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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  Black Beauty!!! - 1999 Cadillac Eldorado
  By 939597etc - May 16 - 2:00 am

  Beautiful automobile, fun to drive (especially, for such a large ride) and all the features youd ever wish for. HOWEVER, General Motors/Cadillac should STILL work on their quality. I have owned several of these fine automobile and will admit, there has been improvement. Although, not enough for the price and class of this vehicle

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  Nice Ride - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By Scott Hunt - May 16 - 2:00 am

  I just bought the vehicel a week ago and have enjoyed it very much. It is very fun to drive and has plenty of room for friends. It has every feature you need in a vehicle except good gas mileage.

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  2005 Cadillac SRX - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By lawsbc - May 14 - 2:43 pm

  The 2005 Cadillac SRX is quiet, responsive, and economical. The inside cargo space is deceiving, it provides more than adequate storage. The V6 engine makes one forget the need for a V8.

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  My first caddy - 1999 Cadillac Catera
  By Brenda Lou - May 14 - 2:00 am

  I am a first time cadillac person. Have only had it for a couple of months, but am enjoying the ride. No mechanical problems so far. I dont feel qualified to rate the quality or the reliability yet.

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  escallade - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By carolynz - May 14 - 2:00 am

  I dont think I will ever buy another truck. This was definitely the best investment that I have ever made in my life (Besides getting married!!)

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  3000 PLUS AND STILL HAPPY! - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By PUMPKIN - May 13 - 10:00 am

  FRIST THIS CAR TURNS HEADS AND HAS FOLKS ASKING QUESTIONS ALL THE TIME. I HAVE THE COPPER-SUNBRUST (A COLOR I HEAR THEY HAVE DISCONTINUED-GREAT FOR ME MAKES MINE A "LIMITED EDITION"). SECOND I LOVE THE SOUND OF THE POWER WHEN YOU OPEN IT UP-ITS THE SOUND OF LIONS LET LOOSE! I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS THUS FAR EXCEPT FOR A BROKEN A/C DIRECTIONAL KNOB-THESE ARE MADE ON THE CHEAP SIDE FOR SUCH A FINE CAR. IF YOU WANT A SMOOTHER RIDE FORGET THE SPORTS PACK WITH THE 17" WHEELS. HOWEVER ON FLAT LAND THE SPORT PACK HANDLING IS AWESOME.THE CAR IS WONDERFUL,FAST,NIMPLE AND WONDERFUL TO LOOK AT. (DONT KNOW IF ITS JUST ME BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF BRAKE DUST)

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  Very disappointed - 1997 Cadillac Seville
  By Sunny daze - May 13 - 2:00 am

  Always viewed Cadillac as a great car, but this experience has convinced me I will never buy GM again. The struts failed before 70,000 and they are unbelievably expensive to replace much more so than other "luxury" cars. The electrical system has caused numerous problems, the gasoline gauge cannot be trusted. Had I realized it was built so poorly, I certainly would have purchased an extended warranty. I cant even trade it in without loosing thousands of dollars.

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  Good car for the value - 1997 Cadillac Eldorado
  By redeldo - May 12 - 2:00 am

  1st Cadillac ever owned and it has been a very good car. Lots of comments about how good it looks. Dont know if it was worth sticker price new but I feel it was a good value at the used price. Rides like a caddy should.

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  Like it - 2000 Cadillac Seville
  By TAT - May 11 - 2:00 am

  Bought the car new. Love the V8, it has impresive passing power. I drive across the country each spring and am comfortable even on 10 hr. runs. Running at 80 MPH I get 25 MPG, great for a large car.

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  I like it !!!!!!!!! - 2000 Cadillac Deville
  By Chgo. Mike - May 10 - 2:00 am

  Bought a Used 2000 DTS, with 30k. Certified. I felt like I got the deal I wanted. What a Beauty. Does it all!!! Great handling, acceloration. The kids pull up, and want to Race! Black Beauty that turns heads. Im just tickled. LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!