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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  Never again!! - 2000 Cadillac Catera
  By Guy Lalonde - April 6 - 2:00 am

  Bought demo with 2000 kms (1200 miles). Worst car of the 12 Ive owned. Car always in the shop, thinking of getting membership with local towing. Engine problems, rebuild the front end ($2000+), brakes ($1200), one wheel bearings ($700), electrical problems, rear defog, frequent stawling, powertrain controller, on third set of brakes and rotors, replaced stabilizer bars, and on and on and on...

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  the rebadged tahoe - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By surferdad292 - April 6 - 2:00 am

  the escalade is a pretty nice car but its nothing more than a rebadged tahoe. I sort of regret buying it because theres almost no difference in the interior, exept the wood grain that looks like it was from a vehicle from the 80s or something.also, the plastic and leather dont seem to be up to the 50k standard. in other words, the interior should be more refined and differentiated from the tahoe, like the navigator is from the expedition.Also, this vehicle needs to lose the ugly column shifter. The 285 hp v8 is slow. this vehicle should just come with the 340 hp engine.

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  catera 1998 - 1998 Cadillac Catera
  By dwp - March 31 - 2:00 am

  I like the vehicle except for maintenance is very expensive. I also had a SAFETY incident where the front passanger seat caught on fire contacted GM and they were not willilg to fix it or look into the safety issue I am taking it to an independant dealer will take pick and get an estimate an well have to fight this one in court. My opinion GM as all american car makers lack committment and quality I would never purchase a GM product because of the above.....

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  How to lose $16,000 in 30 days. - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Unknown Variation - February 19 - 10:00 am

  You decide - I owned it 30 days and it was in the shop for a full 10 days of that first 30. At 411 miles on the odometer I parked it at the airport in covered parking while I went on vacation, when I returned 8 days later 2 tires were low on PSI and 1 tire was fully flat. And, the dealer was horrible. Everyone involved with the initial sale came by to give me a "you complaining wimp" look and nod. Paid cash, owned it 30 days, traded it in on a Cayenne S, and cant believe the difference in Porsche quality.

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  Before you purchase, please read - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By TexasCTS - January 30 - 2:00 am

  We waited months to receive our new car Pros: Great ride & comfort. Cons: The whole sterring system failed the first 180 miles on the vehicle (3rd day). It took three weeks to get the parts. Poor handling on snow or ice. We could not get in our driveway when there was more than a half of an inch of snow. We also were involved in an accident on wet payement due to the car over correcting when avoiding debris on the road. It took 10 full weeks to have the car returned due to parts problems with Cadillac. To make matters worse, OnStar never sent a tow truck.

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  computercodecaddy - 1994 Cadillac Deville
  By lou from jersey - January 15 - 2:00 am

  I have had several electrical issues, computer codes (service codes)pop up often, cost some money just to find out whats wrong, due to complicated Diagnostic.

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  Not my fathers Caddy - 2000 Cadillac Deville
  By Rox - January 14 - 2:00 am

  Reliability is very disappointing. Three batteries in three years. New catalytic, re-program IPC module, A/C module replaced, window mechnanism failed, crank sensor adjusted etc. Significant service required 7 times in past 10 months

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  Reliablity is a major issue - 2003 Cadillac Seville
  By Upset owner - January 8 - 2:00 am

  This car has got to be the worse car ever made. Problems with this car are never ending. First the gaskets all wear out so the engine pours out its oil all over my garage floor, supposedly common, a $4000 repair. Then there is the key getting stuck in the ignition, $200 repair. So far this car including all the repairs and the normal maintenace puts it in the range as a mercedes E class. Think twice before buying a cadillac. There are many cars that are more reliable and luxurious.

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  Lexus to Cadillac - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By BJSMOM - December 27 - 2:00 am

  Nice looking but definitely not quality built. Have had amplifer and rear wiper replaced since purchased in mid August.

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  Not the Caddy Im used to driving. - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By DonC - December 23 - 2:00 am

  Ive had Cadillacs for many years and this car does not exude the comfort of previous models. I guess thats my main disappointment. Also, I have a rattle (normal for American built cars) in my dashboard that drives me crazy.