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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  High Maintenance - 2010 Cadillac SRX
  By Mark - July 31 - 4:40 am

  2010 was the first year for this vehicle, never buy a first year vehicle. Unfortunately, I did not know this was the first year vehicle when we purchased it. We have replaced multiple catalytic converters at around $800, transmission went out at right at 100,000 miles, spent around $10,000 in a 2-3 year timeframe.

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  94 Eldarodo "The Bom" - 1994 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Como - July 31 - 2:00 am

  I have been driving my 94 Eldarado for three years now and it is aa great car The most comfortable ride you will ever desire. It is tough on gas but hey, you have to give something to get something. This car also has "presence" - it is attractive and invasive. You need to drive it!

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  my review - 1993 Cadillac Deville
  By Sam Spagnolie - July 31 - 2:00 am

  Except for 3000 mile services and replacement and maintainance of water system, transmission and fuel filter this car has not required any other work. Oh yes, new tires and brakes have also been added.

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  STS - 1999 Cadillac Seville
  By Jgordon - July 31 - 2:00 am

  Had to get things replaced like an airbag light came up on the dashboard. When speed up to 60-70MPH it would rattle (got fixed) After a long drive shut it off and then you try to start it up again and it takes about 2-3 tries. Overall a good ride.

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  New Owner - 2003 Cadillac Deville
  By tjones1935 - July 31 - 2:00 am

  I really like the vehicle. I have not had it long enough to rate the realibility. It is really quiet, no noise except tire noise on certain concrete roads at highway/interstate speeds.. Actually the vehicle is not the DHS instead the 4 door sedan with the center console.

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  My new car - 1991 Cadillac Fleetwood - 1991 Cadillac Fleetwood
  By Guppy - July 27 - 2:00 am

  I have owned his car for 1 1/2 months - Since June 12/02, and it is a joy to drive. It only gets about 20 miles o the gallon but the comfort and excellence of the car warrants this expense.

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  The Last Great American Coupe! - 1994 Cadillac Eldorado
  By pokers2 - July 27 - 2:00 am

  I have been fortunate enough in my life to have owned 3 Eldorados. Each one has been better and better. They have a look all there own. There comfort level in the front seats is unsurpassed. I cannot think of one thing not to like on this car. I manage to get 30 mpg on the highway out of my 94 with 97,600 miles on it. If you can find one in good shape and need a fun and reliable second car, BUY IT!!!

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  200 Seville - 2000 Cadillac Seville
  By jbm - July 26 - 2:00 am

  MY car would stall when it was going really slow...coasting, etc. It was repaired under warranty. Something to do with slow torque...... Otherwise it has been one of my favorite cars. My first favorite was my 1989 Seville.

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  Nice car - 1996 Cadillac Deville
  By caboose - July 25 - 2:00 am

  The only thing I wish that childrens car seats fit better. We also have had many computer problems with this car, like speeding up on its own, overriding my options in heat/air control.

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  Bad CADDY GAS eater fall apart on you - 1995 Cadillac Deville
  By CadMan - July 23 - 2:00 am

  this car is nothing but problems i bought it with 11000 milles in 96 and even then it gave me problems. i just cant afford to buy anything else so ive stayed with it its been at the shop every other month. the car is too big and heavy for its own good it takes the whole 8 cillinders to move it and not even that fast. 20,000 dollar less Hondas pass me by all day every day. and for allot less gas too. I dont even like to go fast its too expensive. and forget paking in compact.Paint job sucks the entire hood is full of dings from rocks.