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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  MY FIRST SUV - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By ED GLICK - September 18 - 10:00 am

  PLEASANTLY SURPRISED. DRIVES AND FEELS LIKE A CAR. WOULD LIKE IT TO BE A BIT PEPPYER. OVERALL ITS A WONDERFUL AUTOMOBILE AND AND A JOYU TO DRIVE. VERY COMFORTABLE.

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  "Disapointed" - 2006 Cadillac SRX
  By pete m - September 10 - 8:24 pm

  I bought a caddy because my dad always had caddy"s, and said you get a lot more for your money. I bought it when it had 59k on it. But being a "cadllac"I thought this would not be an issue. I have had nothing but repair after repair, and to top it off, it use"s "oil"... The dealer has told me that using a qt. Every 2k miles is considered normal!And there was nothing they could do. Told the dealer, my next car will be a Toyota.

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  oil fire! - 2001 Cadillac Catera
  By oil fire! - September 8 - 4:38 am

  My car caught on fire from a leak in the valve cover, and the fire messed up the wiring. Since then all kinds of funny things happened. The radio worked when it wanted, the gas cap and the trunk switch locked and would not open. I liked my car because it was small and supple to operate, but when the expense of fixing it became too much, I traded it off for a Buick. The final straw was the failure of the engine module which left me without a running car, and a wait for the new part. I have pumped a lot of money into maintenance but this was too much. The reliability was not good so I sold the car... Hated to see ol flame go, but it has gone to the great beyond now

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  Greatest caddy i have ever owned!! - 1993 Cadillac Deville
  By mycaddy - September 3 - 4:54 pm

  Bought my car at 99,000 miles at 101,000 miles the trans went out on me 4.9L great motor lots of power,comfort and interior styling love the car not bad on gas mileage but not great. handling and brakes are great a lot of trunk room not expensive to maintain great motor though i really love this car and is gonna restore it to like brand new its white with a blue top and blue interior love my caddy!

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  Love looks-many problems - 1996 Cadillac Seville
  By Cheryl - August 22 - 1:15 pm

  Purchased with 9000 miles.Bought extended warranty to 86,000 miles (lucky for me.Had engine replaced 40,000 miles-5 truck latches-4 sets of brakes-alarm-6 oxygen sensors-water pump-fuel inject-steering column smoked-heater core-air condition does not work-brakes wear uneven-brake light switch-blinker light switch. Told all problems are common for this car. Maybe we would think about improving.Also ABS and engine light always on now-whats up with that? I love the style and comfort. What a nightmare of a car.I now need to new headlight assemblies that are about $700.00 from Cadillac.I have 179,000 miles on it at this time.Oil use is still more than normal. Mileage 19-20 in town,24-28 on highway.

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  The Fun Ride - 1997 Cadillac Seville
  By stanley mckenzie - August 20 - 1:00 am

  This is a great touring car and very comfortable in traffic. The Northstar engine is remarkable. My mileage is 18.5 in town and 22 MPG on the open road.When I need power and it feels like my lips are being stretched by G force. It is a great performer

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  Very Pleased WIth This Car - 2007 Cadillac DTS
  By Cat Dude - August 18 - 9:11 pm

  I purchased the 2007 DTS Performance used, with 13,000 miles. It replaced a 2003 CTS. WE are very pleased with the handling, quietness, and comfort of the vehicle. The MPG is very positively surprising, particularly when the car plenty of power. THe memory seats are very handy, the controls are simple and well within reach. The Bose sound system is very nice. Weve traveled quite a bit in this car this year and we arrive much more relaxed than when in traveling in other cards weve had. Visibility seems poor when backing the car, and the proximity sensors help. Very well pleased with this American car.

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  Minor problems - 2002 Cadillac Escalade
  By M N Bajrangi - August 18 - 10:35 am

  I enjoyed driving the escalade, but since it the first year it came out a few minor hiccup need to be corrected. When the back shock stays up it puts pressure on the front, thus when one goes in a little hole the front suspension goes up and down repeatedly.

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  MY LEMON?I - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By BUD MASTERSON - August 12 - 10:00 am

  I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE(MY 4TH SUV)FOR JUST OVER A MONTH. AT 23 MILES, THE FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE RECUT, THE LEFT FRONT STRUT REPLACED-NEVER EVEN HIT A BUMP. IN THE SHOP FOR 4 DAYS. BEFORE 1600 MILES, THE LEFT FRONT SPRING? HAD TO BE REPLACED-THE VEHICLE WAS LEANING(6 INCHES MORE RR WHEEL SPACE)FAR TO THE LEFT. ALSO HAD A CONTINUING BAD FRONT END SQUEEK. SLAP SHIFT TRANNY MUCH OF THE TIME WONT GO INTO STICK MODE FROM AUTO MODE WHILE DRIVING- ANOTHER 4 DAYS IN THE SHOP. THE DEALER WAS ALWAYS TERRIFIC-BUT WHY DOES A BRAND NEW CADDY HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS ALREADY-VERY SCARRY. HOPEFULLY ITS FUTURE IS BETTER

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  Worst Cadillac - EVER! - 2001 Cadillac Catera
  By Albert - August 7 - 2:49 pm

  This car is a reliability disaster - a breakdown waiting to happen - it can be downright dangerous. A Cadillac-ized Opel isnt worth a dime. In less than two years 12K worth of warranty work. When the warranty is up this car is toast.