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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  Reliablity is a major issue - 2003 Cadillac Seville
  By Upset owner - January 8 - 2:00 am

  This car has got to be the worse car ever made. Problems with this car are never ending. First the gaskets all wear out so the engine pours out its oil all over my garage floor, supposedly common, a $4000 repair. Then there is the key getting stuck in the ignition, $200 repair. So far this car including all the repairs and the normal maintenace puts it in the range as a mercedes E class. Think twice before buying a cadillac. There are many cars that are more reliable and luxurious.

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  sweet - 2000 Cadillac Deville
  By taxwme - January 7 - 2:00 am

  its a nice ride

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  My xlr - 2004 Cadillac XLR
  By Webdad - January 4 - 2:00 am

  Was waiting on a Benz and decided to get an xlr while I was waiting. Well I like the xlr so much, I canceled the Benz. I guess that says it all. Cadillac is back after being lost in space for a quarter century. Well done!!

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  Performance... meet the Catera! - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By flahrwecome - January 3 - 2:00 am

  Very high performance car.

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  Head of the Parade - 2004 Cadillac XLR
  By edward westerfield - January 3 - 2:00 am

  this is the car Cadillac should have always been making. Driving the car around town, I am always at the head of a parade. EVERYONE wants to see this car...and drive it. Roomier than it has a right to be, handles with aplomb, and most importantly, buckets of torque off the line. Visually, it is simply stunning. My advice: get in line.

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  One Year Later - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By CTS Owner - January 3 - 2:00 am

  Have driven the 03 CTS for one year now. Been back to the dealer for steering rack, sun roof and tail light assembly, all covered under warranty. Still love to drive this car. Resale value has dropped $10k in one year from invoice price, disappointing. Overall a great drving experience but I shutter the fact of when this car comes out of warranty.

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  Very nice - 2017 Cadillac XT5
  By Raynor McMillian - January 2 - 10:01 am

  I bought my wife a 2017 xt5 she love this ride is quiet and smooth

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  CADDY DTS...THIER BEST EVER - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By CHUCK RUNZO - January 2 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE OWNED 18 CADDYS....DTS , BY FAR THE BEST...THE CAR IS VERY FAST , GREAT RIDE, HANDLES LIKE A SPORTS CAR. ALL INTERIOR CONTOLS EASY TO OPERATE. SUPER STEREO WITH XM RADIO , GPS WORKS WELL. WE HAVE A 2000 DTS AND A 2003 , THE 2000 HAS OVER 90,000 MILES , YET TO HAVE THE FIRST PROBLEM. WE HAVE A BMW 740 , GREAT CAR BUT THE DESIGN CHANGE FOR 2003-2004 AND THE PRICE TAG MAKES THE DTS A STEAL IN THIS LEAGUE.ONLY ONE COMPLAINT....THE FRONT DOORS ARE VERY HEAVY AND WANT TO CLOSE ON THERE OWN BEFORE YOU GET SEATED...IF YOU LIVE WITH THAT....YOU WILL LOVE THE DTS...NEW OR A GOOD USED ONE...IT WILL NOT DISAPPOINT.....CHUCK....

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  SWEET RIDE ALL THE WAY!!! - 2000 Cadillac Escalade
  By Del@ - January 1 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST IVE EVER DRIVEN, I HAD A CORVETTE AND TRADED IT IN BECAUSE MY 97 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WAS A LITTLE TOO SMALL, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A GREAT SUV TO DRIVE, I NEED SOMETHING BIGGER. I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS IS A VERY SMOOTH RIDE, BOTH IN LOOKS AND RIDE OVERALL. THERE ARE NO OTHER TO COMPARE. ONE OF THESE DAYS I TRADE IT IN FOR A NEWER MODEL!!!!

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  Am I Satisfied ? ? - 2001 Cadillac Seville
  By Gerrie Griffin - December 30 - 2:00 am

  I truly love the car. Very responsive. Cant believe it from a car of this weight and size. Very impressive from the start of the engine. However, I use a quart of oil every 2500 miles. I also have a 2000 DeVille that uses a quart every 1500 miles. Great engine, if you can keep oil in it.