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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  Cadillac Deville 2003 unreal value - 2003 Cadillac Deville
  By 2003 DEVILLE CAD - August 3 - 6:50 pm

  The five year old 2003 deville Cadillac I purchased has been a headache and wallet drain ache. It has been many times to dealership for this or that repairs under warranty or I am paying the bill. Then the dealership damages it and wont repair unless I pay. The gm parts are expensive ($7.00 plastic retainer) and you wait for them to order them. The noise caused by the self leveling system is aggravating to hear. The car is so big and bulky that you can not maneuver it easily. The power steering is soft however. Yet that steering had to be repaired also to be soft and noiseless. The quality and workmanship is not worth the money you spend to buy. Next car I purchase will be a new one and not gm.

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  The definition of incompetence - 2008 Cadillac Escalade
  By Lan - July 24 - 5:14 pm

  Smooth as silk if driven on glass. On slightly rough road, it hops a lot. Terrible visibility. Inconvenient entry/exit of rear passengers. Loose fitting panels. doors fill with water when washed. Transmission shifting erratic, and unpredictable (dangerous when towing). Cheep chrome on wheels and roof racks. Too noisy for a Cadillac. Rear suspension leveling is week. Flaws too many to list. Were Cadillacs engineers drunk or just plane incompetent??

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  All looks no quality! Terrible vehicle - 2008 Cadillac Escalade
  By Josh - July 22 - 8:55 pm

  I have owned 3 range rovers from 2005 up until 2008. I should have kept my range Rover. Its like going from a Porsche to a scooter. This car has no detail and terrible quality. The stitching is poorly done and everything looks like plastic. (wait! Is is all plastic, even the fake wood trim) from a side rear view the escalade looks ugly. The escalade idles very roughly. What do you expect from a gm I guess? Car was probably built in 15 mins. From robots. Good thing I lease this pile of junk cause range Rover is waiting for me.

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  66K Piece of Junk - 2008 Cadillac Escalade
  By Mike - May 27 - 3:54 pm

  I loved the look of the new Escalade and alas that is all the car is. Just something good to look at. But it is a mechanical nightmare. This truck looks, drives and feels like it was put together in a hurry. I only have 2500 miles on it and the tranny bucks like a horse at least 3 times a day. Cadillac has reprogrammed some kind of computer but it keeps doing it and they say that there is nothing that they can do to fix it. It also idles very rough, the first month we had it it was fine and now it vibrates so badly at stop lights that it is embarrassing. Cadillac told me to use premium, I have and it still does it.Sometimes the power lift gate does not want to work. Shouldve gotten a 08 Sequoia

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  Catalytic converter - 2001 Cadillac Deville
  By PATRICIA CRAFFEY - April 22 - 6:56 am

  This car is a nightmare. Since I owned it from 2001 I have replace cat converter and now replacing a third one broke down in ct had to find a dealer to be towed to broke down in NH and had to find a dealer to be towed to. First one I was near a dealer in ma. I have to keep checking the oil because it uses a lot. Dealer said this is "normal" I have a 1995 Cadillac and it runs real smooth. Do not think I will buy another Cadillac. Maybe go to the foreign car even though I said "never". Goodbye to Detroit.

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  Great interior,unreliable engine area - 2001 Cadillac Catera
  By dcmertz - April 19 - 6:55 am

  My husband and I purchased this car 6 months ago. We have since then had the spoiler fall off (without the dealer taking ownership of this) the headlights are already clouded, replaced the front tires, and these are not inexpensive over $200 each. We have also replaced the idle arm, the coolant leaked behind the engine and only one place to get the part, and not inexpensive to fix, We paid 6000. However have in 6 months put in 2600 in repairs. whats next? The car handles great in the winter with over 6" of snow, no complaints there, its just the maintenance is not what we paid for and for the Cadillac name this is very disappointing. Wish we would have read up on it more. Buyer beware.

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  Never Again - 1999 Cadillac Deville
  By Rob - March 28 - 12:28 pm

  Bought this car in May of 2007 with 53,000 miles on it, and it has been trouble ever since. First power window motors went out. Second crank seal caused oil leak (At 62,000 miles). During repairs mechanic forgot to put a latch on the right front passenger wheel causing me to lose a wheel (Thankfully) in a garage. Dealership would not refund me the money of the repairs even though they were dangerously done. Now the car is in the shop due to two blown head gaskets. Cadillac Customer Service department is not willing to help out with anything.

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  Stay Away - 1998 Cadillac Catera
  By Stay Away - March 23 - 4:51 am

  Two weeks after I bought the car I found out the heat on the passenger side didnt work. went to get it fixed needed to replace valve cover gaskets bcuz of oil in the spark plugs $1,000. Rear caliper went out over $400 to fix, regulator in rear windows went out $800 for parts alone, short in electrical system moon roof opens and closes when it wants to. Radio and interior lights only work when key is in off position. All of the screws on the entire car have fallen out (i.e. the backs of the seats have fallen off the front bumper had to be re-screwed on the fog lights have fallen out some sort of blower has fallen out, the screws allowing the glove box to open and close has broken) contd next box

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  Nav/Radio Total Failure at 50 miles - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By Rita - March 18 - 6:12 pm

  The navigation/radio system in my new CTS failed at 50 miles. It has been at the dealership for nearly 4 weeks and neither Cadillac nor the dealer can tell me when a replacement system will be available. Last response was that Cadillac would have to manufacturer more units.

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  Belongs in Junk Yard - 2000 Cadillac Catera
  By dt13 - January 24 - 9:38 pm

  I purchased this car with 60,000 miles and had only 65,000 when I got rid of it. Nearly over 3,000 dollars was spent in repairs in less than a year. They included: door latch ($300), all 4 tie rods, mass air flow sensor, engine crank sensor, valve cover and gaskets, and coolant shut off switch. SRS, and rear shocks were bad too. Everything had too be fixed by the dealer, no ASE mechanic could service it, but had it towed from their shop to the dealer. The car came with a warranty, however, many parts were not covered, and there was a 250$ deductible for whatever was repaired. I knew another lady who had one and had even more trouble. Junk! Please do not buy.