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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  Go Caddy and never go back! - 2001 Cadillac Eldorado
  By XANVTA - July 16 - 2:00 am

  What a pleasant experience! From purchase negotiation to present Ive have been impressed and pleased. The ESC provides the legendary Cadillac ride and sufficient horse for all types of travel. I get 29 mpg on the road and 24 mpg in town on regular fuel, that is huge given the V8 and a/c. This car packs alot of luxury combined with performance in one car for a very reasonable price tag.

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  4th 95 DeVille - 1995 Cadillac Deville
  By LOTR - July 16 - 2:00 am

  I have had two 95s and my father in law has had 2. We both had each one to a minimum 170,000 miles. We both are in sales and for my money there isnt a better car. I am looking into a 98 now. But I will run this one until I drop the transmission. That is the one major repair that you will have with the car, sometime between 160,000 and 200,000. On all of ours except the one I have now @ 170,000.

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  SRX - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Farns - July 15 - 10:00 am

  My experience has been great. I didnt want a huge SUV & the SRX is just the right size. I love the option of the third seat.

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  Feel the lux & speed for yourself! - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Nikita - July 15 - 10:00 am

  Enjoy the space of an SUV, combined with luxury and speed. An added plus is the expanded sun-roof ...almost like a SUV convertible (primary reason for choosing the SRX).

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  First American car Ive loved! - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By Skuuter - July 15 - 10:00 am

  I avoided owning American cars for about twenty years, only buying a Chevy Beretta in 95 (a mistake) and a Malibu LS in 99. This CTS, however, is a whole different animal. I really, really love this car!! Excellent handling, great get-up and go, superb safety features and peerless styling. The build quality is much better than the Camry I rented recently. I am finally proud to buy American again!

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  whats up with cadilac - 1997 Cadillac Seville
  By mmooreII - July 15 - 2:00 am

  I purchested this car on the dealerships raiting of this auto and before I could make the first payment I had to pay out$90.00 for o2 sensor, and two weeks later the charcole filter $400.00. three weeks later the check light is on and a slight knocking shound, this car purchest used with 53000 miles,service maintance history good, whats up. Im a sad cadilac owner.

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  Head gasket blues - 1994 Cadillac Deville
  By jtropics - July 15 - 2:00 am

  Sure, I bought the car as is and I knew there would be some problems, but I did not think that the head gasket was shot and would cost me an additional $3000 to fix. Coolant was leaking into the engine and the car overheated every few miles. Private repair shops sent me back to the dealer who basically said "too bad"...if I want to keep the car, I have to pay for the repair.

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  Wicked Awesome Car - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By Ben Ewing - July 15 - 2:00 am

  Well, the Escalade is awesome mine is white and it rides like a Caddy sedan. They are big but they feel small, I advize you to get one if you can afford it.

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  Escalade Problems - 1999 Cadillac Escalade
  By MsAssrtiv - July 12 - 2:00 am

  Two months after purchasing, a clunking noise started in the front end. After tearing the drivetrain apart twice, and replacing both U joints, both dealerships have given up. Dashboard was not assembled correctly resulting in large gap towards passenger side. Rear window rattles incessantly despite being repaired twice. If this is indicative of Cadillac quality, next time, Ill buy the new Suburban and live with those GM problems for $10K less!

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  J529HS REVIEW - 2000 Cadillac Escalade
  By J.D. - July 12 - 2:00 am

  GREAT VEHICLE. I HAS A LOT OF POWER. NOT GREAT ON GAS IN THE CITY, BUT EXCELLENT ON THE HIGHWAY.