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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  Auto review - 2005 Cadillac Deville
  By Keith Brickey - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Great car. The only problem I have is the sun visor sets too low and blocks visiblity out front window. I love the front wheel drive in this luxury car. I wontt purchase another until sun visor is redesigned.

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  Fun and eye catching Car - 2005 Cadillac XLR
  By Visionary - October 2 - 2:00 am

  When driving to my destination a Porche tried to overtake my Cadillac. I smoked him out of the gate and he gave me a thumbs up!

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  My Cad SRX - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By Virginia Haliwell - October 1 - 2:00 am

  I like the looks of the SRX. The exterior design makes it easy to see out of. Their is plenty of leg room in both the front and back seats. On the negative side, the consol is not big enough to be useful. As a lady driver, there is no place to put a purse, or other items you may need, such as mail, papers, etc. If you dont have a front seat passenger, you can put it on the seat, but if you have passengers, & put it on the floor, there is always the chance, it will slip under your feet and interfere with the gas peddle.

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  17 Caddy XT5 - 2017 Cadillac XT5
  By J Gould - September 20 - 4:22 am

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  My Escalade - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By Jeanine A - September 17 - 2:00 am

  I love my Escalade, but there are several things that I think GM has to improve upon. 1.The Navigation system is complicated, you must be in park for most of the features to work. 2. Get rid of the vennered wood on the dash and use the real stuff,the dash of my husbands BMW is real wood! 3. Different standard rims My car has been in the shop 3 times already and I have not even had it a year: 1. Seat problem, latch was broken so I could not lower the back seat. 2. Vibrating noise upon acccelerated. Still happens 3. At times the engine will not turn over, almost like its flooded. I just got the car back, and its still happening

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  Great car - 1999 Cadillac Deville
  By rich and jo ann - September 13 - 2:00 am

  Cadillac got it right with this car....

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  Cadillac STS 2005 - 2005 Cadillac STS
  By jack B - September 12 - 10:53 am

  The Car with its electronics is difficult to comprehend. the navigation system is a joke. No one can understand it and I wouldnt recommend that option. The Bose radio gives the best performance only if you buy 5.1 digital cds. The Sat radio quality is not as good as my GMC, Denali. The Blue tooth phone system with the hands free option is hard for people to understand what the driver is saying. The performance is great the handling is great. Outside of the electronics the car is great!

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  it may be an old mans car, but - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By old bill - September 11 - 2:00 am

  Have a 2004, its our 12th cadillac.We traded our 2000 in 2002 for Lexus. It was no brainer to come back to Cadillac, better ride and milage and better service because you can get service anywhere in U.S.. Travel from here in Tx to Wisc. and used to worry about what if we broke down. course Iam almost 80 and worry about waking up in morning.

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  Should have got a Lincon Mark V111 - 1996 Cadillac Eldorado
  By Fast Eddie - September 2 - 2:00 am

  Like the elegent styling, especially with Vouge chrome wheels, white diamond paint, and rear spoiler. Was searching for a clean 98 Mark 8 but couldnt find one, so I bought the Eldo on looks alone. Sorry, but its style, no substance. Why does the auto industry rave about the Northstar? The Ford V-8 feels much stronger and doesnt suck a quart of oil every 1500 miles. My first V-8 front wheel drive car - and last. Tourqe steer, nose dive, and loose, bouncy ride (feels like an offensive linemans sitting under the hood). Noisy interior for a luxury car. But like a trophy wife, she sure is pretty and kind of hard to give up!

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  SPORT CADDY - 1999 Cadillac Catera
  By MATTHEW - September 1 - 2:00 am

  This car is a fun car to drive. I have had plenty of complements on the interior and the sportiness of the car. The stereo system is amazing. The car is one of the most comfortable cars I have ever owned.