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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  Whats not to like? - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By ttii - September 30 - 2:00 am

  My 97 Catera gets 31 mpg on the highway and 22 in the city. It handles better than my last Mercedes, and is cheaper to fix. Yes, it has had some minor issues, but so do all cars. If this is a poor quality car, I want more like it built in the USA!!

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  ETC Eldorado - 2003 Cadillac Seville
  By BlondeLion - September 30 - 2:00 am

  I have had 2 ETCs. Best cars I have ever driven and would buy another one if it was still made. Same line as Seville - only 2 door. A van pulled out in front of me on a rainy night with slick roads. The van stalled. I had no place to go. Without the extra protection built into the cadi and the large heavy motor, I feel I would have been in the hospital or dead, when I hit the van at 45 miles an hr straight into the side. I could not stop, she turned so close to me and I had 2 other vehicles on each side, so I had no place to go. Thank you cadillac and "YES" I will be a return customer again and again.

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  one - 1999 Cadillac Eldorado
  By piperlance - September 28 - 2:00 am

  Car handles extremely well with its low center of gravity, has amazing power with the Northstar engine, and has been maintenance free. Leather interior holds up to heavy usage.

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  Worth Every Dollar! - 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By Ms Grutzius - September 24 - 11:53 am

  Im a woman who has investments in Myrtle Beach SC, and in Gavleston TX. I often drive alone, with cargo (Cadillac Escalade EXT is a work horse!} The drive is smooth and very pleasant, the amenities are fantastic for amusing myself when the hours get long, I purchased this fantastic vehicle with my traveling in mind. When I arrive to my location, all I have to do is clean her up and we (EXT and myself) are ready to shine out on the town. And we do. I love it!

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  Great Mileage for a big Car - 2003 Cadillac Deville
  By derrel sla - September 24 - 2:00 am

  Just finished a 4100 mile trip that took 14 days. Over-all mileage was 26.9MPG on regular gas. That included stop and go driving in Washington, DC and New York City.

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  I LOVE IT - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By youknowimcute55 - September 22 - 2:00 am

  I love this SUV better than anything i have ever owned it is well worth the money, however gas is expensive where i live. I like everything about it. i dont think it should have been $55,000. that is like a house downpayment but i have the money so its alright i guess.

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  Exceptional sports car in disguise. - 2001 Cadillac Deville
  By Janet S. - September 21 - 2:00 am

  Drove 3yrs.(lease) The driver seat heater had to be replaced and the front dash, for buckling. The dealer did so with no hassle. Great car. Great performance. Its like driving a racecar/sportscar in disguise, because you have all the luxury too. Cadillac is exceptional with latest technology. I grew to love and depend on the backup sensors. They even go off if someone is walking behind your car and you dont see them yet. The only reason Im changing vehicles is this model change doesnt allow the front seat to extend back far enough to allow my 62" husband the leg room he needs to drive comfortably. He loves the passenger seat though!!

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  ride like a cady - 2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By Jaime - September 16 - 2:10 am

  this truck is lots of fun, it gets up to speed like most cars so it doesnt feel like you are actually driveing a full size truck, and the remote start and a/c seats make summer time enjoyfull for a black on black truck

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  Exelent - 2004 Cadillac XLR
  By prepprincess4lyf - September 16 - 2:00 am

  hey its a perfect car in everyway!

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  good stuff - 2002 Cadillac Deville
  By jt money - September 14 - 2:00 am

  fun to drive easy to control under bad weather