Edmunds: Entry Level Sport Sedans
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Lexus Test Driver
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Edmunds: Entry Level Sport Sedans
G35 vs 335i vs CTS vs IS350 vs C350
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=123235
G37 vs 335Ci
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=121462
"Nearly every aspect of our drive feels more natural in the 335i," one of our editors recorded in the notebook for this comparison. "I'm not sure what the price difference is, but the BMW feels $15,000 better."
edmunds
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=123235
G37 vs 335Ci
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=121462
"Nearly every aspect of our drive feels more natural in the 335i," one of our editors recorded in the notebook for this comparison. "I'm not sure what the price difference is, but the BMW feels $15,000 better."
edmunds
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#1. G35
#2. 335i
#3. CTS
#4. IS 350
#5. C350
Sadly the brand new car, the C-Class, places last. I'm not sure that was deserved. Naturally they like the G35, despite the second opinion stating that 'no sane adult' would choose it. And funny how they mention the IS 350 as the 'old man' of the group. Actually in some ways this is true as the G35, 335i (IIRC), CTS, and C350 are all newer models.
And as Mr. Jones points out indeed this is not quite consistent with previous Edmunds reports, just like other articles have been--which leads me to conclude that it depends highly on who was doing the tests/judging/writing.
Looking at the "Personal Rating" and "Recommended Rating" categories, where it is subjective/and recommended to others, the IS 350 and C350 both rank last. It's pretty clear the judges did not personally like the IS and C or recommend them. In the end I think that these judges probably have a preference for the attributes of the other vehicles, which reflected in their final analyses.
#2. 335i
#3. CTS
#4. IS 350
#5. C350
Sadly the brand new car, the C-Class, places last. I'm not sure that was deserved. Naturally they like the G35, despite the second opinion stating that 'no sane adult' would choose it. And funny how they mention the IS 350 as the 'old man' of the group. Actually in some ways this is true as the G35, 335i (IIRC), CTS, and C350 are all newer models.
And as Mr. Jones points out indeed this is not quite consistent with previous Edmunds reports, just like other articles have been--which leads me to conclude that it depends highly on who was doing the tests/judging/writing.
Looking at the "Personal Rating" and "Recommended Rating" categories, where it is subjective/and recommended to others, the IS 350 and C350 both rank last. It's pretty clear the judges did not personally like the IS and C or recommend them. In the end I think that these judges probably have a preference for the attributes of the other vehicles, which reflected in their final analyses.
Last edited by encore888; Nov 4, 2007 at 11:23 AM.
Well, what they said about the IS is true... it is certainly less connected than the 335i and the G35 (I've never driven the CTS so I am not sure). I quite frankly am just glad it didn't come in last.
Lexus Test Driver
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Looks like the G35 will keep winning as long as they can keep the price difference greater than 6k. You do get a lot for the money. I personally like reviews that focus more on the writers personal feelings on each car because it seemed like they preferred the 335i or CTS, but still went with the G because of $.
FWIW, I think the new CTS is hot.
FWIW, I think the new CTS is hot.
Last edited by picus; Nov 4, 2007 at 01:13 PM.
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Ok, let's see here:
10% of the final ranking score was based on PURE opinion. In both personal and recommended ratings, the IS placed dead last, the C-Class near the bottom, and the CTS receiving a high percentage of personal and recommended ratings. Fair enough, it's opinion.
Now onto the "evaluation score". Much of that was also opinion-based, not objective. Fair enough then.
We already have 30% out of 100% in final rankings largely based on opinion.
Then there is the "feature content" score, another 20% of the final ranking score. Here Edmunds picked 7 features which they thought in their opinion were important. Who cares about comparing ALL the features of each car right? I mean selecting 7 features based on opinion and then comparing all of these cars is a much better idea.
No mention was made if the cars were tested with stability control systems on or off. That makes a big difference in terms of "connection with the road", which the C-Class and IS got slammed for.
Then there is this:
So the IS350 is slammed and criticized for having a balance of luxury and sport? You've got to be kidding me. That is what this segment is ALL about. It's as if Edmunds totally ignorant the "luxury" aspect and focused only on the "sport" aspect of these cars.
In my opinion, build quality, luxury, design and features all matter just as much as sport and performance. In my *opinion*, the C-Class and IS should have placed ahead of the CTS.
10% of the final ranking score was based on PURE opinion. In both personal and recommended ratings, the IS placed dead last, the C-Class near the bottom, and the CTS receiving a high percentage of personal and recommended ratings. Fair enough, it's opinion.
