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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  All Bark, Dont get BITTEN - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By sosorry - December 4 - 2:00 am

  This is a feeble attempt by GM to build a car to compete with European autos. They fail in every category. The car is all sizzle and no meat! The over-all quality is typical of all domestic cars. It is filled with plastic and poorly fitted components that rattle, squeak and creek after the first month. It is surely one of the worst cars I have ever owned. GM has has no interest in correcting the problems I have had with my CTS. I made an impulse purchase, boy am I sorry!!! I never thought I would say give my Catera back!

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  Classic Cadillac - Lasts a Lifetime! - 1990 Cadillac Deville
  By cpcpension - December 3 - 2:00 am

  Bought from private party, a 77 year old woman who drove it less than 2000 miles per year. looks brand new, finish shines!

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  Caddy owner - 1997 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Bdawg - December 2 - 2:00 am

  A few thing have gone wrong, The express down module is broken on the driver side door, Burns a lot of oil. not maintence freindly.

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  Love it!!!! - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By lister - December 1 - 2:00 am

  Love it, love it, love it!!!!

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  agjgtj - 2004 Cadillac XLR
  By billy bob joe - December 1 - 2:00 am

  this car is awsome. it is really cool because it goes real fast. zoom zoom zoom.

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  Review of the new for the few who do - 2004 Cadillac XLR
  By sackback2003 - December 1 - 2:00 am

  overall a beautifull highly sought after car amazing modern styling beatufill interior competing with mercedes and bmw only downside to the car would be the lack off power they need to get power up to 350 on same engine or supercharge or both

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  Awesome! - 2004 Cadillac XLR
  By rkoch - December 1 - 2:00 am

  There is nothing like it on the road!

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  Excellent - 2004 Cadillac XLR
  By Samantha1245 - December 1 - 2:00 am

  Excellent automobile.. wonderful to drive great build quality, reliability, and exterior design

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  DHS - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By david minarik - December 1 - 2:00 am

  This is my fifth deville, and find the dhs to be a nice car to drive. I am disappointed that they did away with the white diamond paint. Also, the craftmanship is poor, in that the body panels dont fit properly. When will gm catch on. Overall, the car is nice, but way overpriced for what you get. My next car may be a toyota.

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  Nice change of pace - 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By Salvatore - November 30 - 10:00 am

  I like the fact I can go to a fancy place all dressed up with this car and later throw my kayak in the back and head to the beach. Great for hauling those odd shape items that dont fit in a typical SUV. Crappy gas milage, but you know that going into the deal.