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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  Damn This Car Is The Best.... - 2004 Cadillac XLR
  By Micho - October 16 - 2:00 am

  oh my god this is the best car on the planet yet! better than any else... better than BMW, and anyother car to tell u the truth its farmost the best car from cadillac and it will put them on the map. one word for it AMAZING !!

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  Breaking stereotypes - Young DTS owners - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By CADDYSHACK - October 16 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I just bought our first Cadillac and couldnt be happier. I should also mention we are both under 35 yrs old and live on the east coast. We could have bought a BMW, Lexus or Mercedes, but they didnt come close to the DTS in features, comfort and power. And as far as "lacking the upscale image of its competition" as mentioned in the editors review, I rather blaze my on trail then follow the herd with their plasticimports.

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  caddy - 1990 Cadillac Deville
  By Portia - October 14 - 2:00 am

  It is a pretty good car overall but it woulnt have been my first choice.

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  Eldorado ETC - 1997 Cadillac Eldorado
  By MNazz - October 13 - 2:00 am

  My Eldo was purchased 3 yrs ago w/23k on it. I was 19 when i got it i am now 22 and the car just hit 90k. I have put a decent beating on this car buy flying around and flooring it often and the car has only needed brake pads&rotors. It still runs really strong and looks even better. I am very happy w/the way this car has treated me. No complaints here.

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  Good Car (If you can afford it) - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By ihswim - October 12 - 2:00 am

  With in the last couple of years the car has held its own in repairs. Only the tranny has needed replacement in the past 3 years. But before that, everything seemed to go wrong. Tranny replaced after 3 months, new radiator and belts.

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  I love my car - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By Ed Fruscello - October 10 - 2:00 am

  Rides like a dream, tons of interior room, especially in the back seat, and lots of luggage space.

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  Love my SRX - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Lupe - October 8 - 10:00 am

  My SRX is the perfect blend of SUV & car with the best of both. For those who are tired of SUVs that drive like trucks and tired of mini-vans and want true distinctiveness & luxury, this is the vehicle. The "pick-up-and-go" on the V6 is great, pleaty of power & speed - I like the downshift feature built into the gear shift for when you need the extra punch to merge or pass. The SRX is the perfect combination of practicality for a working mom and trendy style and luxury for a professional. The interior luxury appointments are first rate and the features and controls are easy to navigate. The car generates a lot of attention from others.

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  XLRerating - 2004 Cadillac XLR
  By roadstar - October 8 - 2:00 am

  wow........what a vehicle. Basically a vette in caddy skin, but so much more... only one problem - severe tendency to want to drag race anything that pulls up next to you at a red light...

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  2003 Escalade, Love it! - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By cadman - October 8 - 2:00 am

  I have owned luxury SUVs in the past, Lexus 470, Infiniti QX4, etc. The 2003 Escalade offers outstanding value! I went with the Diamond White color and its beautiful. I have received several compliments about the color in the short time weve had it. Took the Escalade on a Phoenix to Denver roadtrip. It handled great, outstanding ride feel. XM radio is a must! I installed an aftermarket 15" video/DVD screen. Didnt like the small 7" screen available from Cadillac.

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  Good ride. - 1999 Cadillac Catera
  By aletters - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Fun entry level luxury sedan. Its a heavy little car and sucks a lot of gas to get going.