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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  Thought Id Love my CTS... - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Kvincent - April 22 - 12:57 am

  Got it with low mileage, seemed to be in great condition. With in a few months of the warranty being up I had several issues. My airbag light came on, thermostat shot, both brake lines blew on 2 separate occasions costing me over $100 in tows, had a quote of $875 for all 4 brakes and rotors...the list goes on. I will say it is a beautifully styled car and is easy to fall in love with, just needs to be mechanically built better.

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  3 year review... of used sls - 2000 Cadillac Seville
  By indianavince - April 20 - 2:15 pm

  Follow up to my review of buying a 66k used SLS in 2006. I am getting 32mpg on 300 mile highway trips. I now have 108,000 miles only issues since 66k is a blown speaker, new aftermarket front struts ($400) and a coil pack ($500). I am getting a little bored with the car but I still love the great highway MPGs and climate control that is so easy to use. This car eats up the miles. I am still happy.

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  Money Pit - 2000 Cadillac Seville
  By Mike M - April 18 - 8:42 pm

  Bought this car used with 20,000 miles on it. Loved the looks and it was my first experience with a Cadillac. After the first two weeks the car wouldnt start and to have two starting sensors replaced. Then the tilt steering went bad, with those two items being covered by warranty. It was downhill from there. Have spent over $8,000 on car repairs in 5 years, not counting the potential cost for replacing a blown head gasket because I just traded it today. It has been by far the worst car I have ever owned...and oh yes, the car would shift into neutral when I drove it through water puddles when it would rain. I have a friend who is a cadillac mechanic and he couldnt figure it out.

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  Great used car for the $$$ - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By SeminoleCadi - April 15 - 5:27 pm

  AWD transmission could be smoother. Has some interior noises at 48k miles. Bose system is grreat!

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  Great up to 50,000 miles - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By GW - April 12 - 8:08 pm

  Purchased new July 2003. Loved the body style, American made, and fit my bad back perfectly (very little lumbar support). Great sound system with the Bose, complicated dash settings but ok, and after a Lexus 400 (new), Mercedes S series (new), and everything from Grand Prixs to Infinitis, I was pleased. At 50,000 miles the problems started. Cost $500 to replace a bad thermostat, and it seems the repairs increase every month. Im at 65,000 miles and ready to sell.

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  Looking for Resolution - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By Debbie - April 8 - 10:02 am

  I received my 2004 Escalade as a Christmas gift from my husband in 2003. I fell in love at first site. I have had very little problems until recently. Nothing major, the speedometer went out. I brought it in to be fixed. Wasnt cheap. My husband also bought an Escalade EXT as a result of mine. He purchased his a year later. His speedometer just went out too. We were told to call Cadillac that there is a Campaign that we should be reimbursed for the part. I am currently fighting with them as they are telling me that I didnt have this "Special Policy". I have talked to many GM owners who have had to replace speedometers. Other than that, I LOVE my caddy.

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  Good try but going back to an Import - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By 2smooth - April 4 - 12:40 pm

  Wife crashed the toyota 4runner and my Honda S2000 was stolen off the drivway. So I decided to go with some class and give GM back a chance... WRONG CHOICE!!! The CTS 3.6L with Navi and 17" wheels was a good try for GM but this car still does not compare. Quality is poor as paint interior on knobs are chipping everywhere and my side skirt is loose, memory settings get messed up on the sideview mirrors. There are recalls on the CTS with the steering linkages. My alignment needs to be redone every year so far and now it is acting up with suspension noises. Brand new these cars are great, right up until you add some mileage on them. Overall,still fun to drive while looking good doing it

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  Dont Buy This Car - At least the 2006 - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By I Bought What??? - April 1 - 8:23 am

  I purchased a Certified 2006 STS w/ 20,000 miles in July 2008. Excellent condition. I traded my Toyota Solara with no regrets until ... the moaning sounds started. Forget driving this car on long interstate trips involving mountains. This is the most annoying noise ever. Ive had it to the dealer 6 times for repair without any luck. They claim to "reprogram" whatever it is they "reprogram," but it never repairs the problem. I didnt think a car like this with over a $55,000 price tag new would have so many problems. I cannot speak for the V6, but the V8 is not up to par with even the 3.0 V6 in my former vehicle the Solara. Im ready for another Toyota! Tell me again why GM is in a mess?

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  8 out of 10 - 2002 Cadillac Seville
  By Black on Black - April 1 - 12:28 am

  This car has great looks,smooth decent power,and lots of unnecessary goodies like steering wheel controls,rain sensing wipers,memory seats and radio presets,back up sensors,etc. The handling is pretty good for a 4,000 pound car although you can definitely tell its 4,000 pounds when you push it in corners. Its too bad that you cant completely disengage the stability control which slows you down in the turns. I like driving fast and the Northstar responds as happily as 300 hp can although I do wish they threw in about 30 to 40 more hp and torque. I might get Corsa exhaust but still deciding if I want my Caddy to sound like a Z/28. Awesome used car value. Bought 3/09 for $9,244 53k No snrf,nav

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  1993 Caillac deville - 1993 Cadillac Deville
  By idunno12000 - March 30 - 12:28 am

  Ok so i needed a used car for cheap. I get my caddy and it runs good. It had about 100k miles on it and it still ran like new. The only issue with my car is the heat and air. Neither work! Also At 121k miles the tranny is failing on me. First gear is messed bad. Also the color around the bottom is starting to peal off bc it is some weird type of paint. Besides that i love my car. It has a powerful V8 and i just love the look. Also i love the space it provides. The seats are very comfortable and very adjustable. I believe this is a great car for anyone to buy. Just dont peel out all the time like me and ruined the tranny.