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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  Fun to drive if you like rattles - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By CTS - June 15 - 12:45 pm

  This car is fun to drive, with the 5 speed manual and the 3.2 liter dohc v6 makes a fair amount of power. The interior is comfortable but is a little boring and kind of cheaply made. I am very disappointed with the stabilatrack which has gone haywire on me after 45000 miles and a rattle coming from the engine somewhere, after about 30,000 miles. other than that the car is wonderful, turns on a dime, good acceleration, handles good, and brakes good.

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  1994 Cadi - 1994 Cadillac Deville
  By Jerry - May 26 - 12:05 pm

  Purchased the vehicle with 34,000 miles on it. Vehicle looked perfect, but had a poor heating system during the cold months. Coolant was leaking and spent over $500 to fix the gasket. Then started leaking in another place. I would think Cadillac would have done something to prevent this, after all the great things I thought I heard about their vehicles. Will never own another one, way to expensive to keep running, and could not trust the vehicle on the road.

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  Downhill at 48,000 miles - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By A. Smith - May 15 - 10:22 pm

  After the warranty was up all the transmission shift patterns were off, transmission was shifting hard including downshifting. Multiple computer problems and codes(at one trip to the dealer stated more than 10 at once)that after supposedly fixing 4 different times still do not know what the problem is. The engine light will come on and the display will read enine power reduced, the car will still be running but you push the gas pedal and there is no response. After that happens you have to turn the car off to reset it even if your on the freeway. Now in addition the service airbag message appears. Also there is a loud humming coming from the rear end. Not enough space to list all the problems

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  not for winter driving - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By sts - May 10 - 11:38 am

  Lousy car in winter. Car should not be sold without four wheel drive in this area. GM messed up on this. Also my 8 cylinder Cadillac got better mileage than the 6.

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  2004 Model ESV was better - 2008 Cadillac Escalade
  By Norm - April 24 - 2:55 pm

  My previous model ESV 2004, had features that I felt made it a luxury vehicle. The 2008 seats are hard, do not hold you in position when cornering. The sun visor is poor. Previous model had more flexibility. Headrest ability to bend forward is now seriously lacking. I happened apparently to be one of the few people that used the disc changer system under random ALL. Since the addition of the backup camera this feature has been removed. This last item damed near stopped the purchase. I now wish that I had purchased a Mercedes GL 550. Which at this point in time will be my next purchase and most likely sooner than later. This is my 10th new Cadillac purchase in a row.

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  my broken car - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By calsnakes - April 21 - 10:59 am

  I was excited to get this car, however now after 6000 miles and two trips to the shop for MAJOR issues, I am not so happy. First the cooling system failed and it had to be towed, now is a week in for a new camshaft and cylinder heads, if this is what GM is making, this is my first and last.....

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  Nice to Look At, Not So nice to Own - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By Debbie - April 14 - 12:50 pm

  My 2008 CTS was shipped from the factory without grease in the axle, needless to say at 72 miles it was back in the shop. Cadillac told me that it may be a month before they had replacement parts (a new car shouldnt need replacement parts) well I insisted that they take one off the assembly line and ship it to me, which they did. There is a noise in the instrument panel (sounds like a fan running all the time) they say it is normal (the other 4 didnt have it!!!) Also I was told at the dealership that they found no insulation in the dash. There is a rattling noise in the sun roof. I am in the process of trying to get Cadillac to replace this LEMON!!!

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  Uncomforable drivers seat - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By Connie Lara - April 7 - 8:39 pm

  I really enjoy the power my car has but, I really have a problem with the comfort of the drivers seat. After a 3 hour drive my right leg starts to cramp and I get pain in my hip. I attributed this to back surgery but after reading the reviews on this car I am glad to find out it is not me. The dealership has been great but I am disappointed with the car considering it is supposed to be a luxury vehicle.

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  first and last - 2008 Cadillac Escalade
  By first and last - April 6 - 1:35 am

  This is my first caddy and my last. Dont get me wrong, looks great tons of room but it drives like a mack truck and it feels like something is going to break when you go over a bump. I sure miss my range Rover. Thank god I never went off road

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  Bad experience - 2007 Cadillac CTS
  By vbs - March 29 - 4:48 pm

  I havent had a very good experience with my CTS, I have had major repairs and the car is only 1 yr and 5 months. I love the look of the car and the features, But would like to try another CTS because I think I ended up with a defective model.