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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  Expensive to Maintain - 2003 Cadillac Deville
  By Anonymous - December 6 - 6:06 am

  Had to replace water pump @40k mi. Failed about 10k mi. later 2nd replacement / Three window regulators..not cheap! Broken motor mounts.. Now @ 87k miles transmission has to be rebuilt which will include torque converter expected costs 2200-3000 dollars .The sad part is Im still making payments on this car that I loathe. I am a professional school bus driver and am not hard on cars.. my last Cad. is a 94 el Dorado with 200k mi. and Ive spent very little in maintenance and repairs and we plan to drive it till theres nothing left but the steering wheel, love that car!

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  Compared to my 07 Town Car - 2010 Cadillac DTS
  By kgm0001 - November 29 - 2:00 am

  Ive found my Town Car superior to the DTS in almost every way except: pedal position, ride, brake feel, and power (DOHC in DTS vs SOHC 4.6 L in TC). DTS engine is noisy and expansion joints cause booming throughout the structure. TCs body on frame is quieter with much less road noise. DTS steering is too firm making small corrections difficult without yanking the wheel. DTS: no locking fuel filler door no trunk lid pull down no trumpet horn FWD occupants sit too low seems like a mid-sized car when compared to the TC. Town Car: rides too firmly accelerator and brake pedals too close together and too far to the right engine not as responsive as in DTS RWD.

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  Five+ years out - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By bernard long - November 27 - 2:00 am

  Overall, we have enjoyed our SRX. However it is a GM car. Seats very comfortable and after a 16 hour drive from SW FL to DC, we were not even stiff. However, this doesnt compare to Lexus, BMW, MB or Volvo in trim quality, fit and finish. Moreover the drive train is suspect. Replaced the torque converter at just under 50000 miles (warranty) timing chain stretched out due to insufficient lube, I was told, at 70000. N engine is an unannounced oil burner and oil needs changing more quickly than indicated. GM picked up most of the Timing Chain cost ($4000/$4500). Now (75,000) there is strange noise from under the hood and the smell of coolant. I would not again buy any early GM or N engine

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  MY SRX A LEMON - 2010 Cadillac SRX
  By John - November 6 - 2:00 am

  Couldnt wait to buy this beauty, its the best looking crossover, without a doubt, inside and out. Negatives: bad front to side vision, a ton of blind spots poor acceleration from stop rough ride gas mileage okay, runs on regular. Mine was a lemon: rear axle needed work (175 miles) rear hatch and sunroof leaked since new (burnt out rear hatch motor, leaking has not been fixed yet) sporadic "real rough" idle on cold starts molding fell off? My daughter bought the same car 2 weeks before us and she has not had any problems with hers, she loves it. GM is buying back my lemon.

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  Beware - 2007 Cadillac SRX
  By Belinda Bennett - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I leased this car in March of 2007 new. I have had nothing but trouble since. The car stopped on me twice, transmission problems and had to be towed each time. Rear end problems twice, tire problems all of the time, and a tire gauge that never stops flashing. When I asked about getting rid of the car I was told everything that was wrong could be fixed and nothing could be done about it. I am afraid to go out of town in this car. Seven weeks ago (Aug. or Sept.2010)the bearings on the passenger side were replaced. I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone. The car is beautiful in looks but not fit to be placed in the Cadillac class. I am glad the lease is almost over. Never again.

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  Not a lot of fun these days - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Ken Fowler - October 13 - 2:00 am

  I have NOT had any air conditioning for the past 2+ years, line rusted and unit stopped, cant afford a new unit,Black car, 2010 and NO AIR. Today I stopped for groceries, while pulling into the parking lot my tranny line broke off the radiator. will cost $950.00 to repair, lines were rusted out. Now I see were there is a RECALL on the brakes lines? what about the other lines?

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  Money pit - 2000 Cadillac Seville
  By sweymer - October 11 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car used in 2007 and I really loved it until while I was driving the car would shut off. It was so quiet that you didnt know until you went to make a turn and the wheel would be locked. That cost a lot. It was a sensor. They dont tell you how expensive the parts are. The car will run great and I love how I can pick up and move on the road. I dont like that every other week I have this car in the shop and people are ripping me off on parts.

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  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!

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  A lot of problems at higher miles - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By Bamaguy - September 8 - 9:16 am

  Bought the CTS over a year ago and everything was tight and good. Since then i have replaced rear transmission seal, front drive shaft seal, front drivers wheel bearing. It uses a quart of oil every 2,000 miles and the radiator has a leak. On the interior, the dash has cracks from the sun and the leather seats are not wearing well. At 70,000 miles and easy mature driving this car is a disappointment. Sad to say, but it will be the last GM i buy.

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  Nice Car with a few defects - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By Allen Lobb - August 25 - 3:44 pm

  Purchase the car used with 38,000 miles. Engine consumes a quart of oil about every 3000 miles. Using the oil recommended by Cadillac which is Mobil One-5w30. No signs of oil leaks, no smoke out of the exhaust pipe. Cadillac drive OK if you dont mind the popping sound in the driver seat when turning corners. Also, sometime the lights in the dash below the speedo/tach go out. Our third Calillac, the last two had electrical problems. After 8 years with Cadillac, this will be our last one.