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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  HOW CUTE!! - 2005 Cadillac XLR
  By Car Crazy - July 10 - 2:00 am

  I love it! Its fun to drive, and a MUCH better can that the SL500.

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  POWERFUL & AWESOME CAR - 2005 Cadillac XLR
  By Jacqueline Gordon - July 10 - 2:00 am

  What an incredible car! All the luxury of the sedans and the speed of the vet! Hope to buy one next year.

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  looks on the road - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By P.J. case - July 10 - 2:00 am

  The part that is the best to me is that I got you tuxcido in the copper color and everybody looks at me !!!!!!!!!

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  Best car on the market - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By Ed Wyda - July 10 - 2:00 am

  I FIND IT HARD TO GET INTO AND HARD TO GET OUT OF FOR A SENIOR CITIZEN.It is also hard to see when backing up. Otherwise, I like my Caddy. Been driving them for 34 years now. I also liked my Linclon. It had the largest trunk of them all. Wider and more space in the drivers seat. Ed. Wyda, Pensacola,Florida

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  Deville - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By cgcall - July 10 - 2:00 am

  The Cadillasc DeVille is by far the most comfortable car of all on the market. We have physically tried them ALL!! Foreign & American have been tested by this family. Money was not an object but comfort and performance was. We were surprised to end up with the DeVille actually we thougth we were going to pick a foreign car. We are very happy and even the hip young college students in our family want to drive this car. We enjoy the reliabilty, service,comfort and all the extras. We dressed up our car with larger chrome wheels and a fake convertible top to make it look a litle more appealing to us. It looks real sharp.

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  my dream car - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By runnerjo - July 10 - 2:00 am

  This is the nicest riding vehicle I have had, and I have had 3 lexuss before this Escalade. The car handles very smoothly and is so much fun to drive I dont mind taking long car trips anymore. I have also wanted an SUV that didnt drive like a truck. After one test drive I knew I had to have this vehicle. It has great pickup and speed and all the safety features I would want to cart around my 5 grandchildren.

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  Excellent Ride - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By Ron h. - July 10 - 2:00 am

  If you want utility AND luxury, the Escalade is your toy. Go with the AWD and you wont be disappointed. Youll never be at a loss for horsepower. Regarding comfort Ill put it against any sedan ... the ride is smooth and bumps in the road are essentially none existant. If you dont mind watching the gas gage move in front of your eyes and want a pure luxury vehicle, GO FOR IT!

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  Safe and Roomy - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By La Petite Ballen - July 10 - 2:00 am

  We purchased this Escalade because we drive to the mtns alot with small children and TWO big dogs on a two way mtn road. We use our all-wheel drive when seeking out good trailheads in summer, and skiing in the winter. We have bad backs and nothing beats the comfort of the seats. There is plenty of room for passengers and storage the backup sound devise plus all-wheel safety with reasonable gas mileage considering the load all make it a winner for us. Oh! The TV is a God send for long trips to Disneyland. It is a luxury truck like no other on the market.

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  COMMENTS - 2005 Cadillac Deville
  By RAMAKER - July 10 - 2:00 am

  ONLY ONE PROBLEM. THE REAR LUMBAR SUPPORT WAS DEFECTIVE.

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  Sedan DeVille - 2005 Cadillac Deville
  By Gumer - July 10 - 2:00 am

  I will never buy any other brand,to me there is no vehicle like the DeVille.