Mid Luxury Sedans

[Shining Star]

Here's my Choices:

1. E550- Great interior, (in my opinion) great exterior, packed full of safety and tech. Plus it's the newest one here.
2. Jaguar XF- Slightly cartoony styling but still an overall great car.The only car that has the germans scared.
3. Infiniti M45- Good looking car with a great interior- too bad it's getting old.
4. Bimmer 550i- A true sports sedan- with CHRIS BANGLE written all over it.
5. Audi A6 4.2 Prestige- Sorry, but A4 tailamps and rectangular headlamps don't cut it for me. Plus, it's just a re-badged VW.
6. Lexus GS350- BBBOOORRRIIINNNGGG. Doesn't do anything wrong, but doesn't do anything right, either. Again, a re-badged toyota with knock-off benz styling.
7. Hyundai Genesis- Are you serious? Who put that in there?! Who wants a Hyundai when you can have a Benz or Bimmer!?! I don't care how good the car is- the Hyundai badge won't impress anybody.

 

[Merc1]

The A6 may be a lot of things, but it is no re-badge of anything VW.

M

 

[Mr Robert]

This is a hard one, it is either the 550i, the XF or the E550. I have to base this on looks as I have never sat in the new E-Class. The 5-series is getting old but it has aged brilliantly. The XF is a great car.

The Audi A6 now looks so old, archeologists are actually starting to do excavations in it... the Infiniti M45 is pretty much unknown here, all I really know is that it is an attempt to make a cheap BMW. Hyundai Genesis, say what?

Lexus GS 350, no, simply no.

 

[cawimmer430]

The more I read about the Hyundai Genesis the more I am liking it. Call it what you want but I feel that it is a more complete car than say the Lexus GS will ever be. I've also warmed up to the design. Still, I would never buy one but if someone gave me one I wouldn't object. Looks like a great car. Don't let the Hyundai badge fool you - they've impressed me more recently than Toyota.

The Genesis is great value, comes with a relatively powerful engine and offers good interior space and also fresh and classical styling. In comparison Lexus seems to think the GS will sell based on reliability and the Lexus badge alone. Wrong. In the GS you have a cramped interior, value-for-money ain't the best anymore (still good though compared to the Europeans) and poor payload capacity compared to the competition.

You can take a long trip with an E-Class, A6, 5er, XF and even a Genesis but I'd be wary of a GS since the payload capacity is pretty low, especially on the hybrid model. I can't tell you enough how important payload capacity is in my experience. On those family trips we took in our 2002 Mercedes E320 you guys should have seen the stuff we packed into the 540 liter trunk. I had my stuff, my sister had hers and my parents had their belongings. Weight, weight and more weight - and the car coped perfectly fine as it has a very large payload capacity. Try doing that in a Lexus GS (or other Lexus sedans for that matter). I guess I am saying that the GS is not very family-friendly. The GS doesn't strike me as a car in which you take your family on a long-distance trip. It's so...incomplete. The Genesis on the other hand seems like a very nice blend of MB E-Class / Lexus GS - combining the best features and characteristics from those cars at a good price.


Still, my favorite is still the E-Class here. Love it.

 

[NarutoRamen]

The more I read about the Hyundai Genesis the more I am liking it. Call it what you want but I feel that it is a more complete car than say the Lexus GS will ever be.

I'll tell you one thing Christian, I totally agree with you. I got to sit inside one and it was a nice place to be in. It was a very warm place to be in, unlike the Lexus which is totally cold. The Ergo was pretty good.

I'll say this, if money is an issue and you really want a luxury car, you can't get better than the Genesis.

 

[GTA45E]

Yeah honestly I'm torn between the Jag and the Benz. I like the Benz's interior better, but the Jaguar's exterior better. Audi is still nice. A 550i with the M pack is nice, but I still can't stand the interior, but I'd take it over any of the Asian cars without a second thought.

M

The E550 not doubt has the best interior!
It`s so well executed and you can tell theres lota of room for the driver.
The exterior design is not for everyone but I still believe it has the better of the evils than the Jag or any other in this group. You hate the interior of the 550i and I hate the small grill... (It still has my respect) I believe the next 5er will address those issues.

 

[Zafiro]

yes, new E-class has a nice interior but the the exterior is not so good.
I really like the exterior on the new Jaguar. I see many of them on the streets. Perhaps I should vote on Jaguar for a change.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

My choice is based on a combination of bias, design and comfort-orientation.

