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:

• 

  Little Legs - 2010 Cadillac Escalade
  By NJB - September 22 - 2:00 am

  Youll need little legs if you buy the huge Escalade. Actually had an agreement on an 07 ESV in late 2008 but dealer sold it out from under me. OK since by that time, I realized the tiny, non-adjustable rear seats were almost deal-breakers anyway. No, not the third row small, nonadjustable seats - the SECOND row. My $30k 06 Pilot had more rear legroom and it has seats that move fore and aft, unlike the $70k Escalade. Cool looking as the Escalade is, the QX56 is more usable and were getting that. Im surprised you mention Land Rover as an option: Land Rovers have the #1 disparity between perceived quality and actual quality - theyre bad trucks but great for poseurs!

• 

  First Cadillac Ive ever owned - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By Mike - September 22 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car for over 2 years and it has been great! The only issue with it was a recall for the washer fluid heater but other than that its been perfect. This is by far the best car Ive ever owned and Ive had 27 cars! Solid, quiet, fast and fun. If you live in a snowy climate the AWD is a real plus, mine had handled 2 Minnesota snowy winters without a problem. Cadillac did a great job with this and I would not hesitate to recommend it based on my experience.

• 

  A Fantastic American Sedan - 2010 Cadillac CTS
  By LouG - September 18 - 2:00 am

  Great looking car and fun to drive. Excellent handling and acceleration and feels like a very substantial car when driving. Plenty of interior room and fabulous choice of dash display options. The radio with 6-CD changer is great and has 36 favorite preset station options.

• 

  A great ride - 2001 Cadillac Seville
  By PEARL - September 17 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car through a dealership. It had been a lease car. My brother got it for me wholesale. The heater wasnt functioning (December - brrr). I learned only a year ago that it had been in a bad accident and the axle is bent. Also, I knew that there was an oil leak, so I add a quart every other tank of gas. Overall, of the five Ive owned (one Allante), its been the best one yet. Ive gotten 28 mpg on the freeway. Its diamond white, so it still cleans up perfectly. It shines like a diamond when Im looking for it in a parking lot. All those other bubble cars that all look alike cant hold a candle to it. It had 58,000 when I bought it I have 155,000 now.

• 

  Great SUV - 2010 Cadillac SRX
  By dicksc - September 17 - 2:00 am

  I had a 2007 SRX and just purchased a 2010. There is no comparison between the two. I also had a Lexus RX 300 which was a great vehicle and the 2010 SRX is very much like the Lexus.

• 

  Never again! - 2001 Cadillac Seville
  By Charlie - September 16 - 2:00 am

  Refused to start once in my yard, luckily. Had to have it towed to Caddy dealer. $800 to replace "security modules"! Year later died at Doctors office. Had it towed to dealer again. $300 for new "special Caddy" battery cause terminal broke. Battery is under back seat that no one uses. How could this happen? Got no answer. Year later had to jump start car, then dash lights went out. Traded it in back to dealer I bought it from!

• 

  No regrets - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By eracism - September 15 - 2:00 am

  I purchased the vehicle with 56,000 miles on it. I drive around 3,000 miles a month. I am 66" tall. The car is comfortable and rides great. It is a V6 and has enough power. I am partial to caddys. My first car was a 1970 sedan deville. I should have purchased the all wheel drive for I live up north and the car is terrible in the snow. I currently have 114,000 miles on it with no problems. i change the oil every 3,000 miles. I am looking forward to reaching 200,000 miles.

• 

  Good Value - 2011 Cadillac SRX
  By LenV - September 15 - 2:00 am

  After driving ALL suv and crossover vehicles, we chose the SRX. It was more comfortable than the X3 and Q5 and presented a better value to us. The feel of the vehicle was heavier and more substantial on the road than most vehicles of a similar size and cost. Fuel mileage is good and we found the highway manners quite good. Cargo room is adequate and the cargo gate is a nice idea. Keeps things in place in the hatch. Cadillac service and dealer attention is second to none and the full maintenance for three years is great, free car wash anytime, road side service and lets not forget ONSTAR. We moved from a 2007 Suburban, talk about large and comfortable, the SRX is GREAT.

• 

  The "Cadillac" Of Crossovers - 2011 Cadillac SRX
  By Almost A Perfect 10 - September 13 - 2:00 am

  The designers really out did themselves with the SRX. Having always driven Sedan DeVilles or a DTS, I wasnt sure this car would be right for me, but it is! The fit and finish is perfect, and in Crystal Red it draws a lot of attention. The ride and comfort is very similar to the DTS I traded in as well as the overall feel of driving. It has just about every feature one could want, including a Bose sound system. I rated the reliability at 5 because the car only has 400 miles on it, and I dont know what to expect in the future. I suspect it will perform as expected.

• 

  Great Car! - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Sharon - September 12 - 2:00 am

  Purchased car new and have had only one repair on car in 7 years. Giving car to 22 year old niece who cant wait to own it. It has been a great car. I hope I dont regret giving it up!