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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  2003 Cadillac DeVille - 2003 Cadillac Deville
  By John E. Herman - September 13 - 3:41 pm

  At 15,000 miles, my car was burning a quart of oil every 900 miles. Cadillac refused to install a new engine, but rebuilt the old engine instead installing new pistons and rings. My car now has 35,000 miles and runs okay but the gas mileage dropped considerably from what it was before the overhaul. I will never buy another Cadillac and probably wont buy a GM car again. Im currently considering some high end Japenese cars.

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  I Love my Car! - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Valerie - September 9 - 8:45 pm

  I find the SRX to be very comfortable, easy to drive, and convenient for traveling or shopping. It handles well and feels secure, even on slippery or snow covered roads in winter. I really would have liked to have the pull-out visor extensions on the sun visors...they are not really a luxury, but a necessity, at times. Occasionally, the electrical system goes out of whack, unlocking the doors for no reason while I am driving. If I leave a door open for a long time, as when unloading groceries, the memory goes out and I have to reprogram my seat position controls. Occasionally, the sunroof sticks open, but I have always been able to get it working by myself. Other than that, I love it.

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  One of the Best - 2007 Cadillac STS
  By Rodney Knight - September 1 - 3:16 am

  The 2007 Cadillac STS is a wonderful car. I see lots of reviews. Until retirement I was a damage appraiser. I know whats underneath and this car is just head and shoulders above the imports.

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  They really took me - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By kelsey - August 31 - 10:00 am

  My CTS is a joke. I expected much more from a Cadillac. 3 days after taking delivery the sunroff decided not to work. Then I found there was no power to the accessory plugs. Then a piece of body molding came loose. then the dome light cover fell off every time I opened the roof at freeway speeds, Then the clock decided to lose time, the presets would decide to change when they wanted-which isnt much fun at 70 mph. Now, every once in awhile the engine doesnt want to idle worth a damn when warming up. I really wish Ild have pruchased the Infinity. General motors really let the qua;ity control slip on this one.

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  2004 Cadillac Escalade EXT - 2004 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By Clarence Bell - August 28 - 10:00 am

  This is a great vehicle. Spacious and well appointed with the Cadillac rebates and special offer for DVD Navigation, Chrome Wheels and Sunroof. The paint is amazingly soft and smooth. The performance on this vehicle is almost legendary. The ride is smooth and solid. Steering effort is nearly sports car like, firm and responsive. The craftsmanship that went into construction is apparent. Closing the tailgate is like closing a refrigerator door, smooth and soft. Not clunky-cranky like an old pick- up.

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  Not the Best in the World - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By ATICO - August 21 - 6:01 pm

  All four tires on my 2004 Cadillac SRX, Goodyear Eagles, cupped within the first 5,000 miles. They made horrible noise. I could not get anyone to listen to me until the car had 24,000 miles on it and rode and sounded like a Sherman Tank. The battery had to be replaced. I also had the tire monitor repaired three times and the door seal reaplaced.

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  My Last Eldorado - 2002 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Jerry Cosby - August 21 - 1:48 pm

  Ive driven three previous Cadillac Eldorados, plus Sevilles. You just cant beat their performance, looks, and just the plain feeling of excellence when youre driving down the street. Theres still magic in the name "Cadillac," and I love it. I once had a vanity plate that said "Just coz." When people ask why I drive a Caddy I like to say, "Just coz." Cause I can afford to, I guess.

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  CTS Sport - Luxury, Performance, Value - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By mjdart - August 18 - 11:13 pm

  The power is supplied by a 255 HP 3.6L VVT (dual overhead cams) all aluminum V6 engine coupled to my optional 5-speed automatic transmission. It ts a very smooth combination. The auto features a very nicely incorporated manual shift mode that is accessible with a right flick of your wrist. Pull back and it down and it shifts to the next lower gear. Push it up and it up-shifts. All five gears are accessible this way. This car is rear wheel drive with a 3.42 drive ratio. I have found 70 mph yields an engine speed of 2,250 rpm, which is good for less engine wear and highway gas mileage. The interior is well laid out with the exception of the glove box which is big enough to hold gloves and not much else.

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  One Smart Choice for Luxury - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By Simon Li - August 18 - 10:56 am

  This car has a very comfortable ride and a feel of luxury from outside to inside. The style is not just for the 40+ age group any more and the GMAC Smart-Buy program made my decision easier to make. I got the V6 model, it is not as sporty as V8. Overall, it makes my drive to work a lot more enjoyable, even Monday morning.

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  An OK Car, but Be Friends with the Shop - 2002 Cadillac Deville
  By Peter - August 10 - 12:35 pm

  I have had this car for three years now. It has 75,000+ miles. The day after driving it home from the lot, the battery went dead. I was given a free replacement right in our driveway. That battery leaked and was recently replaced and they found a hole burned through the bottom of the car. They also replaced the passenger window motor because the rear window dropped. The motor is making noises now. Also, the seats get stained easily. The dash instruments are hard to see due to the glare. The good things are the comfortable seats, smooth ride, quiet engine, and how there is plenty of room and trunk space. This is not a performance car my any means.