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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  Not Impressed - 2007 Cadillac DTS
  By G. Cline - August 4 - 8:24 pm

  I took a 2000 mile trip a month after I purchased the vehicle, and I was not impressed with the handling or functioning of the vehicle. Navigation system worked fine there, but, was inoperative on the way back. I was only able to select point-to- point (not selected roads). Stability control allows too much sway on turns (not near as good as my 1995 Eldorado ETC). Icons and Switches: Switches on the Armrest are poorly placed and poorly labeled. Heating and Ventilation: Poor design for the controls. The Air Conditioning blows cold air even when it is 30 degrees outside, and, the car is first started. (The 1995 Eldorado controls were Set and Forget).

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  Rear end noise and early tire wear - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By irene w webb - August 4 - 11:05 am

  I leased this car after having traded in a 2000 Eldorado with low mileage that I had purchased from a non-Cadillac dealership, hence, it was not Cadillac "certified" and the repair bills were getting costly. They certified my car and marked up extensively - I should have kept it! The CTS was great - for the first 7,000 miles. I was rounding a corner on a rainy day and the car almost spun out of control and left huge - long - black tire marks on the road and the right rear tire seemed to lock up. I got the car under control and my nerves settled and went on. At 10,400 I took the car in for a noise in the back end and oil change. The service tech. told me I had to replace the tires.

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  CTS - Is the press ignoring a great car? - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By pschambs - July 27 - 2:00 am

  A fresh change from my normal Buick Regal (Three in a row - about 2 years use each); the CTS handles wonderful - zippy and yet a smooth enough road ride for someone like me that travels heavily. Superb sound system and excellent driver visibility! I have approx. 7000 miles on it already; and have noticed the press has turned their attention from even reviewing this car with any peers?!

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  gas its the problem - 2005 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By PAblo Ave - July 26 - 10:30 am

  Hi I just steped out of a BMW525 07 since economy obligated me to lower down my bills...and i wanted a USA truck (work reasons) but i didnt wanted to loose the luxury...and i didnt. This truck will meet my needs and expectations...has far of mechanical problems my truck has little over 60k and so far so good. Gas its a little issue but is a truck with a powerfull 6.0 v8 if i was going to watch over that i would have gotten a 4 or 6 cyl. I wanted to be able to move my boat..load boxes in the trunk..take my bikes...and still feeling i was on my 525i 07 and i am!

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  PrincessSLS - 1999 Cadillac Seville
  By PrincessSLS - July 17 - 9:57 am

  Bought used and have owned this auto for 6 years now. 2 set of tires, 1 set of brakes, oil sending unit, front engine mount, center console lid, minor coolant leak and of course the extra quart of oil between oil changes. She has been a great car. Exceptional power to gas mileage ratio. Very quiet on the highway. Leather is the best quality that I have seen. Styling is still head turning. I have recently noticed that in turns the steering is sluggish and between 65 and 75 mph the car trembles. I have not had this trouble investigated. Occasionaly the computer system acts up with a variety of curious issues. Overall dependable, enjoyable, powerful well worth the price I paid.

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  A great car - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Bray - July 13 - 10:12 pm

  This car has been a great car, except for the replacing of the struts, $800, and then the brake light on the trunk $300. I would reccomend this car to anyone. For being a V6 it gets good gas mileage, and for an 03 it still looks the new style.

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  Beautiful lemon - 1991 Cadillac Allante
  By cbboyle - July 12 - 11:02 pm

  Id always loved the look of this car, and finally got a very well preserved one. That was the beginning of my trouble. It was a money pit, and I finally got rid of it at a horrible loss, after endless major repair bills. The mechanics were never able to get the suspension right, to my thinking, and too much time was spent in the shop (and far too much money). The ride was too harsh (ever after replacing all four computer controlled shocks w/ OEM parts at terrific expense). This pretty much scared me off Cadillac for life. My Vette rode better, and got better mileage.

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  Good Car! - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By DB - July 8 - 10:42 pm

  Very nice looking car. Very road worthly. Fun to drive. Two years old and no problems.

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  My 3.6L CTS Experience - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By breaga01 - July 3 - 12:20 pm

  Very quick responsive fun car to drive. All that fun is hard on the tires as I found out when I had to replace them at 25K. A great looking car unique to Cadillac, Its easy not to confuse it with other cars because of its styling.

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  2007 Escalade AWD - 2007 Cadillac Escalade
  By PS - July 2 - 10:11 am

  This is my 4th Escalade. Overall good experience. Love driving this vehicle. However, 2007 model is the least comfortable to drive. Interior is lovely, but smaller that previous years.