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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  CTS is a cool car - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By Glenda Stayton - January 3 - 3:36 pm

  The Cadillac CTS with both the luxury and sport packages is a very cool and fun car to drive. You have more quick acceleration than you need and with the addition of chrome wheels and a spoiler...you have the looks. The CTS does not have the real soft ride of the DeVille, but the DVville cannot turn on a dime nor accelerate like the CTS can.

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  Cadillacs best yet - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Robert Hofmann - December 29 - 12:23 am

  This is my 16th Cadillac and I love it. It handles well, rides well. Holds the road great. Quieter than I expected it to be. Plenty of power to over take most vehicles on the road.

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  My first American made vehicle - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By msjanuary - December 26 - 2:44 am

  I love the performance of the 2003 Cadillac Escalade as a whole. The gas mileage is tough, but it drives like a dream. I have owned Mercedes and Lexus and the comfort on this Escalade runs circles around those cars. I love how high it sits and the way it handles through mountains. I generally keep vehicles for three years, but I will keep this an extra year then buy the new model. It is super.

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  My New 04 CTS - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By xtranaut - December 22 - 7:06 pm

  Now, you might think me sick. I just traded my 2001 Jaguar XKR for a 2004 CTS. Object: get practical and stay sporty. First drive on the car - great, smooth, and agile on the freeway. Around town, it is noisy and a little clunky though. I have the sport suspension. This car is loaded except for navigation. The interior trim is really American cheesy. Why can these automakers spend a little more to make a little more? You cant play with the Germans and Japanese unless you at least MEET their specs. The dealer did a faux CTS-V package with mesh grille, spoiler, and 18 wheels (from STS) with new Michelins. Plus the color is a premium red. It looks like a hot streak. It is only what Chevy should have done with Impala.

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  2005 Cadillac SRX AWD V8 - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Mike - December 21 - 5:54 pm

  The 2005 Cadillac SRX has excellent handling and is very quick and very stable in all driving conditions. The cabin is very comfortable, we have a 62" son who can sit comfortably in the back seat. We enjoy the sunroof a lot.

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  Sweet Ride - 2006 Cadillac DTS
  By Barbellman - December 18 - 1:00 pm

  My other car is a 2003 Corvette so when I say Im impressed by my new DTS Performance Edition it should mean something. Ive only put about 3,000 miles on it so far but I love this car! Its excellent handling and punchy V8 are a pleasant surprise in a car as large as the DTS. If youre looking for a car in this catagory youve got take a DTS out for a test drive.

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  How to mess up a great car - 2006 Cadillac DTS
  By Grumpy1 - December 18 - 12:48 am

  Without a doubt this is one of the finest autos I have ever driven. But, I cannot understand why so many details were installed hastily just so that they could hurriedly put the car into production. The glove box for instance is no comparison to my old 02. Most of the interior is plastic. This is not what you would expect in a $50,000 car. The consol is about useless. There is no longer a light under the hood. Mine has a heated stearing wheel that does not heat. It has so many buttons to press that after three months I do not know what many of them are for. The easy exit seat is easy exit but not easy entrance. The doors dificult to close. Also, amazingly this car does not have a locking gas door.

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  Great Bang for Buck - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By rpfromcp - December 14 - 2:14 pm

  I bought this car used with 40,000 miles on it. I have had it for a year and it has been a joy to own and drive. The suspension is firm but not punishing and it handles great. Its not super fast but it does move when you step on the gas. I have owned the car for more than a year and the only problem was an overactive stability control system. I drove to the dealership and they fixed immediately in less than 30 minutes. I do a lot of driving and so far it has been totally reliable. It even did pretty well in the snow. I have gotten a lot of compliments on this car. It looks and runs great and I would highly recommend it.

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  Fine design - but Premium Fuel - 1999 Cadillac Deville
  By pecans - December 13 - 7:31 pm

  I inherited this car and while it wouldnt have been a car I would buy personally, I found it a definite pleasure to drive. The leather and power seats were comfortable to my sore back. The front passenger amenities were 1st class. Driving conservatively gave 28 mpg highway. As a touring car, the quiet smooth ride delivers an elegant driving experience.

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  My First SUV and My Wife wont share - 1999 Cadillac Escalade
  By jsheesley - December 11 - 12:40 pm

  I am the second owner of my 1999 Cadillac Escalade. It had 53,000 miles on it when I bought it and I paid $18,000 for it. It was cheaper much than a new one. I got the Cadillac luxury for a Chevrolet Tahoe price. I love the heated seats, Boise stereo, security sys, and Vortex engine. But who was the fool engineer who put the oil filter horizontally above the 4 wheel drive transfer case? Oil runs down my arm everytime I change it. I have hauled 20 bags of cement or 25 cement blocks with no set down problems. This truck has a great suspension. I had to change the front disc rotors, they worpt. Also, the front suspension rubber bumpers needed replaced. This truck tows a 20 ski boat no problem. When in 4WD the front end is jumpy. But 2WD provides a great ride. The tail gate hard for my wife to get down but its better that the double doors. I will buy a used one again...