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Are Cadillac Good Cars? Read this before buying

There was a time when Cadillacs were one of the most recognizable luxury cars on the road, carrying some of the world’s most powerful individuals. Who could forget Elvis’s famous pink Cadillacs? Founded in 1902, Cadillac boasts a long history of awards, and they set much of the groundwork for the modern production of vehicles.

Today, Cadillac is one of four brands owned by General Motors and has a reputation for performance and advanced technology. However, the company has lost some of its momentum in recent years, which leads many people to wonder, “Are Cadillac good cars?”

Cadillac isn’t a bad car, they have won the J.D Power “Quality Award” every year from 2002 to 2020. However, their historical reliability and customer satisfaction ratings have been mixed. Repair Pal has given Cadillac an overall reliability rating of 3.0 out of 5.0, ranking it 26th out of 32 brands.

Few brand names have become synonymous with words like luxury, but Cadillac is one of them. Their luxurious features and style, powerful engine, spacious cabins/cargo space, and innovative technology have earned them their spot among the top luxury brands,

The future is looking bright for this star company as they plan to release their first fully electric luxury vehicle in early 2022.

Sophisticated and stylish, Cadillac offers its customers a wide range of vehicles in several price ranges. Read on to get all your Cadillac questions answered today.

Cadillac on street

Is Cadillac a Reliable Brand?

Reliability is a mixed bag, as said, Repair Pal has given Cadillac an overall reliability rating of 3.0 out of 5.0, ranking it 26th out of 32 for all brands. They calculated that rating based on the cost, frequency, and severity of any unplanned repairs that might come up.

However, Repair Pal only factors 2010-2019 vehicle year models into their reliability rating. It’s important to note that Cadillac is a luxury car brand, which could contribute to the high price of repairs. 

Cadillac is currently putting a lot of attention and effort into addressing the downward trajectory of its ratings in recent years. In fact, they recently ranked fifth place in the 2021 J.D Power U.S Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), an award they had not won since 2011. However, they have won the “Quality Award” every year from 2002 to 2020. Source: JD Power.

JD Power Cadillac Reliability Score

Model2019201820172016
Escalade82/10082/10072/10062/100
XT582/10087/10084/100n/a
XTSn/an/an/a82/100
CTS74/100n/an/a78/100
ATSn/an/a76/100n/a

How Much Do Cadillacs Cost?

General Motors leading luxury division, Cadillac, offers a variety of sedans and SUVs that range significantly in price. How much you spend on a Cadillac will depend on whether you are buying a new or used one and the number of extra features you incorporate into the car. 

A new 2021-2022 Cadillac will cost anywhere from $33,395 – $79,195. You can find the prices for the 2021-2022 models, in order from least to most expensive, below. 

YearModelPrice
2021CT4/CT4-V$33,395
2021XT4$35,795
2021CT5/CT5-V$36,995
2021XT5$43,995
2022XT5$43,995
2021XT6$48,045
2022XT6$48,595
2021ESCALADE ESV$79,195

These prices are the minimum prices available from Cadillac dealerships but do not reflect prices that may change due to location, interest, or added features.

The price of a used Cadillac will vary depending on the model, year, condition, and features. However, according to CarGurus, a used Cadillac in 2021 will run you anywhere between $17,837 for a Cadillac Eldorado to $59,279 for a Cadillac CTS-V.

Are Cadillac’s Long-Lasting Cars?

There are many factors that you must consider when trying to assess the lifespan of a vehicle. However, the average Cadillac will run for anywhere between 150,000-200,000 miles, or around ten to fifteen years. 

According to Consumer Reports, the average car will last about eight years, which translates to around 150,000 miles. Cadillac designs their vehicles to be rugged, luxurious, and last longer than most average cars, with top models hitting 200,000 miles, but they don’t get there on their own. Like any vehicle, Cadillacs require regular maintenance to ensure you get the most life out of your car. 

Most Likely Car Brands to Reach 200,000 Miles

RankMake
1Toyota
2Honda
3Chevrolet
4Cadillac
5GMC
6Ford
7RAM
Source: iseecars.com

Although Cadillac has always taken pride in its advanced technology, its previously complex engine, the General Motors NorthStar engine, may have been the reason for many of Cadillac’s poor ratings. This content is owned by moc.sotuaytsur. Because of confusion surrounding maintenance and repairs on the engine, users did not service the motor properly, and as a result, they experienced a wide range of problems.

This issue has since been resolved with General Motors stopping the production of the NorthStar engine and replacing it with the V-series engine.

Unfortunately, this problem highlights the tremendous importance of following your vehicle’s maintenance schedule.

How Much Does It Cost to Maintain a Cadillac?

According to CAREDGE, the cost of maintaining a Cadillac will run you around $13,406 for the first ten years of services. There is a 30.71% chance that your Cadillac will need at least one major repair (which includes anything over $500) during those ten years.

That averages out to around $1,117 a year, which ranks the brand as the 3rd most expensive car to repair. Among the different models, the CTS and STS average the least annual maintenance, while the Escalade and Escalade EVS are the most expensive.

Caddy xt5

How Much Does It Cost to Insure a Cadillac?

The cost of insurance varies depending on the insurance company, characteristics of the person insuring the vehicle, and the vehicle itself. However, according to Thezebra, the average price to insure a Caddy is $162 dollars a month, which translates into $1944 a year. This is about $47 dollars more per year than the average car.

What Are the Most Common Problems with Cadillacs

Every vehicle has a list of common problems, and Cadillacs are no exception. Each model comes with its own set of common issues, but the top three problems reported on carcomplaints.com are:

  • Water in lights
  • Engine burns oil
  • Seal on headlight

Some other common problems with Cadillacs are:

  • Rear bezel falling off
  • Delaminated CUE screens
  • RXL roof detaches
  • SRX rollaway problems
  • A/C condenser leaks

What Are the Customers Saying?

It is not hard to find opinions from people who own/have owned Cadillacs, which vary a bit. However, the consensus among Caddy owners seems to be that they love their vehicle and its luxury.

Let’s look at the pros and cons of owning a Cadillac from the customer’s point of view.

Pros

Elizabeth Z: “I love the way they look! Very classy!”

Jobeth R: “I just got my one and I love it.”

Lisele H: “I love mine!! Surprised at how easy it has been to maintain as well.”

Cons

Joanna B: “Only downside is that the parts are extremely unique and expensive. Can’t get just any part!”

Clair V: “The cost of repairs is con. Cadillac problems are not cheap.”

Eva M: “They really need to concentrate on the electrical problems that comes with owning one. Also, I know they are notorious for air shock issues…”

Jean M: “The suspension that gives a Cadillac sedan its award-winning smooth ride does not hold up well to potholes. Repair bill this month for new kingpins and axle $1,950.”

Source: Influencer.com

If you do decide to buy a used Cadillac or any vehicle, it’s worth investing a few dollars to check the VIN number against the vehicle database. An audit with a company like VinAudit (links to VinAudit) will guard against Mileage fraud, Salvage rebuilds, Title washing, Vin cloning, and a ton of other uglies.

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