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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  GM repeats - 1992 Cadillac Eldorado
  By badger54 - April 23 - 2:00 am

  65M miles and its time to replace the main seal, head gasket and 3rd water pump. Stay away from GM product

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  Lemon Caddy - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By Vivian Flusche - April 11 - 2:00 am

  I have problems from day one! Brake rotors have had to be replaced, power steering pump replaced, have had an ongoing problem with wet floor mats due to water from the air conditioning leaking into the cabin. The last Caddy I purchesed was a 1981 six cylinder Deville. Junk!!! The CTS is not much better.

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  Missing the Luxury Boat - 2001 Cadillac Deville
  By John DiPilla - March 26 - 2:00 am

  The Luxury Flagship for GM kinda misses the mark on quality. During the short ownership time (3.5 months) several significant mechanical issues were noted, not promptly fixed, with causes only the factory could correct (I cant blame the dealer). One issue took so long to repair even the "new - and free" loaner I had while waiting for mine to be repaired had the problem...

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  NOT THE BEST - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By Layn - March 21 - 10:00 am

  The looks of the car are very stylish. It is definately a great looking car, but the interior has something left to be desired. The leather is hard and not too comfortable. It is a lot like the leather in the CTS. STIFF AND RIGID. Not too sure about reliability yet. Cadillac has not been known for excellence in reliability as of late, so we will have to see. Another disappointment was the dealership we went to. The sales staff was not as knowledgeable as they should have been. There was much left to be desired with the dealership as well.

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  Try getting in the passenger door - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By garnerconst - March 21 - 10:00 am

  Its a good quality vehicle but,getting inside the front passenger door is VERY AWKWARD, with absolutly No Room for your upper head to go when entering passenger door

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  this is a worst buy! - 1998 Cadillac Catera
  By qtbdy1 - March 12 - 10:03 pm

  I am sorry to say, but the Cadillac Catera lacks on everything. The only thing that cadillac brings to the table with this car is a good sound system. The bose stereo I apreciate but everything else is wack. The city streets for this car is a killer. After having the car for a year and over 11,000 miles that i put on it things start to change. Catera. This is a worst buy. To tell you the truth, everything. Dont buy!!

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  Cateras Suck - 2000 Cadillac Catera
  By JenniferC - March 10 - 10:10 pm

  Dont buy this car, it sucks. Its really a horrible shame. The car is a great size, has good styling, but ours has been in the shop more than its been out. You name the part, its been replaced atleast once--thank god for the warranty. I would NEVER get a Cadillac again.

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  Engines Blow Out in Cadillacs\Ask Me - 1994 Cadillac Deville
  By jfb - March 4 - 10:12 pm

  Rides well, handles well. However, the Engine overheated and blow out. The gauges never informed that the engine was hot or low on fluid. I come from a family of Mechanics and know the importance of watching over a car......the gauges Ive been told operate after over 212 degress....and is useless to the Consumer. Cadillac should pay for the new Engine, but I never did ask them as I know uselss. I have two friends with Cadillacs this has happened to as well. joannebuck@att.net

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  Caterible - 1998 Cadillac Catera
  By SgtJeep - February 26 - 7:13 pm

  It was in the shop at least twice a month having something repaired. At approx 40k miles the engine all but quit. I had problems with the climate control, moonroof, heated seats, steering, rear sunshield, and others. With 68k on the odometer the engine died. Even though GM told me it was my problem, the dealership is helping me get it fixed. Kudos to Martin Cadillac in Bowling Green, KY. Theyre the first automotive service center to ever gain my trust and respect.

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  No speedometer - 2013 Cadillac SRX
  By Kathy Marshall - February 26 - 7:01 am

  I speedometer keeps going out. After two times at service center, we were told that when it happens to pull over to side of road and cut car off to reset it. What kind of Crap adivise is that??? Also it does lock with keys in it. Cant seem to find out this problem either!!!