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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  Great Engine, Great Trip Car - 2002 Cadillac Deville
  By Will Bee - September 1 - 2:00 am

  A very reliable, comfortable, powerful car that is a good value compared to other luxury cars. It is hard to imagine a better car for a medium or long trip. Lots of comfort features for driver and passengers that make a difference. The combination of Stabilitrack and the Northstar engine make for very good handling and performance. One silly but serious annoyance: Terrible cup holders!!

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  RSX is Attention Getter /Fun to Drive - 2004 Cadillac SRX
  By Bob Carroll - August 28 - 2:00 am

  Have owned my RSX for almost 6 months....it has the mesh grill(s), color is smoked silver and it gets a lot of attention! Dealer is great to deal with too. The car (truck?) has great build quality and the seats are suppotive and quality leather. I have the nav/cd but no third row seat which I dont need. My car has the light neutral interior....a mistake on my part as the rugs get dirty real fast! I dont know how well they are selling but they are a rare sight on the roads around town.

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  Outstand Lux SUV - 2002 Cadillac Escalade
  By mark cicacci - August 26 - 2:00 am

  Gotta say this is one heckuva vehicle. Nothing beats the Escalade for moving the family around. Room for kids and dogs plus suitcases. Looks and drives outstanding!

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  A love-hate affair - 1997 Cadillac Catera
  By chaplain - August 25 - 2:00 am

  Cadillac fiinally got it right with the new ones, then quit making them. One of the best cars Ive owned, but fraught with electrical problems, an engine that had to be replace at 40M, and ignition and air conditioning problems. In spite of it I am only reluctantly giving it up. If you can find one thats had all the bugs taken out, its a great car!

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  Grandmas Wheels - 2004 Cadillac XLR
  By 1texan - August 10 - 2:00 am

  I fell in love with its looks and am blown away by its performance. The handling is outstanding.

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  escalade review - 2005 Cadillac Escalade
  By David Lee MD - August 10 - 2:00 am

  Excellent quality in workmanship and feel. Drives like a dream with the best adjustable seats that I have seen. The power is excellent and when entering a freeway ramp I love to hit the passing gear... lots of people stare as the acceleration is not what they expected from this size vehicle. This is my second Escalade and I think it is the best SUV for the money available.

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  2000 DHS Deville - 2000 Cadillac Deville
  By nicea - August 8 - 2:00 am

  Wonderful automobile! Reliable, comfortable, quiet, easy to maintain.A tie rod repair under warranty and new brakes after 60000 are only major repairs so far.

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  My Caddy - 2001 Cadillac Deville
  By mikie1 - August 8 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my Deville used with 29,000 miles. I have since driven it another 30,000 miles. The car has been relatively trouble free, and has performed well. It is an exteremly comfortable car with a great ride. I would buy another.

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  Kudos to Designer of the Escalade! - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By Michele736 - August 5 - 2:00 am

  Really like this truck. Is comfortable, has great visibility, like the interior for the most part. Exterior looks great! That counts for something~right! Very easy to park, brake & back up. Like the reverse chimes, they are not annoying(like in the Jag). Would prefer that the fake wood was real (very very cheap~who dropped the ball on that detail? Demote him!) The interior is definitely more cheaply stylized than it should be. It is still a Cadillac after all. Way too noisy for my taste. But the soundproofing is very good. Just hate slinking through neighborhoods like a redneck. Exhaust is too loud, this thing should purr or at least make it an option.

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  Very dissapionted-no reliablilty - 2004 Cadillac XLR
  By mitch barnett - August 4 - 2:00 am

  Elecltronics completely unreliable, owned car for 2 months ,its been in service for 1/2 the time,service dept. are to qoute still learning on the job with this car,keyless feature a disastser...Luv to drive it when its working, not sure i would buy it agaian..also on-star has problems communicating with car