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:
Showing 511 through 520 of 4,788.00-
Its really an SUV - 2008 Cadillac SRX
By Rory Boothe - May 1 - 10:14 pmI get 22 mpg on the highway. My wife loves it and its the only SUV cross- over that has enough room in the back to really be called an SUV. Im more comfortable in the SRX than in my truck. It has leg room in the back seat as well. The steering & handling is excellent.
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PERFECT CAR - NO PROBLEMS - 2001 Cadillac Catera
By PAveL - May 1 - 5:36 pmI bought cadillac almost year ago with 86k miles. sport package, winter package, xenon headlights, bose audio, 17 inch rims and many more. ABSOLUTLY NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR!!! Vehicle in great shape without breaking the budget. perfect car for every day luxury transportation. Reliable and comfortable.
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Joes EXT - 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT
By Joe - April 28 - 7:46 pmThe Cadillac Escalade EXT has it all. Its a very good all around truck. It handles and rides like a car. It has plenty of power with its 6.0L engine.
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Caddilacs back! - 2006 Cadillac CTS
By Art - April 28 - 5:05 amI try not to get caught up with material things but this car makes me feel better.
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Done With Mercedes Thank You! - 2009 Cadillac CTS
By Marcel Stango - April 26 - 10:57 pmJust went through absolute service nightmare with our E500 Mercedes. Drove directly over to Cadillac and purchased a moderalely optioned CTS. Wow, we are so happy with this car!!!!
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"Cheap Plastic" Yeah right. - 2009 Cadillac CTS
By TK - April 26 - 11:05 amI have always purchased American Cars, I live near one of the worlds biggest dealers (Reedman Toll) I always go there to check out Pre-owned cars, 1st. because the salesman leave you alone, 2nd. The keys are always in the vehicles so you get to really check out the vehicles without some salesman pressuring you. Im so tired of seeing on the internet about how American cars use cheap plastic (I have yet to see a car that uses any other type) I have been in Audis, Bmws, Mercedes, etc and I will tell you that its allot of bull. Being spread around about American Interiors and reliability. I think Cadillac hit it "outta here" as the late great Harry Kalas (Phillies announcer) would say.
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Cadillac: Like Nothing Else - 1996 Cadillac Deville
By L. J. Simmons - April 24 - 11:16 amEver since I was three years old, my dad said I had always wanted a Cadillac. Now that I am actually driving one, I can see why. Cadillac is the standard of the world in the automobile industry. The Northstar provides superb power, while still delivering suprising fuel economy for a V-8. The interior is spacious, comfortable, and extremely user friendly. All controls are easy to access, and straightfoward labels inform the user of the controls function. Self service is even a breeze, with some innstructions placed in the owners manual. The exterior is beautifully designed, with an agressive front end, and crisp, clean lines. I am completely satisfied with my Deville. Long Live Cadillac!!
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Fantastic Car - 2004 Cadillac Deville
By jstamps - April 22 - 3:59 pmAfter owning for 9 mo a review is in order. This is one of the prettiest cars out there - much nicer than the LS430 (and half the price used). Only the Benz S can compare. Extremely quiet and comfortable, with a silky-smooth ride. Powerful engine delivers smooth acceleration transmission shifts without jerks (no hunting like the Lexus or Avalon). Bose stereo is just the best. Mileage on the highway is 29.5, while city depends on whether its warmed up: 16 cold for short trips, 18 warm. Daytime headlights were annoying - had to remove fuse to disable. Nav has helped a lot in strange towns. Occasional whine from a DC-DC in dash. Use the heated/cooled seats a lot. Pearl paint is tops!
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GM got this one right! - 2009 Cadillac CTS
By Phil Grisham - April 22 - 1:03 pmAt a time when so many new cars all look alike, this vehicle is truly distinctive in design inside and out. This car handles like a dream. Build quality is great. My average mileage is 23 mpg and on the road at legal-plus speed it is 28 mpg. A little more punch would be nice. I am considering a performance chip if I can find one. I had a problem with the radio coming on all by itself! It took a few phone call and a few months, but it was corrected. On a wet rutted road water splashing under the car on the left side makes a lot of noise.
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Reliabilty unsurpassed - 1990 Cadillac Deville
By Mark - April 19 - 11:43 pmI inherited this car when my sweet mom passed on. I never worried about her when she was in this car and thats a good feeling.The only car I ever new this reliable I still have.My 59 super88 oldsmobile.Those however are hard to come by today but you can find a 90 Caddy at a good price and if you take care of it it will take care of you and it will do it inexpensively.They are so much fun to drive also.You`ll never go back to a little car if thats what you have now..Use premium fuel,it`s overall cheaper and I bet you`ll be driving it still, maybe even when it`s 50years old...
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