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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  Fanatic. - 1991 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Riley - April 10 - 11:52 pm

  The car has been an up and down for me, but overall amazing. When i first got the car EVERYTHING broke on me. Power steering pump, all new pulleys, new muffler, stereo shot out, new starter, and new ignition. But not because of the quality, but someone decided to leave it sit for 6 years without even turning it on. So it sat for way too long but now runs wonderful. I love every bit of this car, its extremely peppy. I have the touring coupe (1 of 900) and it is awesome.

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  Escalade - 2010 Cadillac Escalade
  By Sergio - April 10 - 9:04 pm

  We had first looked at the 06 Escalade but didnt like it. We went with the Mercedes R350, but when it was time to change, the styling was a turnoff compared to the GL. So we went with the Gl450. It has a great third row, but the bench seat is a turnoff. So we decided it was time for a new luxury SUV, with captain chairs, leaving us to the Navigator, extremely bold, the QX56, in which the redesign didnt thrill us but was a near choice, or the Escalade. By far the styling is great and overall i am pleased with it. It has AWD, which I need, and is VERY difficult to get in Florida.

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  Love this SUV - 2007 Cadillac Escalade
  By sammy500c - April 10 - 7:28 pm

  I love everything about this car. Its sleek, sophisticated, and a luxury to drive in SUVs. Gas mileage could be improved of course with the economy the way it is, but over all, you cant go wrong to own this car. ENJOY

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  I Love My 92 Eldo - 1992 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Caset - April 10 - 2:47 pm

  Ive driven over 30,000 west coast miles. Really enjoy driving this car. It makes me smile and often laugh every time I walk up to it. Such a great streamlined look! I agree its the only car that looks like its moving when its sitting still. So sexy and elegant. Replaced drivers window motor and recently have been tracking an electrical weirdness. Replaced the starter/battery but still sometimes clicks instead of starting. Havent been able to figure it out. Speakers were going on and off then smelled electrical so dont use it. The a/c goes on and off sometimes when I go over bumps so theres some wiring with bad connects. I still love it and am keeping it for now.

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  I Love my Eldorado! - 1994 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Spokanegirl - April 10 - 6:07 am

  She is the best car I have ever owned. Despite her bad tranny (fiancee was racing her) she has done me good. The tranny went bad in November of 2009 and still (April 2010) running strong just not shifting past 40 MPH. People all the time look over oh hey its a Cadillac. It sure is Luxury with the heated seats and yep Id recommend to any one and every one.

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  We love this car! - 2010 Cadillac SRX
  By tomgirl - April 8 - 8:19 pm

  We ordered this vehicle in October and it finally arrived in March. It is wonderful with great mileage and super comfort. The first Cadillac I have ever liked or owned and so proud to call this one ours.

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  Big Mistake - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Not What I Expected - April 7 - 9:30 pm

  I cannot believe that GM would build a Cadillac without a sensor to let you know that the oil is low. The other reviews sound like me. Had I know that the SRX V6 uses so much oil and there is not a light that tells you there is no oil in the car I definitely would not have bought it. Driving from LA to Sacramento the car starts jerking but no warning light comes on so I think I just filled up with bad gas and continue to drive another 100 miles. Well it was not the gas it was no oil in the engine. I owned the car 4 months and was scheduled for an oil change two days later. I cannot believe GM does not fix this problem. The warranty does not cover engine damage due to no oil in the car.

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  Nice Car - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Caddy owner - April 5 - 12:22 pm

  I purchased used and only had to replace the battery in about two years. Very reliable car and very easy to conduct routine maintenance. I am not a mechanic yet it took me about an hour to replace all brakes and routers. Fast car and handles great. Nothing to complain about.

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  Actually Better Than Expected - 2010 Cadillac SRX
  By JJ Poire - April 3 - 2:11 pm

  Im a buyers remorse kinda guy, so I expected all kinds of things to bug me once I drove the car away. Not so. The car is fun to drive,especially in sport mode, the interior almost perfect, the comfort unmatched and I really dont know what all the underpowered talk is about but it gets on the freeway great and cruises impeccably.Seriously, of all the new cars Ive owned this one scores the highest since the first year model Ford Explorer, and its a LOT better on gas.

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  Oil Problems- GM in denial - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Kent - April 3 - 9:45 am

  Great looking car but clearly a defect in the engine. As others have reported, you get an oil change an 1500 miles later the car starts shaking. You check the oil, its empty. No oil leak, no burning smell, just gone. The dealership says theyve "never heard of this problem" yet people all over the internet report the same problem. We wanted Russ Darrow, our dealer to find out what was wrong before the warranty ended. They have done nothing except keep charging us for oil changes (@ $117 each time) and say there is nothing wrong. Even though randomly for no apparent reason, youll check the oil and it fine then a week later its 5 quarts low. Its clear there should be a recall on this car.