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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  Comfortable Over the Road Sedan - 2002 Cadillac Deville
  By FredB - June 24 - 2:00 am

  I used to have a Saab Convertible, back in the day, and no car was more fun to drive than that one. But my Caddy is probably the most comfortable, and safe feeling, car I have ever driven. If I keep my speed under 70, my highway mileage is 28-30 mpg, and I cant complain about that.

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  The jurys still out - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By BWV565 - June 24 - 2:00 am

  After a horrendous experience with a 97 Catera (the CTS predecessor), I hesitated before buying the CTS but read great reviews and heard great things, so made the plunge. Black/black, Sports Luxury Package, Chrome wheels, tinted windows, etc., absolutely beautiful. One month into ownership, the DVD Navigation died. Fuel gauges inaccurate and fluctuate. Gas mileage is poor.

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  Great Dealership, Great SUV - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By Jaye51 - June 23 - 2:00 am

  Car is fun to drive. My only complaint is that the meaning of the buttons on the steering wheel should be written out as they are on our Buick and I would like to see thje speed shown in the windshield as it is with the Buick. The V6 engine is very rersponsive and has great power. The sun roof is great.

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  Loving It!!!! - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By vme1976 - June 23 - 2:00 am

  I also drive a bigger SUV and was afraid I would feel cramped in this smaller vehicle but I dont feel cramped at all. I have room along with my passengers. Everything I need to use is right at my finger tips unlike in other cars I have driven. The get up and go on this car is great!! Ive actually been stopped by people thinking of buying a CTS and I havent had one bad thing to say about it.

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  BEST EVER - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By RVMSKI - June 18 - 2:00 am

  iM 48 AND MY SON TALKED MY HUSBAND INTO LOOKING INTO THIS INSTEAD OF A TRUCK CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! I love it my son is 63 and not asking can you move the seat up further? the ride is the best.

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  This is My 6TH Cadillac STS and its the Best Yet - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By Hyman Arbesfeld - June 15 - 2:10 am

  The exterior of the Cadillac STS is unmatched by any vehicle being sold by Lexus, Mercedes-Benz or BMW, all of which are too bland for my taste. This really is a car that you can enjoy looking at. Not having to use a key for all that a key is normally used I have found very interesting. I have to educate others about this when i leave the car with parking attendants.

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  First American Car - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By CaddyConvert - June 15 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car - very well thought out - extremely comfortable - nice engine - very workable third row seating and plenty of cargo room. This is our first American car - stuck on Audi S-class - needed an SUV for third row seating and didnt want to cut back too far on performance or luxury. The SRX is as good as you get. Porsche and BMW - what about the third row of seats?

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  RED ALERT - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By Robert G. Kramer - June 15 - 2:00 am

  Be careful. The 2004 CTS is so smooth and quiet you will lose all sense of speed. The beautiful red line color attracts radar and lasers. The cop liked my car so much he wrote the ticket down from 77 in a 55 to 61. Lets hear it for the U.S.A. I love this car.

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  97 Catera - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By Jay Hayden - June 13 - 2:00 am

  This is one of our favorite cars we have owned. Overall excellent comfort and performance and fun to drive. Initial quality problems disappeared over time. The longer we owned it, the better we liked it.

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  VERY HAPPY SO FAR !!!! - 1997 Cadillac Deville
  By losdos711 - June 13 - 2:00 am

  BOUGHT USED IN 2002 I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS AS OF YET. HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND HAVE PUT OVER 31.000 MILES ON IT IN 2 AND HALF YEARS. DROVE TO TEXAS FROM OHIO TWICE AND ONCE TO SOUTH CAROLINA. COMFORTABLE AND FUN TO DRIVE