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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  Car salesmens review - 1992 Cadillac Eldorado
  By cadillacthrills - December 9 - 2:00 am

  The designers of the 1992 cadillac eldorado saw into the future. The crisp rectangular styling of rear end is just now being picked up by manuafatures like BMW and Daimler-Chrysler. Drivers and passengers will confuse the 1992s interior for that of a much newer car. The Eldorado borrows much of its classy, yet agressive, styleing from the Pininfarina designed Allante. As far as mechanical dependability the car is average to below average. Most note worthy are problems with the transmission and air ride suspension. I feel they are an even trade off for the cars style and comfort.

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  Cadillac Catera - 1999 Cadillac Catera
  By bkc - December 9 - 2:00 am

  The transmission shifts constantly the engine leaks oil the brakes squeak, the vehicle performs horrible when cold. All of the other things about this car I have read were true. Save yourself the trouble and stay away from these vehicles.

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  Review of the new for the few who do - 2004 Cadillac XLR
  By sackback2003 - December 1 - 2:00 am

  overall a beautifull highly sought after car amazing modern styling beatufill interior competing with mercedes and bmw only downside to the car would be the lack off power they need to get power up to 350 on same engine or supercharge or both

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  DHS - 2004 Cadillac Deville
  By david minarik - December 1 - 2:00 am

  This is my fifth deville, and find the dhs to be a nice car to drive. I am disappointed that they did away with the white diamond paint. Also, the craftmanship is poor, in that the body panels dont fit properly. When will gm catch on. Overall, the car is nice, but way overpriced for what you get. My next car may be a toyota.

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  Nice change of pace - 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT
  By Salvatore - November 30 - 10:00 am

  I like the fact I can go to a fancy place all dressed up with this car and later throw my kayak in the back and head to the beach. Great for hauling those odd shape items that dont fit in a typical SUV. Crappy gas milage, but you know that going into the deal.

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  Oil Thursty Caddy - 1996 Cadillac Seville
  By Tonyl - November 29 - 2:00 am

  Just before the warranty ran out, I noticed the car "using" oil. I was told that it was normal for a Northstar engine with over 50,000 miles on it to "use" oil at a rate of 1qt. per 1,000 miles. When I asked them to define "using", they of course could not. I understand that the car may actually be burning that oil and that it is not immediately noticable because the tell-tale blue smoke that is usually associated with burning oil is captured in the catalytic converter. For those of you who are being sold a decarbonization process for $500, dont agree to it unless GM is paying for it. The process does not do a thing for the oil "usage"!!

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  Too much money for a car - 2004 Cadillac XLR
  By liza - November 29 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car this month and I just dont feel like it was worth the amount of money. I would have gladly gotten a much cheaper honda or mitsubishi.

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  Caddys=$$$ - 1999 Cadillac Escalade
  By Some pinoy guy - November 27 - 2:00 am

  I love my escalade. It is a reliable car and I can probably use it for about three more years!!!

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  98 Seville SLS - 1998 Cadillac Seville
  By Mr. Bean - November 20 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I purchased this vehicle used in 2000. We have had to replace the drivers seat heater (the whole cushion)that was warrantied. One electric window motor warrantied. Oil changes are more than normal the Northstar V8 holds about 9 quarts of oil. Great comfort and conveniences but an expensive vehicle overall to maintain.

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  Unhappy - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Betty L Peveler - November 15 - 2:00 am

  Vehicle has been in for repairs 9 times within 17 months. Multiple problems with the cooling system, electronic fuel system, engine mount problems, air- bag sensor failure and structural failure of the thermostat housing.