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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  What a Cadillac is supposed to be! - 2008 Cadillac DTS
  By Southern - November 29 - 10:03 pm

  Big, strong and comfortable. Quiet. Economical - using regular gas, long oil intervals and all this with a torquey V8. Really well thought out. No "Idrive" or other difficult to understand user interfaces like the competition offers. Has all the toots and whistles including power lumbar with massage! Side radar that warns if something is in the blind zone. Rear and front parking aids. And a bunch more. Needless to say it is very comparable to more expensive foreign cars, but does some things better. This car just makes you feel good when you drive it.

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  Cadillac is back on Top - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By Dallas345 - November 29 - 10:00 am

  We just bought our SRX and love it. The ride and performance are incedible. General Motors hit a hime Run with this. Within a week of owning the vehicle, two of our acquaintences have traded in their foreign luxury cars for SRXs

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  BREAKTHROUGH - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By CHAZ - November 29 - 10:00 am

  HAD A COMPUTER CHIP GO DOWN AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD MUCHO TROUBLE CORRECTING BECAUSE THE MODEL WAS NEW AND THE PROCESS OF REPROGRAMMING WAS DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER VEHICLE THEY HAVE. HAD IT 3 DAYS AND BACK TO THE DEALER FOR 17... RECEIVED CAR CARE (FREE MAINTENANCE) FOR TWO YEARS. V6 GETTING ME 17 MPG..CANT IMAGINE WHAT THAT 345 HP V8 WOULD GET AND I PAID 2.10 AT THE PUMP TODAY... OY...ALSO VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR SOME CROSS BETWEEN THE ABS AND STABILITRAK WHICH THE LETTER SAID WOULD CAUSE THE VHICLE TO BRAKE AT 7 FEET FURTHER...THE JURY IS OUT ON RELIABILTY BUT SO FAR THE CAR HAS PROVEN TO BE FUN TO DRIVE AND COMFORTABLE

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  So fun to drive, it should be illegal! - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By kcindenver - November 29 - 1:03 am

  With sport handling package it corners like its on rails. Handling, braking, acceleration, nimble turning radius, easy to park, great gas mileage. This car really is a blast to drive. Im hooked! Very tight, no rattles, great reliability. Yes, it does turn heads! Im happy to buy American. I love it even more than I expected I would. Recommend a CTS with no reservations.

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  You have to buy one of these! - 1999 Cadillac Seville
  By Jason Kinney - November 25 - 8:28 pm

  I bought this car used a few years ago. It had around 90K miles on it got it for $7500 a steal. Actully got this and a Deville both 1999 these are great cars if you take care of them. If you dont do proper maintance you might as well not buy a car at all no matter what type of car you get you will have problems if you dont take care of them. This car has had issues to take care of just like any used car the biggest mistake to make with this car is to buy it brand new unless you have an extra $50K laying around that you dont care to throw around all in all this is a great car.

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  04 Cadillac SRX AWD 6CYL - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By Jaymzhulk - November 24 - 2:54 pm

  I love everything about this car. Looks, performance, toys, handling, everything.

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  Rivals the Germans - 2009 Cadillac CTS
  By jaxattax - November 23 - 12:48 pm

  Absolutely love this car! Like most, I thought luxury came in the form a German automobile. This car changes all notions. Never considered a car from GM before, however, I am absolutely thrilled with this purchase.

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  2014 SRX - 2014 Cadillac SRX
  By Brian Price - November 23 - 1:17 am

  Wonderful car. One of the best I have ever had. The dealer support on this car is way beyond anything I have experienced. Makes owning easy.

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  CADDY IS BACK - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By RXFIXER - November 22 - 10:00 am

  AN AWSOME MACHINE; COMMANDING APPEARANCE, GREAT PERFORMANCE, PLENTY BIG FOR GRANDKIDS, WONDERFUL OPTIONS, REALLY A FUN VEHICLE/POSSESSION. SGLOVE BOX TOO SMALLUPER VALUE.

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  Traded in MINIVAN!! - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By mylifeplus4 - November 22 - 10:00 am

  I love my new SUV, the Cadillac SRX. After searching every midsize luxery SUV on the market, I found the one I really loved!! It was time to get rid of my Town & Country Limited minivan, and go back to an SUV owner.