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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  My 93 Brougham - 1993 Cadillac Fleetwood
  By Mr. Big - December 12 - 3:04 pm

  I have owned my fully-optioned Fleetwood Brougham since new in 1993. The car now has 165,000 miles and it has never had a single problem. It is garaged and well cared for and most people ask if it is new when they see it, even after almost 14 years. I have bought many other cars in the interim, but will always keep the brougham and my 2002 Thunderbird Blue T-Bird which now has 5,000 miles on it after 5 years. The 1993 Fleetwood Brougham is the equivalent of owning an American Rolls Royce and should be treated and valued accordingly.

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  Dream Car - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By John Nelson - December 11 - 8:30 pm

  Ive had this 2004 SRX for almost one year. Its the best car Ive ever had. The power is dangerously seductive. The comfort for a big guy cant be beat - seriously. So many other SUV driver areas are just too small for me. The SRXs flat-top doors keep the elbows snugly secure from sliding down, as opposed to so many other SUVs rounded door tops. Im able to drive home large purchases with ease (eg, furniture) yet have a smooth (car chassis), safe, elevated ride without any scraping in San Franciscos hilly terrain. The AWD is great for traction. Its QUIET! The huge sunroof makes it a safe, virtual convertible. It has so many amenities, I cant understand why this isnt the top-rated SUV

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  Love this suv - 2016 Cadillac SRX
  By SUSIE ANDERSON - December 10 - 10:01 pm

  I just love this SUV. I feel safe driving it. The warranty and maintenance is awesome plus too. My dealer was an absolute pleasure to deal with.

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  Nice Car - 1996 Cadillac Seville
  By Freddy L. - December 9 - 5:55 pm

  I have never had any problems with my Seville except for minor oil burn, about one quart every 1,500 - 2,000 miles. Other than that nothing. This car is extremely responsive and takes high speed turns very well for a 3800 vehicle. The Bose stereo system sounds nice but is not spectacularly loud. The low beam headlights do not have great range, but high beams are fantastically bright.

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  2003 Cadillac CTS - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By FrankM - December 8 - 10:00 am

  The car is really fun to drive, but the cabin is extremely noisy. Noises are everywhere- dashboard, seats, windows, doors, you name it! Within the first three weeks I had the car, I had to send it back to the dealer for service. Other than these "little" problems, the car has a comfortable ride (although the rear has very little leg room), performance is fine, and the engine is really powerful. The dashboard controls are very easy to access, too, sompared to similar models.

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  Some questions - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By CTS2003 - December 8 - 10:00 am

  Transmission changed awfully quick. Leaking caused under driver seat to stay wet.

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  Nine Years and Counting - 1997 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Joe - December 7 - 2:58 pm

  I bought this car new with only seven miles on it. Today it has 176,000 miles. I have replaced the AC compressor twice, one power steering pump, two alternators, and the head gaskets. The blown head gasket was my fault for trying to drive to next exit ignoring the warning system a radiator hose had burst. The piston rings were replaced and the heads rebuilt when the dealer replaced the head gasket. It cost $4,000 to repair and the car had 116,000 miles. All in all the car has been reliable. The car doesnt smoke, but does drink a quart of oil every two weeks. If Cadillac came out with a design I liked, I would probably buy another. The Northstar engine is a marvel.

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  rRad Noise - 2007 Cadillac Escalade
  By homer - December 7 - 8:16 am

  I like the car a lot, except that the wind and road noise are really bad. A friend I took on a long road trip said his two year old Tahoe is much quieter. Sad, but I have to agree with him. The dealer adjusted the doors once but it didnt help. Is there a fix out there?

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  Nothing but Engine Problems... - 1998 Cadillac Catera
  By Bill - December 6 - 11:17 pm

  After many times in the shop and finally a blown head gasket I sent this car to the junk yard. The mechanic at the dealer told me "this is the worts car they ever made" Germany with an Opel engine.

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  Almost Perfect! - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By stephen leonhard - December 4 - 2:20 pm

  This cars seats are downright uncomfortable after three hours. The interior is cheap looking and hard surfaces abound. The glove box barely holds the owners manual. Altogether too much tire and road noise enters cabin. It requires 150 pounds of sand bags in trunk to get modest winter traction. Having said this, this car has great handling. The steering and brakes are excellent.