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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  Affordable Luxury - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By michelsauve - June 28 - 10:00 am

  The car is a great looker. It attracts looks from almost everybody and regularly from more expensive car owners such as Mercedes E320 and the likes. It is a fun car to drive with an intuitive console easy to read and use. It offers great comfort and is fun to drive. The car is perorming flawlessly and all that at a very reasonable price for a car of that class.

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  American Luxury Car - 2008 Cadillac DTS
  By Ralph - June 28 - 9:06 am

  I traded a BMW 745 for a Cadillac DTS. The Cadillac lacks some of the more sophisticated technology of the BMW but it is easier to maintain, it rides beautifully, and is easy to get serviced. Consumer Reports recommended this car for reliability in part because it dispenses with some of the cutting edge technology and, instead, provides reliability and a more affordable price. The large trunk and back seat and good for carrying more passengers and luggage. We use this car as a road car for longer trips. It takes regular gas, parts are easy to get and there is an extensive dealer network. GM has done an excellent job with this car.

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  Best caddy so far - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By cuda783 - June 26 - 11:40 pm

  This is my third Sts and I would say this is the best one yet. I have owned the last three style changes of the car. Mine is the fully loaded v-8 awd model, with nav, headsup, and mag ride control. I have a 03 CTS and a 05 ESV and I would have to say I like this the best. Price is a little steep at $72,000 with all the options but it sure beats giving the Japanese more money! If you are worried about the gas, you cant afford the car! The v-8 is just as good on gas as the Cts with the 6cyl

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  Glad I have a 100k warrenty - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By schiz - June 25 - 9:08 pm

  We bought The 2004 SRX 13 months ago and it has been in the shop 3 times, 2 for check engine light which ended up being a faulty gas cap, 1 time for a bad wheel bearing and spark plug wire. nothing major. Everything was covered under warranty. We looked at several different cars but Cadillac offers the best pre-owned warranty out there. You can get a very good deal on a 3 year old Cadillac with a new car warranty.

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  Great Car, my 2nd one! - 2008 Cadillac Escalade
  By B Peek - June 25 - 6:35 pm

  I bought this great suv from the dealership in Dec. 2007, it was the managers furnished auto. I traded in my 2004 Pearl White Escalade for this 08 Black beauty. I have all the bells on it as I did on the 2004! You cannot find a more comfortable car as the Escalade. I get 14 mpg average with the 08 and did the same with the 04. I will always drive an Escalade.

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  Price value of cadillac - 1998 Cadillac Deville
  By Joyce Davis - June 25 - 10:50 am

  I get 18 mpg in city & 23 on Hwy. Purchased it with 15,000 miles and no one drives it but me. It is a hard top convertible. Just purchased new battery and tires. Heated seats and of course security system.

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  Simply the best - 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood
  By EROCK - June 25 - 12:59 am

  I love my cadi. It looks great drive great. And get lot of attention and I love it. But its ashame that Cadillac took such a beautiful car of their production. Because I am curious to know what features it would have had by now. Because I have buddies that own new cts and theyre nothing compared in luxury. And performance. Fleetwood Brougham is simply the best

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  WORST cadillac ever to be made!!!! - 2001 Cadillac Catera
  By Dustin - June 24 - 6:05 pm

  I have had this car since 2004 and have had nothing but problems. It had between 20 and 30k miles on it when I got it. Thought I was getting a steal at 14k. Now that Ive had it a while, I realize why it was only in production for 4 years. Since 2006, I have replaced not only 1 but 2 engines and now this one quit yesterday. There are problems with the electrical system in it. The sunroof opens and closes when it wants to, the car is definitely a lemon and Cadillac should do something to alleviate some of the cost since it was their bright idea to sell an American made car that was produced in a foreign country. All together Im at $9,000 in repair costs. And its not paid off yet.

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  Best Car Yet - 2008 Cadillac SRX
  By dalviking - June 24 - 2:39 pm

  This car has it all. It handles like a sports sedan and runs smoothly with plenty of power. As far as mileage is concerned it meets the mfg sticker - about 17 around town and 24 on the road . We have had no problems in the first year and plan to keep it for a long time . Love the way it handles on the road - like a high speed touring sedan.

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  Small Business Owner & Manager - 2006 Cadillac DTS
  By RTS - June 24 - 1:20 am

  I have owned 5 Cadillac DTS Performance Touring Sedans in the last 8 years. My current DTS is a 2006 with a custom after market "DeLegance" package and I have had hundreds of people make very positive comment on the looks of this automobile. It also gets admiring looks from Mercedes Benz and Lexus owners. This performance edition, although, only rated at 292 H.P. has substantial power and acceleration due to the Northstar engine and performance axle. I special ordered this Caddy with the Tehama Italian leather seats and they are very nice. I am more impressed with this Caddy than any other I have owned. The quality of construction, top notch materials and performance without any problems.