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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  96 STS - 1996 Cadillac Seville
  By Betty - August 29 - 2:00 am

  The car feels, looks and drives luxurious. The outside mirrors are huge, but dont give visibilty to warrant their size. Ive had a Rolls Silver Spur and several Lincolns,I really prefer this size wise. The ride is great.

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  GREAT CAR - 2000 Cadillac Deville
  By FRANK RYDELEK - August 28 - 2:00 am

  I have a slight vibration at 42 which is a shift point. It seems I`m the only one that feels it. I can`t detect it in passengers seat.

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  Beauty and the Beast - 1994 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Adrock - August 27 - 2:00 am

  This car is Jekel & Hyde. Shes gorgeous and eats mustangs and camaros for breakfast, very fast. After a few years, with excellent upkeep, the interior seems to be falling apart. If you can find a one-owner owned by some old folks, buy it. If it has multiple owners or over 60k miles, stay away- things are getting ready to break one after another

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  Not what I expected - 1992 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Tom Donnee - August 27 - 2:00 am

  Ive had nothing but problems with this car since I bought it. The ABS quit, the A/C leaked, The brakes leaked, the Catalitic converter failed and the radio reception was poor. The dealer was unable to fix the radio, now would Cadillac stand behind me after I complained. There were quite a few other problems also. Each one cost $2- 500 to repair.

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  6 great years - 1995 Cadillac Deville
  By caddyart - August 26 - 2:00 am

  bought this car new, a few problems during warranty period, none since, great comfortable cruiser, quietly powerful, my wife and I love it for short trips and even more for long trips and so far we have only had to put on new brakes and tires. A wonderful car!

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  Just little probs.... - 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By The Naked Truth - August 25 - 6:30 pm

  The Ext is great, but it does have its problems. The knobs on the midgate window support (when folding down the back seats) are prone to break off, leaving your glass "less than secure" while hauling. The power windows sometimes seem to work harder than necessary (mine was on the front pass. side). The locking mechanism on the embedded side boxes have failed on both sides, never staying quite locked, and will blow open at highway speeds(however, Ive only experienced this while riding without the cargo securing sections on the truck). The leather is nice, but the carpeting is 2nd grade. Drivers side control for outside power mirrors is "jinky" for lack of precise movement

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  Great Handling Crossover. - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By Tonks - August 24 - 10:00 am

  Great effort from Cadillac. The new Northstar engine is very responsive and quiet. The Ultraview Moonroof is a real breakthrough, rear seat passengers love it.

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  Big bang for the buck - 2000 Cadillac Escalade
  By chessiedog - August 23 - 2:00 am

  This is the greatest SUV I have owned. I have had a Honda CRV, Blazer, Jeep, & BMW. This is the best. Great power. All others undered powered. Cost less than others with out the options.

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  PLEASE DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY - 1999 Cadillac Catera
  By TSharpe - August 20 - 2:00 am

  I purchased a 1999 Cadillac Catera in June, 2001. To date, it has been in the shop at least eight (8) times. The transmission light stays on (though Cadillac can never figure out why), the radiator light comes and goes, the radiator has gone bad twice, the check engine light stays on (again, though Cadillac cannot figure out why), the tires go bad quickly and the front end alignment is always out of whack. Please, dont waste your money. I paid 20,000 and it is not only worth $10,000 on a trade.

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  love this car - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By cadillac lover - August 18 - 2:00 am

  very comfortable. great handling. traded in my s-type for this car. love it. cant wait for the V8.