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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  King Escalade - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By tom0565 - December 23 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a Black escalade april of 2003, the vehicle is by far the best of the best. we test drove every veh in this class...Navigator,lexus,etc, there is no comparison. The escalade is extremely comfortable,more powerful than any others on the market.The navigator is very sluggish,clumsy,and severely underpowered. The ride cannot compare to the king...Escalade.It is the best of the best. Lexus ride was inadequate and underpowered. Sequoia when you grow up you may play in the same field. The king is here to stay

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  ahjdsgkjd - 2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By alias15986 - November 21 - 2:00 am

  I love this car!

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  Best Overall Truck I have owned - 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By Corvette54 - November 20 - 8:43 pm

  There is not a week goes by that someone does not tell me that my truck is one of the sharpest looking they have seen. I have never owned one like it and I love driving it under any conditions. I have pulled a 32foot boat with a triple axle trailer, and it goes up steep grades with no problem. Mine has the Diamond Pearl paint, and it is gorgeous if I do say so. I cant fault this vehicle,except, the gas mileage is not very good. But if you "want the music, you have to pay the piper". To me, the music is worth it.

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  Caddy on the Rebound - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By firemedic2424 - November 16 - 10:00 am

  Went shopping for a "economical" family car. Looked at Honda, Toyota, VW, and Lincoln. Got into the CTS and it sold itself. Awesome fit and finish! Very unique design. Cadillac did their homework - hit a homerun. Got the CTS Luxury Sport with every option possible. Have 13500 miles, not one problem. Changed out the factory On- Star antenna for a stubby one! Extremely comfortable ride! Room in back seat is surprisingly large!

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  Good after initial glitch w/ fuel gauge - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By CTS-dad - November 12 - 12:06 am

  This car has not disappointed us. We have had it for one month now. The car is very quiet; we cannot understand how anyone could have any complaints about noise. One disappointment: our car needed service during the first week we had it (fuel gauge was inaccurate and we ran out of gas on first trip...showed 1/4 tank when it was actually empty. Static electricity must have fried a chip or something. This problem was fixed by dealer service in a few days).

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  You get what you pay for... - 2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By Lovemyext - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Ive only had this truck for less than a week and I am totally in love. Ive owned numorus Cadillac cars over the years and I was always impressed with the level of comfort. However, I have always owed a pickup truck as well. Now, this way I can kill two birds with one stone. My EXT might not get as many looks as an H2. But I know for a fact the guy behind the wheel of that H2 is not NEARLY as comfortable as I am in this truck. And the H2 might be bigger but I also know I can out run him with the awsome power this caddy has under its hood.

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  Best Car Ever - 2003 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By KayKay - November 4 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car I have ever driven it has every thing. I get great mileage on the escalade and have lots of fun driving around town in it. The seat are comfortable and the color of the outside and the inside are outstanding. As much money as I have out into this vehical it has givin me so much more back. I think every body needs to have a cadillac escalade you will never regreat buying this vehical it is such a good car. I want to thank the company for making such a realiable truck. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  awesome - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By rvhoff - October 29 - 2:00 am

  The most fun ive had driving ever!

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  Great Car - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By First time caddie - October 22 - 10:00 am

  Fun car to drive...definitely get manual transmission. For the money it has few rivals.

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  Standard of the world, again - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By lance elliott - October 12 - 2:00 am

  Excellent auto, Cadillac is 100% back to world class.