Are Cadillacs Reliable And Good Cars? (Let’s Find Out)

Last Updated on December 17, 2023 by Leepu Da Maxim

Cadillac is the second oldest auto-manufacturing brand in the U.S.; it has made cars since 1902. Cadillac is the leader in the manufacture of luxury cars in the U.S. The brand makes really good cars that are a status symbol; however, its reliability rating is below average.

Key Takeaways

• Cadillac is a luxury car brand and it is very renowned for producing high-end vehicles with advanced features
• According to Consumer Reports’ 2022 Annual Auto Reliability Survey, Cadillac ranked 26th out of 32 major car brands
• In terms of safety, most Cadillac vehicles have safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, etc.

Are Cadillacs good cars?

Cadillacs are outstanding luxury cars with a reputation for advanced technology and performance. The brand set the standard for most features on vehicles today and has a long-standing history of awards.

In recent years, Cadillac models have been plagued with issues, maybe because of the advancement in technology. This issue has cost the brand’s reputation, and most people are left wondering if Cadillacs are good cars.

The brand has won several awards for making quality luxury cars; their vehicles come packed with powerful engines, innovative technology, and style. Cadillac will do that perfectly if you want a car that screams “stylish and sophisticated.”

Everyone has their standards of what makes a good car, but as a general rule, good vehicles have the following characteristics:

• A good car is safe
• Fast
• Affordable to buy and maintain
• It is spacious and comfortable
• Stylish and attractive

To tell whether Cadillacs are good cars, let’s look at how many of these characteristics their vehicles possess.

Safety

A good car is safe for drivers, passengers, and other road users. The most common way to tell whether a vehicle is safe is to look at the NHTSA safety ratings. Look at the NHTSA star ratings to know whether the model you want to buy is safe. If a vehicle has more stars, it is more reliable safety-wise.

Another way to tell if a car is secure is to look at the standard safety features.

Most Cadillac models have 4-star NHTSA ratings. Every Cadillac model, regardless of the trim level, also comes with advanced safety features as standard, such as:

1. Forward collision alert
2. Automatic emergency braking
3. Rear park assist
4. Front pedestrian braking
5. Safety alert seat
6. Vehicle diagnostics
7. Rear vision camera
8. Rear seat reminder
9. Teen driver mode allows parents to set features such as audio volume when a teen is driving
10. Fast

Cadillac makes some of the fastest and most powerful cars ever to exist. The fastest Cadillac has to be the CTS-V, which has a top speed of 199mph with a 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds. Some other fast Cadillac models that are worth the mention include: the CT6-V Blackwing, Cadillac ATS-V, Cadillac STS, and Cadillac BLS.

Affordable to buy and maintain

Cadillacs are not the most affordable cars on the market but considering it’s a luxury brand, they do pretty well. The most affordable Cadillacs have an average price of $30,000 and an annual repair cost of $783. These prices are above the industry average, but because Cadillac is a luxury brand, the price is justifiable

Spacious and comfortable

Since long ago, Cadillac has been known to produce the most comfortable rides with plenty of space. Anyone who’s owned a Cadillac can tell the struggle of finding another car that matches its comfort. Because Cadillacs are luxury cars, the comfort is made even better by the interior finishing and luxury features.

Stylish and attractive

Do we need to mention how stylish Cadillacs are? Every Cadillac model is designed to ooze elegance and style. If you want a statement car that is extremely attractive and stylish, Cadillac is the way to go.

Are Cadillacs good cars?

 Yes, Cadillac ticks all the boxes of what makes a good car. If you wondered whether Cadillacs are good cars, you now have your answer.

Are Cadillacs reliable?

Now that we know that Cadillacs are good cars let’s find out if they are reliable. When it comes to reliability ratings, Cadillacs have below-average reliability scores.

According to the J.D Power 2022 U.S vehicle dependability study, Cadillac ranks 9^th most reliable brand. The Cadillac XT4 ranks third most reliable compact premium SUV and the Cadillac XT5 ranks among the best premium midsize SUV.

Going by Repairpal  Reliability ratings, Cadillac has a 3.0 out of 5.0, ranking 26^th out of all 32 car brands. The brand also has an annual maintenance cost of $783, 0.4 average visits to the repair shop, with 17% of these being severe.

Consumer reports rank Cadillac as the fourth least reliable car brand, with only the 2022 Cadillac XT5 SUV being the only dependable model.

Going by these varied ratings, you can tell that Cadillac models have reliability issues. The ratings could be because models are expensive to maintain: luxury cars are generally more costly. The average annual cost of repairing a Cadillac is $783, while the average for all models is $652. The brand also has a higher probability of experiencing severe issues at 17%, while the probability across all models is 12%.

What are the most reliable Cadillac models?

Cadillac XT5 SUV

According to consumer reports rating, the Cadillac XT5 SUV has a reliability score of 89. The model performs excellently with very minimal trouble areas. The model has a nine-speed automatic transmission and two engine options: a naturally aspirated 3.6L V6 gasoline engine rated at 310 hp and 271 pound-feet of torque and a turbocharged 2.0L L4 gasoline rated at 237 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque.

The model has an upscale and stylish exterior and a well-equipped spacious cabin. It also delivers impressive performance, excellent ride quality, and an MSRP of $45,290. You can’t go wrong with this model.

Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

This model suits all your needs; For lovers of speed and comfort, you may need to invest more, but it is worth it. The car has impeccable driving technology, which is unrivaled. It also features a weighted brake pedal and a perfectly balanced steering wheel, giving the smoothest ride experience ever.

Cadillac XT4

If you are in the market for an affordable SUV that won’t be put deep into your pockets with the gas price, then this is it. It has excellent safety ratings and fuel economy. The XT4  SUV also comes packed with infotainment features making it popular.

What are common Cadillac problems?

Cadillacs have been experiencing issues that have affected their reliability ratings and brand image in recent years. The most common problems across Cadillac models include: A/C condenser leaks, malfunctioning steering wheel sensors, infotainment system issues, and Airbag recalls.

Every model has its unique issues, but the above are the most recurrent among models; below is a breakdown of some popular Cadillac models and their common issues and how much they cost on average to repair.

Cadillac Model	Reliability rating (J.D power )	Common problems	The annual average repair cost
SRX	82/100	Leaking sunroof, headlight issues, loose toe link	$703
CTS	74/100	Faulty steering sensor, timing chain issues	$663
Escalade	78/100	HVAC issues, weak door handles, transmission and suspension issues	$1,007
XTS	82/100	Electrical issues	$ 875
De Ville	–	Overheating and engine leaks	$476

Winding Up: Should I Buy A Cadillac?

Cadillacs are excellent luxury cars; they are comfortable and stylish and come with many useful features. The brand has average reliability ratings, but that doesn’t mean its cars have poor performance. If you can afford the maintenance costs of a Cadillac, get yourself one. You will enjoy peak performance from a luxurious vehicle whose chances of experiencing significant issues are only 17%.

References:

https://www.copilotsearch.com/posts/are-cadillacs-reliable/

https://repairpal.com/reliability/cadillac