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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  Competing with the Germans! - 2009 Cadillac CTS
  By MK - November 9 - 11:51 am

  I have owned many many cars, mostly German and some Japanese luxury brands, this CTS is my first US luxury sedan in 25 years! It certainly competes well with all those brands, but with all the incentives and employee pricing, value ratio was the best of them all. In fact, I traded in my 2008 BMW 335i twin-turbo coupe shortly after for another car!

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  Superior exterior design - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By infinitetanner - November 6 - 2:57 pm

  This car has a stunning exterior design, and a nice cockpit layout. Its 4.6L 320 HP is responsive, however the transmission in the AWD has a delay- frustrating. Handles fantastic! Wont peel out though due to AWD system. I have the 1SG luxury edition, that offers: HID xenon head lamps, OnStar, XM, navigation with DVD player built in, 6cd changer, heated and a/c cooled front seats, heated rear seats, 18 rims, bluetooth hands free calling, one touch adjustable performance and touring suspention (formula 1 inspired), spoiler and much more! Despite being a tank, this car is small inside for rear passengers & front passenger. Glove box is a joke, trunk is decent-needs sunglassas holder badly!

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  *All Season Road beast* - 2005 Cadillac Escalade
  By Mr. SUPERMAN GIllESPIE - November 2 - 3:03 pm

  I have had countless cars ever since 16yrs old.. I am now 43 and finally feel that Ive landed my feet into the vehicle I had aspired to, all these years. If I knew that All WHEEL DRIVE would be sooo convient and give me great road control.. Id bought one years sooner.. I While I have NEVER had brand new I am just as satified with my 2005 Black Escalade AWD.. my only problems are that of the Cluster Board, blanked out face to radio, front end suspension, and falsely presented rear climate control. That rear climate control neither gets hot or cold.. just a fan to circulate.. dial description showshot and cold adjustments but it changes nothing.. its just designed to circulate air pulled from the front.. smh.. POOR JOB G.M!!.. when you spend money like that you exspect maximum comfort on spell!!.. Heated seats dont stay on long... Ive only had my truck for 3 months but with our crazy weather in Saint Louis, Missouri I dont miss a beat.. I laugh when its rainy and every one else is fish tailing when light turns green.. lol.. Gas is not nearly as bad as most bloggers give off.. Best spark plugs, pure purple senthetic oil, K&N Oil & Air filter.. cant go wrong.. #LearnYourCar.................. MrSupaman Gillespie

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  Gas Guzzler - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By Poor Gas Mileage - October 29 - 2:25 pm

  This vehicle guzzles gas worse than an SUV. Dont be fooled. It doesnt get anywhere near the 18 city/26 highway. Im currently getting around 16 MPG in mostly highway driving. The vehicle has an 18 gallon tank that will only take you around 230 miles. Dont buy or lease this car if you are concerned about the environment or your own vehicle ownership costs!

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  Lots to Love About an Escalade EXT - 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By miriam wright - October 28 - 6:56 am

  I purchased my 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT on September 25, 2004. It has been the best and most fun vehicle I have ever owned. It handles like a dream and looks fabulous!!!

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  Dads old Car - 1990 Cadillac Deville
  By Dancingfox - October 27 - 4:11 pm

  Dad had to almost pay the dealership to take this car, so he gave it to me. Im 30, two kids, so no payment vehicle is a plus, but to my surprise this is an amazing car. Down side is gas milage, and locks for the car seats. Upside, reliability, and I can still fix 90% of the problems cause everything isnt computerized like my 2003 Impala. Good ride, Nice features for a 1990. More so than my 2003 really. Good solid engine with massive power. A real good car.

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  Classic look, but impractical. BEWARE! - 1993 Cadillac Allante
  By goguidogo - October 27 - 10:35 am

  I hear that new parts for the Cadillac Allante body are out of production, and no plans are being made to produce more since so few Allantes were ever manufactured. If you buy an Allante and have any trouble with it in a wreck or with normal use, you may be out of luck when it comes to finding replacement parts for the body. The Allante is a classic beauty, but it was not a well-thought-out car. It is very impractical, and the interior pieces are of cheap plastic that do not withstand wear. The 93 Allante is the best one to own. Great power/performance! GM put the right powertrain and transaxle in it,but the car is overly-complicated and the computer systems are not reliable.

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  2008 cadillac escalade 4WD - 2008 Cadillac Escalade
  By doug delano - October 24 - 10:36 am

  Not sure where to begin, this is my 2nd slade and the best. GM does need to give this monster motor multi-displacement and possibly engine off at idle, but appreciate its ability to run on mid grade nicely and regular in a pinch with no problems. 3rd seat layout is a joke and it went in my mini storage the 2nd day. Exhaust note at idle and low rpm is absolutely beautiful! And at freeway speeds muffler tech. makes the hearty growl disappear (Huh, howd they do that ?) Ive got 6600 miles on this brute and oil life is still projected at 38% left. Pretty cool with factory oil, and it hasnt used a drop.So much more to praise ride/sound/build/comfort/Power/etc qualities. Platinum model next

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  Good traveling vehicle - 2011 Cadillac STS
  By Chuk - October 22 - 8:51 pm

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  American luxury - 2008 Cadillac DTS
  By Don - October 21 - 12:54 pm

  Great car. Handles better than the 05 Deville I traded. Smooth power from the V-8 with decent mileage for the size of the car. I get 26 mpg on the Hwy. Comfortable and quiet ride in American luxury tradition, yet still decent handling. Good value for the money.