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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  Review - 2006 Cadillac SRX
  By vhpa300 - July 16 - 3:11 pm

  Have had only six weeks, but the experience has been outstanding thus far. I do though believe the satellite readio ought to be standard.

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  1999 Escalade Review - 1999 Cadillac Escalade
  By drwoman - July 15 - 4:22 pm

  Very satisfied with the performance, looks, comfort, and reliability of this car. I have driven it for 5 years and have only had routine maintenance. I hope t have it for years to come!

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  Storage - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Art - July 14 - 9:33 pm

  I was amazed to find that the rear storage does hold golf clubs either across or front to back in the storage area without putting down the 2nd row seats.

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  A fun to drive Cadillac - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By CTS FAN - July 14 - 10:00 am

  I drove the CTS from Wisconsin to California and back this winter. A great car at 75 to 80 mph. Got better then 27 miles per gallon for the trip. I now have 10,500 trouble free miles on the car. The only major improvement would be a bigger trunk.

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  Favorite Car - 2005 Cadillac Deville
  By Steve - July 13 - 3:17 pm

  Excellent reliability and great dealer service. Even a grease and oil change gets a complete wash and vacuum at no charge. Ride is quiet and smooth. Excellent power especially for a large vehicle. OnStar is great. Gas mileage is very good city / highway averages 24.9 and straight highway at 70 - 75mph is 29.6.

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  Consumer Rating for Cadillac STS - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By Dianne Adams - July 11 - 8:48 pm

  This vehicle is in one word awesome. You have to drive one to believe the over all performance, comfort and whatever you would ever dream of having in a car. I have owned a few Cadillacs, they were all wonderful cars but nothing like this one. Competitors cant touch this one. I love my STS.

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  2000 Cadillac Escalade - Best Truck! - 2000 Cadillac Escalade
  By Susan Elson - July 10 - 4:45 pm

  This is the best truck that I have ever driven! I used to have a 2000 Dodge Durango, but I traded it in for my 2000 Escalade. I love the syle and how comfortable it is! It is worth every single penny.

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  Cadillac SRX - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Vinnie - July 10 - 2:41 pm

  My Cadillac SRX is a fun SUV that does not drive and feel like a truck. The 6-cyl. engine is very fast and all I need for the road. I also like it that there are not many of these on the road everywhere and people want to know what is it. It looks clean and has the Cadillac quality and prestige.

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  My DTS - 2005 Cadillac Deville
  By Enzio Di Lapi - July 10 - 2:02 pm

  This is my fourth Cadillac and like the past three I totaly love it. I feel very safe in it, its very reliable and extremely comfortable. Most of my driving is done on the interstates not on the French Grand Prix therefore its handling suits just fine. All of my Cadillacs have been trouble free. Just normal maintenance. I highly recomend this vehicle to anyone.

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  2005 Cadillac CTS 3.6 - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By Ken Neal - July 10 - 1:22 pm

  Have not had any problems. Fun car to drive not only the accelerating but it hangs to the road with a small turning radius.