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:

• 

  High Maintenance - 2010 Cadillac SRX
  By Mark - July 31 - 4:40 am

  2010 was the first year for this vehicle, never buy a first year vehicle. Unfortunately, I did not know this was the first year vehicle when we purchased it. We have replaced multiple catalytic converters at around $800, transmission went out at right at 100,000 miles, spent around $10,000 in a 2-3 year timeframe.

• 

  2000 Cadillac Escalade - 2000 Cadillac Escalade
  By MDC - June 13 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is a major disappointment. Ergonomics/design are horrible and quality is unbelievably bad for any vehicle, especially a Cadillac. If you dont need the size, get something more reliable and less of a headache, like a GMC Jimmy/Envoy.

• 

  Are you seriously stupid? - 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
  By Sam - June 7 - 2:16 pm

  WHAT THE HELL did I get myself into? I should have bought a Mercedes Benz or Land Rover Rang Rover HSE! The quality management of this car is horrific, the navigation/cd player unit is useless most of the time due to its horrific functionality: every day I choose a new station it needs to scan the stations again and again and again the navigation is SLOW. Ill press buttons and wait up to 10 seconds until anything happens, and when it does, itll happen all wrong. I went over a bump, and the plastic under carriage clip broke off and the INTERIOR wood trimming in the rear snapped of since its a CLIP ON! The DVD unit takes such a long time to start if youve turned off the car so.

• 

  sorry owner - 2002 Cadillac Deville
  By deceived again - June 7 - 2:00 am

  New with 2500 miles, whining whistling sound in passenger compartment, Service changing differential & other parts unable to determine origin. May be in transmission. Doesn,t say much for Cadillac quality.

• 

  what have I bought - 1999 Cadillac Catera
  By john doe sad - May 16 - 2:00 am

  well what can I say this car has been in the shop more times than i can count. I bought the car used with only 5,000 miles on it. I thought I was getting myself into a nice vehicle. What I found is that these things have more problums than you can count. Steering to door locks to timeing belts, you name it coolant leaks. See autoweb.com for more. I can say RELIABILITY can be less than 0!!!

• 

  Car Fax? - 2000 Cadillac Seville
  By stlphil - May 5 - 2:00 am

  I checked this vehicle on Car Fax. Paid the 19.99 fee. Clear title reported, no problems reported. This car has mechanical problems out the wazoo. Only 25,000 miles on the car. The ABS doesnt work, the steering is sloppy, the accelaration is erratic. The console wood has been re-painted. This car is dangerous to drive. Be cautious of a Car Fax check. I dont think anyone would buy this car that was Cadillac Certified and Car Fax certified.

• 

  STS 2000 - 2000 Cadillac Seville
  By Rhale - March 24 - 2:00 am

  Have had several problems with car one of which had to contact customer relations after waiting several months to see zone rep. there was no sound dampening material in the roof of car at all, sounded like I was riding in a steel drum when it rained, car not of quality paid for.

• 

  Ready for the trash heap - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By no more caddies - March 8 - 11:57 pm

  Dont waste your time and money purchasing a 1997 Catera. I bought one new and have had nothing but trouble--engine trouble and even trouble with the doors. You dont have time to read the list of problems this car has had. What a colossal waste of $33,000!!!

• 

  leased Catera - 2000 Cadillac Catera
  By tjw - February 28 - 5:02 pm

  Drove vehicle 9.5 months - mostly to the repair shop. 14 visits for 21 discrepancies. Out of service for 35 days total. Roadside assistance never followed up on any calls. Cadillac arbitrator was illiterate with automobile related issues. I choice I lived to regret.

• 

  poor service, bad car - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By acnac1 - July 18 - 2:00 am

  Had a leak in the air conditioner to the inside of the car. Twice the leak re occured. the servicing dealer damaged the car both times it was in for repair. Many other problems..car stayed in the shop many days. Wrote Cadilac about it but did not even get the courtesy of a reply. They dont seem to be interested in what customers think. Avoid this Car