13 Unforgettable Cadillac Designs We All Loved

Cadillac is one of the most well-known and loved automotive manufacturers in North America. The American company has given some classic designs, some of which have also been revolutionary.

Narrowing down the best Cadillacs throughout history isn’t easy. However, we think we might have done just that with this list.

We have 13 excellent Cadillacs here we all love. Their overall design and style are essential, but we’ve also considered performance and reliability.

Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

The standard Cadillac CT5-V is already an excellent sedan. However, the Blackwing takes it to a whole new level, turning it into something that could rival the very best of the supercar world while retaining all of the expected Cadillac luxury.

Under the hood of the CT5-V Blackwing is a massive 6.2-liter turbocharged V8 engine producing 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft of torque. Those are truly remarkable numbers. What is even more impressive is the CT5-V Blackwing will set you back less than $100,000.

1930 Cadillac V-16

Cadillac has been producing cars for as long as we can remember. While their bread and butter has been big V8 engines, the company has also experimented with some more exciting powertrains in the past. In 1930, Cadillac merged two V8s to create a V16.

This would power the imposing 1930 Cadillac V-16, a luxury car like no other with an incredibly streamlined body. The massive engine made 165 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. Despite debuting one year after the 1929 Wall Street Crash, it surpassed all expectations from the company at the time.

2002 Cadillac Escallade

While it is far from the prettiest design ever, the 2002 Cadillac Escalade is one of the best versions of the company’s flagship SUV. It was part of the second generation of the model, with two V8 engines available.

Buyers could choose from the base 5.3-liter unit or the option 6.0-liter engine, both backed up with a four-speed automatic transmission. The second-generation Escalade saw the SUV explode in popularity, competing with SUVs from rival General Motors brands.

Cadillac Cien

Cadillac is not afraid to experiment and produce radical concept cars. This was seen back in 2002 when the manufacturer launched the eye-opening Cien. The Cien was a supercar concept designed by Simon Cox to celebrate the company’s 100th anniversary. The name Cien is Spanish for one hundred.

The Cien had a 7.5-liter Northstar XV12 V12 engine under the hood, producing 750 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. Cadillac did have plans to put the car into production, but limited development funds and the expected $200,000 MSRP meant those plans never came to fruition.

1959 Cadillac Series 62

Cadilac is responsible for some of the most beautiful and most dramatic-looking cars in automotive history. The 1959 Cadillac Series 62 is one of those, with its exterior dominated by the incredible tailfins on either side of the vehicle. The dual bullet taillights were also a notable feature.

The Series 62’s power came from a 6.4-liter OHV V8 engine. This produced 304-345 horsepower and 404-435 lb-ft of torque, which were imposing figures for the late 1950s. Even the 0-60 mph time of around 10 seconds was impressive.

2003 Cadillac CTS

In the early 2000s, Cadillac knew it had to take aim at its rivals in Germany, such as Mercedes and BMW, and create a luxury sports sedan. Europe was dominating the segment, so Cadillac came out of the starting blocks, all guns blazing, with the incredible 2003 CTS.

The 2003 CTS was an excellent sports sedan that was still incredibly luxurious yet had a sporty, aggressive appearance. Power came from several engines, including a 2.6-liter V6 and a 6.0-liter LS2 V8 engine featured in the CTS-V. The 2003 CTS was an actual warning shot to European car manufacturers.

Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

The idea of a sporty, performance station wagon is not very common in 2024. But in the early 2010s, Cadillac came up with perhaps the best of the lot: the striking CTS-V Sport Wagon, part of the second-generation CTS line.

When we say sports wagon, we really do mean it. The CTS-V wagon had a massive 6.2-liter V8 engine under the hood, producing 556 horsepower. Owners had the option of a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, and Cadillac’s daring to build the wagon should forever be applauded.

1998 Cadillac Seville

The gas crisis of the 1970s saw most of Cadillac’s incredibly full-size luxury vehicles toned down, and not just with their performance. Gone were the vast chrome bumpers and tail fins. In came clean, understated designs that symbolized the way the world was going.

But Cadillac still had luxury at its core. In 1998, the company revamped the Seville so it could compete with the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. While the GM G-platform didn’t help it, the 1998 Seville was still a competent sedan, with its 4.6-liter DOHC V8 engine under the hood.

1953 Cadillac Eldorado

One of the most iconic and well-known cars from Cadillac’s history is the 1953 Eldorado. This limited-run, special-edition convertible was built by Cadillac to showcase the styling prowess of parent company General Motors. Cadillac actually built just 532 of them in total, which was a production version of the 1952 El Dorado Golden Anniversary concept.

Power came from a 331 ci 5.4-liter V8 engine with a four-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. Other notable extra features include power windows, windshield washers, and a heater.

2004 Cadillac XLR-V

Sometimes, Cadillac broke the mold and produced something that didn’t sound like a part of its DNA. This includes the 2004 Cadillac XLR-V, a two-door sports car showing the company could do more than produce a comfortable, four-door luxury sedan.

After several eye-opening concepts, the Cadillac sports car finally entered production as the XLR in 2003. The XLR-V was the high-performance version, and both shared the same platform as the Y-body Chevrolet Corvette. Under the hood was an almighty 4.4-liter supercharged DOHC V8 engine, producing 443 horsepower and 414 lb-ft of torque.

2016 Cadillac ATS-V

The 2016 Cadillac ATS-V is one of the best Cadillacs of the modern era, as it benefitted from a significant change from General Motors. The company had recently penned its Alpha platform, a game changer which helped to elevate the handling and driving dynamics of its cars.

Now, they could take on the best from Europe, and the ATS-V benefited massively from this. Power was also good, with the ATS-V featuring a 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged V6 producing 471 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque.

1977 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham

The Brougham name is as synonymous with Cadillac as Eldorado, and Cadillac began using it in the 1970s. Ironically, it first appeared on a range of Eldorado models, with the brand then using it on the Fleetwood Brougham. The 1977 Fleetwood Brougham had a 7.0-liter OHV V8 under the hood, producing up to 195 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque.

Of course, as we all know, the Fleetwood Brougham became the car of choice for those involved in shady business, helping it become one of the most menacing cars of the era and immortalized on the big screen.

Cadillac CT4

It might not be as dramatic as the CT5-V Blackwing, but the current Cadillac CT4 is one of its best cars from a purely design standpoint. According to Consumer Reports, it is a more affordable vehicle than even the standard CT5V, costing less than $35,000 and offering excellent reliability.

Under the hood, you get two engine options. These are the turbocharged 2.0-liter and 2.7-liter four-cylinder engines. The former produces 237 horsepower, while the latter increases the output to 310 horsepower.