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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  Most satisfaction of any car owned - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By Tim Lee - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Having owned or leased 4 cars in the last ten years, this is the most satisfied Ive been with any car. V8/transmission is quiet and smooth as any. Longer wheelbase and AWD gives it great handling and confidence in winter climates. Ultraview sunroof is unique and very enjoyable to have. Pricey when you put it all together, but in this case you get what you pay for.

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  Great Cadillac stop holds up to the best - 2002 Cadillac Seville
  By Dave - March 11 - 2:57 am

  I bought this car 8 months ago not knowing much about the Cadillac family very much. I was obviously worried about that curse used Cadillacs seem to carry with them with a high rate of unreliability but iwas wrong. I kept good tabs on this baby and she has never failed me with a breakdown or faulty light not once. The only problem I had was the water pump froze and ended up getting a small crack but I still believe that was due to the consecutive 5 degree days (and sub zero) nights up in the northshore. I love the cockpit and have had no complaints of leg room. Very powerful when it needs and refined.

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  Show this car some love! - 1998 Cadillac Catera
  By elusive_one - March 9 - 11:45 pm

  I bought this car used with 127000km for $5000 in 2007. This car has been fantastic for me as I drive it 1000km a week commuting. Very comfortable for long trips, excellent on the highway,being very powerful and smooth. It will cruise along at 130kmh all day without getting tired. The only mechanical failure I have had was a blown rear shock. Engine wise,it has been strong as an ox and not let me down. For a small Cadillac, I find this car extremely roomy, and twice as roomy as my fathers Lincoln LS. So far, this has been a wonderful car in every sense of the word. Good looking, reliable, comfortable, practical and yes, even fun! Do you wonder what a 22 yr old is doing driving a Cadillac?

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  How Do I Keep My Elle Forever? - 1998 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Sue - March 9 - 8:57 pm

  This car is the nicest car on the road. It can hit high speed (24 mpg) passing a caravan of trucks without even noticing it. The drive home was on roads closed by a winter storm. First stoplight it skidded a bit and stopped. The dashboard said, "Traction Restored." Right then I knew this car was for me! Great mileage on the road and not bad in town either. I wont be buying another Cadillac until they come up with something comparable.

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  Great Vehicle, but have cash - 2000 Cadillac Deville
  By DanA - March 9 - 1:21 pm

  I bought this DTS in 2003 with 114,000 miles from a dealer in MI. The exterior and interior were spotless. They still are other than the drivers seat leather due to my daily driving. All I had to do was test drive a DeVille to know what my dream car was. The car drives solid, accelerates smoothly, and always runs strong from acceleration to passing speeds. I love this car, yet it does have serious maintenance issues. When parts fail, shop around for labor, but expect to spend major dollars on parts. Northstar does burn 1qt oil / 2k mi or so, but is very tolerable as this doesnt seem to have major effects.

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  Just what your looking for - 2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By Davidw - March 9 - 10:00 am

  If youve come this far in your Escalade research... YES, its worth it! This truck/suv is the best. Yeah its bulky, bad on gas, tough to park, but did you expect anything less? Oh, and not to mention the looks you get in this, the monster under the hood is out of this world, this baby moves!

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  2014 SRX - 2014 Cadillac SRX
  By bill - March 9 - 4:42 am

  Better options out there. Cadillac CUE is disappointing, other car is BMW 650I and iDrive blows this away.

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  1991 Cadillac. Best Car Ever - 1991 Cadillac Deville
  By john ballish - March 7 - 1:56 pm

  This is my second Deville I had a 1992 prior. These vehicles were way ahead for there time. This is the best running car that I have ever owned. I only drive it in the summer times and on vacations. Its a very comfortable car and has so much power. I had to do some maintainence when I first bought it as most people do when they buy used, brake lines, struts, motor mounts, new points and plugs. It runs really well now. I love the dated body styling. very smooth. I tore the engine apart and put it back together and cleaned it up. I get 20mpg! On a car this old you need to put fuel injection cleaners in the tank every fill up. It is a great running car.Ill have it for ever!

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  Nothing turns heads like a red Cadillac - 2007 Cadillac XLR
  By Lance Elliott - March 5 - 9:53 pm

  Having owned many new Cadillacs I dreamed of an XLR since they first hit the market in 2004. I can say with my XLR it has been a love/hate relationship, with love still winning over my hate of some issues with the car.

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  Big Red - 1999 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Scott - March 3 - 6:59 am

  Thou I have only owned this amazing car for a short time I am total in love with it. Never thought I would own a Caddy that would out run a Mustang gt but I do. This car has a ton of power and it gets between 18 and 19 mpg. Its a very bold looking car to say the least and it really turns heads. I wish it had a sun roof and massaging seat but you cant have everything. Find any type of performence part is impossible for some reason there seems to be a lack of parts out there. I bought this car with 55,000 miles on it for $10,500. which is way over the book value but now am glad I did. The Bose stereo will not pick up and hold any radio stations I am starting to think it may need repaired.