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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  Good car ....BUT! - 1992 Cadillac Deville
  By James - August 6 - 2:39 pm

  In general Im satisfied with my DeVille, which now has 220,000 miles on it. You have to be willing to pay the price however. Repairs for this car have been frequent and costly. I have replaced everything but the engine and transmission. Were going for the second time around for the compressor/evaporator. As I say, nice car, but you need to have money to repair it. The car has been garaged most of the years that I have owned it.

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  A Mixed Bag... - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By Jon v - August 5 - 7:04 pm

  I bought this car two years ago with 66,700 miles on it. The Catera had plenty of power and was very fun to drive. Now at 90,000 miles, it has low compression and is definitely tired. I replaced the a/c compressor last summer, and the a/c is not working now again. I also have had to replace several front suspension parts. The biggest problem has been that the airbox (interior air) is located directly under the windshield and floods in rain when its drain plug clogs. The result: the passenger side interior floods with water! Overall though, the car has not broken down anywhere and has been pretty good. When its right, its very pleasurable to drive. It is so quiet, too!

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  CTS review - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By greg - August 4 - 3:21 pm

  I love my Cadillac CST. It has great looks, is comfortable for long drives., and delivers great performance.

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  rayelCTS - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By rayelsqd - August 3 - 10:00 am

  Firm ride and handles well. Seats should be more comfortable and dash dissapointing should show more information without pushing bottons. Changing drive style button does not feel much difference. Storage space limited inside cabin.

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  Beautiful Ride - 2007 Cadillac Escalade
  By Denice - August 3 - 12:13 am

  This Cadillac is an awesome car inside and out. It has great power and all the luxury that you expect. The chrome on the exterior really makes it stand out. That was a big eye catcher for my husband and I. We are very happy with our Cadillac and have no regrets. I would tell anyone that likes Cadillac or SUVs that this is the vehicle for them.

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  Problems - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By james anderson - July 24 - 8:26 pm

  My 2003 Cadillac CTS has had power window problems that cost $700, it needed new struts that cost $400, and it needed a new battery that cost over $100 and was hard to find. It is in the shop now getting a new A/C compressor, which probably will cost another $1,000.

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  Two Rears Driving the Cadillac SRX - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By Anderson - July 24 - 6:01 pm

  The Cadillac SRX is a great open road vehicle. It gets 26 MPG on long trips. Its city gas mileage is not so good though at around 16 MPG. This truck is fun to drive, has great power for a V6, and has excellent styling. Its negatives are the unconfortable back seat (too stiff and upright), the V6 is noisy when accelerating, the information center controls are difficult to operate, the very wide door sills makes graceful entry difficult for women and puts dirt on mens slack bottoms, there is no adjustment for the shoulder belt height (where it contacts the neck), and no power opener for the rear hatch. Also, mine has some door rattles at 35,000 miles. I would still buy/lease another SRX, but with a V8.

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  Makes you grin every time you drive it. - 2016 Cadillac ATS
  By Bill Morgan - July 21 - 2:15 pm

  This car in my opinion is a drivers car. The 3.6 liter V6 is very responsive, it makes nice noises. The chassis corners flat, the transmission bangs shifts off with authority, the steering is great and with the V Sport brake option I can keep out of trouble.. When you want to be sedate and laid back the ATS accommodates so nicely. Drove the car out west for vacation. Interstate highways were gobbled up with 32 mpg. Twisty mountain roads are where this little sedan shines baby! In sport mode I was hitting apexes at twice the limit and asking for more.

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  High Price, High Pleasure! - 2004 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By Jack Montgomery - July 21 - 2:00 am

  The "bigness" of the vehicle is a desireable feature -- not only the numerical dimensions, but the sense of a very comfortable "room on wheels." Greatest crossover for the tall driver. Its hauling capacity, both internal size, convenience and ease of space expansion, but also its towing muscle. Quiet as an ES300 (Lexus) and easy to control in snow and ice -- and off road. Wed do it again, despite the high price tag

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  Love it but Cramped - 2006 Cadillac STS
  By ADMIN - July 20 - 3:11 pm

  I just bought my first ever Cadillac. It looks great, drives so smoothly but lacks backseat leg room and has very little storage room. It is very difficult to get out of, but overall it is luxury through and through.