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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  Great SUV - 2008 Cadillac Escalade
  By GTOhaas - July 29 - 1:53 am

  This thing is awesome. More power than anything Ive driven. Great style inside and out. I havent found one thing that I do not like.

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  Cadillac Man! - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By Mark Anthony - July 27 - 1:45 pm

  This is my 5th new Cadillac and so far the best. People are in awe when I tell them the features. Windows down by voice, push button start, keyless access, just walk up to the car and the car door opens automatically. 15 speaker Bose stereo and navigation screen, it even plays DVDs and MP3s! The automatic transmission shifts without the clutch. I just love this car. I clean it everyday!

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  CTS - Is the press ignoring a great car? - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By pschambs - July 27 - 2:00 am

  A fresh change from my normal Buick Regal (Three in a row - about 2 years use each); the CTS handles wonderful - zippy and yet a smooth enough road ride for someone like me that travels heavily. Superb sound system and excellent driver visibility! I have approx. 7000 miles on it already; and have noticed the press has turned their attention from even reviewing this car with any peers?!

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  gas its the problem - 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By PAblo Ave - July 26 - 10:30 am

  Hi I just steped out of a BMW525 07 since economy obligated me to lower down my bills...and i wanted a USA truck (work reasons) but i didnt wanted to loose the luxury...and i didnt. This truck will meet my needs and expectations...has far of mechanical problems my truck has little over 60k and so far so good. Gas its a little issue but is a truck with a powerfull 6.0 v8 if i was going to watch over that i would have gotten a 4 or 6 cyl. I wanted to be able to move my boat..load boxes in the trunk..take my bikes...and still feeling i was on my 525i 07 and i am!

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  Country Cadillac - 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By ray tordoff - July 25 - 9:10 pm

  This is the third EXT I have owned. The vehicles are used for work & pleasure. They are very luxurious workhorses. I use the cargo space extensively to haul building materials & antiques. The vehicle is quick, responsive, & fun to drive. My average mileage over the first 4000 miles is 16.1mpg. I dont baby it & usually drive 9 miles an hour over the posted highway speed limit. I highly recommend this " Country Cadillac"

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  Great car - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By jjmiller - July 25 - 11:06 am

  We purchased this car with 7000 owned by 92 year old man and it is too much car for a oler person, traded back to the dealer for a small and less equipment.

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  a car for those go for quality - 2007 Cadillac CTS
  By sandile - July 23 - 8:13 am

  having a car like this was for me the greatest experience ever as the car gave me that sense of control which you normally dont get from other vehicles.for me its a dream coming true.

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  CTS Review - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By ratso - July 22 - 10:00 am

  The best automobile Ive owned in the last 39years. Outstanding performance matched with great design! A winner!

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  My Caddy - 1999 Cadillac Deville
  By Caddy - July 19 - 8:12 am

  I bought the Std version. I got fed up because the dealer either made a mistake or scammed me telling me its a Concours (not an official GM/Cadillac dealer), but a Caddy is a Caddy and it is a dream.I bought it for $6900 CANADIAN (at the time i bought it it was worth 10,000 US). On my first drive from the dealership I had to go on the hectic and jammed 401 on a snowy november night, and it felt like I was driving in my neibourhood on a sunny day in may. I was amazed by the performance. I mainly drive on highways and at one time it gave me 28 miles to the gallon, thats pretty impressive for a 4-ton Cadillac running on a 4 and a half liter Northstar engine.

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  PrincessSLS - 1999 Cadillac Seville
  By PrincessSLS - July 17 - 9:57 am

  Bought used and have owned this auto for 6 years now. 2 set of tires, 1 set of brakes, oil sending unit, front engine mount, center console lid, minor coolant leak and of course the extra quart of oil between oil changes. She has been a great car. Exceptional power to gas mileage ratio. Very quiet on the highway. Leather is the best quality that I have seen. Styling is still head turning. I have recently noticed that in turns the steering is sluggish and between 65 and 75 mph the car trembles. I have not had this trouble investigated. Occasionaly the computer system acts up with a variety of curious issues. Overall dependable, enjoyable, powerful well worth the price I paid.