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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  somewhat disappointing - 2004 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By mikethedentalguy - March 19 - 2:00 am

  from the service at the front to the wheeling and dealing at the end we werent very pleased with any of it. we bought it b/c my wife really wanted a truck of her own. now we are very disappointed with not only the service at time of sale, but also the truck itself. i have since been in the market to buy a SUV for myself and ive looked more closely at the bulkiness of the vehicles in test-drives. the cadi definately isnt what it used to be. we will never buy one again. thanks!

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  1992 Cadillac Seville STS - 1992 Cadillac Seville
  By Kevin345345 - March 18 - 2:00 am

  I received the car from te original owner and it has been a NIGHTMARE! I ahev replaced A gas tank, all 4 brake lines, front ball joints, brakes all around, all new tires, a new transmission, antenna motor and antenna, radiator, 3 waterpumps, trans cooling fan, shocks all around, and a whole new exhaust system. The car has overheated twice, its been terrible. Fun to drive when working right but otherwise never buy.

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  Even American Luxury Fails... - 1997 Cadillac Seville
  By sovereign - March 11 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car super clean at 24000 mi.in 1999 for $30500.I just traded it in for $10000, 3.4 years later.The car was a minimal attempt.It could be fun to drive, and was very comfortable.However, it was not put together well.I had this car in for work 18 times during its stay with me.As usual,GM built it just good enough to show well,but no longevity was built into the car.Unless you warranty the hell out of it,and you better,you re doomed.Without a warranty,this car would have been an additional $9000.A+ to service.Always had a free loaner to make up for their bumbling.

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  Ok, if you can keep it on the road - 2001 Cadillac Catera
  By JD Gann - March 10 - 2:00 am

  The car is fun to drive and has great brakes. The main thing is, the dealership has had the car almost as much as I have. I am just getting my third waterpump today and I am dumping this thing. It would be a good car if it was just reliable. The dealer is of no help either. If you dont drive one of the big Cadillacs, they dont want to give you the time of day.

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  Ok SUV - 2014 Cadillac SRX
  By Big gene - March 9 - 8:58 pm

  Blind spots & poor headlite visibility

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  Avoid at all costs - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By foster5j - February 28 - 2:00 am

  What a money pit! Timing belt broke at 38k miles, oil leaks, water pump,needs tires every 2 years, front brakes $500. at 43k miles, fog lights broke, brake switch NG, oil cooler seal went, runs hot, needed new heads, tensioner, valves. Poor, poor quality - high, high cost. Yuck.

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  lousy - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By a.nicol - February 19 - 2:00 am

  this car was great to drive, however i had to install two timing belts, one transmission, the previous owner also rebuilt the transmission. The drivers side heat and heated seat did not work.The price and convience of repairs were ridiculous. So much for German engineering and quality, stay away.

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  I shouldve bought a Camry. - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By carldhayesciw - February 6 - 2:00 am

  A total waste of money. Ive had this car for 3 years and only got about 8 months worth of driving out of it. The car has been in the shop longer than Ive driven it! In fact, its in the shop now! Im just getting reimbursed for the money Ive paid to repair the timing belt that broke @69k, a month after I just had the starter replaced. I wonder why Cadillac didnt recommend replacing the timing belt then. My advice is to buy Toyota. Leave Cadillac to the retired rich and rap stars.

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  Cause Now Its Gone - 2000 Cadillac Catera
  By Do the Happy Dance - February 6 - 2:00 am

  Compared to my 1st two Cadillacs, they should be ashamed - not for experimenting, but for not admitting their failure and offering to buy them back. I thought Cadillac had more class than that. Major recalls. Broken A/C valve and vacuum connection, and loose battery cables at 3500 miles. Steering wheel not centered - awkward for driving. Steering wheel squeaked in cold. At 15500 miles, broken coolant valve and bald tires. Custom cloth top was ruined by Cadillac make-ready guy because he didnt know what he was doing. Back seat rattled. Suction noice when heater was on. Bad window seals. Burnt headlight at 10000 miles. Would die when turning corners.

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  Escalemmon - 1999 Cadillac Escalade
  By bakerrw - February 5 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle was bought used with only 19000 miles - now, at 40k the bottom has fallen out. The truck has been in the shop no less than 9 times with drive train related failure (t/m, t/c, etc.).