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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  Cadillac STS - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By jhutchinson1 - January 31 - 4:13 pm

  I love the look and feel of this car, however the engine and steering column have already been replaced before it hit 6,000 miles. The parts were not in stock, resulting in 37 days repair time the first time and 39 the second. I am in the process of a buyback now!

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  Nothing but Trouble - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By cheryl - January 12 - 9:07 pm

  My title says it all. I have had absolutely nothing but trouble with my CTS since purchasing it in 2005. The fuel system, the slave cylinder, the air compressor, just to name a few things that have gone out and left me stranded.

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  Do Not Purchase This Vehicle - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By ceranic - January 4 - 12:26 pm

  Think twice before purchasing a 2004 Cadillac CTS. Due the fact that front and rear tire sizes vary, it is not possible to rotate the tires. Consequently, the tires will feather (cup) and produce an irritating, noisey ride. According to several tire dealers, plan on replacing tires after approximately 15,000 miles. I would seriously question any rave reviews on the fun aspect of driving this vehicle, or any vehicle, whose tires remain in place without proper periodic rotation.

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  Worst Purchase I have Ever Made - 2002 Cadillac Seville
  By bas - December 29 - 6:41 pm

  I have had nothing but problems from the moment I drove my Cadillac Seville STS off the lot. My repair folder is over 3" thick - including continual vibration in steering at various speeds and reverbration in entire car and tie rods that were replaced numerous times. There is service bulletin out there - but dealers wont disclose this. I would NEVER recommend the Seville to anyone.

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  2004 Cadillac CTS - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By Al - December 29 - 6:00 pm

  I posted about my Cadillac CTS back in early 2005. I raved about this car. I loved it. Until October 2005 a seal broke in the trunk and it took all of the 3 inches of rain from the sky into my interior. Everything was totaled inside. Since then Caddy installed a new interior. Every week I get a new rattle along with panels falling off the interior. It sounds like a Yellow school bus when you drive it. I reached out to service reps and GM in Detroit. All on deaf ears. As long I pay GMAC nobody cares. I strongly recommend you choose wisely. For the first time in my life after 25 years of driving Cadillac, I have to try other waters (foreign). What a shame!

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  The greatest disappointment of Cadillac - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By lcacsllc - December 20 - 6:34 pm

  I have been driving Cadillacs for the past 16 years. I have had DeVilles and SLSs. Always I could rely on Cadillac to provide superior ride and service. My 2006 STS V6 was a huge disappointment. We have 8,000 miles on the car and have felt every crack in the road from here to Florida and back. We cancelled a Christmas driving trip and chose to fly. The ride is intolerable. Never before have we had to test drive the car before ordering. We find that the only smooth ride offered by Cadillac is the DTS. We like the sporty styling but its a tin-lizzy dressed in sports attire. Second, the glove box is not sufficient to even house the cars instruction manual. What a useless piece of space.

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  I wish I could be as enthusiastic... - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By I like cars - December 19 - 11:12 am

  The SRX is good, but many things about it bother me. With no magnetic ride control and standard tires, there is something weird in the handling. Bumps and uneven pavement throw it slightly off line requiring steering correction. The steering is heavy and dead feeling with AWD. For tall guys, the steering wheel is too far away. We have squeaks and rattles. Normal aceleration falls flat at 40 mph when it shifts into 4th gear, requiring you to add more throttle, a nuisance. The engine sounds more like an appliance than a car.

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  Disappointed Owner - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Bettsey Arnold - December 14 - 12:59 am

  There are several things that I do not like about the 2005 Cadillac SRX. There are quite a few blind spots that are safety concerns. The passenger seat and back seats are very uncomfortable. I have owned other Cadillacs and I am so very disappointed with this one. I am thinking of trading it in for a GMC Yukon or Ford Explorer.

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  Overall Comments After One Year of Ownership - 2002 Cadillac Seville
  By susan - December 8 - 6:35 pm

  My 2002 Cadillac Seville STS was exceptional when acquired however, electronics and mechanicals became inoperable, needing complete replacemen. I had to make major mechanical repairs to the engine, steering shaft, stereo, too many to list. It is a good thing they have a long term warranty on their "quality" used vehicles. I am disappointed with the overall experience. The front pilars are wicked blind spots also.

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  This is not Cadillac Quality - 2006 Cadillac SRX
  By steve - November 26 - 3:07 pm

  We have a 2006 Cadillac SRX and we are not happy with it. Its rear tail lights are ugly and dont fit with the car. Also, it needs to get better gas mileage. I do like the seats though. This vehicle definitely needs some improvements.