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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  New Baby - 1999 Cadillac Eldorado
  By CADI99 - November 10 - 5:56 pm

  I have to say that I just got this car so my ratings are driven by perception and not so much experience. But since I purchased this car, I have not had any mechanical issues. The engine is something else, all that power and so smooth. I love the sound and the comfort of the seats. My only real concern is with the maintenance history of battery changes. So Im watching this closely. Ive also noted that the interior dash lights dim (very little) when I press the brake pedal. Im also slightly concerned with the floating feel of the ride as Im not sure if this is inherent to the design. On the next check-up Ill have this checked out. Otherwise Im in love with my new baby.

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  Loyal Cadillac Buyer - 2002 Cadillac Deville
  By cadillackid - November 9 - 6:07 pm

  I am probably the youngest DeVille owner and a 52" female, but I love my Cadillac DeVille! I have it really decorated nicely. I added more chrome to it. It is a really sharp car. Strangers ride up on me all the time and say "nice ride". I have friends that have Mercedes and BMWs and I leave them all cowering in the corner when I pull up in my platinum Caddy. They say my car is better than theirs. And I say, "I know"!

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  Cadillac STS - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By chris - November 9 - 5:48 pm

  My 2006 Cadillac STS V8 is an excellent and fun car to drive. The electronics are the easiest to use of the premier luxury sedans I have been in and it handles beautifully. I really wanted a fun and reliable car and this car has more than delivered!

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  My SRX - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Sweets - November 8 - 3:21 am

  I love my new Cadillac SRX. It is the most comfortable SUV that I have ever ridden in or driven. I know they say they are going to make improvements, but as far as I am concerned, it dosent need any.

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  Great Car - 2006 Cadillac DTS
  By cphillips - November 7 - 4:49 pm

  My 2006 Cadillac DTS is great. It drives very well. It is a 5-passager car with great comfort. It gets great fuel economy too.

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  Keep it or sell it? - 1996 Cadillac Deville
  By RegRanger - November 6 - 8:49 pm

  I bought my 1996 Cadillac DeVille used in9/04. It had nearly 100,000 miles on it. I had problems right off with misfiring, which ended up being faulty plug wires (which had just been replaced??). Im glad that I didnt have to pay for them! Also, the air conditioning didnt work. It took $200 to find a bad wire! Have put 20,000 miles on it since then without any major issues, which is a good thing because it costs a boat load to fix the thing! The previous owner burned 87 octane fuel and so have we-dont notice any performance difference even when we did try the expensive gasoline.

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  DTS Delivers - 2006 Cadillac DTS
  By Thad Stovall - November 6 - 3:09 am

  The 2006 DTS is a prestigious work of art that is an "eye catcher" and is worthy of the attention it gets. It is fashioned to rival the Asian and European luxury automakers. The DTSs design is an improvement over the previous DeVille, having improved handling and design.

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  Not to Shabby - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By Don Powell - November 5 - 11:57 am

  I got a white diamond 2006 Cadillac CTS with cashmere interior. The new interior looks much better than the 2005 models. I also got the polished wheels with the luxury package which gives you lumbar seats and the passenger has eight way seat as well. The memory drivers seat is handy for multiple drivers. The hands free phone is excellent along with Onstar. It has a lot of get up and go which I dont really need but it is nice to know it is there if needed. The car is quiet, smooth and has excellent handling. I have a PT Cruiser and believe it or not it compares well to the ride and handling of the CTS. Getting in and out of the PT Cruiser is much easier but of course being much higher it should be.

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  My DTS - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By Scott Matthews - November 5 - 11:18 am

  I believe these sedans are very underrated. I love my DTS! The only things I would change: I would make an AWD version and the front cup holder (when flipped out) blocks the shifter from shifting into 1st gear. Last week I drove a 2006 DTS, loaded to the hilt. I can actually say I like the interior of my 2004 much better than the 2006. I do like the changes outside for 2006 though.

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  This is an Awesome Truck - 2006 Cadillac SRX
  By armored_wrath - November 4 - 3:19 pm

  I had to have my 2006 Cadillac SRX delivered from California, as the only srx available in the U.S. with the black exterior, black interior, with the trailer hitch, dvd entertainment system, and navigation...with the V8. Ive only had it for a month but its the best. The sport tuned suspension works like a charm along with the magnetic ride control and traction control.