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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  Buy Junk? Buy car from r kitchen! - 1999 Cadillac Deville
  By jpm - October 16 - 2:00 am

  No lemon here. White Diamond with excellent looks and great performance for us 40+ somethings in the world. Still like the de Ville for sure. Would love to have more time on my warranty, as I only have 25000 miles on the car!!! And I bought the certified extended warranty!!! Every forty something should have one!

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  Nice Car - 2001 Cadillac Seville
  By Nicecar - October 15 - 2:00 am

  No other car will match up to this one it is great!!!!

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  bad cad - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By bad cad - October 15 - 2:00 am

  Awsome! Smooth ride, great handling, roomy and sharp. This automobile is so far ahead of its "competition" it is a wonder other manufactures sell anything.

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  Extreme Luxury - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By carlover14 - October 14 - 2:00 am

  I just recently bought a 2003 Escalade and it is exactly like the 2002, which means it is excellent. I just totalled my 2002 Escalade by getting hit by a speeding dump truck and walked away without a scratch. The power is endless and the ride is extremely smooth for an SUV. I wont get any other SUV.

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  Escalade is incredible - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By doggy style - October 14 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car ever. I love it!

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  Good performer. - 2000 Cadillac Catera
  By northern driver - October 13 - 2:00 am

  So far, the Catera has not had one mechanical problem nor warranty repair save the key fob. The seats are comfortable and the controls are all within reach. The car is larger than others i looked at making it comfortable for four and luggage. It handles well though not razor sharp. The Goodyear RSAs are not adequate.

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  eldorado - 1996 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Steve Miller - October 13 - 2:00 am

  These car is extremely fun to drive albeit the 300hp ETC tends to "nosetail" at full push. Get it with Bose system and the ride only gets better. It lumbers in evasive manuevers, but the sheer "push you back in your seat" will impress. This car depreciates so bad, its a great buy in any used condition. Reliability?? Too much fun to think about the fact this car has 3 fuseboxes.

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  eldorado - 1996 Cadillac Eldorado
  By steve miller - October 13 - 2:00 am

  These car is extremely fun to drive albeit the 300hp ETC tends to "nosetail" at full push. Get it with Bose system and the ride only gets better. It lumbers in evasive manuevers, but the sheer "push you back in your seat" will impress. This car depreciates so bad, its a great buy in any used condition. Reliability?? Too much fun to think about the fact this car has 3 fuseboxes.

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  Great Car - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By Bugsy - October 12 - 10:00 am

  Have been driving my CTS for 3000 miles and loved every one of them. Great styling and a comfortable interior. People stare everywhere I go. Lately, BMW 3-series and like bellybullons (everybody has one). I also test drove a 330i (Lately, BMW 3-series and like bellybullons, everybody has one, a C320 and an A4. For the money, the CTS beat them all hands-down.

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  its the bomb - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Lynne sanchez - October 12 - 10:00 am

  i like it very much