I started a poll on 'Executive Class' luxury sedans a couple weeks ago, so I thought I'd do one for entry level this time.

Which 'Entry Level' luxury sedans are your favorites nowadays?
You can select up to 4 options from the poll.


Here are the options:

BMW 3-Series
Mercedes C-Class
Cadillac CTS
Lexus ES
Infiniti G
Lexus IS
Audi A4
Acura TL
Lincoln MKZ
Saab 9-3
Volvo S60
Jaguar X-Type

 

3-series
IS
S60

 

Cts
Es
Is
Tl

 

Is

Tl

3 / C

Cts

 

This is a tough one....REAL tough. You earned your money on this poll.

I've either reviewed or test-driven all of them, so I'm generally pretty familiar with them. These cars all have notable strengths and weaknesses...though, with most of them, the strengths generally outweigh the weaknesses. I think, though, these would be my 4 picks:

1: For an overall drivers' car, obviously the 3-Series, but ONLY if the I-Drive could be shut down and circumvented with regular controls. Otherwise, no deal, even with the car's marvelous steering and chassis dynamics. I simply will not have a car with I-Drive, period.

2. For lousy weather, several cars here offer AWD, but the Audi A4 has the longest-running and most-perfected AWD system (Quattro). It also has the superb DSG gearbox and interior fit-and-finish. But the same rule applies here for the MMI as for BMW's I-Drive. The MMI would be a deal breaker if it cannot be circumvented with regular controls.

3.The IS250 AWD would be my next choice for AWD, even though it is somewhat sluggish and takes its time to get rolling...the AWD's weight and drag bogs the 2.5L engine down just it does on the non-turbo 2.5L Subarus.
But the IS has an attractive interior and an excellent repair history, although the new IS interior, though plush-looking, is more plasticky than the rock-solid interior of the former IS300. Lexus should really consider doing an AWD IS350. The hardware is already there from the GS300 AWD, and GS350 AWD, and RX350 AWD.

4. The new Cadillac CTS is hard to beat for overall driving competence, and the new interior is (literally) light-years ahead of the old one, as is overall assembly quality (though I did notice a possible defective window seal on one of the two I reviewed). The lack of an AWD option, though, (as of now), may hurt its marketing in bad-weather areas.........there, the AWD Lincoln MKZ would be a good, though a little more conservative, domestic alternative.






The Jaguar X-Class is attractive and plush both inside and outside, and has standard AWD, but is poorly made, unreliable, and will soon be dropped.

The Mercedes C-Class is a great car for accident protection, safety features, and crashworthiness, but simply too unreliable.....in some areas, more so than the Jaguar.

The Volvo, likewise, is safe, but is about as fun and involving to drive as watching paint dry.....Volvo steering systems tend to be like novicaine. Ditto for the Saab, although the Saab has slightly better driving feel and different quirks than the Volvo. The Acura TL is an OK car but I never really liked or was impressed with it.....IMO the larger and more expensive RL totally blows it away.

 

IS, A4, Saab (it's actually pretty decent), TL (gorgeous car).

 

oooohh tough choice.

3 series for the dynamics and it's just a pleasure to drive

ES for the days you just want to be coddled

The Infiniti G is a great proposition. FE isn't that great but the availability of AWD is a plus and the price is great too (in CAD). The exterior style has always been a crowd pleaser. I do prefer the older G even with the crappier plastics. They've cut a few corners in the new one

Lastly, the 9-3. It's not that reliable but it's quirky and I love the fact that it's different. The two-tone leather seats on the Aero version is sharp and the seats are second to Volvo in comfort and support.

Those are my 4.

If I had to choose American, it's the CTS > MKZ.

The Jaguar has classic styling but it's waaay too small.

 

3 Series
Infiniti G
Lexus IS

 

1IS or the Acura TSX. But the TSX isn't on your list...

 

I love the new CTS, the new G is pretty nice too

 

I don't see what the big deal is about I-Drive, we own a 3 series and an IS. The fiancee's car is the IS, she doesn't mine my I-Drive when she gets in my car at all. We both find the crippled NAV while driving, audio playlists, and other annoying nannies in our Lexus much more of a nuisance than the I-Drive. For the record, I like both cars in very different ways.

 

My order:

1. Lexus IS350
2. Infiniti G35
3. BMW 335i sedan
4. Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport
5. Acura TL TYPE S
6. Audi A4
7. Lexus ES350

Anything else don't catch my attention at all.

 

wouldnt the S40 be more "entry level" than the S60?

 

I voted for the 3 series, 2IS (although I'm a little biased), TL and G35.

 

My order of the ones I'd most likey buy.

1) Infiniti G35
2) BMW 3
3) Acura TL
4) Audi A4


My order of simply the ones I like the most.

1) BMW 3
2) Infiniti G35
3) Cadillac CTS
4) Lexus IS350