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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  Fun while it lasted - 1991 Cadillac Deville
  By BK111 - March 31 - 2:00 am

  Bought with 108K in 2000. Replaced brakes and master cylinder, egr valve. Car rode nice, a little squishy on bumps, and had great acceleration. Sound system very good. Always had a little tendency to wiggle in the front end on acceleration. After two years the front end problem got worse and the ac went out but I still drove it. It also developed an annoying rattle under the dash. Last 4 months around 135K it developed a "several cracks in the block, the tranny slips real bad and now Ive got water in the crankcase.My recommendation is if you want to save money buying a high mileage vehicle I would avoid Caddys. My next vechicle will be a Lincoln TC.

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  CANT PASS A GAS STATION - 1995 Cadillac Deville
  By RUFUS - March 31 - 2:00 am

  MORE POWER THAN I AM USED TO IN A CAR BUT RIDES GREAT ON THE OPEN ROAD BUT IS HARD TO GET AROUND IN AN URBAN SETTING. THIS CAR IS BUILT FOR LARGE PEOPLE NOT SOME ONE MY SIZE.

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  2002 sts - 2002 Cadillac Seville
  By D Marandolo - March 30 - 2:00 am

  handling and outside and inside appearance. rear leg room is very tight. Performance is outstanding.

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  Nice Drive & Ride - 1999 Cadillac Escalade
  By PCF - March 23 - 2:00 am

  First year of the Escalade, and what you get is a lot of trim on a Yukon/Tahoe package. Very nice ride. 19mpg Hwy mileage. Not a lot of extra electronics inside, but a fine luxury presentation. The seats are great. Engine has factor specs still on compression. Considering the price of new quality, large SUVs (about 45-50k) finding an older model for about 1/3 the price is a nice find. And that is what I was looking for.

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  Do not buy car in its first year. - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By jwindwer - March 23 - 2:00 am

  The car is nice looking a nimble. I have had the engine gasket replaced, the door pulls and window control panels replaced twice. The rear sail panel came loose. and the goodyear tires only laster 24000 miles. When replaced with michelins, the car was smoother and quieter.

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  rock - 1990 Cadillac Seville
  By kary - March 22 - 2:00 am

  buy this car if it runs and is under 3500!!

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  Go Escalade! - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By Lbennett2 - March 14 - 10:00 am

  I have really enjoyed driving my 2003 Escalade. I have received more compliments with this SUV than with any other vehicle I have owned. Fir some reason, kids love this truck! There isnt a day that goes by that a kid will stop and stare at the car.(Id like to say it was me they were staring at, but its not!) The truck runs well. I havent had any mechanical problems with it.IT LOVES TO EAT FUEL.

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  168k & still kickin - 1991 Cadillac Seville
  By DenColie - March 14 - 2:00 am

  After 168k miles, shes still kickin. Boasty v8, great ride and roomy for a mid-size. Interior starting to show its mileage. All in all... very pleased with my first caddy.

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  More Options would make this awesome - 2004 Cadillac Escalade
  By HDS - March 7 - 2:00 am

  Sturdy, Classy Styled SUV. Very Reliable, turns heads everywhere.Easy to Drive and Park. Quality is top of the line. Interior spacious. Great handling.

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  No reliability - 1998 Cadillac Deville
  By Brian Kass - March 6 - 2:00 am

  When most everything starts to wear out after only four years and 60,000 miles you know that you either have a lemon or there is a reliability issue. Brakes are terrible. They wear out too fast--pads and rotors and for four wheel disc they do not stop the vehicle like they should. The engine uses too much oil. Air conditioner, radio antenna, electronic level control, door locks, door window motor, egr valve, and the list goes on and on. We even had the driver side headlight lens blow off while going down the highway.