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 car - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By mgoblue2 - November 12 - 2:00 am

  Our first caddy. Love this car. Handles great an overall wonderful car

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  Competitors have problem cars too.... - 1999 Cadillac Catera
  By laclas - November 11 - 2:00 am

  Yes, MB "S" w/engine lights that wont go off, brakes at 10K. BMWs w/bad climate ctrl sys, recalls. Forget Lexus & Infinity with the "smoke & mirror" advertising. Catera = excel car w/VALUE. In 3 yr. my Sport has performed flawlessly. Fit/finish, excellent. At 53k miles its tighter then the 5 series that I traded with 32k on it. The Catera has excellent traction control sys, trans, climate control, intr comfort & storage (w/folding rear seat). Ive tried 3 diff. dlrs while traveling. Great! I wish the CTS matched Cateras intr. fit/finish, comfort, & quality. The Catera includes "fine points" you dont find on Amer, Japanese, & newer German cars.

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  My Last Cadillac - 2000 Cadillac Catera
  By DavidE - November 11 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Catera for luxury, dependability and looks--because my father has owned eight Cadillacs. I have a car with tire, alignment and electrical problems, is expensive to maintain and gave me many other headaches. Despite textbook care, I am on my third set of tires and fourth battery. My AC has never cooled properly and re-programmed the sunroof at least 100 and the power windows and locks, the radio, headlights and trunk release have all been broken. I wanted Cadillac luxury, I got the Cadillac runaround and a lot of knowing nods from service people who know what a lemon this car is. Cadillac should be ashamed to put their name on this vehicle.

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  98 STS - 1998 Cadillac Seville
  By tcpconsort - November 11 - 2:00 am

  This is the best touring sedan Ive owned. It handles great without a punishing ride. The heated seats are a great option especially with leather. You cant beat the Northstar engine for performance but the gas mileage is not that good. Overall its a grea

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  1997 Caddy Concours.. Great Value! - 1997 Cadillac Deville
  By Kaos - November 10 - 2:00 am

  Classic land yacht with lots of pep from the 300 hp Northstar.

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  Luxurious/Sporty - 1998 Cadillac Seville
  By kiki - November 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought a used 98 Seville with only 32,000. I like the way the car handles and the interior. The back could use a little room. I dont like the way the car virbrates because of the tires. A person at the dealership who is in the maintenance department told me the virbration was not bad compared to most Sevilles he has tested. He suggested getting Michelin tires to get much better handling and performance. The manufaturer really needs to work on that desgin flaw. Other than that I love the car.

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  Another leaking cadillac - 1997 Cadillac Deville
  By YankeeLady - November 8 - 2:00 am

  Have owned 3 Cadillacs all had fluid leaks. 92 needed new transmission and water pump before 40,000 miles. 97 needed water pump at 45k miles and had 3 batteries. Then it started to stall but dealer couldnt find anything wrong. A/C came out of defrost vents at times. With cost of car, it should not be a problem. With supposed quality, a much longer warranty should be given.

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  Love my STS - 1995 Cadillac Seville
  By Jambo - November 7 - 2:00 am

  Love to step on it. Great, reliable, punchy and looks great as a 4 door

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  The Best - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By k dog - November 6 - 2:00 am

  This is the best Suv on the market.

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  STAY AWAY from a used Catera - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By Birn - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I have a 97 Catera that I bought new. I like a lot except when it is in the shop, which has been quite often in the past year. Many things have gone wrong that shouldnt have gone wrong at all, or at least not so soon. My first car was a GM (86 Pontiac Sunbird), and I swore I would never buy another GM car. Now I remember why, and this time I really, really wont buy another GM. Cadillac had a good marketing strategy-- build a car for younger buyers and get them hooked on the Cadillac brand--but the strategy has backfired (at least as far as Im concerned) because of the poor quality of the car.