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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  The Kat Rides - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By yolan carter - January 20 - 10:00 am

  Sporty exterior and great funky army green color. Great pickup. This is my 5th Cadi and first not a Deville model. Takes some getting used to because it is smaller than the full size Deville. Burns regular gas which is why I switched models. Engine is made in France but it appears to be splendid so Ill forgive them for that. I miss the huge trunck of the Deville but the back seats fold down so I have a huge trunck provided there are no passengers in the rear. I like the smaller size because it is easier to handle, parking is a breeze. The only drawback I can find is one does not get the soft ride of the large Deville. This is a "sport" ride

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  Wow what a car - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By buzzzzz - January 20 - 10:00 am

  I drive Mercedes and BMW and can tell yot that this car is up to this standard and maybe better build quality than the Mercedes

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  Wow - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By Brown3345 - January 20 - 10:00 am

  This is the most awesome car I have ever driven!

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  MY STS - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By SMILE 827 - January 20 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE THIS CAR. DRIVES LIKE A VETTE, FEELS LIKE AN ADULT LUXURY CAR! SMALL PROBLEMS WITH THE COMPUTER - FORGETS SOME OF THE PERSONALIZED COMMANDS

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  #1 Car Today - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By Mary Lou - January 20 - 10:00 am

  This is absolutely the best car that I have driven. I could drive this car across the USA in style and comfort. The body style is aero dynamically designed to fit the road in all conditions. Ive driven numerous Cadillacs, the STS I rate #1.

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  Cadillac Rules ! - 1998 Cadillac Seville
  By cdiamond2@socal.rr - January 20 - 2:00 am

  This 98 STS is the best. Got all the options. Had to look hard for the wood steering wheel and 4 heated seats. I get outstanding MPG on the highway or hot rod V-8 power. Love the Diamond/white paint and comfy interior. Have other fast cars but this one rocks !!!

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  Best caddy? - 1995 Cadillac Fleetwood
  By Wess - January 20 - 2:00 am

  Have a 95 fleetwood brougham, all the features. It has to be the most comfortable cars ive ridden in, especially the back seat. Road noise is a minimum. This is the best highway cruiser available. Not my personal choice for town driving, it feels very long.

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  numba one - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By big doag - January 20 - 2:00 am

  The best SUV on the planet, everyone should have one.

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  Luxury Cruiser with great handling. - 2003 Cadillac Seville
  By gyrs - January 19 - 2:00 am

  This car is so quiet, smooth and handles like a sports car. The new Magnetic Ride suspension makes it corner like its on rails, no swaying in the turn. So quiet you only hear the exhaust and dont realize how fast you are moving. Beautiful interior and front panel. This car still get lots of looks, not like any deville. Its a beautiful car. It gives me a "thrill" that Lexus, Lincoln and Audi didnt when driving.

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  I love it - I hate it - 1991 Cadillac Eldorado
  By - January 18 - 2:00 am

  Have always loved the styling of the Cadillacs of this era, its longer hood, shorter rear and wide stance give it a distinctive feature not found often anymore. It offers decent ride quality, good gas mileage for a full size car, excellent power from the 4.9L engine . The tranny is probably the smoothest tranny I have ever had the pleasure to experience, whether it is cruising or mashing the throttle to pass on the highway. Fuel economy is 17MPG where I drive city/highway, but more highway would yield up to 24MPG from what I have seen - thanks to the OD.