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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  Bad apples of the Cadillac. - 2000 Cadillac Catera
  By Miriam - April 23 - 8:32 pm

  Repaired 3 times check Engine never goes away. Inside Engine material is plastic imagine! on a 260 degree Hot Engine. that is why it constant need repair. This car should had been a recall. It stop in the middle of the road without warning. Dont bother to call GM they wont help you, this has been put under the carpet rather then recall. (IS Cheaper).

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  Love the car but Maintainance excessive - 2000 Cadillac Seville
  By BGB - April 23 - 9:21 am

  Bought car used in July 2006. 73K kilometers, now 165K. LOVE the drive, the incredible Bose sound system, the handling and the acceleration. I have a bad back and the leather seats are sooo comfortable and great support. Sight lines are fabulous. Runs quite and no outside noise. Little things too. Pop the trunk and it opens right up, dont have to lift it. Open the hood and you dont have to put up a bar to keep it open. Everything is colour coded. Uses REGULAR gas. Great gas mileage on the hwy. Strong car too. Was rear ended and barely felt it. The seat seemed to wrap around me. Bumper had a big dent but the front end of the other car was a mess. Downside is the maintainance.

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  I would have never believed it - 2010 Cadillac SRX
  By UH Keller - April 22 - 4:53 pm

  Our SRX replaces a Honda Pilot. Our other car is a 5 series BMW. We love the SRX. Style, comfort, handling and surprisingly great quality control. We prefer the SRX over the BMW on long trips. Fuel consumption has yet to reach advertised rate, but we only have driven it for 3000 miles. My wife loves her car.

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  Thinking of buying 1? Research gaskets - 1999 Cadillac Seville
  By No more GMs - April 22 - 11:53 am

  Worst motor ever. Ive spent over 5k at the dealer and now it needed a new engine.

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  cts on stilts - 2010 Cadillac SRX
  By frank - April 21 - 5:42 pm

  So far so good car has cts interior but is up higher better ground clearance in bad weather<

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  So Happy-So Sad - 2010 Cadillac SRX
  By Jerry Serimian - April 21 - 12:25 am

  After previously owning a 2008 Cadillac STS with the 4.6 liter, I have to say that the 3.0 liter engine performs extremely well given the size and weight of the SRX. Ride and quality are second to none. At this price point, the SRX offers more amenities than many other sport utilities in the same price range.

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  Big Boy Lac - 2000 Cadillac Deville
  By Big Boy lac - April 20 - 9:03 pm

  I hate this car is nice and comfortable but it is not reliable at all. First it started with the head lights, then the battery, then the rear lights, and then the oil pump.

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  Gas Tank Issues - 2010 Cadillac SRX
  By Newman - April 20 - 7:26 pm

  I have noticed continued thumping and swirling noises coming from the gas tank area. I have been told that GM is working on a fix. I also had issues with the brakes squeaking very loud, usually when in reverse. GM is also aware of this issue and again being told they are working on a fix. Both these issues are very disappointing for such an expensive car.

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  Excellent car horrific visibility - 2010 Cadillac SRX
  By roundhill - April 20 - 3:07 pm

  Fun car to drive. I get a lot of compliments & jokes either asking why a Caddy (because I am not over 60) & where are my spinning wheels (SRX is black very urban looking). The interior fit is excellent controls easy to use & the nav & onstar are excellent. Upgraded from a minivan so big change! Rear storage is limited (especially when compared to a minivan). Biggest complaint is the visibility. I am 61" & I have several blind spots. The rear view camera helps. Went with FWD to save some $. Some say & I agree that the on the highway acceleration is weak for a car in this class the V6 is too small but you get better gas mileage a trade off. Well priced. Has a decent warranty. No spare.

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  Changes from 2008 to 2010 CTS - 2010 Cadillac CTS
  By birdsnart - April 17 - 8:49 am

  Just traded a very troublesome 08 for 2010 CTS. Car is identical inside and out except for a few glitches. Driver auto seat movement doesnt work unless Driver 2 button is clicked each time, to move seat back. To move forward, must click Driver 1 button. Doors automatically lock, cannot open, with motor running, except to click Unlock feature.