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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  Comfortable and easy-going - 1991 Cadillac Deville
  By Haley - October 16 - 2:00 am

  i bought my DeVille from a private seller on October 15, 2010. I am 20 years old and needed a car to get me by from point A to point B. The DeVille did better than that. I am very fortunate to have found a comfortable car and one that is fuel efficient. All my friends are amazed at how smooth it runs and steers. I am very satisfied!

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  GREAT car, when it runs** - 1999 Cadillac Eldorado
  By jason91notch - October 10 - 2:00 am

  I loved this car very much, and it was a blast to drive. the problem is, before 60,000 miles it needed an engine, and a transmission 10k later. I babied this car, followed the owners manual maintenance religiously, yet it was issue after issue. replaced the engine, transmission, alternator 3 times, ECM twice, and shocks, all before 70,000 miles. Also, thank GOD I had an aftermarket warranty, because the engine cost over $10,000 to replace, and the transmission cost 4,000$.

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  Poor Build Quality - 2010 Cadillac DTS
  By Bob - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Ive had the DTS for 3 months now. I love everything about it except the build quality. Ride is spectacular. Interior build is just good. Inside window molding is lose and has a gap where you can see the edge of the window. The outside is where the build quality looks bad. Trim on doors does not line up. Doors themselves do not line up. Doors either hang higher or lower than the front or rear doors. Trim inside the trunk fell off as it was never snapped on. Transmission leak at 1000 miles (Bolts had to be sealed). GM just doesnt care about the DTS as they are doing away with it. Well guess what. Im doing away with GM. Cadillac is NOT the standard of the world as they claim.

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  Would buy again - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By Steve - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car almost 3 years ago in Dec. 2007, and I love it. It was a certified car with the 6 yr 100,000 mile warranty, and I was glad I got it - In the first year, the passenger air bag sensor went out & the sunroof switch failed. In the second year, the car was run low on oil and there was no dash light to indicate this. I was given a new engine for free under warranty at 65,000 miles. I havent had any problems in the past 18 months. Despite these issues, I really love the car. All of the repairs were free under warranty, so that didnt bother me much. The car handles great, has lots of power, is very comfortable, and with my fully optioned car, is really luxurious.

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  Cadillac does not repair problems - 2010 Cadillac DTS
  By new mks owner - October 2 - 2:00 am

  I had a 2009 Cadillac DTS and the driver side windshield washer would not wet down the upper windshield and deposited the water in bulk right in front of the driver view through the windshield. The passenger side washer/wiper worked perfectly. Cadillacs replaced two wiper arms to no avail. I reported this to Cadillac and in 6 months I was told an engineer would call me. still waiting after the case was closed twice and reopened. I test 6 new 09 and 2010 DTS Cadillac and they all do not work . Traded the Cadillac DTS for a Lincoln MKs. got three time more features, more luxury and a better driving automobile. no more Cadillacs in my garage.

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  Transfer Case and Head Light Problems - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By Charity - October 1 - 2:00 am

  I have had the head light in my Cadillac fixed twice now its time for my inspection and they say I have to pay to get it fixed again. I think its a defect cause the first time I had it fixed at the Cadillac GMC dealership. Also my transfer case is messed up when I take off it makes a thud sound. Anyone know how much it cost to fix a transfer case. Stability system light has been since five months after buying the car.

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  Electrical Issues - 2006 Cadillac SRX
  By seamoore - September 24 - 2:00 am

  Soon after purchase of this pre-owned Caddy, I noticed that the radio presets were lost, took in for service, "nothing wrong". Returned, said "internal error" AKA "we never looked!" Replaced the radio, Same problem after new radio installed. Returned back to dealership for 4th time when the windows were "stuck" half way open and no drivers side controls. Now they are going to replace the "unified switch body" and they say that this IS the problem. Well see? Frustrated that no one seems to be able to find the problem. Anyone else have this issue?

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  Never again! - 2001 Cadillac Seville
  By Charlie - September 16 - 2:00 am

  Refused to start once in my yard, luckily. Had to have it towed to Caddy dealer. $800 to replace "security modules"! Year later died at Doctors office. Had it towed to dealer again. $300 for new "special Caddy" battery cause terminal broke. Battery is under back seat that no one uses. How could this happen? Got no answer. Year later had to jump start car, then dash lights went out. Traded it in back to dealer I bought it from!

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  Good Value - 2011 Cadillac SRX
  By LenV - September 15 - 2:00 am

  After driving ALL suv and crossover vehicles, we chose the SRX. It was more comfortable than the X3 and Q5 and presented a better value to us. The feel of the vehicle was heavier and more substantial on the road than most vehicles of a similar size and cost. Fuel mileage is good and we found the highway manners quite good. Cargo room is adequate and the cargo gate is a nice idea. Keeps things in place in the hatch. Cadillac service and dealer attention is second to none and the full maintenance for three years is great, free car wash anytime, road side service and lets not forget ONSTAR. We moved from a 2007 Suburban, talk about large and comfortable, the SRX is GREAT.

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  The "Cadillac" Of Crossovers - 2011 Cadillac SRX
  By Almost A Perfect 10 - September 13 - 2:00 am

  The designers really out did themselves with the SRX. Having always driven Sedan DeVilles or a DTS, I wasnt sure this car would be right for me, but it is! The fit and finish is perfect, and in Crystal Red it draws a lot of attention. The ride and comfort is very similar to the DTS I traded in as well as the overall feel of driving. It has just about every feature one could want, including a Bose sound system. I rated the reliability at 5 because the car only has 400 miles on it, and I dont know what to expect in the future. I suspect it will perform as expected.