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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  CTS Sport - Luxury, Performance, Value - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By mjdart - August 18 - 11:13 pm

  The power is supplied by a 255 HP 3.6L VVT (dual overhead cams) all aluminum V6 engine coupled to my optional 5-speed automatic transmission. It ts a very smooth combination. The auto features a very nicely incorporated manual shift mode that is accessible with a right flick of your wrist. Pull back and it down and it shifts to the next lower gear. Push it up and it up-shifts. All five gears are accessible this way. This car is rear wheel drive with a 3.42 drive ratio. I have found 70 mph yields an engine speed of 2,250 rpm, which is good for less engine wear and highway gas mileage. The interior is well laid out with the exception of the glove box which is big enough to hold gloves and not much else.

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  One Smart Choice for Luxury - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By Simon Li - August 18 - 10:56 am

  This car has a very comfortable ride and a feel of luxury from outside to inside. The style is not just for the 40+ age group any more and the GMAC Smart-Buy program made my decision easier to make. I got the V6 model, it is not as sporty as V8. Overall, it makes my drive to work a lot more enjoyable, even Monday morning.

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  Amazing - 2006 Cadillac SRX
  By marlin - August 15 - 3:05 pm

  This car is amazing, it runs very well. It has lots of room for my family and has a huge sunroof.

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  Not All Its Cracked Up to Be. . . - 2007 Cadillac Escalade
  By LW - August 14 - 11:46 pm

  After test driving multiple Escalades over the past month, I have to say that I was completly let down. While the exterior is absolutely stunning, the interior fails to impress. The interior is not of solid construction at all. Opening the center console I felt like I was going to break it, it is very shaky. Overall the quality of the interior of the Cadillac just seemed very cheaply constructed to me. The power of the engine also failed to impress me as well. After driving it on the open interstate and flooring it a couple times, it just failed to impress.

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  A Mechanics Dream - 2000 Cadillac Catera
  By lizzyb - August 14 - 12:21 pm

  This car stayed in towed more than it stayed on the road. Every time you fix one problem, another problem arises. The tow guy and I were on a first name basis. As a matter of fact, I had his number on speed dial. It is the worst piece of junk that I have ever owned. Cadillac really messed up with this one. They need to go back to the drawing board.

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  My Caddy - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By Cathleen Snyder - August 13 - 11:37 pm

  I have enjoyed every minute of driving my Caddy. I took it to Pennsylvania last week and it handles the road beautifully. I am completely satisfied. Other perople come to me and ask me about its performance. Others that own a CTS come and tell me how much they enjoying owning this car. This is a beautiful car. I am just thrilled that I have it. My friends like riding in it too.

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  XLR, Best of the Breed - 2005 Cadillac XLR
  By GoVols - August 13 - 7:04 pm

  This is the most commented-on car I have had since I owned a 1973 Jaguar E-Type V12 in the 70s. It has power, performance, comfort and (most of all) style. From its front angles it looks like the Batmobile. I am very happy with the car. The only problem is the touch screen for audio/mav/etc. is unreadable with the top down on a sunny day.

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  XLR Update - 2007 Cadillac XLR
  By twathen - August 13 - 8:39 am

  The Cadillac XLR is the most enjoyable and fascinating auto Ive ever owned, including Ferrari and Mercedes. It is responsive and truly a quality built auto. It is the best vehicle ever owned.

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  Its a Cadillac - 2001 Cadillac Seville
  By On my 3rd Northstar. - August 12 - 5:27 am

  Like the age old ad says its the "penalty of leadership." All of these Sevilles are based on the 1998 design. Compared to all other makes no one was this progressive. Sure the car is a bit heavy, expensive to own, and expensive to repair, but all in all its a superlative motor car. Overall Ive had minimal problems with this car for the amount of technology involved. The seat heaters were replaced under warranty, it had a vibration at 65 mph fixed under warranty, and the valve position sensor had to be replaced. Otherwise this is a start it up and go car. Not to mention it can pass anything else on the road quite effortlessly. Bottom line, if you want to drive GMs top of the line expect some minor problems. Overall it is luxury at its best!

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  An OK Car, but Be Friends with the Shop - 2002 Cadillac Deville
  By Peter - August 10 - 12:35 pm

  I have had this car for three years now. It has 75,000+ miles. The day after driving it home from the lot, the battery went dead. I was given a free replacement right in our driveway. That battery leaked and was recently replaced and they found a hole burned through the bottom of the car. They also replaced the passenger window motor because the rear window dropped. The motor is making noises now. Also, the seats get stained easily. The dash instruments are hard to see due to the glare. The good things are the comfortable seats, smooth ride, quiet engine, and how there is plenty of room and trunk space. This is not a performance car my any means.