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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  Great Sedan - 2000 Cadillac Deville
  By Jon II - December 2 - 2:00 am

  Great sedan. Everything you could want in a luxury, good handling road machine.

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  Crank Sensors - 2001 Cadillac Seville
  By k5861 - December 1 - 2:00 am

  I agree with Vosser. This is my sixth Cadillac, the first Seville. At 9,000 miles, it needed a new power steering pump which seemed to take the dealer forever to obtain. At 12000 miles, it stalled out in the middle of a busy city street where the speed limit was 45 mph. The diagnosis via On Star was defective crank sensors. For the nearly $46K this vehicle cost, such problems are simply not acceptable.

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  EL DOG - 1995 Cadillac Eldorado
  By C E JONES - November 30 - 2:00 am

  GOOD CAR, PREFORMS WELL, GOOD HI WAY AUTOMOBILE. SPORTY AND LOOKS GOOD.

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  The Standard of the World returns - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By CADMAN - November 29 - 10:00 am

  Finally a Cadillac for my generation. It doesnt have to make apologies or excuses. The car says, "I am a Cadillac, wanna make something of it?"

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  great car - 2002 Cadillac Escalade
  By joeygiut - November 28 - 2:00 am

  best car ive ever driven- great milage- worth every penny

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  $$$$$$$$$ - 1996 Cadillac Seville
  By J.D.Loud - November 27 - 2:00 am

  I have loved this car for the last 4 years!! and then the extended warranty ran out!! Just got it back after a transmission overhaul at 64,000 miles. My last two Cadillacs had far more miles and no problems. Mechanic told me the North Star has oil leaking problems, as does mine. Think its time to switch.

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  Great - 2001 Cadillac Catera
  By Natedoggnt - November 27 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE THIS CAR

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  disappointed - 1998 Cadillac Catera
  By gpl96 - November 26 - 2:00 am

  We purchased the Catera without doing our homework, big mistake, it seems like we were in the shop every few weeks getting something fixed, fortunately the car was under warranty so we were able to get a loaner each time. after the warranty ran out, it seems like we left the car in the shop, at this point we are paying for the loaner out of our own pocket, the transmission was terrible- didnt shift right, the moonroof gave us problems, stereo was great when it worked, loved the look, loved the ride, too bad the engine was a nightmare, beware before you buy!

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  Junk Car - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By allendr - November 26 - 2:00 am

  Terrible workmanship. How many parts are there that could break.

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  catera review - 2001 Cadillac Catera
  By mach2rio - November 26 - 2:00 am

  We have had nothing bue excellent service from our Catera. Personally, I feel that the auto people of the world initially gave the car a bum rap and just could noe bring themselves to admit they were wrong. Such as the editors review here on the Edmunds site. The only thing my wife does not like is having a CD changer in the trunk.