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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  Electronic Lemons - 2001 Cadillac Deville
  By tom - December 28 - 6:08 pm

  Ive put almost 100,000 highway miles on my 2001 Cadillac Deville and while it rides very well and is a good highway car, it is very unreliable. Yesterday for the umpteenth time I bought $2,000 worth of electronic sensor repairs. Ive spent almost $10,000 in cash in the last 18 months making repairs including a complete new air conditioning system and a new exhaust system (do to a failed catalytic converter). My 35 years as a GM man are over. Im going to buy Japanese.

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  Beautiful Car, But......... - 1996 Cadillac Seville
  By Jim - December 17 - 3:02 am

  I bought my 1996 Cadillac SeVille from its original owner with 76,000 miles. Ive driven it during the winter in Arizona. I started getting a "service transmission" on the message center, so I serviced the transmission by having the fluid and filter changed. The message continued, so I brought the car into a service facility, the code told the tech that it was a turbine speed input sensor, the part is under $100 but its the last part to come out of the transmission so were looking at 15 hours of labor. I was told by three national transmission repair chains that it is a common problem and a "design flaw". I got the word today that its a $3,050 job. Cadillac basically told me that Im on my own. BE CAREFULL!

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  Dont Believe the Hype - 1993 Cadillac Seville
  By V-Chip - December 14 - 11:05 pm

  I purchased my 1993 Cadillac Seville from a little old man with a tall stack of dealer receipts.This car was a cream puff, and for only $7,000! Everything was fine until about six weeks ago. I had done the usual (tune-up, regular maintenance, battery, alternator). All of this was very expensive, but what the heck, I had a sweet Cadillac that I planned on enjoying for years to come - Wrong. The transmission quit at just over 100,000 miles and shortly thereafter the vaunted Northstar engine backfired so severely that the intake manifold shattered. $1,600 hundred dollars later I am now afraid to even start this heap of junk and will be forced to sell. I am a lifelong Cadillac fanatic who was hoping they finally turned the corner after that long 1977 - 1989 drought, bit I was wrong.

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  XLR - LEMON - 2005 Cadillac XLR
  By Rick Benson - November 17 - 6:32 pm

  I HAVE OWNED (9) Cadillacs over the past (14) and have been extremely satisfied with each one. In February 2004 I received my dream car, only it turned out being a nightmare. The problems started at 430 miles. Lights that did not work, windows switches defective, inability to start. XLR had to be towed on a flatbed twice, back to the delarship. One of the fuel tanks had to be replaced, "check fuel cap" message continuosly on drivers information center. Less than 13 MPG on open road and highway driving. Engine misfiring, engine leaking 1/2 - 1 pint of oil everytime it was shut off. Various other electrical problems. Navigation System works about 1/3 of the time. In the shop 40 days.

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  Not Up To World Standards - 2001 Cadillac Seville
  By Bill Willfield - November 4 - 4:34 pm

  During my first 30,000 miles with my 2001 Cadillac Seville SLS it has been in the shop way too many times. The instrument panel computer failed 3 times, both front seat heaters failed, the left rear door just would not open, the engine stopped (no steering - scared my wife who was driving) ad nauseum. I have owned six Cadillacs. This is absolutely the worst.

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  Not so great - 1996 Cadillac Seville
  By nomoreCad - October 26 - 2:00 am

  Bought the car for trip purposes and it rides well. Great power from the Northstar. Less than a year later Im ready to get rid of it. Alot of problems with this car which will cost you dearly at the dealership!! You pretty much have to carry around several courts of oil since it does eat it often. Numerous problems with sensors and electrical gremlins and suspension. Its fools gold....avoid it!!

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  Worst suspension and handiling - 2005 Cadillac Escalade
  By ALEX H. - October 23 - 2:00 am

  Worst suspension and handiling ever expierienced. Vehicle throws you off road when riding over a small pothole.At 23000 miles transmission had to be rebuild, consitant problems and having to send back to dealer. Power on vehicle is to much for the poor handiling and suspension. Vechile is to overrated.

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  Pros & Cons - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By Bingo1 - October 2 - 12:06 pm

  I have owned a black Cadillac CTS for six months now. Overall, I like the car but would not buy it again. Pros: Great looks. It still turns heads, and is comparably rare. Ample power. Cons (Good grief!): Fit & finish. Maybe its just my car, but the seat bottom rocks from side to side, there is a rattle in the left front dash, the moonroof cover rattles, I am experiencing windnoise, etc. The dashboard is not sporty or luxurious. It is down right ugly compared to dash in the Acura TL. Bad mileage. Tight interior space. Load 4 average adults, and youll know. Loud engine. The steering is too light. Make sure to get the get sport suspension. If you want to drive a proud American car with unique looks and are willing to overlook build quality, this is the vehicle for you.

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  Why buy japenese - 1999 Cadillac Deville
  By Jim Kramer - September 8 - 2:00 am

  Reliability has been a real problem, but than the dealers service has been less than perfect. I have had to analyze two out of three problems for the service writer before they could fix the proble. Required a return each time. From a taillight causing a short, to winshield washers not covering full windshield, then an oil leak caused the engine to be pulled. Second leak, noise now from engine (valve rattle?). Forgot to hook up washer tank, anther return. If you are going to buy a cadillac buy two cause one will always be in the garage for service. My Lexus has been in for oil changes only.

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  Caveat Emptor - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Acadian - August 26 - 2:00 am

  Bought the car in March 2003...mechanically, very sound...however, after a couple of months, noticed that the digital clock in the dash was not synchronized with the analog clock in the instrument panel...returned the car and they replaced the "cluster"...couple of months later, same thing....replaced cluster again...now the same thing again but they have acknowledged that Cadillac will not replace (still in warranty)...also, you will note around the rear plate and backup lights a lens...when you wash the car, the lens allows water in...