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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  Great car - 2006 Cadillac XLR
  By kervin - December 26 - 3:05 pm

  The Cadillac XLR is a much beter car than the Lexus SC430 that I traded in. I love the interior design, it has just the right amount of wood to vinyl to aluminum trim. This cash has much superior technology to the Lexus SC430, HUD, cruise control, FOB, magnetic ride control, and the Northstar engine technology.

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  My first American made vehicle - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By msjanuary - December 26 - 2:44 am

  I love the performance of the 2003 Cadillac Escalade as a whole. The gas mileage is tough, but it drives like a dream. I have owned Mercedes and Lexus and the comfort on this Escalade runs circles around those cars. I love how high it sits and the way it handles through mountains. I generally keep vehicles for three years, but I will keep this an extra year then buy the new model. It is super.

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  Our second Escalade, this ones the best! - 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
  By Vegasb - December 25 - 9:36 pm

  Great SUV, even though it is a Hybrid the power is considerable. When comparing to other vehicles such as the Range Rover and GL550, they just dont match up for the features and the price. My wife uses this vehicle and it is perfect for our family.

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  Love my STS - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By malro - December 23 - 10:51 pm

  After driving Lexus, BMW and Lincoln, I drove my new Cadillac STS and fell in love immediately. The value and the fact that it is American made made my choice for me. The American public in general does not care about driving road courses they care more about driving in traffic and are more used to American roads, not european hills and curves. So who cares about most of the things car magazines care about. Unfortunately some people believe all they read and dont take the time to test drive the competition. I believe if you blindfolded people they couldnt tell the difference between a Cadillac and a Lexus.

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  My New 04 CTS - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By xtranaut - December 22 - 7:06 pm

  Now, you might think me sick. I just traded my 2001 Jaguar XKR for a 2004 CTS. Object: get practical and stay sporty. First drive on the car - great, smooth, and agile on the freeway. Around town, it is noisy and a little clunky though. I have the sport suspension. This car is loaded except for navigation. The interior trim is really American cheesy. Why can these automakers spend a little more to make a little more? You cant play with the Germans and Japanese unless you at least MEET their specs. The dealer did a faux CTS-V package with mesh grille, spoiler, and 18 wheels (from STS) with new Michelins. Plus the color is a premium red. It looks like a hot streak. It is only what Chevy should have done with Impala.

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  2005 Cadillac SRX AWD V8 - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Mike - December 21 - 5:54 pm

  The 2005 Cadillac SRX has excellent handling and is very quick and very stable in all driving conditions. The cabin is very comfortable, we have a 62" son who can sit comfortably in the back seat. We enjoy the sunroof a lot.

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  Cadtastic - 2006 Cadillac DTS
  By VetteGuy - December 21 - 1:41 am

  I am an owner of a 2004 C5 Corvette and rented a 06 DTS while I traveled to Pennsylvania. I cant believe how much I fell in love with this car! It was really hard giving back the keys at the airport and I even looked back one more time before going into the entrance. I must have looked over at the wife 40 times while driving it and I kept saying "oh man, I love this car...we have to get one". Cadillac definitely has a winner on their hands and I hope one ends up in mine. The ride is smooth yet not to sloppy like the land boats of yesteryear. The power is delivered smootly and with total assurance by the hearty V8 engine. We had two HUGE suitcases and other bags and the trunk swallowed them with ease.

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  The greatest disappointment of Cadillac - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By lcacsllc - December 20 - 6:34 pm

  I have been driving Cadillacs for the past 16 years. I have had DeVilles and SLSs. Always I could rely on Cadillac to provide superior ride and service. My 2006 STS V6 was a huge disappointment. We have 8,000 miles on the car and have felt every crack in the road from here to Florida and back. We cancelled a Christmas driving trip and chose to fly. The ride is intolerable. Never before have we had to test drive the car before ordering. We find that the only smooth ride offered by Cadillac is the DTS. We like the sporty styling but its a tin-lizzy dressed in sports attire. Second, the glove box is not sufficient to even house the cars instruction manual. What a useless piece of space.

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  Drives like it looks - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By bill e - December 20 - 12:06 am

  The 2004 Cadillac CTS is a blast to drive. Its turning radius and power gives you a sense of dominance. It seems to turn heads with its short but big reputation. The big brother V doesnt hurt. One hundred thirty MPH is the fastest Ive gone, but want to go One hundred forty five. For the price it gives you speed, dynamic handling, some luxury, and a lot of fun.

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  I wish I could be as enthusiastic... - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By I like cars - December 19 - 11:12 am

  The SRX is good, but many things about it bother me. With no magnetic ride control and standard tires, there is something weird in the handling. Bumps and uneven pavement throw it slightly off line requiring steering correction. The steering is heavy and dead feeling with AWD. For tall guys, the steering wheel is too far away. We have squeaks and rattles. Normal aceleration falls flat at 40 mph when it shifts into 4th gear, requiring you to add more throttle, a nuisance. The engine sounds more like an appliance than a car.