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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  Replace car before Timing belt gets you - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By TheeWhitehouse - January 21 - 2:00 am

  Yes a great driver but unscheduled repairs will double the cost of ownership. With less than 35K miles, this car has had the following problems. Failed ignition coil, lost break lights twice, once was all the lights the other was just the $360 one on the truck. $230 wheel speed indicator to TCS/ABS. $2600, yes $2600 to repair/replace timing belt/tensionor and associtated damages. Ask Your Deaaler about it and pick out another car while you are there!!! Driver door leaks air and is annoying at highway speeds.

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  I love it - I hate it - 1991 Cadillac Eldorado
  By - January 18 - 2:00 am

  Have always loved the styling of the Cadillacs of this era, its longer hood, shorter rear and wide stance give it a distinctive feature not found often anymore. It offers decent ride quality, good gas mileage for a full size car, excellent power from the 4.9L engine . The tranny is probably the smoothest tranny I have ever had the pleasure to experience, whether it is cruising or mashing the throttle to pass on the highway. Fuel economy is 17MPG where I drive city/highway, but more highway would yield up to 24MPG from what I have seen - thanks to the OD.

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  A bittersweet experience - 2002 Cadillac Deville
  By Straightpipe - January 9 - 2:00 am

  After having the worst experience of my life with Classic Cadillac which was only exceeded by Bill Green a manager at Cadillac Customer No Service who told me "I report to no one". To me the new DTS lacks some features that have been lost since my 92 Deville was built such as good quality working visors, seats that cradle the body and a more comfortable road ride. I also miss the exterior light monitors and the automatic pull down trunk. The $2K Onstar system which I did not order is a joke. The 92 feels considerably more responsive and powerful than the DTS. The DTS also seems to have less rear leg room and trunk space than my 92.

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  4 Door Muscle that need lots of repairs - 1992 Cadillac Seville
  By MikeAbey - December 31 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car from the original owner who was an older lady who really took car. The car only had 32K miles when I bought it 9 months ago, now the car has 42K miles. Since then I have spent well over $4000 on it. The car needed a new battery, radiator, AC compressor, Alternater, Busings,Starter, Electrical work,antenna motor,and a transmission majulater which cost over $2000 at the delar. I will never buy a another used GM car. Since then I bought a 98 Lexus GS400. There is no comparison. The Lexus is such a superior car to the Seville. Too bad Americans cant still compete and make a better product than the Japanese.

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  Worst car ever owned - 2000 Cadillac Catera
  By Jcc5522 - December 14 - 2:00 am

  What on earth went wrong with this model? Everything went wrong, it was in the shop ALL THE TIME. We had friends with one that was as bad as ours. The driver had to climb into the passenger seat to exit the car because he couldnt get the drivers door open! This is the worst car we have ever owned. It was a lovely car, but the quality was te

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  Standard - period.. is it suppose to be? - 1998 Cadillac Seville
  By Smithee - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I have owed this 1998 for about 12 months. I live in MN but picked it up in AZ with 2100 miles! Certainly an overall step up from the 1998 I owned. But, it is just standard in its drive and build. Now this would not alarm me for a 4 year old car but it is the same car you can purchase for 50K plus new. I think this is Cadis best attempt yet but still misses the mark when held up to BMW, Mercedes and Audi. If they could just tighten up the ride and build. I buy them new and used and will forever but hoping GM can just go that extra three feet to the rest of the pack to which they compare themselves.

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  1999 cadillac sls seville - 1999 Cadillac Seville
  By jval - November 22 - 2:00 am

  Very noisey on long trips. Body vibration at times between 60 and 72 miles per hour. Not enough front seat leg room for a 6 foot person.

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  Not that greta - 2000 Cadillac Escalade
  By Jack Wagnie - November 18 - 2:00 am

  Not as great as you may think. Its a gas guzzle and rides like a truck.

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  Catera is totally unrealiable - 1998 Cadillac Catera
  By Heavenly - October 29 - 2:00 am

  I have had my transmission replaced already. The car still seems like its struggling to accellerate. The antifreeze leaks constantly. Imperial Leasing refuses to let me turn the car in early. My moms friend had one she purchase brand new she had so many problems she got rid of it after 18 months but she took a huge loss because she had put a sizable down payment on it.

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  I had expected much more from a Cadillac - 2001 Cadillac Seville
  By BigSix - October 28 - 2:00 am

  When I bought the "top of the line" Cadillac, I thought I was receiving, the best American Made Car I could get. Boy, are we in trouble. After 14 months, I have a service repair history about 10 feet long. I have had my car in 15-20 times, all for problems I would not have expected in a $54K car. For example, broken plastic "wood" pieces, rattles, squeaks, computer replacement/reprogramming, power steering, motor mount, transmission, and brakes!! For a car that is advertised as a "race car", I havent had a set of pads or rotors that have lasted longer than 5000 miles!! Ive put at least 10000 miles on rental DeVilles since I bought this *New* STS!