1) Mercedes-Benz E550
2) Jaguar XF Premium
3) Audi A6 4.2 Prestige
4) Hyundai Genesis Sedan 4.6
5) Infiniti M45
6) BMW 550i
7) Lexus GS

My choice is based on looks and what I have actually driven -

1) Infiniti M45 - Outstanding it performance and looks great. I was shocked when I took it on a test drive how fast it really is and the interior is mind blowing.

2) Jaguar XF Premium - Jaguars interpretation of the CLS has outstanding looks and the pop-up shifter is a first. Really stands out on the road.

3) Mercedes-Benz E550 - Not feeling the box shape, but the interior is first class and of course "It's a Benz"

4) Lexus GS - I really don't like lexus, but after driving this car I really like it. Very smooth ride and comfortable.

5) Audi A6 4.2 Prestige - Can't say anything bad about the car...so it's just acceptable.

6) Hyundai Genesis Sedan 4.6 - It's cheap and provides a lot of luxury. Other then the actual brand that it's under it's a great option

7) BMW 550i - Good Sound system and drives nice (Acutally enjoyed this better then the 7 series and 3 series at a BMW driving event in Maryland). On the other hand that Beaver look and those horrible head lights make it last in my book.

My choice -

 

[klier]

The more I read about the Hyundai Genesis the more I am liking it.

I cannot believe you voted that car above the 5er. Truly cannot. My respect has dropped a few inches here.

 

[coolraoul]

The more I read about the Hyundai Genesis the more I am liking it. Call it what you want but I feel that it is a more complete car than say the Lexus GS will ever be. I've also warmed up to the design. Still, I would never buy one but if someone gave me one I wouldn't object. Looks like a great car. Don't let the Hyundai badge fool you - they've impressed me more recently than Toyota.

The Genesis is great value, comes with a relatively powerful engine and offers good interior space and also fresh and classical styling. In comparison Lexus seems to think the GS will sell based on reliability and the Lexus badge alone. Wrong. In the GS you have a cramped interior, value-for-money ain't the best anymore (still good though compared to the Europeans) and poor payload capacity compared to the competition.

You can take a long trip with an E-Class, A6, 5er, XF and even a Genesis but I'd be wary of a GS since the payload capacity is pretty low, especially on the hybrid model. I can't tell you enough how important payload capacity is in my experience. On those family trips we took in our 2002 Mercedes E320 you guys should have seen the stuff we packed into the 540 liter trunk. I had my stuff, my sister had hers and my parents had their belongings. Weight, weight and more weight - and the car coped perfectly fine as it has a very large payload capacity. Try doing that in a Lexus GS (or other Lexus sedans for that matter). I guess I am saying that the GS is not very family-friendly. The GS doesn't strike me as a car in which you take your family on a long-distance trip. It's so...incomplete. The Genesis on the other hand seems like a very nice blend of MB E-Class / Lexus GS - combining the best features and characteristics from those cars at a good price.


Still, my favorite is still the E-Class here. Love it.

Mmmh, can't agree with you here.
Payload capacity is a mainly theoretical value. The car won't be uncomfortable or break down if the payload capacity is crossed.

Cramped it may be, at the back, this GS. But, compared to a car which doesn't even dare to display its logo at the front...

The front is a blatant MB rip-off and the side shamelessly copy a Beemer 5er, whereas the interior belongs to an Infinity. At least the GS tries to have its own identity.

The lexus ain't perfect: payload capacity is effectively a problem, the ergonomics are plain awful, cramped rear. But it's also supremy silent, very comfortable, very well finished (the best finish of any Lexus), very well engineered.

The Hyndai has an enormous hollow feeling to it. It feels totally fake, like a nice body with nothing under it. No premium feeling at all. Surely a nice car, but imo a long way to go tocatch Lexus. And I don't even speak of the Germans here.

I never drove it, never sat in it. Saw one however. Leaves me cold. It still has Hyundai written all over it, doesn't manage to appear really premium.

No way I'd take it over any of the germans, or over the Jag.

i've never seen the infiniti. Looks worse than the Hyundai, especially the butt-ugly rear. But at least, it's an infiniti and not a MB/BMW/whatever wannabe.

The Genesis comes last in my book.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

I wish some of you would actually drive this cars instead of sticking to brand loyalty. You have some amazing cars out here that are not apart of the German trio, but are just as good. I suggest some of you stop looking at the badges and take a test drive. Your only cheating yourself.

 

[cawimmer430]

I cannot believe you voted that car above the 5er. Truly cannot. My respect has dropped a few inches here.

Notice that I said I prefer cars with comfort, not so much a sporty bias.

My placing of the Genesis above the 5er doesn't mean I view the 5er in a negative way. I just prefer cars biased towards comfort, not so much sport.


