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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  An Excellant Review - 2005 Cadillac XLR
  By XL R Roadster - May 17 - 11:11 pm

  I had always wanted a Corvette and had been looking at Corvettes. I took my Cadillac DeVille in for service and they were asking me when I was going to trade. I told them I was wanting something different. They told me about the XLR that was coming out. When they got one in they called me to look at it and I fell in love with it. It is so much fun to drive and really turns heads. I have a second car and I dont drive it every day. I took a trip to Lafayette, LA and it was a pleasure. It is totally a sports car. I have thoroughly enjoyed this car.

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  Not a Bad Ride - 2006 Cadillac Escalade
  By wilpwr - May 17 - 6:06 pm

  The 2006 Cadillac Escalade is a nice ride. It has an exceptional sound system and lots of bells and whistles. Unfortunately it requires premium fuel, ouch! But the gas milage isnt that bad. I drove nearly 180 highway miles on a 1/2 tank, mostly at 60 mph.

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  STS Cadillac - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By ed - May 17 - 9:05 am

  This is the finest Cadillac that I have driven to date (I have had nine previously). The handling is suberb and rivals that of a BMW (I have driven the 5- and 7-Series). The pickup is better than I espected from a V6 (less than 7 seconds). The interior is more than adequate for me (62"). This car has all the amenities that you would want and most are standard. I have white diamond paint which cost $995 retail which is a bit much, but it is a beautiful color. The car is very tight and there very little road noise that enters the cabin. While the STS isnt for everyone it is for the discerning driver. Hats off to GM because I think they finally got it right.

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  Cadillac V8 STS - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By DMakoff - May 15 - 11:58 pm

  This is the best car I have leased. I find its ride to be more fun than the top tier German cars I have had and it has a better sound system. It is priced right, at considerable savings over the competition. GM got it right with this car.

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  Love my CTS - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Caddi Girl - May 14 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love my CTS. Everyone checks me out while Im driving. Everyday when I open the garage door, Im impressed! Fun to drive and great to look at. I wish I would have gotten the luxery package, but mine is still sporty and luxurious for the price.

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  Just in the Nick of Time - 2006 Cadillac DTS
  By Peter - May 13 - 2:25 am

  I bought a certified 2003 ETC and wanted to get another but, sadly, the Eldorado was discontinued in 2002. I had no plans to get another Cadillac because none of their other models appealed to me, but the 2006 DTS, is no longer an "old-folks", boat of a car and it really got my attention. It looks great inside and out. The Performance package has more options than one has the right expect. Getting all the preferences set takes some study and experimentation, but this car really pampers you once they are. The DTS has plenty of power, as good as my ETC and is very quiet and well-mannered on the road. The environment control is superb.

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  An Awesome Luxury SUV - 2007 Cadillac Escalade
  By nray - May 12 - 3:53 pm

  The dealership-I am a repeat customer- was helpful and the vehicle exceeded my expectations in luxury and comfort. The exterior design is great, but the added creature comforts inside this next generation of Escalade are amazing. The seats are so comfortable and the instrument panel is very clear and easy to read day and night. I cant praise this SUV enough.

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  Performance, Comfort & Style, The CTS! - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By J. Walsh - May 11 - 11:56 am

  I purchased a 2003 Cadillac CTS in July of 2005. This was my third Cadillac purchase in six years and without a doubt, the best and most satisfying one of all. This car has all the luxury options and a superior level of comfort of which Cadillac built their reputation on, plus the performance matching any of the European luxury sedans Ive driven. The acceleration and response are fantastic. I cant wait until they come out with an automatic transmission in the new CTS-V series. At 400 hps it must be a thrill to drive.

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  Love this Car - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By Charlene - May 10 - 6:59 pm

  I have owned this vehicle for a little over a year and I never get tired of looking at it or driving it. This car makes driving fun and safe at the same time. She has terrific acceleration when needed, has responsive handling on turns, and stops with control. In teaching my daughter how to drive she accidentally put her foot on the gas at a red light taking us dangerously close to the intersection, she then slammed on the brakes, the car never lost its footing, all the safty features kicked in, ABS, stability control, and traction control. We avoided an accident. I now have signed her up for driving lessons. GM thank you for making safety sexy.

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  Personal Opinion - 2006 Cadillac DTS
  By Charlie - May 10 - 6:34 pm

  The Cadillac DTS has an excellent appearance and outstanding performance, It is pleasant driving, smooth riding, and has no outside wind noise. I get many favorable comments from passing pedestrians. It is my 13th Cadillac and I trade every two years. It is somewhat lacking on gas mileage in city driving though.