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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  Look into a Navigator - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By not_telling - April 26 - 2:00 am

  Basically just a "dressed up" Chevy suburban. looks too much like the 40k suburban but while its around 55k+. need yo put in more features/gadgets like the Lincoln. should have shift on the fly 4x4 so you can engage just 2wd instead of AWD.

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  In shop more than driveway - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By SUV Guy - January 28 - 2:00 am

  Received the Escalade a couple weeks ago and it has been one problem after another. Mostly Electrical issues, but now the engine is making unusual noises. I had a Navigator, but traded in. Wish I had not. I think Im going back to the Navigator.

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  A car from another time - 2002 Cadillac Eldorado
  By jtrender - January 12 - 2:00 am

  My wife still insists driving a full size two door luxury coupe. The eldorado is the only one remaining. The car is unreliable, had to be towed twice. It is largely unchanged from the 1992 model!

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  17 trips to the service department later - 2001 Cadillac Deville
  By frankburns - October 5 - 2:00 am

  this car has been a nightmare since the first trip to the service department (exactly one day after i took delivery). since then it has been back no fewer than 16 more times in two years. 3 computer chips, 2 window switches, 2 recalls, 1 engine clunking noise, 1 sets of brakes, 1 power seat motor, 1 alternator, 1 climate control issue, etc... the only reason i still have this car is that it is worth nothing on trade. nearly $50,000 new and they tell me it is worth barely more than $20,000 now. I tried to buy american luxury, now i see if you want quality, you have to go japanese or german. sorry, detroit!

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  too small - 1991 Cadillac Allante
  By garg - September 23 - 2:00 am

  convertible top is incredible complex and unsafe to use. car is way too small for 3500 pounds

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  LLLLLLLLLLLemon - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By phy - August 4 - 2:00 am

  Waste of money big time. Last 8 months I spent $13,500 for repairs. Total time the car spent in the dealership- 71 days. Final result- I have a car with non-working transmission (after 3 transmission repairs in Cadillac of Las Vegas and total cost for them about $3,000) staying in my garage. I am tired of all this.

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  Bad CADDY GAS eater fall apart on you - 1995 Cadillac Deville
  By CadMan - July 23 - 2:00 am

  this car is nothing but problems i bought it with 11000 milles in 96 and even then it gave me problems. i just cant afford to buy anything else so ive stayed with it its been at the shop every other month. the car is too big and heavy for its own good it takes the whole 8 cillinders to move it and not even that fast. 20,000 dollar less Hondas pass me by all day every day. and for allot less gas too. I dont even like to go fast its too expensive. and forget paking in compact.Paint job sucks the entire hood is full of dings from rocks.

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  WORST CAR EVER BUILT - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By Nestornajwa - June 19 - 2:00 am

  Purchased new as a leftover in 4/98 -- now I know why it didnt sell. Worst car I ever drove. Nothing but problems. Leaks, lights blinking for no reason, broken sensors, broken door locks, broken trunk locks, hoses, ignition, etc. coupled with truly TERRIBLE, indifferent service by Lindsay Cadillac in Virginia -- all of which made for a miserable owenership experience. This is why Cadillac will not exist in 10 years. Also: poor storage space, limited options on stereo system (corrected in later models), poor rear visibility.

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  Bucket - 1994 Cadillac Eldorado
  By robert135 - June 5 - 2:00 am

  Since day one the Caddillac has been nothing but lacking. I would not recommend it.

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  Worst Purchase we have ever made! - 2016 Cadillac Escalade
  By Roger Lake - May 5 - 6:36 am

  Where do I start? Engine is consuming oil at 20k. The transmission shifts hard from first too second. My wife smells coolant from the vents. The power running boards dont always go up. The rear DVD in the third row doesnt work. Dealer claims everything is fine. I have to add oil between oil changes on my 90,000 dollar Cadillac. These cars are junk. I told my wife this but she loves the space the car has. I dont recommend these vehicles. Dont waste your hard earned money on this. Buy an Infiniti or a Lexus.