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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  Excellent vehicle - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By Gene Remillard - August 9 - 10:47 am

  Having been a Lincoln owner since 1988, I am impressed with this, my first Cadillac. The initial reason for the change in vehicles was that I did not have the comfort I expected from the Town Car. The performance I am experiencing is above my expectations, and the comfort level is what I was looking for. Initially, the gas mileage was a bit lower than expected, but now with 1,600 miles, it has increased to the expected level.

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  2006 Cadillac STS V8 - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By Bstein - August 9 - 10:23 am

  This cars Overall performance is good. It is excellent on highway, it has very fast pickup. Negatives- small glove compartment difficult access. Trunk space too small. It can take only two sets of golf clubs. Positives- Its contempory styling and great handling.

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  A must drive! - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By Glenn - August 8 - 9:16 am

  This car is the nicest vehicle I have ever owned. I can say nothing bad about it and once you drive it, you will want it too!

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  New car purchas - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By phil w. - August 8 - 2:00 am

  In six years I have purchased 3 new autos and this one exceeds my espectations. Power,comfort and style + the lux pkg= one good auto

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  CTS 2003 - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By elizabeth novak - August 8 - 2:00 am

  Ive always been a foreign car owner,never even thought about buying a american never the less a Cadillac. After suffering from auto accident and 911 things changed. Saw billboards,ads in and off television drew me to have a change heart about american made cars. I went to Gold Coast Cadillac in New Jersey and fellin love with this car and a great dealership.

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  Fun Fun Fun - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By Ron Resar - August 8 - 2:00 am

  What a car. So much fun to drive. Much better than my BMW, no comparison to my wifes Mercedes. Now she wants a CTS of her own. Smooth as silk on freeway. Super super car.

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  Its a great car - 2001 Cadillac Deville
  By dot driggers - August 7 - 10:10 pm

  I have been very happy with this car. I am a widow who is very mechanically illiterate and I have had no trouble or worry with it. If I do not keep it, I will get another Cadillac. It is very comfortable and the interior is particularly nice I think. I like the "extra" gadgets it has, like the information panel.

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  4,000 Miles & Counting - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Frank - August 6 - 8:28 pm

  Only negatives include less than optimum visability with rear seats in up position, cargo shade/cover not very durable and limited storage space in real area. The ride at slow and high speeds is exceptional, pick up great and overal handling above average. We just returned from a trip that started in the Atlanta area, to Cleveland, Ohio, Milwaukee, WI, Indianapolis Indiana, through Kentucky, Tennessee and back to Georgia without a hitch. It is just a fun vehicle to drive.

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  Cadillac Awakening - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By hifiguru - August 6 - 2:58 pm

  I just turned 1,000 miles and I am more in love with this car every day. I drove many others before driving the Cadillac including the BMW 330i, Infiniti M35, Audi A6, Lexus ES 330, and Mercedes-Benz C320. Of these I had decided on the 330i and was ready to buy when I stopped into the Cadillac store. They asked me to take a drive and give a honest opinion. I was blown away. This car out handled, out powered, and was flat out a better value than anything else I had driven. This is definently not my grandparents Cadillac. The imports had better watch out because Cadillac has their number.

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  Back in a Cadillac - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Richard Guizlo - August 5 - 10:17 am

  After a ten year hiatus, I decided to give Cadillac another shot, and so far Im really glad I did. I am really enjoying my SRX. It is a great ride, and so far I have zero complaints. I chose the SRX over BMW X-5 and Infiniti FX35 because I couldnt see paying that much more for those.