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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  Im impressed with my new STS - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By Samuel Halter - February 9 - 1:26 am

  My Cadillac STS is very new, but so far, Im impressed. The sound system, HUD, OnStar, keyless entry/starting, 18 inch wheels and XM radio are outstanding features. The car also looks great.

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  "The" Car to Have ... - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By DG1 - February 8 - 11:33 pm

  I have owned the AWD Cadillac STS for about three months and 5,000 miles. It is down right fantastic! The car performs even better then it looks. The interior is beautiful and several steps up from my previous CTS. Anyone looking for the best all around car in the world should simply start looking at your nearest Cadillac dealer. If you bring your checkbook, you will want to buy the STS .

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  2002 Cadillac Escalade - 2002 Cadillac Escalade
  By Steve Olsen - February 6 - 4:15 pm

  I had 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe which was great, but this Cadillac Escalade has so much more power, better handling and a really nice sounding stereo. I also love the on-board computer, higher qaulity leather seats, tilting 2nd row seats, and finally with this big boy sporting a big Cadillac emblem so no one will mistake this ride for just another SUV...

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  Wheee! - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Rosemark - February 5 - 10:00 am

  Flat cornering. Peppy acceleration. Oh, so comfortable and quiet. The manual trans shifts smoothly through the gears. Bought the CTS for the Cadillac comfort reputation. Found a great handling car underneath the comfort.

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  Cadillac Escalade - 2000 Cadillac Escalade
  By ealexb - February 4 - 7:23 pm

  The Cadillac Escalade is identical to a GMC Yukon Denali (the Cadillac of GMC). It has a suprisingly smooth ride & powerful 350 hp engine. The interesting thing is the 350 V8 engine seems to get unprecedented gas mileage - approximately 20+ mpg/highway & 16-17 city! This is pretty good for a 6,000 pound truck! The newer engines are even better on gas, they put the Ford Excursion to shame with its lousy 10 mpg!

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  My dream car - 1998 Cadillac Deville
  By Jim - February 4 - 5:37 pm

  When I retired I bought my dream car, 1998 Cadillac DeVille. What a nightmare it has turned out to be. I aquired the car with 43,000 miles on it. At 47,900 miles I replaced the battery for $133.76 and a battery cable for $129.38 parts and $272.00 labor. At 49,600 miles I replaced the spark plugs for $84.40 parts and $205.49 labor as well as the AC compressor for $669.30 parts and $401.49 labor. At 61,000 miles I replaced the HVAC blower motor for $348.60 parts and $81.48 labor. This labor cost was low since I refused to use a Cadillac dealer. Cadillac OEM parts costs and Cadillac dealer labor cost are extremely expensive. I will be selling my dream car since I refuse to be victimized anymore.

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  Electric Luxury Roadster...the ELR is all that - 2016 Cadillac ELR
  By Steven Long - February 4 - 2:31 am

  Quite simply having owned BMWs, Corvettes etc (I love these cars BTW)....The ELR is the greatest car ever. Show stopping styling, luxurious interior, innovative technology. I regularly have strangers ask what it is. Several people have photographed it. In the first 1200 miles I have put on it. my gas consumption is is 0. Need I say more...get one while you can!

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  Very nice running car - 2000 Cadillac Eldorado
  By cadillacmike - February 3 - 11:00 pm

  The car I bought is a Coach Builders Limited convertible conversion, so its a convertible. This means less interior lighting, and a SLIGHTLY smaller trunk, and of course wind noise, but it was a first class job, with an automatic hard boot that raises and lowers to cover the top. You get about 70% of the original trunk space regardless of the top position, nice wnen compared to the "no trunk space" problem of the popular folding hard top cars, and it seats five. The excellent Northstar system has phenomenal power and can actually run for 50 miles at 50 MPH with NO coolant. It has nearly every convienience feauer availabe from 2000, and rides very smooth and quiet (below about 70MPH).

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  So far...so good - 1997 Cadillac Deville
  By Brian Braine - February 1 - 5:53 pm

  I traded a junky 2003 Cadilac Eldorado in 03/2004 for a 1997 DeVille with 57,000 miles. I am at 63,000 miles so far and am happy compared to my Eldorado experience for a modest outlay of $5,000 plus an Eldorado with 97,000 miles and blown head gasket that would have cost $1,900 to repair.

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  Nothing but problems - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By krob - February 1 - 3:19 am

  I loved this car when I bought it, but very shortly after came to hate it. Door well width too wide. Has 8400 miles and has been in shop for 41 days. 4 times for oil leak, 2 times for part of engine cylinders not running, currently has a loud noise in front struts and vibrates through front floor. Terrible gas mileage - 11 mpg in city. Seats arent very comfortable on long trips.