Edit: Also, Klier, if I was in the mood for something sporty and athletic, the 5er or M would be first on my list followed by the XF. Then would be the E-Class, A6, Genesis and GS. It's always a matter of personal preference. I like the 5er, but based on my experiences with BMW it is very sports biased and I find the seats not to be as comfortable as those found in the E-Class. A buddy of my dad in Mühldorf drives a 525d and I was driven in the back of that 525d once - didn't like the seats in comparison to those of our E320. It might be my subjective opinion but the 5er is generally always behind the E-Class in comfort.

So, no hard feelings, ok?

 

[HighestOfHigh]

I cannot believe you voted that car above the 5er. Truly cannot. My respect has dropped a few inches here.

Klier, you get to emotional when it comes to the 5 series. Not everyone thinks the 5 series is as amazing you feel it is.

The 5 series has a few options that I love like the sound system and it's driving dynamics. On the other hand I have always HATED the looks of it and plus I really don't like idrive, youdrive or whatever they want to call it.

Matter of fact I could be less stressed operating the navigation on a MKS

....

So it is really no point in getting upset over someones vote, because you are the decision maker on what you purchase not anyone else.

I'm a loyal Mercedes-Benz fan, but I'm not feeling the new one like the previous model...So sometimes things change.

On the other hand I will always be loyal to the S-class no matter what happens.

 

[cawimmer430]

Mmmh, can't agree with you here.
Payload capacity is a mainly theoretical value. The car won't be uncomfortable or break down if the payload capacity is crossed.

Cramped it may be, at the back, this GS. But, compared to a car which doesn't even dare to display its logo at the front...

The front is a blatant MB rip-off and the side shamelessly copy a Beemer 5er, whereas the interior belongs to an Infinity. At least the GS tries to have its own identity.

The lexus ain't perfect: payload capacity is effectively a problem, the ergonomics are plain awful, cramped rear. But it's also supremy silent, very comfortable, very well finished (the best finish of any Lexus), very well engineered.

The Hyndai has an enormous hollow feeling to it. It feels totally fake, like a nice body with nothing under it. No premium feeling at all. Surely a nice car, but imo a long way to go tocatch Lexus. And I don't even speak of the Germans here.

I never drove it, never sat in it. Saw one however. Leaves me cold. It still has Hyundai written all over it, doesn't manage to appear really premium.

No way I'd take it over any of the germans, or over the Jag.

i've never seen the infiniti. Looks worse than the Hyundai, especially the butt-ugly rear. But at least, it's an infiniti and not a MB/BMW/whatever wannabe.

The Genesis comes last in my book.

Lexus has had three generations of experience with the GS so they have a head start over Hyundai in this department.

From what I have read about Genesis it is a an extremely good first effort by Hyundai and it can only get better from this point on. I've warmed up to the design of the Genesis. I used to like the Lexus GS from a styling point of view but the more I saw it the blander it appeared until it reached a point for me where I found the mishmash of design cues from various other brands in it to be a total fail. Mind you, the Lexus GS is an excellent car, no doubt, but it does have some major shortcomings which destroy the overall balance of the car. In that respect I find the Hyundai Genesis far more appealing from an overall viewpoint.

 

[Kowalski]

The Hyundai Genesis reminds of the Vauxhall Omega.

-Decent big executive car with a mass market badge and a bargain price.

A bargain... Right up the moment you drive off the dealer and oh dear... You already lost 50% of the original price. And believe me, this thing will depreciate faster than the 4.6 V8 model accelerates.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

5 series Who? E-class What?

 

[Shining Star]

The Jag's interior looks a bit cold...and the exterior looks cartoony. Still- there's something about it- i can't really put my finger on it- but it just seems like the perfect competitor to the E.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

The Jag's interior looks a bit cold...and the exterior looks cartoony. Still- there's something about it- i can't really put my finger on it- but it just seems like the perfect competitor to the E.

I would buy it over the E-class (sedan) in a hot minute. It has all the curves I need that the E-class doesn't have. 5 series has a good sound system, but the looks of this Jag are amazing.

 

[coolraoul]

I never sat in the Jag, however saw it many times IRL. It looks really good, I like it a lot. Strinking design, nice interior, nice engines and drivetrain.

IMO the closest competitor of the 3 big Germans.

My fav is the new E (really what I want in a Merc: rigid, sturdy, comfortable and (hopefully) very reliable).
Then the Jag (provided it is well finished and is comfortable).
Then the Beemer.

I don't really care for the others.

 

[Shining Star]

I sat in the Jag @ a special preview event. Maybe it was because the car was adorned in cold aluminum-but I've always considered the Jag having a cold interior.