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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  Beautiful Car, But......... - 1996 Cadillac Seville
  By Jim - December 17 - 3:02 am

  I bought my 1996 Cadillac SeVille from its original owner with 76,000 miles. Ive driven it during the winter in Arizona. I started getting a "service transmission" on the message center, so I serviced the transmission by having the fluid and filter changed. The message continued, so I brought the car into a service facility, the code told the tech that it was a turbine speed input sensor, the part is under $100 but its the last part to come out of the transmission so were looking at 15 hours of labor. I was told by three national transmission repair chains that it is a common problem and a "design flaw". I got the word today that its a $3,050 job. Cadillac basically told me that Im on my own. BE CAREFULL!

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  1990 Caddy - the last of the great ones. - 1990 Cadillac Deville
  By super cadillac - December 15 - 7:38 pm

  The classic lines of the 1990 Cadillac DeVille exude elegance and the responsive engine responds to to the depression of your foot with out hesitation. It is a beatiful thing and an incredibly reliable car, despite the age and cannot be replaced today when you compare the value. If you can find one you to will know what it means to drive a Cadillac. This is the kind of car that has helped Cadillac stay on top. The interior space is unrivaled even by limo standards. My wife and I love to drive this car on long trips and arrive fresh and not tired. Another great, well kept secret is that the car is a monster in the snow. Teenagers get a big surprise at red lights when I leave them in my review mirror in their Ford Mustang 5.0.

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  Driving with my SLS - 1994 Cadillac Seville
  By Di - December 15 - 4:35 pm

  My 1994 Cadillac Seville is wonderfully powerful and gets me down the road in fine style. It has quick acceleration with its V8 Northstar engine. I have 135,000 miles on the car now and the interior is still in showroom condition. I recently replaced the shaft on the torque converter (cracked), installed a new water pump and new battery. She still runs strong and steady at this mileage and I hope to have her for years to come.

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  Northstar meets spacious luxury - 1996 Cadillac Deville
  By AJM - December 14 - 11:47 pm

  Some might consider the 1996 Cadillac DeVille too large, or a "gas hog," however the true enjoyment is experienced when making a statement driving down the road in superior comfort knowing you could "trash" 95% of the competition in acceleration and comfort. this car is one of Americas finest.

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  Dont Believe the Hype - 1993 Cadillac Seville
  By V-Chip - December 14 - 11:05 pm

  I purchased my 1993 Cadillac Seville from a little old man with a tall stack of dealer receipts.This car was a cream puff, and for only $7,000! Everything was fine until about six weeks ago. I had done the usual (tune-up, regular maintenance, battery, alternator). All of this was very expensive, but what the heck, I had a sweet Cadillac that I planned on enjoying for years to come - Wrong. The transmission quit at just over 100,000 miles and shortly thereafter the vaunted Northstar engine backfired so severely that the intake manifold shattered. $1,600 hundred dollars later I am now afraid to even start this heap of junk and will be forced to sell. I am a lifelong Cadillac fanatic who was hoping they finally turned the corner after that long 1977 - 1989 drought, bit I was wrong.

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  Dont Buy the CTS - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By patpatcadillac - December 13 - 7:38 pm

  I have oened 1983 and 1989 Cadillac Fleetwoods and a 1999 Cadilac Deville The CTS isnt as nice as any of them, luxury-wise. I also have a 2000 Mazda 2k Miata LS. The CTS isnt even as sporty as the Miata.\ Well, maybe it can keep pace with it on a straightaway but the Miata would kill it in the curves. Make no mistake the CTS is NOT an all weather Corvette. THE GOOD: The new CTS has great looking sheet metal, ergonomic steering wheel and console controls shiftable automatic transmission w/sport and snow options. It does have a trip computer. It’s a dry pavement 0-100 monster. THE BAD: It felt drifty on the highway at first-feeling passed. It needed to have an alignment before 5,000 miles. The dealer couldnt do it the same day and the fix cost me $50 at an alignment shop.

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  Great CTS - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By cts man - December 12 - 2:00 am

  Once I drove it I had to buy it. The car is fun to drive and looks awesome I only wish it had a few more horsepower. Very comfortable interior and the CTS handles great.

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  It opened the FAST Sedan Market - 1994 Cadillac Seville
  By LeadFoot - December 11 - 5:25 pm

  The 1994 Cadillac Seville is really a wonderful car especially when you consider their now low market value. This car was a real plus for me especially when street racing. This grandma car can sock it to a lot of unsuspecting sports cars, and it is all packaged within a four- door sedan, ultimately meaning lower insurance. If you want a car that is fast enough to smoke the V-8 sports cars but still rides like a dream this is the car for you. The one downside can be suspected, the V8 engine drinks the fuel down in town, but out on the open road cruising at 80 mph you can expect anywhere from 20-28 mpg. Overall this is a comfortable, fast luxury sedan that doesnt like to putts around in town.

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  Great vehicle - 2005 Cadillac Escalade
  By John Godo - December 9 - 11:28 pm

  After all of the vehicles that I have owned this is the best.

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  Great Caddy - 1998 Cadillac Seville
  By Larry - December 9 - 12:28 am

  My 1989 Seville STS is my first Cadillac and I dont think that it will be my last. I love it! The seats are so comfortable, the motor is very powerful, the ride is very smooth and it looks very good.