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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  Nice Ride - 2006 Cadillac SRX
  By Bill Foo - July 11 - 2:05 pm

  I traded in a 2004 Infiniti FX35 for a Cadillac SRX because my wife found the ride on the FX to be too harsh and the cargo space lacking. The SRX rides as one would expect a Cadillac -- very smooth and soft, yet the handling is quite acceptable. Oddly enough the FX had better gas mileage. On a round trip from Long Island, NY to Allentown, PA I achieved 18 MPG on the SRX averaging 70-80 mph. Similar conditions with the FX yielded 21 MPG. The last time I owned an American car was in 1982. Ive gone foreign ever since. GM has done something nice here to win me back. Overall Im very pleased with the purchase, but wish the acceleration to be slightly better perhaps I should have gotten the V8.

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  We still love our Escalade! - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By Dar - July 11 - 10:59 am

  We have been very happy with our Escalade. At about 70,000 the transmission went out and our extended warranty took care of. They did a repair and not a replacement. Other than that this has been a great truck. I wouldnt hesitate to buy a newer one next year.

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  Nice Truck - 2006 Cadillac Escalade
  By xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx - July 11 - 10:38 am

  My 2006 Cadillac Escalade has the perfect ride and great handling. It is greqt looking, too. I love its smooth cornering.

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  2007 CTS 3.6L Sport Sedan is Awsome - 2007 Cadillac CTS
  By Doug - July 10 - 9:53 pm

  The 2007 CTS 3.6L Sport is the most fun I have had since I drove Porches 15 years ago. I didnt know a sport luxury car could be this much fun. The OnStar and XM radio features were unexpected fun and insurance in the case of OnStar. Getting into the car and having the seat and mirrors go to my preset postions is a nice feature. The car has more than enough power @ 255hp ( I didnt get the CTS-V - V8 because of gas mileage).

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  One year old and not one bug or repair - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By ParVenu Playboy - July 10 - 6:33 pm

  This is the first American car Ive bought in 20 years. So far it has not had one single bug (unlike my BMWs that go computer out of control). I got every option available and love the huge sunroof, magnetic glide ride and Bose stereo system. The first generation satellite radio cut out all the time in the city. The only regret I have is the poor gas mileage. My SRX only gets 11 mpg in the city and 18.5 on the highway.

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  Best Engine Ever Made - 1993 Cadillac Seville
  By Caddyman - July 7 - 4:52 pm

  Not only does the Cadillac Seville house the best engine ever made, but its also a blast to drive. The comfort is amazing, the power is astonishing and yet you still can get 27 MPG on the highway. Amazing. The car has a very sleek look for its age. I was amazed by the looks of it. I thought it was a 2001! Simply put, its the best car Ive ever owned.

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  05 AWD Cadillac Escalade BEST SUV CADDY MADE 02 17 - 2005 Cadillac Escalade
  By JD - July 7 - 4:31 pm

  If your looking for a top notch American Quality SUV then the 05 Escalade beats them ALL hands down. Ive driven Domestic and foreign and wont let my 05 Escalade go. I can get a new 2017 but dont want it. THIS YEAR AND MODEL YOU CANT FIND. I HAVE DEALERS CALLING ME TO SELL AND ANSWER IS NO. IM PUSHING 150K AND KNOCK ON WOOD NO MAJOR ISSUES JUST MAINTENANCE. IF YOU CAN FIND ONE LOADED LIKE MINE YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED. GO CADILLAC......

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  A Real Attention Getter - 2004 Cadillac XLR
  By phillpxlr - July 6 - 7:47 pm

  My Cadillac XLR is a real head turner wherever it goes. If it is in the same lot as a Porche or Mercedes-Benz SL500, people are only interested in the XLR.

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  1990 Cadillac Eldorado - 1990 Cadillac Eldorado
  By cpdhenry - July 5 - 11:26 pm

  I bought this car to be an every day driver to work and back (40 miles a day), and it has been far more than I expected! It has the coldest air of any vehicle I have ever driven (which is nice since I am in Arizona -- and I have driven over 50 different vehicles), and it has more power than I thought it would have!

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  Happy Owner - 2001 Cadillac Deville
  By Frank Byron - July 5 - 10:20 am

  My 2001 Cadillac DeVille is one of the nicest cars I have owned. It is comfortable, stylish and safe. Its fuel economy is great for a large car. I can get 29 mpg on the highway.