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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  Luxury and proformance. - 1995 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Kytec - October 9 - 12:02 pm

  Very sporty, easy to pass just about anything on the highway. There is quite a bit of torque steer when you gun it from a dead stop, but in accelerating into a turn, or from a rolling start it holds up quite well. The interior is leather everything, a higher quality id say than even the newer CTS models which use cheap plastics. It does guzzle gas, and runs premium, but with cruise control on over the highway it will average 26 mpg, astonishing for such a large car. Although it is large, heavy and not exceptionally low to the ground, it corners with very little body roll, feels stanced and planted well. Its as comfortable at 140 as it is at 65, tho youll be getting 5mpg or less.

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  First and Last Cadillac - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By Kerj - October 9 - 11:28 am

  I bought my first new Cadillac in 2006 and was pretty excited. But, now after 60,000 miles Ive had coils replaced, wheel bearings, tie rods, rear seals, and now told oil usage of a quart per 2000 miles is acceptable. If luxury cars by GM are produced to this quality level, I can see why they need bailing out!

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  Great 2008 CTS!! - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By Ed Stolarz - October 9 - 10:37 am

  I have owned over 20 new cars so far and the 2008 CTS is Number 1 on my list of cars that Ive owned! Its great distinctive styling and great looks, fabulous interior, great reliability and super handling makes it fun to drive and a real joy to own! Cadillac and GM have really done a great job on this car! The attention to detail and build quality is the best Ive experienced! The interior in the CTS is truly a work of art! If you havent considered or test driven the new CTS, you are not being fair to yourself and your missing one of the best car choices out there! The CTS is a super overall package especially with its great all wheel drive option! Give it a try and see for yourself!

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  2008 CTS AWD 3.6DI - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By Aaron - October 9 - 8:06 am

  After looking at several cars (BMW 330xi, Mercedes Benz C230 & Audi A4) we decided to go with a CTS4 as Ive been a Caddy fan for years. The 3.6L DI is exceptional, fun to drive and the overall build quality is something Im not used to from GM. There are several flaws in the vehicle that Im experiencing (minor) such as the express close moonroof doesnt actually close on its own and the steering has a light clicking when turning. One major disappointment for me comes not from the car, but from GM. Our nearest Cadillac dealership is 2.5 hrs away somewhat a nuisance when repairs are necessary, especially when we have about 4 GM dealers in the area.

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  2009 Cadillac XLR Platinum Roadster Conv - 2009 Cadillac XLR
  By lotsa cash - October 8 - 10:41 pm

  The XLR is my 5th Cadillac, priors were 2=SLS and 2=STS. I love this car and find the performance and handling to be equal to previous cadis and far surpassing the 2007 Corvette I traded- in. Ive received more complements on the car than all the others put together, its so amazing!

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  Cadillac Deville - 2003 Cadillac Deville
  By mike - October 8 - 3:15 am

  I been a Lincoln owner for over twenty years and finally bought a Cadillac. So far the ride and fuel economy and comfort is about the best you can get in a full size luxury car. I am disappointed in the quailty workmanship cheap plastic on dash and cheap looking leather for the seats and rattles never had nothing like that with the Lincolns I owned. Only had it a month now and no problems yet so cant speak on reliability hopefully it will be better then the others I have heard about. Its strickly a highway cruiser you dont hear the rattles. It handles poorly even for a luxury car it should handle better but i spend all my time with it on the highway so I am happy with the car so far.

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  Fun to drive - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Friend - October 7 - 12:32 pm

  I absolutely love this car and is considering replacing it with a newer CTS model.

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  battery and ECM - 2005 Cadillac SRX
  By Paul - October 7 - 10:37 am

  The car drives great. Only had one problem a blown fuse. I learned an expensive lesson. If you have the 3.6 V6 do not take the battery lose unless you wait one hour to reconnect. If connected to soon it can either lock the ECM (engine control modual) or worse fry it. In either case the car will not crank and the key can not be removed from the ignition. Now my wife says we should have bought a Lexus.

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  2007 SRX V6 Utility package - 2007 Cadillac SRX
  By AColl - October 6 - 4:36 pm

  Good looks and convienient, very useful, cargo space or 3rd seat, kids love it, too small for adults but this is a crossover anyway, not a minivan. front looks outdated, it should have been more like 07 cts, just a minor facelift could have been a tremendous benefit. Full of anoying electrical glitches, sunroof backs up when rear windoes are closing, cant be fixed, seat belt jammed and replaced twice. Dont buy this car w/o a warranty. Very good handling and performance for its size but slow compare to 2010 RSX. Electric rear seats are a slow, it should have been manual (like acura- MDX). Need better care to built and fix minor problems. Poor mileage. I would buy another one if improved.

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  The most comfy car - 2004 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By Lyndsiee - October 4 - 2:00 am

  It is unbeliveably comfterble! I mean iv`e had other cars like a mercades and it was had to shift. I got spinners on mine W/ 26 in rims HIGHLY RECCOMENDED by me Black looks awesome it brings out the detail really well so dose white