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 Very Nice! - 2009 Cadillac CTS
  By Jamey Talnet - August 12 - 1:59 pm

  Just took delivery of the first dealer sold 2009. Waited for the 2009 for resale value purposes as they werent really dropping any solid incentives on the 2008. So far we are completely happy with the car.

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  Great Ride - 2001 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Char Kar - August 11 - 5:48 am

  I love the car from its northstar engine to its beautiful look. This car has impressed me as I have had a lot of sports cars and this has to be the smoothest ride out of all. People that have never rode in a Eldorado are just as impressed as I was my first ride, They are over taken by the smooth fast acceleration it has and so quiet it seems to be on a cloud.

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  A nice car - 1996 Cadillac Seville
  By I LOVE MINE - August 10 - 9:25 am

  Ive always wanted a caddy but never could afford a new one. So I found this one on Craigs list and fell in love with it. The power is amazing and all the features work well, with the exception of hesitation of the drivers side power window. Maybe Im a lucky one but this car uses no oil between changes. It has aproximately 129,000 on it at this time. Im glad they depreciate as they do, otherwise, i would not be able to own a car this nice.

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  Refined American - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By JD - August 8 - 5:11 pm

  I waited for 8 months for this car to come out - I was looking for a 4 door sports sedan and after reading all the product info. I was hoping it would live up to the hype after the long wait it exceeded it & I was not disappointed. This car is awesome. I also own a 2007 Corvette and truly believe the CTS handles if not better, then at least as well as the vette (but obviously not as fast!). The CTS is really quick though, refined, handles great, and with great mileage. I avg 22 in town and have gotten as much as 32 on the highway while driving 70 & 80 mph.

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  A True American Contender - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By Al and Rene - August 7 - 9:50 pm

  After considering the Mercedes C350, Lexus IS350, Infinity G37S, and the BMW 5 Series, my wife and I decided on the 2008 CTS. The ride, the looks, the interior ergonomics and options were great. The quality of fit and trim, along with the value of the available features, trumped the competition. We decided that we wanted a vehicle that did not look like anything else on the road and this 2008 CTS does just that with the looks it commands from passersby. It truly is a car that “turns us on when we turn it on”!

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  Solid Deville - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By Pauljvl - August 1 - 4:55 am

  To all the comments I read this Cadillac is quite very comfortable and just replacing the stock tires with the Best tire for this car and I tried a few the New Toyo Versado this ride is superb handles respectable and now very quiet ride. The engine has very good go with 300 lbs or torque it can move quite well. the air conditioned seats are fantastic no more sweat on a long ride. and the fuel economy is a very good 18- 28 on the highway, to get all this for $20k in a used car as a certified low mile Caddy and bumper to bumper warranty with 0 co pay for 100k miles this is excellent piece of mind.from a highly rated automobile.

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  good deal! - 1994 Cadillac Deville
  By don - July 31 - 3:03 pm

  Bought this 94 when i returned from Kuwait. Had sold a 93 Fleetwood Id had the yr before deploying. 94 gets better MPG city and hwy and is a better ride. All options worked and have continued too. Have over 140k miles on it with only base repairs based on mileage. Driven RT across country will NO problems. The only "strange" thing is the engine backfires and gets sluggish for no apparent reason and with no regularity. No the FI, or plugs/wires. Once it starts cannot accelerate. I pull over and cut the engine, re-start and no more problems, until its next time to do it.

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  Questionable Love Affair - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Msblutx - July 30 - 1:25 am

  My previous car fell apart @ 530,00 miles. After tons of research, I found my SRX & fell in love with the price & the great condition for being used. 36 days into owning it, on a weekend trip, it made some funny noises. We pulled over a lot, but other than the check emissions light, nothing appeared to be wrong. The next morning, I started it up & the engine sounded HORRIBLE! We checked the oil & there WASNT ANY! We put nearly 6qts of oil in it and took it to the dealer the next day. There wasnt any sign of a leak & the dealer said it hadnt used oil either. Its purred like a kitten ever since & no more oil loss. Has anyone had this happen to them or explain what might have happened?

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  I cant believe I LOVE a car! - 2006 Cadillac SRX
  By sandymonet - July 29 - 6:11 pm

  My SRX is the most comfortable car I have ever owned including the Yukon! I get 24-28 MPG highway,18 city. most stylish, classy car on road. Seats, panorama roof, back seats, stereo,are great! 3rd row is for kids not adults! Am going to purchase new one in 2010 in red! Drives great in snow (Chicago) & rain. Handles like a dream with the two different size tires on front and back, ingenious idea. Picks up very quickly great maneuverability, awesome stereo. I tried the Porsche Cayenne, Volvo, Mdx, Lexus 300 & BMWX3,5 none compared to SRX thats why it was Car of the year 2006! Great job Cadillac! Finally it takes 87 gas, what a extra bonus esp. now!!! Ha, Ha BMW

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  Car of a Lifetime - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By SRXLover - July 28 - 2:00 am

  Phenomenal vehicle! After owning countless cars, SUVs, and trucks, this is the one worth waiting for. So comfortable with the countless seating adjustments with heated seats and bolsters. Rides like a Cadillac and handles like a dream. Great fun,too.