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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  Platinum FWD--A Real Delight - 2013 Cadillac XTS
  By rgj21 - May 23 - 3:50 pm

  I took delivery of my XTS Platinum FWD in Sapphire Blue Metallic on May 11. I must say that I become more pleased with the vehicle everyday. I have owned a Lexus LS, a Jaguar XJ and a Mercedes CLS and the XTS compares very favorably with each of those luxury vehicles. GM has finally met the challenge of the German and Japanese luxury vehicles with interior materials, fit and finish and technology second to none. I seriously evaluated 11 other cars and SUVs before this purchase and could not escape from the fact that dollar for dollar the XTS was the best value in its class. It is a pleasure to drive, performs beautifully and has that head-turning quotient.

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  Finally, an American Sports Sedan! - 2013 Cadillac ATS
  By jg0712 - May 18 - 11:36 am

  Have only had my ATS for a week but I can already record some observations. This car probably possesses the best driving dynamics in a sports sedan in its class. Tighter suspension and lateral balance than current 3 series. Not as smooth as Infiniti G but outshines these cars in more categories than not. My first American car since my first car ever back in 1984 and I feel it was worth the wait. Not perfect, but a true drivers car that doesnt compromise on handling, performance and style.

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  Awesome value - 2013 Cadillac ATS
  By 383motec - May 13 - 1:44 am

  Performance: Chassis tuning is awesome, ride that pleases Lexus fans, and sportiness that will impress BMW fans. Brakes are outstanding and acceleration is competitive in the segment. COMFORT: Front seats comfort is excellent and leatherette is top grade. The engine howls and buzzes a lot under duress, but its actually smoother and has less boom at idle, low speeds, under low rpm/heavy load than my 2010 Audi A5 2.0T with its heralded engine. Im 510"/180 lbs. and this interior is nearly snug. The rear seat is adequate for adults up to 510", if everybody cooperates with seating position. Trunk is narrow, but reasonably tall and deep. Great standard stereo sound beats my Audi B&O

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  Ground breaking perfprmance - 2003 Cadillac Seville
  By dwayne13 - May 4 - 9:52 pm

  The 2003 Seville is a nice car with some great features and has that unique style as the price has drop and you can afford to have one. The North star motor can be a smooth surprise, but like with any vehicle you buy there is always some strength and weakness of any car, The car itself is a driving computer and if your not aware of this the car can be your worse nightmare in repair with sensors and the electronic hardware that runs the car, but aside of that the car is a marvel as the technology in the car has laid some ideas for the future Cadillacs, Its a true Cadillac and i just love mines with 96,000 miles and i am a mechanic if you see one for sale get one.

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  12 Years Old and Still a Beauty - 2001 Cadillac Seville
  By nathaniel - April 27 - 7:02 pm

  I purchased my 2001 STS in 2004 as it came off of a 3-year lease. It had about 32K miles and now it only has about 72K. It was at a Caddy dealer. A new Caddy has a 3-year 50K warranty. A Certified used one has 5 or 6 year/100K mile one. Also, they cover not only power train, but practically everything, including free loaner car. Couple of months after purchase it developed an oil leak. No "oil pan" on transverse, i.e. had to remove engine, take apart in middle and put in a new gasket. Glad it was under warranty.

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  Supernatural - 1993 Cadillac Deville
  By webter - April 25 - 3:59 pm

  When people ask how this car has treated me, I tell them that this car is special it can do anything. Super comfortable inside, exceptional under the hood, beautiful on the outside. It has so much power, and being so low to the ground makes it seem like a sports car. In terms of reliability, this car is a great example of American quality. I bought it with 97K miles on it and put 15K the first year with no problems. Only one repair ever (water pump pulley), which apparently was done incorrectly the first time. The mileage isnt great, but can vary widely. I got up to 35 mpg on a trip to Vegas. I intend to drive this car until theres no more miles it can handle. I absolutely love this car.

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  Rides like a Caddy - 2006 Cadillac DTS
  By overlandbpc - April 19 - 1:03 am

  This is my 7th cadillac. A fine American car. I do question if you guys know what trim level your car is. Most of you are Luxury III, or Performance???? I didnt think they made that many with those trims. Might want to check your trim level again. 1sd is a Luxury III There were only 11,146 of those built. Far fewer Performance were built 1se is the performance package. Anyhow its a great car. Reliable, fast, and smooth. Ive owned the car now for 6 years and have put a little over 50k on it without an issue. Japanese/German cars are over rated. If your an American buy something made here. Keep jobs here. Our cars were built by good Americans in Hamtramck Michigan

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  CTS Lemon - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By cadictsawful - April 16 - 4:32 pm

  I loved my CTS when I got it in 2006 because it was so beautiful. It never had a lot of power and the "traction control" would come on each time I pulled out from a stop. I could live with that. I started having issues around the 2nd year... most of which was covered. Now I am at year 7 and I have had nothing but issues for 2 years. I have had to put several thousand dollars in for repairs. Rear differential broke TWICE, Air bag issue, Wipers dont work, catalytic converter, misfires all the time, purge valve, spark plugs, and the list goes on. I still owe 4K because it was a lease at first. Shouldnt a Caddy last at least a decade or 120000 miles? Very sad and disappointing.

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  Please help me save my baby!!! - 1999 Cadillac Eldorado
  By nitro2go - April 11 - 12:43 pm

  I recently bought a 99 El Dorado w/Northstar. I love it so very much,but, I didnt do my homework, now it needs an alternator, and I hear it will often, A new one is expensive! Can I get one with a heavier voltage regulator to avoid this problem? If not, Im afraid Ill have to sell my baby. :{{{{{ signed very unhappy.

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  New vehicle same old GM - 2013 Cadillac XTS
  By richzand - April 10 - 11:47 am

  9 trips back to the dealer since July. The cue system seams to have problems that GM doesnt have fixes for, they should have worked all the gremlins out of the system before releasing this car.