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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  Love my CTS - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By Jharold - May 3 - 10:26 am

  I love driving my CTS. It’s a perfect balance between performance and comfort. Performs well on long trips and around town. Fit and trim are excellence. No annoying rattles. The sun roof provides adequate shade from the Georgia sunshine

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  Know where to buy parts in case - 1998 Cadillac Catera
  By Davison, Mi - May 2 - 7:39 pm

  Personally I loved my catera, but found that 20 mpg average for a 3.0 sucks, Cadillac parts are very expensive, and things like to break easily and often. Starting with parts, DO NOT buy from dealership, a front lower control arm will run $472, a radiator $500, etc. Always go on ebay and search for the parts you need or look online. I found a front lower control arm for $100 on ebay with 22k miles and a radiator on radiatorexpress.com for $125. P.s I love this car but am into massive subs MTX 9500s and had them in my car but the BOSE system cannot be replaced with aftermarket unless you have the entire audio system rewired, or use a rca interface like me with bad bass levels.

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  My Caddy - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By Janet Reeves - May 2 - 7:20 pm

  Driving the Cadillac is a dream and owing it is even better.

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  2005 CADILLAC REVIEW - 2005 Cadillac Deville
  By K.Hess - May 1 - 2:43 pm

  This is my 5th Cadillac. I love the cars. They are great, reliable and attractive. I will never forget sitting in my first cadillac for the first time. I was in heaven. The seats were so comfortable. My currect caddy is a 2005 cadillac sedan deville. The seats are so uncomfortable I can hardly drive it for long periods of time. My lease is up in December and I want another cadillac but not if the seats are as hard as my 2005. They should make them like they did in 1992.

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  This CTS is best car ever purchased. - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By Conner - May 1 - 1:00 pm

  The ride and interior of this car are truly outstanding! Never in my wildest dreams did we think of owning a Cadillac, however "WOW" are we in love with this vehicle.

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  good car - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By Carolyn - April 29 - 9:05 pm

  I just bought a black 2008 Cadillac CTS. I Love it. It is a great car, but it has had a sensor break about 2 months after I bought the car. Luckily my warranty covered that. The build quality is pretty good but there is a bunch of cheap plastics. Overall its a great car and I would recommend it to anyone.

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  One of the best cars ever!!! - 2008 Cadillac XLR
  By Mike - April 29 - 7:33 pm

  I love my xlr its great.....when im driving by i always get staring eyes filled with jealousy.....i droped my son off at a birthday party in it and all the kids ran over to the car...so if you want a car that will get you noticed than be sure to put the cadillac xlr on your list!!!!!

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  Cadillac DTS - 2000 Cadillac Deville
  By Rherman - April 29 - 12:37 pm

  Awesome car, I would not trade it for anything. This is my 3rd Cadillac, and so far the best.

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  Cloud Nine - 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By Fred Maczynski - April 27 - 6:33 pm

  I wanted a Pickup truck and my wife drives and loves her Cadillac DeVille DTS. Well to make a long story short she tricked me into going to the Cadillac dealer to look at the new STS well I saw the EXT in Black with Nav System & moonroof I just fell in love next thing I know she says happy birthday honey that one is yours! Well, after crying like a little girl I have been on cloud nine ever since. Im 55 years old and a real car person but nothing I have ever owned can come close to this vehicle its amazing!

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  2007 Cadillac SRX, V8 - 2007 Cadillac SRX
  By Foudre - April 27 - 12:20 am

  Weve owned Cadillacs over 30 years but this is first crossover vehicle. It is exceptionally efficient on ice and snow. Would I buy another SRX? Probably not. When I have passengers in the SRX there is no place for my purse except in cargo area which is very inconvenient. Mileage per gallon is poor and the small gas tank requires frequent stops to buy gasoline. Rear entry door is exceedingly slow opening and closing. Aluminum trim on heat vents on dash reflect and glare badly in both outside rear view windows, a serious problem. Lacks interior dash control for rear entry door, very inconvenient.