Cadillacs are lower-tier luxury here, like Acura or Audi. Not Mercedes, Lexus, BMW level.
Audi are in same premium tier as bmw and merc in UK. In fact I'd say bmw are bottom of the 3 in terms of 'aspirational'.
They are definitely held in higher regard than Toyota and most other marques.
As someone else mentioned, pcp lease deals make these cars accessible to the masses, whereas 20 years ago, you'd generally have to be making good money to afford one.
They regularly do offers for £30 odd k list price cars, such as put 2k down (usually covered by car they're trading in), followed by 48 monthly payments of £200, then at end of 48 months you pay remaining balance to keep car, or trade in for another new one and keep monthly payments going. Most people don't seem to work out cost over long term and love it.
You see loads of small engine/diesel German cars driven around usually in 's line', 'm sport' or 'amg line' finishes, by posers in sun glasses appearing to think they're the dogs bollocks in their bottom of the range, sh1tty engined, shiny new German cars.
For me it was a case of avoiding that crap/look and to get an m3 or maybe when bored of that an rs5/6, c63. But I like bmw more, as less 'glitzy'/trendy but still immense pieces of machinery. I'd rather get a civic again, than a show off German car with a ****,underpowered engine, single exhaust pipe, that looks like a performance car.