10 Best Cadillac Cars Ever Built

Cadillac is one of the oldest car manufacturers, dating back to 1902. Automotive giant, General Motors, took ownership of Cadillac in 1909, and since then, the American automaker has been GM’s luxury arm. Under General Motors’ ownership, Cadillac churned out truly spectacular models, many of which became icons either to their design, innovations or simply their popularity with certain celebrities like the King of Rock’n Roll himself.

But Cadillacs are not just about luxury. Almost all Cadillacs in the brand’s history pack big V-8s and in some cases, even V-16 engines that boast massive power. While these engines are typically “geared” for low-end torque instead of top-end power, performance is another thing Cadillac excels at.

This is especially true for more modern offerings, which more often than not, share components with GM’s flagship sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette. While certain models of the American luxury brand were not all they could be, they were an important milestone in Cadillac’s evolution. Without further due, these are the best Cadillacs ever built.

Related: Cadillac XP-840 Eldorado Fastback Was Way Ahead Of Its Time

10 1930 Cadillac V-16

Top Speed: 80-100 MPH

While big V-8s are Cadillac’s forte, the brand’s engineers have dabbled in more unusual engine configurations as early as 1930. This was usually in the form of merging two V-8 engines, creating a massive V-16. While Cadillac’s imposing Sixteen concept is the latest example, Caddy’s V-16 dates back to 1930. In true Cadillac fashion, the V-16 was an ultra-luxury car, and it could be had, both, as a roadster and fixed-head body style.

1930-1940 Cadillac V-16 Specifications

(Performance specifications sourced from Cadillac and automobile catalog)

While the 45-degree, pushrod V-16 deserves a section of its own, the Caddy V-16’s biggest feat is that it surpassed all sales expectations despite its debut one year after the Wall Street crash of 1929. A total of 4,076 examples were built, many of which scored a fully bespoke body like the 1937 V-16 Hartman Cabriolet, which was based on the Series 452 Cadillac V-16.

9 1977 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham

Top Speed: 114 MPH

Cadillac put the Brougham name on a variety of Cadillac Eldorado models to signify an elevated level of luxury compared to the lesser variants. Being a smog-era car, the Fleetwood Brougham came with a smaller, 425 cubic-inch V-8, which was a de-stroked variant of the older 472 and 500 cubic-inch V-8 engines. While power was significantly reduced due to all the smog equipment and “lazier” camshafts, mid-range torque was always the name of the game with the big Caddy. And it had plenty of it to loft you around in opulence.

Specifications

(Performance specifications sourced from Cadillac and automobile catalog)

The Fleetwood Brougham quickly became the car of choice for the underground and the trunk was big enough for four poor souls who didn’t pay their debt in time. The 1977 Brougham was shorter and narrower than previous full-size Caddies, but still substantial and menacing enough to be immortalized in cinema.

8 1959 Cadillac Series 62

Top Speed: 127 MPH

Series 62 refers to a whole family of flagship, Cadillac models, produced between 1940 and 1964. With that said, it was the sixth generation (1959-1960) that made its biggest mark. While Elvis Presley’s pink Cadillac Fleetwood 60 made quite the impression as well as his other cars, it was the 1959 model that was the most ground-breaking of its day. Its design scored gigantic fins and dual-bullet taillights. Back then, aeronautics was where car designers drew inspiration from, and the 1959 Caddy Series 62 made that apparent.

Specifications

(Performance specifications sourced from Cadillac and automobile catalog)

When you think of a classic Cadillac, it’s typically, the image of a 1959 Series 62 that pops up in your head. Classic Cadillacs were all about luxury and excess. The sixth generation was, quite simply, a massive, 225-inch icon of luxury and excess, and not for the shy of individuals, which is why it was synonymous with high-profile personas like Marilyn Monroe, Al Capone, Elvis, and even U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Related: An LS-Swapped 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Goes Up Against A 2021 Challenger T/A 392 Widebody In This Epic Drag Race

7 1965 Cadillac DeVille/ Eldorado

Top Speed: 131 MPH

When it came to the 1960s American motoring, the Muscle cars stole the spotlight. But while demand for affordable, American horsepower was at an all-time high and carmakers were dishing it out on American racetracks and drag strips, American luxury cars still had their fair share of the automotive market. And when it comes to 1960s luxury, the Cadillac DeVille and Eldorado were as good as they could get. The sixth-generation Eldorado corresponded to the third-generation DeVille, the Eldorado being the range-topper with all the options.

Specifications

(Performance specifications sourced from Cadillac and GM)

Both models came with a 7.0-liter (429 cu-in) V-8, but the DeVille got a larger, 472 V-8, in 1968. Even back in 1965, the DeVille/ Eldorado featured tech-like automatic dimming headlights. Even more surprising, in 1967, the Eldorado almost got a V-12. The 1965 DeVille was the beginning of the end for crazy automotive design. The tail fins were significantly toned down, and the chrome was reduced, although there were still miles of it.

6 1998 Cadillac Seville

Top Speed: 130 MPH (Electronically-governed)

After the 1970s, Cadillac’s full-size luxury models were significantly toned down. Chrome bumpers and large tail fins made way for clean, understated design language. But Cadillac was still about luxury and in 1998, Cadillac took its Seville luxury sedan, and did the unthinkable – pitted it against the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class. This effort was doomed to failure since the Cadillac Seville was underpinned by the GM G-platform, designed for a transverse engine and front-wheel drive.

