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:

• 

  My 1992 Cadillac Seville - 1992 Cadillac Seville
  By Ricardo Gueli - July 11 - 2:00 am

  My Seville is so nice and a pleasure to drive. I am surprised the value of it is so low. It would be impossible to find a replacement without going to a Cadillac DeVille, costing $40,000. I like my car so much I wont get a new one. My wife and I drive it on trips and it is exceptionally comfortable, 27-28 mpg, and looks good. The car only has 93,000 miles so I am prepared to proudly drive it for many more years.

• 

  Catera - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By Addam MacDonald - July 11 - 2:00 am

  Car has too many problems and too expensive to fix. I recently had to do some motorwork which ended up costing me $2,100. And 6 months later im having more problems with it.

• 

  New Model Bugs - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By emlpal - July 11 - 2:00 am

  With the Northstar V-8 and 320hp, this is a great performance SUV (built on a car platform, the CTS). As with most new models, there are some bugs: rattles in the retracting roof and passanger door and two small oil leaks which required a week to repair. The engine actually has to be dropped to make the repair. This drove the Cadillac mechanics to distraction. The repairs were completed and all is now well. A fun, convenient vehicle to drive, with outstanding accelleration and handling. The V-8 comes with all the bells and whistles. As one would expect from Cadillac.

• 

  best of the best - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By mishal - July 11 - 2:00 am

  everything car the best suv i bought

• 

  My CTS - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By Bonnie Viola - July 11 - 2:00 am

  Only had the car for 2 months, but so far it is great. Better than my last Eldorado.

• 

  Fun on the Run - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By Jane Mack - July 10 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is fun, fun, fun. I am a Mom and a Realtor, and I get looks of envy from other parents and clients. This vehicle is easy to get in and out of. It has the look of sophistication needed for my clients and the durability of the mini van to take the kids where they need to go. Enough room in the back to keep my golf clubs handy, and storage to keep napkins and such handy for the kids. Yo can pull out in traffic and never have to worry about causing a traffic jam.

• 

  Great Car - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By Sue C. - July 10 - 2:00 am

  I am very happy with my SUV. I have never owned an SUV before but I have driven them and this is by far the smoothest riding auto. I am very pleased with my purchase.

• 

  Best Caddillac We Have Owned - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By Rusty1234 - July 10 - 2:00 am

  We have driven Cadillac for nearly 30 years and this is quite simply the best one yet.

• 

  Fun, Fun, Fun - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By JP Darnall - July 10 - 2:00 am

  I fell in love with this car immediately on taking a test drive. The SRX handles more like a sports car than a SUV. It hugs the road and handles tight turns and winding roads superbly. At the same time it is extremely comfortable and quiet. Positively the best driving experience of any car I have everr owned.

• 

  A FANTASTIC VEHICLEA HEAD TURNER - 2004 Cadillac XLR
  By ROYCE - July 10 - 2:00 am

  A HEAD TURNER. MORE POSITIVE REMARKS FROM PEOPLE SEEING THE CAR. EVEN MORE SUCH STATEMENTS AFTER EXPERIENCING THE MANY FEATURES AND ITS ROADABILITY AND PERFORMANCE. A JOY TO DRIVE!