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:

• 

  Road test XT5 holly car Batman - 2017 Cadillac XT5
  By Mike F - December 10 - 4:54 pm

  I am the owner of a Acura MDX and other Japanese cars over the years. We are trying to buy an American SUV. Also drove the Lincoln MKX which as very good. This Cadillac XT5 was simply amazing. The comfort, ride, handling, visibility, power etc. I was quite surprised. I went to the Grand Prize Cadillac dealer in Nanuet. Linda was our salesperson. She is patient, wonderful and knowledgeable no pressure what so ever. The car was really great. The Lincoln was very good. Unsure how the reliability will be which is always an issue with American brands but we are going to lease. Also waiting for crash test information as well. We will consider this vehicle for sure expect to purchase within a few weeks Other vehicles driven/looked at BMW X5/3, Audi Q5, Highlander, Kia Sorrento, Murano. I realize some of these vehicles are not considered "luxury" but looked at them anyway. Criteria is a top safety pick or better and average or better reliability. Unsure if XT5 will meet safety whenever it is tested. hoping it will last for 3 LEASE YEARS. If anyone has any experience or thoughts please feel free. I called corporate Cadillac they are unsure if and when they vehicle will be tested. If I was them I would be making sure it gets tested.

• 

  GREAT CAR - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By proteus - November 16 - 10:00 am

  THIS CAR IS GREAT ITS A V6 220HP SHORTSTAR AND IS TIGHT IN CORNERS SNUGG SUPPORTIVE SEATS LUXURY SPORT SEDAN AND IS NOT TO MUCH I LOVE IT CADILLAC IS STANDRED OF THE WORLD

• 

  I will never buy another Cadillac - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By Dorothy A. Watson - November 15 - 5:01 am

  I bought this car thinking it would be my forever car, problems the first year I had it. I was rear ended I havent been right since the accident and neither has the Cadillac. I have fixed many of problems since I had the Cadillac, but the last problem which I am experiencing with now is the Electronic Stability system. I paid a lot of money for this extended warranty but to no avalibity it ended before I could use it. I whole purpose I am question this is this ESS should be on recall why should I have to spend close to nine hundred to have this problem fixed when I have researched this and a lot of people are having the same issues. I have a couple of friends that wanted to purchase a cadillac and I told them dont do it, it is not worth the money.

• 

  Caddy With Style - 2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By JamesS - October 30 - 10:00 am

  This is a very luxurious SUV! It has awesome pulling power. Bvlgari adds a nice look to the Escalade EXT. This is a must have vehical!

• 

  Superb vehicle - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By isaac - October 24 - 10:00 am

  A beautifully handling sports sedan, outclassing MB C and E series in all areas of safety and luzury. Unbelievable value.

• 

  Poor fuel economy. Very uncomfortable front seats. - 2018 Cadillac XT5
  By jjuwsnyc - October 19 - 8:00 pm

  So I discovered that the headrest does not adjust. This is now standard on Mercedes. glc, audi q5. The pain that i had in my neck extending down to my lower back was not bearable. I tried to sell the car privately and to lease swap it. But no good. The vehicle dropped 14K in value with less then 1500 miles. I finally got a dealer to up the price by 4K from the low ball offered even at Cadillac dealer that did not have any inventory. So I am thankfully finished with this car. It is beautiful, but for me the seat was so bad that I was willing to sacrifice over 11K to get rid of this car. As for GM financial. I have called 7 times to get a letter showing that the vehicle was paid off and purchased. i have been told so many different stories. All incorrect. The letter is not generated. It would be generated, It has been generated. Nothing. ON hold for hours. I will not ever walk into a GM dealership ever again.

• 

  Nice Truck - 2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By jkainey - October 18 - 5:20 pm

  I traded in my 04 EXT for this 07. The 07 has much better fit and finish and the new engine is very powerful. I am not crazy about the 6 speed trans. because it is always shifting, and I am experiencing a severe vibration when in overdive. The dealer I bought this from has a top notch service department and they think this might have something to do with the trans. or the differential, either way it only has 1,000 miles on it and there shouldnt be anything wrong.

• 

  Unreliable and Dangerous - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By FredG - October 18 - 2:00 am

  On August 9, 2003, I purchased a new 2004 CTS. In September, on a short road trip, the master cylinder failed and I had no brakes. It was replaced after 11 days under warranty. On October 26, on a longer trip, the engine died while doing 70 mph on the interstate. The car was towed to a Cadillac dealer and he could find no errors in the cars computer, but tweaked some things and said the car was fine. On November 1, the car again died on the interstate and was towed to the nearest dealer where we left the car for good! After three dangerous failures in this car, we are now driving a Lexus, after receiving our money back from Cadillac.

• 

  worst new car ride i ever bought - 2016 Cadillac CTS
  By dan boy - October 11 - 3:48 am

  never buy a car with ride flat tires !!! EVER ! hardest ride , feel every little bump , forget about even the littlest hole in road , feels like front end falling off, REALLY falling off ! was in dealer 4 times replacing tires 3 or 4, another time 2 wheels, then after picking up car, next on star e mailed me the car had 1 or more flats when car was in my garage. I was right had a flat , and caddy is now not putting spare tires in trunk . S0......... had to be towed back to dealer. Got regional c addy guy involved for Boston area Keith (well only use his first name) was absolutely no use at all. said the way the car rides . (shame on cadoilac cts) So my story is after owning a brand new cts premium a cadillac for 6 months and traded it in .stay away from to cts caddy

• 

  Amazing Vehicle - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By New SRX Man - October 7 - 10:00 am

  I did a great deal of research on high- tech SUVs and crossovers, but kept coming back to the SRX. There is nothing out there that can beat the combination of comfort, handling, utility and technology that this thing has. I am now a believer in the "Cadillac ride" mystique - there is really something to it. V6 engine has plenty of power - V8 not necessary. Cadillac has earned its place as a player against the expensive European makes known for quality. This is a great car.