Best Cadillac Models of All Time: Our TOP 10

Here are our picks of the best Cadillac model ever made, from classic cars to modern hits.

Cadillac is one of the oldest automotive brands in the world, so, it has a rich heritage. Today Cadillac vehicles are sold predominantly in North America and China, as well as in 34 other markets.

The Cadillac Automobile Company was founded from the remnants of the Henry Ford Company in 1902, Later, in 1909, General Motors purchased Cadillac and made it a prestige division for the production of large luxury vehicles. The mid to late 1960s were Cadillac’s boom years. Nowadays, the brand stays afloat in the world, and it is at the top of the luxury field within the USA.

Let’s remember what are the heritage vehicles that played important role in the history of Cadillac.

Cadillac Model 30

Cadillac introduced the Model 30 in late 1909 and sold it through 1911. The automobile was the company’s sole model and revolutionary car of the time. It was the first production vehicle to have an electric starter rather than a hand crank or spring.

The Cadillac Model 30 was a nice car for its era, though unaffordable to most people. In those days, cars could boast only a few options. The Model 30 had a 4-cylinder 40-hp engine and a notable “fat man” hinged steering wheel.

Cadillac V-16

It was Cadillac’s top-of-the-line model, exclusive and expensive, with a custom-finished chassis, a massive 148-inch wheelbase that was later extended to 154 inches, a 3-speed synchronized transmission, cable-operated and vacuum-booster-aided mechanical brakes.

More cylinders meant more luxury, and the Sixteen came with a legendary 7.4-liter V16 producing around 175-183 hp. Cadillac built only 4,076 units from 1930 to 1940, with the majority to be produced in its debut year. The depth of the Great Depression and the onset of World War II resulted in the model’s demise.

The Cadillac V-16 is one of the greatest cars of the global prewar era.

Cadillac Series 62

The manufacturer produced the Series 40-62 cars from 1940 through 1964. The Sixty-Two (Series Sixty-Two) gave birth to two other iconic Cadillac models – Coupe de Ville and Eldorado which had started out as special appearance packages and then became standalone production cars.

It was General Motors’ legendary designer Harley Earl who came up with the Fisher-bodied Series 62 with a lowered, streamlined “torpedo” design, an L-Head 5.7-liter 150-hp V8 mated to either a 3-speed manual or GM’s new Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. The model became a hit: in 1941, about 40% of Cadillac’s sales were the Series 62 cars.

Cadillac Eldorado

The company marketed the Eldorado from 1952 until 2002 over 12 generations. It was available as a 2-door convertible, a 2- and 4-door hardtop, and a 2-door coupe, The Eldorado is also the first-ever front-wheel-drive Cadillac.

The original 1953 Eldorado was a special, single-model-year 2-door luxury convertible, essentially the ultimate version of the Series 62. The car featured classic wraparound windshields, front bumper ‘bullets’, a 5.4-liter V8, a 4-speed Hydra-Matic transmission, and the latest in General Motors’ accessories – power windows, a heater, windshield washers.

The Cadillac Eldorado spawned several outstanding versions during its long lifespan cycle, including the Eldorado Brougham and the Eldorado Biarritz.

U.S. automakers built some of the coolest cars ever during the 1950s, They embodied American excellence following the end of World War II. When the Eldorado Brougham was released in 1957, it set the luxury standard really high. The car competed with the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud and cost over $13,000 (a large amount for the 50s). It came with a 365 cu in V8 that delivered 325 hp at 4,800 rpm, and 400 pound-feet of torque at 3,300 rpm.

The 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz had a distinctive feature inspired by the jet age – huge fins which protruded from rear fenders. It was an iconic car itself that spawned the whole following of pink Cadillacs, and one of 200 Caddies owned by Elvis Presley in addition.

Cadillac De Ville

The model was in production for almost 50 years – from 1958 to 2005 – in several body styles, from 2-door convertibles and coupes to 4-door sedans over 8 generations.

Designed by famed stylist Bill Mitchell, the first-gen 1959 Cadillac Coupe De Ville was the epitome of the tailfin era, a 225-inch long car with a pair of distinct rooflines and roof pillar configurations. It featured a new jewel-like grille pattern and matching decklid panels. Under the hood, the Coupe de Ville had Cadillac’s 6.4-liter 325-hp V-8 and a 4-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission.

The 1969 Cadillac De Ville Convertible is one of the greatest American cars of the Golden Age in the automotive industry. It was a gorgeous cruiser, and still is a sought-after car, with a 472 cu in V8 producing 375 hp at 4,400 rpm, and 525 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm.

In the 1970s – early 1980s, the segment of personal luxury cars exploded, and Cadillac created the 1971-1976 Coupe de Ville to fight against the Lincoln Continental Mark V and the Buick Riviera. That extravagant, dimensionally massive, 230.7-inch long Cadillac was equipped with the largest production 8-cylinder engine ever put into a road car – an 8.2-liter V8 that surprisingly delivered only 190 hp and 359 lb-ft.

