Cadillac is taking a new step to another level that it hasn’t been on in decades. As it aims to once again take on the mantle of the ‘Standard of the World’, we want to take a look back at where it’s come from. What’s the most disappointing Cadillac in history?
There are quite a few potential answers to this question so we’ll just talk about the first five that popped into my head. That list starts out with the Cadillac SRX. While the Escalade already existed as the full-size SUV of the family, the SRX was meant to usher in a sportier and sleeker era. Instead, it proved unreliable and unremarkable.
The ELR was also meant to make a splash as the brand’s foray into electrification. While it technically accomplished that simply by existing, it also cost so much that it wasn’t adopted by many. Over four years of production fewer than 3,000 rolled off of the line.
More: As Cadillac Goes Electric, We Take A Look Back At The ELR
Of course, it’s not just newer Caddys that have disappointed fans. The Cadillac Catera is next on our list and boy was it rough. GM leveraged its relationship with Opel to bring a rebadged Omega B to our shores as the Catera and that didn’t sound bad considering it was a rear-wheel drive German-built sedan. Sadly, it proved unreliable as well and never caught on in America.
Speaking of cars that never really caught on, the XLR sure looked like the future of Cadillac when it arrived on the scene in 2003. Reminiscent of the Evoq concept of 1999, the XLR carried a lot of presence but was only available with a 4.6-liter Northstar V8 and an automatic transmission. Even the XLR-V was auto only. At least it was supercharged.
Really though, if there’s a disappointing Cadillac from history that deserves condemnation, it’s gotta be the Allante. The story of the lengths that Cadillac went to simply to physically construct the Allante is unbelievable and includes flying the body of each car from Pininfarina in Italy to the US for final assembly in a Boeing 747 specifically built for the task.
To go to that much trouble and then fail to make a car that was good enough to overtake the buying public feels like a crime. Hopefully, the Celestiq doesn’t suffer the same fate. Is the most disappointing Cadillac in your eyes on our list or is it something else? Let us know below!
