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:

• 

  Not Worth It - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By got used - August 19 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car 2 years ago with low mileage. Since then, the tension pulley for the timing belt let go damaging the engine (fortunately under recall), needed new coil, spark plugs and wires ($1,300), new tires (bought inexpensive Cooper tires at $795), needed new brakes (not done at the dealer at $500), and now all 24 valves are being replaced, along with the timing belt that was replaced last year ($2,700). The fog lamps dont work, the passenger client control doesnt work and the radio doesnt get any AM stations. While fun to drive, it has been a horrible car because of the repairs and its cost.

• 

  what quality control? - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By shirley - August 5 - 2:00 am

  what a piece of junk. Quality control almost non existant. interior parts falling off. sun roof and power points failed to work. engine idling very rough. water leaks in exterior lights.wouldnt recommend this to anyone.

• 

  Bad luck..Poor quality..or Lemon????? - 1999 Cadillac Seville
  By tv12345 - August 3 - 2:00 am

  I bought the vehicle with 49k. Within the first 2-wks I replaced the gear shifter, thermostat, power steering pump, passenger door speaker, struts, condensation build up in front and back lights, and one of the ac vents (all covered under wrnty). At 55k, the radio started to turn off on occasion and passenger heated seat doesnt work..never fixed..at 60k (all within one week) my service air bag light came on, water pump and battery went bad, cylinder needs replaced. I just replaced the brakes/rotors...Im finished with Cadillac and trading the vehicle in.

• 

  SRX needs help - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By DTE - July 2 - 2:00 am

  After one week and 1,400 miles, the main computer failed and when I called on-star,it took them two hours to find out the tech on-call didnt have his beeper. They had to page another tech and he responded. The dealership didnt have the part on hand and I had to wait 3 days for a repair although they did provide a loaner. Two weeks later the computer started to reset data on my radio, as well as the onboard computer and they dont know why. Im certainly not a repeat buyer.

• 

  Worse car Ive ever owned! - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Trip Gore - June 28 - 2:00 am

  I was one of the first to lease a CTS in Kansas City, MO. Love the look, but have endured poor quality problems. Paint peeled on grill at 10k. Cadillac would not fix under warranty. (Dealer replaced as "goodwill") A/C condensation flooded interior at 20k. Trim pieces have fallen off in trunk and interior. Front rubber air dam fell off as well as small rubber flaps by rear wheels.Power lock failed at 60k ($400 out-of-warranty repair). Idles poorly when cold (hook shakes).Only good things are comfortable seats and good highway mileage. Poorly placed cruise control buttons on bottom of steering wheel and where is the glove box light????

• 

  At first yes and now NO - 1998 Cadillac Catera
  By ASUPATCH - June 23 - 2:00 am

  Have had numerous problems when I got it for a honda dealership the first 2 or 3 monthes I thought I got a steal. Have experience many problems since. Interiors light behind the panel go out. Cruise control is out. Tranny is starting to slip and the AC just died at 59Kmiles. If it were more reliable I would love it. But I am afraid daily the thing is going to brake down. Oh yeah I know have a small oil leak and the engine will occasionally smoke.

• 

  DISAPPOINTMENT - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By JUDY - June 19 - 2:00 am

  IT ALL TOLD IN THE SUGGESTIONS TOO MUCH IS PLASTIC. FOR THE COST YOU DESERVE BETTER. ITS COPY CAT JAPAN

• 

  New ATS Coupe - 2016 Cadillac ATS
  By Bob II - June 17 - 4:24 pm

  The car is beautiful with its volicity red exterior and black interior. New the car had a loose connector in the driverside door. Within twentyfour hours the cruise control quite working and the dealer cant get the correct part. After a couple weeks it started working. The SSR run flat tires are noisy and Cadallic refuses to replace them. If you use Apple Carplay with the iPhone navigation or OnStar navigation the radio wont play. Heater dont seem to provide heat consistantly. Controls are difficult to use and drive.

• 

  Automatic Transmission - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By sehlhh - June 12 - 2:00 am

  2003 Cadillac automatic transmission changes gear change ranges erratically. At times it shifts back and forth between two ranges. I find this a poor example, of what is considered a luxury vehicle. I have brought this to the attention of Cadillac and it appears thry have no interest in addressing the problem.

• 

  Poor - 1999 Cadillac Seville
  By Sandie - May 13 - 2:00 am

  I thought that the name Cadillac meant reliability but everything big and expensive has gone bad on this car. Just recently I had to replace the Briggs and Stratton steering system. Poor, poor, poor. Ill never buy another Cadillac.