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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  World Class - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By SteveB - June 29 - 3:55 pm

  While many would argue that buying a Cadillac vs. a Lexus is crazy, the simple fact is that I purchased a car based on the enjoyment I recieve while driving it instead of considering only the "re-sale" price for the next owner. The CTS handles very well (this from someone that used to race Camaros in SCCA autocross), it has plenty of power for normal (and somewhat spitited) driving and fits the driver like a four door Trans-Am. The rear seat provides plenty of room for "adults" vs many competitiors that provide onlly enough leg room for pre- schoolers. In other words, if you are considering a BMW, Mercedes C-Class, or Lexus ES or IS, you would do well to drive a CTS before buying.

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  Cadillac a winner - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By Cadillac done right - June 29 - 3:46 pm

  I have had many new cars, this is my first Cadillac but will not be my last. I am very satisfied with the ride and performance. Everything works and works well. I looked at Audi, BMW and Benz models in this price range and they did not come close to ride, roominess or smooth performance.

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  2001 Catera Sport - 2001 Cadillac Catera
  By Great Car - June 29 - 3:11 pm

  Great Car, comfortable ride, pleasure to drive during trips. It really has the Zip Cadillac used in their marketing. Too bad after all the fine-tuning they did and then discontinued the model.

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  Our SRX saved our lives - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Joyce - June 29 - 3:08 pm

  While traveling South to Florida,we had a very bad accident in our brand new SRX. We hit the guard rail, went airborn into the northbound lane on I 95 in Virginia and then rolled over 8 times, hit a tractor trailer truck twice and landed, straped in our seat belts, in the car but upside down on the roof. The car was demolished but the passenger section had about 3 feet of room between us and the bottom of the car. We both had very significant injuries but when the police arrived on the scene they expected to find fatalities not people who were alive. Our dog was in a dog car seat in the second row and she survived with NO injuries. We have replaced the car (even the same color). Love the car.

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  Best Cadillac Ever Made - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By Karl - June 27 - 9:17 pm

  This is my 5th new Cadillac. This car is by far the most fun and pleasent car to drive I have ever owned. I enjoy long trips in it. Everywhere I go people stop and look.

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  Great American Car!!! - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By Cary L - June 27 - 5:13 pm

  Originally went to purchase a CTS Luxury Sport but the salesman also showed us a V6 STS Luxury pkg. For a few dollars more my wife and I got exactly what we were both looking for. I have been looking at both Japanese and European cars for the past 3 months and the STS V6 beats them all! The V6 is the perfect engine at 255 HP, coupled with a 5 speed auto trans that has sport mode as well as a manual shift option, this car not only looks great its a blast to drive. Center stack with optional Premium upgrade gets wood trim, which makes this interior gorgeous! If thats not enough, it runs on regular gas, something all the imports cant do. Also remember it is rear wheel drive, so no torque steer.

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  Cadillac SRX - Great Vehicle - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Jburns - June 26 - 3:14 pm

  The SRX has just the right amount of storage space for our frequent trips to the sunny south. The ride and handling is excellent. The step-in height is a little high, for a small person. Plenty of power in all conditions. Gas mileage good for a 4,400 lb. vehicle. The large sunroof is great, but for highway driving its to windy and you need the additional pop-up 3rd row seat conventional sunroof only.

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  Excellence from Cadillac - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By James Westwick - June 25 - 4:54 pm

  I tried hard to hear a squeak, feel a vibration, receive a jolt from hitting a pothole. No Success. After some twenty years of Nissans, Mercedes and Porsches, I am now back to a good old American-built car. The Cadillac CTS has it all -- whether on a superhighway or in the driveway. Solid, positive handlng, even a powerful engine that runs on 87-octane fuel. Who would have thought?

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  GM to keep making a coupe - 2002 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Card Player - June 25 - 4:16 pm

  Great auto, great milage, smart look and a great price. I hope that GM continues to make more Cadillac coupes.

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  Im lovin my new "used" ride - 2002 Cadillac Escalade
  By Christine - June 25 - 2:22 am

  I have never owned a luxury vehicle before. I just traded in my 2004 Jeep Liberty for a 2002 Cadillac Escalade with 30,000 miles and it rides better than my Jeep did with only 6,000 miles. I love the roomy interior, the speakers are great, and the ride is so smooth. Its a heck of a way down if you forget how high up you are when exiting the car though! So far Im happy, but I did get an extended warranty just in case things go wrong.