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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  One Year Later - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By CTS Owner - January 3 - 2:00 am

  Have driven the 03 CTS for one year now. Been back to the dealer for steering rack, sun roof and tail light assembly, all covered under warranty. Still love to drive this car. Resale value has dropped $10k in one year from invoice price, disappointing. Overall a great drving experience but I shutter the fact of when this car comes out of warranty.

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  Am I Satisfied ? ? - 2001 Cadillac Seville
  By Gerrie Griffin - December 30 - 2:00 am

  I truly love the car. Very responsive. Cant believe it from a car of this weight and size. Very impressive from the start of the engine. However, I use a quart of oil every 2500 miles. I also have a 2000 DeVille that uses a quart every 1500 miles. Great engine, if you can keep oil in it.

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  Actually a very good vehicle! - 1998 Cadillac Catera
  By nocovberage - December 27 - 2:00 am

  Purchased this vehicle when it came off a friends lease. I was wise to purchase the vehicle as certified to extend the warranty as the battery has failed twice both covred by warranty, two electrical problems and a cooling problem.

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  DIAMONDS AND PEARLS - 2003 Cadillac Escalade
  By bundy - December 26 - 2:00 am

  I BOUGHT MY ESCALADE RIGHT OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR. TOTALLY LOADED, WHITE DIAMOND EXTERIOR. A JOY TO LOOK AT AND DRIVE. THE RUMBLE OF ITS OVERSIZED V-8 SENDS CHILLS DOWN MY BACK. ALL I ADDED WAS 22" RIMS AND TIRES WHICH INCREASED ITS OVERALL STABILITY. WHAT A CHARM TO DRIVE.

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  Muscle car in an Armani Suit! - 1995 Cadillac Seville
  By jlhunter - December 24 - 2:00 am

  When I bought this car it still looked brand new. I love to look at it in the reflection of other cars on the highway. I am now a caddy man for life. The only problem I have is that it burns a lot of gas, but I guess thatÂ’s the cost of looking good!

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  Overall Nice - 2003 Cadillac Deville
  By Picky one - December 23 - 2:00 am

  Comfortable quiet ride. Smooth & quick. Overall a beautiful vehicle. Handles extremely well in inclement weather.

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  excellent - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By Vince from Cape Cod - December 23 - 2:00 am

  Since Im a big guy I want no console hindering me. Deville DSL has all the lux features I could want plus leg room for me the driver and my back seat clients/family. Front wheel drive a big plus in New England and the Northstar engine is awesome! Love this car - world class!

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  Good Auto - not excellent - 2003 Cadillac Seville
  By Admiral - December 20 - 2:00 am

  This was my experience with my STS which Ive traded in now for an SLS 2003 for the softer ride. I miss some of the "goodies" as described in the inquiry.

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  ext - 2004 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By Casino Runner - December 19 - 10:00 am

  NIce, very nice. Good power and comfort could use a digital dash but so far so good!

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  HYBRID cadillac Escalade - 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
  By Jennifer - December 12 - 5:01 pm

  I was the second owner of my 2009 cadillac hybrid escalade, I have not enjoyed a suv of this size as much as this escalade ,it is still so classy looking it turns heads , love to drive it in any weather, handles snow with features like dial in 4 high 4 low and All wheel drive and hugs the mountain roads , I regularly carpool kids to sports in and out of state & love the comfort for all ages accommodates my husbands 64 height w ease & a car full of people seats 8 ,still has room for moderate storage in trunk fully seated but any large luggage I have a travel case for roof rack , great gas mileage the Hybrid module recharges when you brake , the sound system & television are outstanding I have owned several suburbans as well as a Mercedes suv but this is my favorite.