time to do it.

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  Questionable Love Affair - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Msblutx - July 30 - 1:25 am

  My previous car fell apart @ 530,00 miles. After tons of research, I found my SRX & fell in love with the price & the great condition for being used. 36 days into owning it, on a weekend trip, it made some funny noises. We pulled over a lot, but other than the check emissions light, nothing appeared to be wrong. The next morning, I started it up & the engine sounded HORRIBLE! We checked the oil & there WASNT ANY! We put nearly 6qts of oil in it and took it to the dealer the next day. There wasnt any sign of a leak & the dealer said it hadnt used oil either. Its purred like a kitten ever since & no more oil loss. Has anyone had this happen to them or explain what might have happened?

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  From 2 BMW to Cadillac... - 2008 Cadillac STS
  By Eric - July 29 - 11:48 pm

  After 2 BMW,I just bought my first caddy at 36 yrs old.I was just tired seeing BMW,G35,NEW C-class even the new CTS every corner. So I found a great STS. Its very comfy very luxurious and the space inside. The nav with the 15 speakers from Bose? Oh la la. Its the best oem sound system Ive ever heard, by the way I am a musician. Of course the mileage is so so I bought the v8. Funny that the hid light are not std for that car. Overall its a good value when reduce cause I wouldnt buy at full retail. I love everything about the car but its not BMW handling and driving experience. When you think about it who care were not formula 1 driver, right? Cadillac: the ultimate luxury experience? I guess

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  I cant believe I LOVE a car! - 2006 Cadillac SRX
  By sandymonet - July 29 - 6:11 pm

  My SRX is the most comfortable car I have ever owned including the Yukon! I get 24-28 MPG highway,18 city. most stylish, classy car on road. Seats, panorama roof, back seats, stereo,are great! 3rd row is for kids not adults! Am going to purchase new one in 2010 in red! Drives great in snow (Chicago) & rain. Handles like a dream with the two different size tires on front and back, ingenious idea. Picks up very quickly great maneuverability, awesome stereo. I tried the Porsche Cayenne, Volvo, Mdx, Lexus 300 & BMWX3,5 none compared to SRX thats why it was Car of the year 2006! Great job Cadillac! Finally it takes 87 gas, what a extra bonus esp. now!!! Ha, Ha BMW