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:
Showing 141 through 150 of 4,788.00-
Time to call it quits? - 1998 Cadillac Seville
By Diane - November 21 - 2:00 amHave owned 6 Cadillacs the last three nothing but trouble think a girl would learn. The last two 99 Eldorado 98 Seville both head gasket problems right after 100,000 miles. Not sure what to do this time fixed the Eldorado but was never right! Gets to be very expensive!! Time I guess to look at something different. Would think Cadillac would do something!!!
-
2009 STS - 2009 Cadillac STS
By Joe Torrontegui - November 14 - 2:00 amCar excellent driving Does not ride like my DeVille it has a hard ride compared .
-
Best Car Ive Owned - 2008 Cadillac SRX
By Macdaddy - November 7 - 1:00 amBought nearly 3 years ago now-fully loaded V8 with sport package. Never a problem or even recall. Just change the oil. I wish all cars could be this good and trouble-free.
-
Biggest Lemon EVER - 2003 Cadillac CTS
By Tracy - November 7 - 1:00 amBought this car brand new. Within first year, rear end was replaced, water pump, radiator, and much more was replaced in first three years. Repairs on this car is extremely high. Everything but the motor and transmission has been replaced. I was hit and insurance totaled my car because its so expensive to fix. I loved the car but not the hassle of it breaking down.
-
Out of lots of money - 2002 Cadillac Deville
By people champ33 - November 6 - 2:00 amFun to drive handles great for big car but have had so sink thousands of dollars into repairs in the shop every 3-4 months Northstar engine is crazy expensive to work on if needed. No doubt will never buy a dts again.
-
I love my Caddy - 2005 Cadillac SRX
By sam7759 - November 6 - 2:00 amThis is the first Cadillac I ever owned, bought it used from carmax and love it. I never had the oil problem I read about, in fact I change my oil every 5,000 miles and had no problem at all with it. Good over the road, drove it from Los Angeles to Sacramento a few times and had a nice trip every time.
-
New 2009 - 2009 Cadillac DTS
By Paul - November 6 - 2:00 amWe traded an 06 DTS for an 09 with 985 miles. We enjoyed the 06 so much we couldnt resist the opportunity to buy an almost new one at about 16K below the sticker price. As with the 06, we are not disappointed. Few cars offer the comfortable, quiet performance of the DTS. An aging design, but like a fine wine, it seems to improve each year!
-
Beautiful SUV /to much plastic - 2007 Cadillac Escalade
By builder6 - November 5 - 2:00 amWe love the comfort, style and look of this SUV. Its a pleasure to drive and have not experienced the wind noise problem that I have read so many complaints about. My only and biggest problem is the quality with which it was made. I owned a BMW before this and never had a problem with the build. The ESV however has one piece of plastic after the other that breaks, cracks, peels or fails in someway. From my tow hitch cover, to my door handle, to the center console what American made crap. Made in America should mean made well and with quality. They could learn something from the Germans when putting together a vehicle of this price tag.
-
Almost a perfect 10 - 2011 Cadillac SRX
By Almost Perfect - October 23 - 2:00 amI traded a 2007 DTS in for this SRX to hold me until the new XTS arrives next year. Im not a Crossover person, but this is a really nice change. Fit and finish is perfect, and the optional Crystal Red I ordered is a real eye catcher. Seats are too firm, but I can live with it. The engine leaves a lot to be desired, but its fair. Rides like a luxury should, but very noisy when you need to pass, or merge on the freeway from the underpowered engine. Poor fuel mileage with about 165 tops in city driving. At 6 theres plenty of leg room, and some to spare. Difficult to program different things i.e. radio etc.
-
Love my SRX! - 2010 Cadillac SRX
By ctaylor66062 - October 21 - 2:00 amI have owned my SRX Luxury model for about 2 months and I love it! I love the way it drives and looks. I cant wait to get in my car and drive it every day! I have people ask me all the time what kind of car it is. Its definitely a head turner especially since mine is red!
-
Cadillac Allante 31 Reviews
-
Cadillac ATS 55 Reviews
-
Cadillac ATS-V 1 Reviews
-
Cadillac Brougham 22 Reviews
-
Cadillac Catera 253 Reviews
-
Cadillac CT6 7 Reviews
-
Cadillac CTS 1,045 Reviews
-
Cadillac Deville 680 Reviews
-
Cadillac DTS 159 Reviews
-
Cadillac Eldorado 191 Reviews
-
Cadillac ELR 7 Reviews
-
Cadillac Escalade 520 Reviews
-
Cadillac Escalade EXT 141 Reviews
-
Cadillac Escalade Hybrid 15 Reviews
-
Cadillac Fleetwood 51 Reviews
-
Cadillac Seville 399 Reviews
-
Cadillac SRX 690 Reviews
-
Cadillac STS 286 Reviews
-
Cadillac XLR 161 Reviews
-
Cadillac XT5 27 Reviews
-
Cadillac XTS 47 Reviews