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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  Exceptional sports car in disguise. - 2001 Cadillac Deville
  By Janet S. - September 21 - 2:00 am

  Drove 3yrs.(lease) The driver seat heater had to be replaced and the front dash, for buckling. The dealer did so with no hassle. Great car. Great performance. Its like driving a racecar/sportscar in disguise, because you have all the luxury too. Cadillac is exceptional with latest technology. I grew to love and depend on the backup sensors. They even go off if someone is walking behind your car and you dont see them yet. The only reason Im changing vehicles is this model change doesnt allow the front seat to extend back far enough to allow my 62" husband the leg room he needs to drive comfortably. He loves the passenger seat though!!

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  Never again - 1996 Cadillac Seville
  By teleman - September 20 - 2:00 am

  I have never owned a vehicle that gave me as much irrating trouble as this one. What kind of trouble you ask? How about the oil consumption, 3-4 quarts between oil changeS. You would think they would recal the things for the fix. Instead, they want us to pay for it. Then there is the notorius oil leak. Then there are the ever present sensor problems and the Cadillac electric window problems. My brother just bought a CTS. After only 10K miles, had to have a new rack put on it. Then the elec problems started. What a joke! I would NEVER OWN ANOTHER CADILLAC! Cadillac sucks as far as a quality automobile...IMHO

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  Fun to Drive But.... - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By MFK - September 19 - 10:00 am

  Everyone comments on how much fun this car is to drive . I absolutely agree. Most of the time I feel as if the car is on rails. I have never felt a false momment in control of the road. BUT this car is hell on passengers. Washboard surfaces can shake teeth loose and no on has ever ridden in this car with me who has not complained that they feel car sick from all the jittering and bouncing they take from the ride. If you have a family, you had better take them with you to see if they can stomach to ride. I have resigned myself to lonely but throughly enjoyable driving experiences in the CTS.

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  Good for the money - 2014 Cadillac SRX
  By Ron - September 17 - 12:04 pm

  A lot of SUV for the price. CUE system is frustrating. Overall quality is good.

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  Seville SLS (get an extended warranty) - 1994 Cadillac Seville
  By dsm1lge - September 17 - 2:00 am

  Would highly recommend extended warranty if you buy. Purchased with 62,000 Replaced, alternator, transmission, struts, within three years. Also had major oil leak a 3K repair. Thanks to extended warranty I paid 800.00 out of pocket on 7k worth of repairs. All repairs are expensive expecially at the Cadillac dealer.

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  ride like a cady - 2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By Jaime - September 16 - 2:10 am

  this truck is lots of fun, it gets up to speed like most cars so it doesnt feel like you are actually driveing a full size truck, and the remote start and a/c seats make summer time enjoyfull for a black on black truck

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  Exelent - 2004 Cadillac XLR
  By prepprincess4lyf - September 16 - 2:00 am

  hey its a perfect car in everyway!

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  More Refinement Please! - 2003 Cadillac Deville
  By hsauberman - September 16 - 2:00 am

  This is a nice car however being the most expensive American luxury car(DHS) on the road it needs to be improved. There is still too much road noise,vibration and harshness entering the passenger compartment at normal freeway speeds. Too much harshness from road bumps in the passenger compartment. This car is an improvement since the 2000 model but still not enough!

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  FAN - 2003 Cadillac Seville
  By GLWOLFERT - September 14 - 2:00 am

  The car is generally fine for a car its size. My main objection is the fan noise. At lower speeds( of the fan) it has a "gurgling" sound. Somwhat like a coffee perculator.Not so for the 1998 models.WHY?????

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  good stuff - 2002 Cadillac Deville
  By jt money - September 14 - 2:00 am

  fun to drive easy to control under bad weather