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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  A very good car - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By Shmulik - October 9 - 2:00 am

  Excellent performer

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  this cadillac is sugested to everyone - 2000 Cadillac Escalade
  By rob smith - October 9 - 2:00 am

  I love the truck, i got a steal. The gas is great on the highway but not in the city. if you can afford this truck, you should be able to pay for the gas.

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  great - 2005 Cadillac Escalade
  By stephanie hagey - October 9 - 2:00 am

  I love my truck

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  04 AWD - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By CharlieBarton - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I traded in an 02 with 22500 miles , kept having problems with the check engine light ( caused by o2 sensor getting dust ) I live in the mountains and we have all dirt roads , county maintained . My o4 only has 400 miles and I am very happy with the improved seats and the nav. system ( very complicated ) VEHICLE HAS A BAD DASH RATTLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE , WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP I SAW 2 04S BEING REPAIRED ( SAME DASH RATTLE )

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  Powerful - 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By m;lk - October 6 - 10:00 am

  All in all I thought it was the best ride I ever experienced. Its spacious and boy does it look great. The price is even negotiable.You cant fell any bumps when you drive over rough roads.

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  Love My Escalade - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By Rich Fisher - October 6 - 2:00 am

  I have found the Escalade a real pleasure to drive anywhere, anytime. I have 22" rims, lowered it 3&5 added a lot of billet pieces and it gets a whole lot of attention everywhere I go.

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  Improvements Needed - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By Branko Bill - October 5 - 2:00 am

  The rear door is too heavy to pull down for women and elderly men and women. Needs to be power operated. Gas door should be lockable.

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  Performance - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By Fishter Insurance - October 2 - 2:00 am

  This is the most wonderful car I have ever had. The drive is easy and the ride is fantastic, very smooth. The only thing I dont care about is the level of the seats. While the theater seats are nice, you need very short people (like kids) to ride in the 3rd seat. There is not enough leg room for adults to sit in the third seat and this is somewhat a handicap.

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  My Blacky - 2005 Cadillac XLR
  By Arcuby - October 2 - 2:00 am

  So far all OK. Very Happy

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  Love My ESV - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By Randie - October 2 - 2:00 am

  Test Drove most other SUVs. With them I felt a truck is a truck til I drove the Escalade ESV. Rides like a car, drives like my Mercedes and the Vortec engine is better than any other make. Plenty of power, outstanding handling and steering, excellent braking. All wheel drive is great in the winter. Can not say enough good things. Just wish my wife would let me drive it a little more. Buy one.