Now onto the "evaluation score". Much of that was also opinion-based, not objective. Fair enough then.
We already have 30% out of 100% in final rankings largely based on opinion.
Then there is the "feature content" score, another 20% of the final ranking score. Here Edmunds picked 7 features which they thought in their opinion were important. Who cares about comparing ALL the features of each car right? I mean selecting 7 features based on opinion and then comparing all of these cars is a much better idea.
No mention was made if the cars were tested with stability control systems on or off. That makes a big difference in terms of "connection with the road", which the C-Class and IS got slammed for.
Then there is this:
Originally Posted by Edmunds
Partly, this is due to the rapid advances of its competition — both the Cadillac's and the Benz's navigation and audio systems are more refined (and cost less) — and to its balance of luxury and sport, which keeps it from connecting with the driver as powerfully as its competition does. Put simply, the Lexus is a fast, well-built sedan that lacks the spirit or value of its more engaging counterparts.
In my opinion, build quality, luxury, design and features all matter just as much as sport and performance. In my *opinion*, the C-Class and IS should have placed ahead of the CTS.
Last edited by TRDFantasy; Nov 4, 2007 at 01:45 PM.
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Lexus Test Driver
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Lexus Champion
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I have stopped care for what the car magazines say and how they rank the cars they tested in comparison tests. All magazines have their own preferences. So I would do the test driving myself if I want to buy a car in this particular class. I agree that both 335i and G35 sedan have better connection and steering feel than IS350. But 335i just look ugly to me both exterior and interior-wise.
Lexus Test Driver
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and doesnt hold the gear. Lexus should really look into DSG transmissions.
Pole Position
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This is to those who keep whining about how Infiniti needs to upgrade their 5-speed automatic transmission to something with more gears:
The G35's power plant is the same 3.5-liter V6 used in virtually every other Nissan and Infiniti product, but it feels most at home here, under the hood of this stellar sedan. In G35 trim, the VQ35 cranks out 306 hp and 268 lb-ft of torque through the best automatic transmission in the class. The G's five-speed tranny not only responds quickest to the throttle, but also has the sharpest, most aggressive gearchanges (with rev-matched downshifts) of any automatic we've ever driven. And it feels as comfortable while blasting between gears with hard-hitting precision at full throttle as it does swapping cogs with a simple switch and slide in commuter traffic.
'nuff said
The G35's power plant is the same 3.5-liter V6 used in virtually every other Nissan and Infiniti product, but it feels most at home here, under the hood of this stellar sedan. In G35 trim, the VQ35 cranks out 306 hp and 268 lb-ft of torque through the best automatic transmission in the class. The G's five-speed tranny not only responds quickest to the throttle, but also has the sharpest, most aggressive gearchanges (with rev-matched downshifts) of any automatic we've ever driven. And it feels as comfortable while blasting between gears with hard-hitting precision at full throttle as it does swapping cogs with a simple switch and slide in commuter traffic.
'nuff said
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: NY
This is to those who keep whining about how Infiniti needs to upgrade their 5-speed automatic transmission to something with more gears:
The G35's power plant is the same 3.5-liter V6 used in virtually every other Nissan and Infiniti product, but it feels most at home here, under the hood of this stellar sedan. In G35 trim, the VQ35 cranks out 306 hp and 268 lb-ft of torque through the best automatic transmission in the class. The G's five-speed tranny not only responds quickest to the throttle, but also has the sharpest, most aggressive gearchanges (with rev-matched downshifts) of any automatic we've ever driven. And it feels as comfortable while blasting between gears with hard-hitting precision at full throttle as it does swapping cogs with a simple switch and slide in commuter traffic.
'nuff said
The G35's power plant is the same 3.5-liter V6 used in virtually every other Nissan and Infiniti product, but it feels most at home here, under the hood of this stellar sedan. In G35 trim, the VQ35 cranks out 306 hp and 268 lb-ft of torque through the best automatic transmission in the class. The G's five-speed tranny not only responds quickest to the throttle, but also has the sharpest, most aggressive gearchanges (with rev-matched downshifts) of any automatic we've ever driven. And it feels as comfortable while blasting between gears with hard-hitting precision at full throttle as it does swapping cogs with a simple switch and slide in commuter traffic.
'nuff said
Driver
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From: Illinois
God, i hate the C-Class. The E92 is nice, but gets beat by the G37. The C-Class is a joke of car and is un-Mercedes like to release such a poor car. I'm not sure where the IS places, as it is the only one of the group i haven't personally driven. I would believe slightly under the E92 and G37 though.