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:

• 

  2005 Cadillac XLR - 2005 Cadillac XLR
  By BobJ - April 30 - 1:55 pm

  My 2005 Cadillac XLR has been better than I expected in terms of being fun to drive and the build quality. I have not had any problems with it at all at all after six months of ownership. Heads turn constantly when I drive by. This car is faster than I can go, quicker than I need, and turns and brakes better than my last Porsche. My oonly problem with it, and this is a minor gripe, is that when backing out of a parking space, the roll bar partially blocks my view.

• 

  My first Cadillac - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By Carlos Couto - April 29 - 12:11 am

  In my 30 plus years of driving I have driven all makes and some of the best cars in the world including Rolls Royce, and I have never seen a car so confortable, safe and tecnicaly advanced as my new STS. I truly enjoy driving it. Be aware that you lose your privacy, wherever you go people just keep looking at the car and driver (I think I like it). What a great buy I have made.

• 

  SRX review - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By herproudmom - April 28 - 12:31 am

  This vehicle is very comfortable while sporty at the same time. The third row seat and DVD system rocks as my little girl so frequently says. The traction control and stability system is great. I really cant say anything bad....

• 

  New Cadillac SRX - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By del rae - April 27 - 11:41 pm

  The wife and I love this truck. The only thing we think they could have do better on the door interior door panels should have a leather trim or some thing we looked at a inf and a Lexus but not happy with the lack of power. I drive a 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup 1/2 ton hemi and love it as you can see the wife likes power.

• 

  Check out this car - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By Eric - April 27 - 1:54 am

  The Cadillac CTS is comfortable, has great performance, and has great looks. Anyone looking for a sports sedan that doesnt want to be cramped should check it out!

• 

  What a car - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By the bug - April 25 - 2:00 am

  Face it, the car is awesome. I love the way it handles in tight curves. Its a great highway cruiser with comfort to boot (once you find your set settings), speed and excelleration are pretty decent. This car really turns heads. I have people of all ages making compliments, many at stoplights are questioning cost. A few with BMWs & MBs are checking it out while parked. I just love to drive it. Cadillac has hit the mark

• 

  Luxury and fun car - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By csquare - April 24 - 3:31 am

  Well designed and makes driving a pleasure. The engineers really gave a lot of thought to this design. It is ergonomically correct!

• 

  My 05 Escalade - 2005 Cadillac Escalade
  By Zach - April 23 - 12:18 pm

  This is my 2nd Escalade . I owned an 02 ( it was a GM Certified vehicle) , and never had a problem with it , so I decided before GM changes the model I would get me a new one ( 2005 ) . Nothing like the smell of Cadillac Leather! The interior is nice, like the subtle changes, miss some they deleted on the newer models . But overall this is truly a Cadillac for car or truck nuts ( like me ) . And just knowing that there are 345 horses under the hood makes you feel like you can own the road if you feel like it !

• 

  On the road again - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By Mrs. R M Wheeler - April 22 - 6:13 am

  We traded 2002 DeVille in after test driving our STS 2005 Northstar V8. We test drove a Jaguar and a Mercedes a few months back. We werent in the market to really purchase a new car, but after driving the STS, we were sold. Handles like a dream, drives true and is really fun to drive. I am so lucky my husband who has is a car buff from way back, said he wouldnt consider the V6. When the salesman rode with us in the V8, he said it did have a little more pep than the V6! Beautifully done car, inside and out. Cadillac has a winner and so do we.

• 

  My SRX - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By njfla - April 21 - 5:56 pm

  A great vehicle to drive, holds the road well, comfortable, plenty of room for 5 adults, a dog, gifts, 2 suitcases and a ham to travel 300 miles on Christmas. Mileage 23 MPG highway, 16 and a half around town. Not bad!