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:

• 

  CTS Surprise - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By hemiguy61 - March 9 - 2:00 am

  The automotive press is missing the boat on this one. The styling is distinctive and different and I like that a lot considering the sea of boring imports out there. The CTS has great power, gets good gas mileage, is comfortable, has a ton of storage and overall is a ball to drive. It has a great turning radius and is a snap to parallel park in the city. What more could you want? The best parts of my day are driving to and from work in this gem.

• 

  Best car I have ever driven - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By glauser2 - March 9 - 2:00 am

  My first Cadillac was the Catera in 2001 which I thought was a very well- built car. The new CTS leaves the Catera in the dust! Wonderful handling on the open road, and when you use the cruise control, you get a cruising range of 400+! The seats are extremely comfortable (both front and rear), and the temperature controls make riding in extreme heat or cold a non-issue. I am floored that this is not in the top ten list of "Best of..." cars. One drive will convince you.

• 

  CADILLAC DTX - EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY & FUN - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By YSREJMBOB - March 9 - 2:00 am

  TRULY AN OVERALL FANTASTIC VEHICLE. TOP QUALITY IN EVERY AREA, SUPER PERFORMANCE AND ALSO FUN TO DRIVE.

• 

  Terrific car and a great value too - 2004 Cadillac Seville
  By JZAG - March 8 - 2:00 am

  First time Cadillac owner. Its a wonderful car. Quiet, smooth ride, and looks great. Power is smooth and ample. Electronics work really well. And I got it for substantially less than Edmunds TMV. If youre looking for a great car thats a much better value than many European cars, take a look at a Seville, especially if youre like me a drive cars a long time. You wont be disappointed.

• 

  I love it - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By Vedo - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I got this car more as a joke than anything else (plus I got the best lease rates). Little did I know that I would fall in love with it. The car is a complete blast to drive (its alive). Acceleration is excellent (especially for the size of the motor), braking is excellent and handling is excellent. The car was flawlessly assembled. I have no complaints. I have even become somewhat enamored with the styling.

• 

  Enjoyment - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By John Valles - March 8 - 2:00 am

  The car is a joy to drive. I have driven it for approximately 8300 miles with any trouble. Prior to owning this car I drove a Honda Accord, primarily because of the Hondas reliability record. However, the Cadillac has been trouble free and more fun to drive. This is my first Cadillac and Id buy another without hesitation.

• 

  Buy One - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By caddy man - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Car blows away competition! Better than a BMW or Audi or Mercedes (small models) Buy it!!!

• 

  CTS REALLY ROCKS - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By FLORIDASNATURAL - March 7 - 2:00 am

  I RECENTLY WENT FROM A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE, AND AFRAID THEHIGH RIDE OF A SUV WOULD BE MY ONLY COMFORT, WELL LET ME TELL YOU I AM SO HAPPY WITH MY COUPE TOURING CTS THAT FEEL OF EVERYONE WOUNDERING AND ADMIRE THE DESIGN ..AND ITS A CADILLAC

• 

  More Options would make this awesome - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By HDS - March 7 - 2:00 am

  Sturdy, Classy Styled SUV. Very Reliable, turns heads everywhere.Easy to Drive and Park. Quality is top of the line. Interior spacious. Great handling.

• 

  Great SUV - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By Rocket scientist - March 7 - 2:00 am

  Switched from a Dodge Durango and this vehcile is far superior and worth the money. The AWD is smooth and quiet and the vehicle handles well and has great power. The gas mileage on the highway is supringly good although it doesnt do that well in town.