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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  RYMATT - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By RYMATT - March 3 - 2:00 am

  THE BEST SUV I HAVE EVER OWNED.IT IS A WHAT THEYADVERTISE AND MORE.BUY IT NOW!!!!

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  Owner - 1990 Cadillac Seville
  By MarkcusZen - March 2 - 2:00 am

  The best car Ive ever owned, without a doubt. Reliability is superb. After 103,000 miles, it still starts and runs like it was off the showroom floor.

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  Great Ride for the Bucks - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By CTS Fan - March 1 - 2:00 am

  Absolutely terrific package for the money. Great performance, room, handling, and looks. Beats all those "boring" Lexuss and overpriced German autos at their own game. Only wish I could step up to the CTS V!

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  Richys Ride - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By rfridline - February 29 - 2:00 am

  Probably the best, sterio system I have ever owned from a production car. The VVT6 is also a performer powertrain I can not compare. Well done, one can tell there is a Geramn touch on this vehicle.

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  Needs some changes - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By donny190 - February 29 - 2:00 am

  Love the car looked at many other like the navigator and x5. I choose this because of its looks i love it. i like the handeling and how easy it is for a person to drive. i let my 75 year old mother drive it and she thinks it is very easy to drive. i have two kids and like the third row feature its just when u need the cargo space it is kind of hard to change from passenger to cargo mood. but this is great i luv it in the winter. it has great handeling and i like how high it sits up but it still is low enough to comfortably get in.

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  OK. Who really built this car? - 2000 Cadillac Seville
  By Happy Ed - February 28 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this vehicle as a "Sunday" car. Not a work vehicle or drive the kids to school vehicle. My first drive on the highyway worried me, because it had a slight vibration. I returned it for repairs, 4 tires corrected the problem(end of the year purchase. Sitting for a year without driving, flatten the tires somewhat) It gets great gas mileage, 3 mpg better than my Mitsubishi Sigma V6. This is also driving without trying to get gas mileage, in the 70 to 80 mph range, and when you want to pass, step on the gas and pass. Everything works. The car is dead quiet on the road, no rattles or creeks. Very enjoyable.

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  bring back the fin... - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By Butchkins - February 28 - 2:00 am

  i love my dhs

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  Rides like a magic carpet!! - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By Dolph Spain - February 28 - 2:00 am

  It considered big, but it handles like a sports car. The ride is magic -- quiet and smooth with seats you could use in your den. Being able to use regular gasoline is an extra considering gas prices today and the gas mileage is exceptional for such a luxury car. Its also stylish and eyecathing if you are interested in that

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  MORE THAN PLEASED - 2000 Cadillac Seville
  By jerry gerow - February 27 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS ONE THE BEST LUXURY CRUISERS IVE DRIVEN. I BELIEVE CADILLAC HAS HAD A WRONGLY DESERVED BAD WRAP FOR YEARS AMONG THE YUPPY CROWD. PERFORMANCE, MILEAGE AND COMFORT ARE EXCELLENT, AND NO PROBLEMS.

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  Fast,Fast,Fast - 2002 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Terry L. Cole - February 26 - 2:00 am

  The car truns heads every where you go. The red color and chrome wheels with the body style set this one off. People just know its the king of the road.