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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  First Escalade - 2007 Cadillac Escalade
  By Jack Houston - April 11 - 7:29 am

  Most impressive appearance. (white diamond) Average 13 in town and 18 on trips. Had 98 Tahoe which this replaced. Ride much better and brakes improved. Third row seat hard to remove when need to haul. When in cruise control, keeps down shifting. Remote key wont work 50% of time. Had to have AC valve replaced, as was giving heated air on drivers side.

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  THE RIGHT CHOICE - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By D.L. SMITH - April 8 - 2:00 am

  Slected the CTS after comparing it to the BMW 325. Price wise it was not even close and the wife from the being was pro CTS. We have had this car for 8 months now and we still enjoy just riding around town in it. I always thought of Cadillacs as too large in size and only a car my father would like, well this CTS covers all generations.

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  Great Car - 2008 Cadillac STS
  By onia - April 5 - 2:20 pm

  First off, I am in full agreement with all preceding reviews. And I wonder why I havent seen (in last eight months) any media promotion, a commercial or even a simple ad for this sophisticated competitor to the Lexus, Infiniti, BMW, and Benz types. Incidentally, there isnt even any dedicated 2008 STS Forum on Edmunds yet! The only three minuses on the car are the lack of space inside "for stuff" (where to put glasses?), small trunk and overcomplicated nav system, which is, in fact, inferior for instance to the 5-year older 2003 CTS system.

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  Great car; great pricing - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By tradergar - April 3 - 10:00 am

  downsized form a Lexus 400LS. A little louder and a rougher ride, but handling is great and its fun to drive. No regrets.

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  Affordable cadillac style - 1993 Cadillac Allante
  By dabrajr1 - April 2 - 2:25 pm

  I was looking for a used corvette when I found this car. First of all, a very nice one is hard to find and they only made 960 of these and 1993 was the only year for the northstar and the only year for the polo green color. Most people have never seen this car. Second, I would like to know where you can buy a Cadillac 2 seat convertible, like new, with 60K on it for 12K. This car cost over 62K and is an absolute blast to drive and turns heads everywhere I go. Not one problem with it after driven for 10K miles. If you can find one, buy it. I will never sell mine.

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  American--and proud of it - 2008 Cadillac DTS
  By JFS777 - March 31 - 10:13 pm

  My Platinum DTS runs rings around the 2000 S-Class I traded in. Couldnt believe what Mercedes wanted for a new one! Are they kidding? Definitely not worth it. The Caddy gives me everything the M-B did--at over twenty grand less. The ventilated seats are great. My next new car will again be wearing the wreath-and-crest and not the three-pointed star.

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  Rich mans pride-poor mans secret! - 1991 Cadillac Deville
  By poisonousy - March 31 - 12:25 am

  What a way to appreciate Cadillac ride than to get out of a Corvette and into one! When my father offered to buy me a car after the passing of my mother and the theft of my $30,000 Stingray, the choice was a no-brainer. Sure, I looked at a couple of LSCs and 1979 Trans Ams (whoops.). Common sense took over and I went with what I knew-we already owned a 92 DeVille and a 91 Seville, both excellent cars. After picking my dark blue 91 and putting new Bosch injectors, new struts, steering rack, Michelins, and tuneup on it, it is still the car Id dreamed of-BIG but 20.7 AVERAGE mpg, total luxury including FAST, classic Caddy beauty and an incredible ride. 155,00 mi no problems. Great engineering!!!

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  Personal impressions - 1997 Cadillac Seville
  By Joe - March 30 - 12:45 pm

  Considering overall cost and quality of the vehicle, I cant help but feel it more than holds its own in the luxury class of vehicles priced below $50k.

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  2000 Eldorado ESC - 2000 Cadillac Eldorado
  By vaeldorado - March 30 - 9:14 am

  I love my Eldo as a daily drive car. Ride is excellent, smooth and powerful. Electrical systems are only fair. I have had problems with seatbelt warning light - headlight and fog light switches. Door panels are loose - they have been repaired twice. Wind noise is loud. Air compressor failed at 71,000 miles. Dashboard tray door wont click down. In other words, lots of nit picks on electrical and interior build, but otherwise a great ride!

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  My 2004 Cadillac CTS! - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By My CTS - March 29 - 10:00 am

  I was in the market for a new car and this little baby filled the bill in every way!I was very surprised at the smooth way it handled go through in town traffic and a smooth ride on the open highway!I am soooo glad that i bought the CTS!!