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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  Everything you want! - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By dennis - March 25 - 5:10 am

  The 2005 Cadillac CTS is evrything I wanted in a cat: performance, comfort and reliability at a less price that is lower than its European competition.

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  STS,nice but bland - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By Papabal - March 24 - 5:13 pm

  My V6 STS rides, handles and generally feels better than the 2003 Seville V8 STS it replaced and so far seems screwed together loads better than any previous GM Ive owned. But the styling outside and inside seems too bland. Designers seem to like the plain, trimless body sides these days (probably cheaper too), but on this car, like many others (BMW etc) there is too much flat sheet metal from window sill to rocker that will only attract dings and chips which will be accentuated by the flat expanse. On the inside, the voice navigation system really needs work and I defy someone to find the clock when stuff is turned on. Room could be better on such a large car.

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  Cadillac Allante - 1992 Cadillac Allante
  By David Twombley - March 24 - 1:23 pm

  Ive owned my 1992 Cadillac Allante for eleven years. Overall it has been a delight. It is a very shopisticated car, even today, and has features that most cars never did, like mulitplex wiring, which allows all of the lamps in the car to be monitored for proper operation. Its biggest drawback is the Bosch anti-lock braking system. The 1993 model had a simpler system. Though an excellent system overall, it is very expensive to repair. The car is still a "head turner.: Its Pinninfarina styling is truly timeless.

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  Im glad I bought it - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By Ty - March 23 - 1:39 pm

  I was shopping for a car in the $40,000 range. The Cadillac stood out in terms of styling and interior space. I chose it over the Acura RL which is nice but looks too much like a Honda Accord. Drives well. Excellent build quality. With 50/50 highway / city driving I get around 21 MPG.

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  Hidden Performer - 1998 Cadillac Eldorado
  By ghiadillac - March 22 - 8:45 pm

  Ive always been a big fan of Cadillacs, especially used ones. Many people seem to be scared off by these cars, but Ive always felt theyre quite a value after taking the initial depreciation hit. This 98 Eldorado was no exception. The power of this car has amazed everyone whos rode in it, and the exterior is a nice "Cadillac interpretation". Considering the compliments and head-turning ability, its a rather impressive vehicle for the sub-$10,000 used car group. However there are some hidden costs such as the high-octane fuel and a few extra things to go wrong, but if one doesnt mind a doing little tinkering and is in the market for something nice, this is certainly a car worth a look.

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  Dream Car - 2005 Cadillac Deville
  By robert vaticalos - March 22 - 3:38 pm

  My 2005 Cadillac DeVille is the best car that I have ever owned in the sence that its technology seems to be state of the art. It provides great comfort as well as proformance. Furthermore, the many options make this car a pleasure to drive and use. Finally, its styling of is sleek and very beautiful.

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  An unbelievable SUV - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By hrw5000 - March 22 - 10:00 am

  Just picked up our fully loaded V-8 SRX yesterday. It is truly an unbelievable loaded with more gadgets than I could imagine. Love the looks, the power, and the way it drives. It is unbelievably smooth and blows away the ML500, and is a better overall package than the X5, Cayenne, and FX45. By far the best SUV we have had.

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  My 10th Cadillac - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By 2005 Cadillac STS - March 22 - 12:12 am

  I have been through them all and find this car to be the most disappointing of all. I miss the auto brake release, the fuel tank release, the easy to close trunk etc etc..guess I am spoiled..but I do love the XM radio.. I had a problem with the keyless entry system but hopefully they have figured it out. Bring back the real Seville.

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  A Very Good Choice - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By Eugene Maul - March 21 - 4:15 pm

  When I purchased my 2004 Cadillac DeVille I was looking for a vehicle that was quiet and fun to drive. I did not want to hear the normal engine and road noise, nor did I want to feel cracks and ridges in the road. This Deville had my attention as soon as I turned the key to start the engine. It is fun, easy and relaxing to drive yet surprisingly responsive when desired. There are many good vehicles available, but I believe this is one of the best and safer cars on the market.

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  Excellent - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By myredcar - March 20 - 5:08 pm

  I havent had a chance to put many miles on it this weekend, but my new CTS is a dream! I spend a lot of time in my car, so the interior quality was a big priority - I am impressed. I was planning on another black car, but nearby dealers offered only white, silver, or red. I picked red and am thrilled with my choice!