Specifications

(Performance specifications sourced from Cadillac and automobile catalog)

The 1998 to 2004 Seville was more of an “old man’s luxury sedan” than a sports-luxury sedan and would go on to be appreciated years after its production had ended, mostly due to the potent, Northstar V-8. Throughout its production, a total of 171,130 fifth-generation Sevilles were sold. These luxury barges have stood the test of time, scoring 4.4 out of 5 on reliability, according to Kelley Blue Book.

5 2004 Cadillac XLR-V

Top Speed: 155 MPH (Electronically governed)

A two-door Cadillac sports car sounds like an oxymoron, but the truth is the American luxury brand has been romanticizing the idea of a two-door luxury sports car for a long time. These efforts spawned a variety of obscure concepts and even very rare production models like the Cadillac NART Zagato. A proper, mass-produced sports car from Cadillac, finally, came in 2003 in the Cadillac XLR, and in 2004, a high-performance variant joined the ranks.

Specifications

(Performance specifications sourced from Cadillac and GM)

Like the regular car, the XLR-V shared the Y-Body platform with the Chevy Corvette. The Caddy was a lot more upscale featuring a luxurious interior full of leather and wood. The base, Northstar V-8, made way for a smaller, but supercharged version of the DOHC engine. All we ever wanted was the tried-and-tested LS6 V-8, and that’s the main reason the XLR-V was largely forgotten. Still, it was an almost-perfect, luxury sports car from an unlikely place.

Related: Remembering GM’s Very Own Upmarket Corvette Alternative From The 2000s

4 2004 Cadillac CTS-V

Top Speed: 163 MPH

In the early 2000s, Cadillac’s desire to become more youth-oriented started manifesting itself. The earliest sign of that was the first-generation Cadillac CTS-V. For starters, the luxury sedan was underpinned by the all-new, GM Sigma platform, which was exclusive to Cadillac’s rear-wheel-drive models. The CTS-V’s most sporty trait, however, was the engine options.

Specifications

(Performance specifications sourced from Cadillac and automobile catalog)

Early models received the LS1-based LS6 V-8 while later ones were motivated by the LS2, both of which came from the C5 Z06 Corvette and C6 Chevrolet Corvette, respectively. Surprisingly, the first-generation Cadillac CTS-V was manual only. Even more impressive was the fact that all of a sudden, Cadillac offered a four-door luxury sedan that packed almost identical performance to the Corvette.

3 2016 Cadillac ATS-V

Top Speed: 185 MPH

In 2016, GM made an important step in improving the driving dynamics of its performance models. The GM Alpha platform was a game-changer when it arrived as it elevated GM’s performance models to their Japanese and European rivals. Along with the sixth-generation Camaro, Cadillac’s ATS was among the first models to benefit from the new platform, making it the most athletic Cadillac yet.

Specifications

(Performance specifications sourced from Cadillac and GM)

In GM’s history, there are a few performance models that ditched the V-8 for something more unconventional, the Buick GNX and GMC Syclone being some of them. Similarly, the Cadillac ATS-V drew power from the LF4, twin-turbo V-6 instead of a pushrod V-8. Coupled with a nimble chassis and a selection of great transmissions, the ATS-V packs similar performance to the current BMW M3, and that’s saying a lot.

2 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

Top Spee: 191 MPH

The second-generation Cadillac CTS-V shared more tech with the Corvette, including engine, Brembo brakes, and transmission options. The previous generation CTS-V started a tradition of offering manual transmission in Cadillac luxury sedans. The second-generation CTS-V scored a revised version of the Sigma platform, but more importantly, it branched out in terms of body styles. In addition to the sedan and coupe, Cadillac introduced its first-ever, high-performance station wagon.

Specifications

(Performance specifications sourced from Cadillac and automobile catalog)

The LSA V-8 engine was based on the Corvette C6 ZR-1’s LS9 unit and also featured a supercharger. The CTS-V Sport Wagon was, both, a practical family car and a drag-strip monster, and the model is still one of the fastest GM cars ever made.

Related: Top 10 Cadillac V-Series Performance Cars

1 2022 Cadillac CT5-V BLACKWING

Top Speed: 209 MPH

Cadillac may be about luxury, but in modern times, it is the only carmaker that will sell you a luxury sports sedan with a supercharged, pushrod V-8 and a manual. The BMW M5-rivalling Cadillac CT5-V BLACKWING is what we are talking about, and it fully harnesses the capabilities of the GM Alpha II platform to give more established models a run for their money. Interestingly enough, the 10-speed automatic is jointly developed between Ford Motor and General Motors. Aside from that, the CT5-V BLACKWING is all GM.

Specifications

(Performance specifications sourced from Cadillac and automobile catalog)

Once again, propulsion is shared with the Chevrolet Corvette, this time, the C7 Z06 model. The Cadillac CT5-V BLACKWING, currently, boasts the title of the fastest sedan, with a top speed of 209 mph (336 km/h), and it does so while being the most analog, luxury sports sedan money can buy.