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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  Poor delivery experience - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By Bill W. - October 27 - 4:54 pm

  The Wisonsin factory failed to complete their new car checklist, before delivering the car to the dealer. After the defects were fixed, the car handles / brakes / performs well, although the interior could use a little spiffing up, and the manual up/down shift control, integrated as part of the automatic transmission, was missing -- a standard feature on competitors similarly-priced models. The following defects were all covered by the factory warranty, but still meant that I had to spend a lot of my free time during a couple of work weeks going back and forth a total of 3 times: Trip 1: Defective left front strut Trip 2: Right front power window stuck Trip 3: Engine computer.

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  Dissapointed - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Jim Prunty - October 26 - 12:43 am

  The 2005 Cadillac SRX is a very nice truck if you own a gas station. With todays technolgy, 12 MPG city and 18 highway is unthinkable for this vehicle. A Tahoe gets better mileage! The sunroof is a very nice fearure, but the 3rd row seats are a joke.

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  Great Big Car - 2001 Cadillac Deville
  By yehumikael - October 24 - 11:42 pm

  This is my first Cadillac, and I love it. The exterior styling is very unique and aggressive. This car exudes quality, and is smooth. It also gets great gas mileage considering its size and engine. I am also pleased with the comfort and interior design of this vehicle, and could drive it for hundreds of miles and not get tired.

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  66,000 miles on this car so far! - 2003 Cadillac Deville
  By rmanzi - October 23 - 5:17 am

  I have 66,000 miles on my 2003 Cadillac DeVille DTS. It runs 85 mph in total quiet! A secret...bring the car into the dealer every 3000 miles for an oil change..and check up. This is a great car!

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  Happy Nana - 1995 Cadillac Deville
  By Sybil - October 16 - 9:17 pm

  I purchased this car as it was coming off a lease program and paid $20,000 for it. It is the best car that I ever had I wish I had gotten the extended warranty though. The a/c went two years ago and it took four compressors to get one to work that and a valve, one set of brakes and one set of tires in ten years, plus regular oil changes. Now I drive it only during the summer in CT. It still gets 20-22 mpg, is quiet, comfortable, easy to handle, and powerful. It costs $50+ to fill it up but its worth it. You do get what you pay for. iot has a superb sound, great dashboard and message center. I love this car, hate will to part with it. Everything else out there is junk in comparison.

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  1st Caddy Daddy - 2000 Cadillac Catera
  By RAIDERS5000 - October 13 - 5:13 am

  This is my first Cadillac. Ive always been a Lincoln Town Car man because of the size and comfort. I bought this Caddy used for $6,999. It was in immaculate shape. After test driving it, I fell in love. It has a smooth ride,very comfortable feel and is a joy to drive. I may complain about the appearance some but not much. The fantastic interior far outways the exteriors short cummings. The loud Bose sound system and fun to play with moonroof are great. The leather memory seats are definitely of the Cadillac quality. The engine could use a few more horses but I cant complain. It still has great power. If youre in the market for a Caddy, you cant go wrong with a 2000 or later Catera. Ive had no problems with this car through 65,000 miles and counting!

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  Fourth One - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By Frank Maiese - October 4 - 10:13 am

  This is my fourth Cadillac. The only thing I miss is the floatly driving of the big Cadillacs, other then that it is a great car. I like the way it handles going around curves. If you go a little too fast it brakes itself and slows down to a safer speed.

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  CTS - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By Bill - September 29 - 10:23 pm

  I bought this car based on the style and a friends enthusiastic endorsement. Its a good riding car, but the engine runs much rougher than my Hondas ever did. I am kind of disappointed with all the plastic in the interior and with the low gas mileage. The cigarette lighter hasnt worked since I drove it off the lot. But...everyone loves the styling.

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  Great car - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Fred Oldencott - September 16 - 5:07 pm

  I have nothing but good things to say about my Cadillac SRX. It is fast enough for me and a comfortable road car. It has a functional interior and superb handling along with decent gas mileage.

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  My Cadillac - 1997 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Da17 - September 14 - 12:22 am

  My 1997 Cadillac Eldorado is elegant, classy, and attractive, but has terrible gas mileage.