Despite its low power numbers, the DeVille remains a hugely popular car.

Cadillac Seville

Cadillac manufactured the Seville from 1975 to 2004 as a smaller-sized premium model. Fuel shortages, emissions regulations, and competition from German automakers motivated the company to create its first down-sized car – the Seville, also known as the “international size” Cadillac.

It shared the GM X-body with the Pontiac Ventura and Chevrolet Nova and was the first ever car of General Motors to use electronic fuel injection. Ironically, the Seville was the top-of-the-range model with the highest sticker price for 1976. The 1976-80 Seville helped to reshape the future of the brand and enter the modern period of car manufacture.

The 4th-generation Seville is a typical American suburban sedan from the 90s. It was a sales success due to upgrades such as improved chassis with Chevy Corvette’s suspension, and the Northstar System featuring front-wheel drive, a 4.6-liter 300-hp V8, and a 4-speed automatic transmission.

Cadillac CTS-V

Cadillac produced the CTS series of cars from 2002 to 2019 across three generations. The model was the first manual transmission vehicle of the brand since the discontinuation of the Cimarron in 1988.

A high-performance version of the CTS was the Cadillac CTS-V with a pushrod overhead valve V8 engine and a sport-tuned suspension. The car was available in three body styles: a 4-door sedan, a 2-door coupe, and a 5-door sport wagon.

The company introduced the CTS-V sedan in 2004. It was arguably the first sign of the brand’s 21st-century renaissance since Cadillac changed its traditional styling for a more European flair. The 400-hp rear-wheel-drive car echoed the quality of models of Germany’s Big Three, like the BMW M5, Audi RS6, or Mercedes E63 AMG, but was more affordable.

The second-generation CTS-V (2009-2014) brought new versions – a sport wagon and a coupe. They were fitted with a supercharged 6.2-liter LSA V8 engine that produced 557 hp at 6,100 rpm and 551 lb-ft of torque at 3,800 rpm in pair with a 6-speed transmission, either manual or automatic. An all-wheel-drive option was added.

While German manufacturers offered fast wagons for years, an American performance wagon was something incredible. Car enthusiasts have appreciated the Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon much: it is considered to be a valuable option.

As for the CTS-V Coupe, it looks great too. It was Cadillac’s very first attempt to attract a wide array of speed lovers.

Cadillac XLR

This is Cadillac’s first true sports car made from 2003 to 2009, a nominee for the 2004 North American Car of the Year. The 2-door luxury roadster (coupe convertible) shared the Chevy Corvette’s chassis, and it was available over a single generation. In addition to a regular model, Cadillac also offered a high-performance variant, the XLR-V.

The XLR came with an extended list of options and accessories, had a low level of noise, better handling than conventional boat-like Cadillacs, and a 4.6-liter Northstar V8 engine with 320 hp and 310 lb-ft under the hood.

On the XLR-V model, that engine was supercharged and produced 443 hp at 6,400 rpm and 414 lb-ft of torque at 3,900 rpm. The XLR-V accelerated to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and needed 13.0 seconds for a quarter mile. Its top speed was electronically limited to 155 mph.

The Cadillac XLR was a nice luxury sports car overall, albeit expensive. Despite the fact that the model failed in sales, it was a trailblazer, and the automaker learned a lesson from the XLR-V’s failure during the development of the following V-badged Cadillacs.

Cadillac Escalade

It is impossible to talk about Cadillac without mentioning the Escalade. This is Cadillac’s first major entry into the SUV market, its response to competition from the Range-Rover, Lincoln Navigator, Lexus LX, or the Mercedes-Benz GLE. Since the company launched the Escallade in 1998 as a more expensive twin of the GMC Yukon Denali, the model could gain a reputation as a standard-bearer for large American SUV luxury.

Today it is the brand’s best-seller and the winner of numerous awards and rankings. Already five generations have been released. The second-generation Escalade was the first to have distinctive Cadillac styling and interior. From the third generation, the Escalade became a true luxury vehicle and a status symbol.

From the 2002 to 2013 model years, Cadillac offered the Escalade EXT SUT (sport utility truck). The model also has a stunning ESV version with a longer wheelbase and body, and more cargo space. But the best Escalade, in our opinion, is a high-performance Cadillac Escalade-V (from 2022).

Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

This is arguably the greatest American sport sedan of all time. It arrived for the 2022 model year as the spiritual successor to the CTS-V, and, indeed, the Blackwing is the pinnacle of everything Cadillac had created since the launch of the CTS.

Looks like the CT5-V Blackwing marks the end of the era of gas-powered performance Cadillacs. The front-engine, rear-wheel-drive car is powered by a stonking 6.2-liter 668-hp supercharged V8 that pairs either a 6-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission.

In addition to a luxurious, well-appointed cabin, the model has an array of high-performance features as standard: lightweight alloy wheels, carbon-fiber accents, a performance recorder developed jointly with Cosworth Engineering, Brembo brakes, Magnetic Ride Control, and others.