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:

• 

  Great Car - 1993 Cadillac Deville
  By Alexandr - November 2 - 2:00 am

  This car is great! For four years now it has always been reliable. It also is very comfortable and always looks brand new after I clean it. I feel very fortunate to have this car. It is the third Cadillac in a row that I have owned. I know for sure I am going to get a fourth one. My current one has 120,000 miles and I bought it with 63,000.

• 

  Luv My Cad! - 1993 Cadillac Deville
  By Scareys4 - November 2 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car because we needed a second car when my wife went back to work. Basically, I started out looking for a little economy car, but I couldnt stand how small they were! So, I saw my caddy for sale and stopped for a test drive. Ill tell you right there, it was true love from the minute I sat down in those incredibly comfortable seats. Then after I applied my foot to the gas pedal and flew, I knew it had to be mine. The price was right, so I made the deal and I havent regretted it yet. In fact, I just got a personalized plate that reds "LUVMYCAD" and that says it all!

• 

  My SRX V8 - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By Williamson - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Overall great family vehicle without the SUV size and bulk.

• 

  super - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By lastminute - October 31 - 2:00 am

  I used to drive an Ford Expedition. The escalade is a wonderful cadillac product that has power, cornering and comfort NOT like a truck. I love it. I drive a lot of highway miles and find the gas mileage isnt bad.

• 

  The perfect car - 2003 Cadillac Seville
  By Lil Deb - October 30 - 2:00 am

  This is my first Cadillac. I love this car. It handles great, it turns heads. This is one car I look forward to driving everyday.

• 

  EXPERIENCE - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By NORSAN - October 30 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE ALWAYS DRIVEN CADDYS, BUT I AM VERY, VERY HAPPY WITH THE STYLE AND PERFORMANCE OF THIS VEHICLE

• 

  Wow! - 1996 Cadillac Deville
  By Traderricky - October 29 - 2:00 am

  The 1996 DeVille is a fabulous machine! With the introduction of the Northstar powerplant, it really moves. Quite impressed with the 275hp and 300 lbs-ft torque. The interior is well appointed and very comfortable. Having the computer monitor all important functions is a great asset. I look forward to many more Cadillacs with the quality of this one!

• 

  Loved It - 1995 Cadillac Deville
  By LD - October 29 - 2:00 am

  We bought our 95 in 1999 with approx 50K miles on it. (We were in a potentionlly dangerous wreck in an earlier model and all four of us had not a scratch. It sold me on keeping a Cadillac as our family car.) Ive driven it for four years and it now has 150K. Aside from normal wear and tear, it was reliable. We are upgrading to an SUV as we are expecting another child, but would gladly purchase another Cadillac in years to come. Even with high milage, the resale value is good. We paid cash originally, so we got four years and 100K miles in a luxury car for just about $10,000.

• 

  My 2008 CTS - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By LaBorde - October 28 - 10:46 am

  Replaced my 2005 STS with the CTS. CTS is more comfortable, more "gadgets", more fun to drive, turns more heads than my STS ever did.

• 

  Beauty is only skin deep - 1990 Cadillac Seville
  By RG2 - October 28 - 2:00 am

  I loved this car. Nice power and ride. Loved the style. BUT It has as many electrical problems as it has electrical things. After a while you just live with the problems as long as it will drive (which it does nice)