In my younger days, I used to sneer at the bourgeoisie in their BMWs and the mucky-mucks in their Mercedes-Benz. But as the years go by, I’ve learned to appreciate the little luxuries in life, not to mention the lines of a superbly crafted car.
The problem is, the pragmatist in me would never permit such a purchase unless I could be convinced of its value. With that in mind, we set out to find the best buy in a luxury sedan over $50,000. What follows are our impressions and the informed opinions of Canada’s top consumer car gurus.
Lexus 2011 GS 350
Lexus 2011 GS 350 ($54,650) – Available only in all-wheel drive for this year, the GS 350 offers legendary Lexus quality and a bunch of luxury goodies and high-tech add-ons. George Iny of the Automobile Protection Association calls it the most reliable of our picks, but notes that it has “lost ground to European competitors, which offer more flash.” Standard features include a power sunroof, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, garage door opener, rain-sensing wipers, wood interior trim and ten-way power heated perforated leather seats. For another $4,500 you can upgrade to the Premium Package, which adds parking assist, GPS, back-up camera and ventilated seats. Another $3,500 buys a few more goodies with the Ultra Premium Package, bringing the total price past $62,000 before taxes or fees.
BMW 550i xDrive ($75,900) – Performance is king with BMW drivers, says Mohamed Bouchama of Car Help Canada. “It’s a beautiful car to drive, but I have been getting some complaints about problems with the transmissions.” The APA’s Iny also describes it as the “enthusiast’s choice,” but laments the German automaker’s “infernal controls” and lower resale value. Compared with the Lexus, this big Bimmer has a little less room but a whole lot more vroom. The xDrive designation adds all-wheel drive, which you’ll probably want in winter with all that power under the hood. Like all our picks, BMW packs in more technology than a fighter jet, including a night vision camera to help you see down the road and warning systems that tell you when someone is in your blind spot or if your vehicle is drifting out of its lane.
Acura RL ($64,690) – Another all-wheel-drive model from Honda’s luxury line, the RL is Acura’s flagship sedan with all the bells and whistles. And although it has a good overall reliability record, this car has all the meat but no sizzle. “It’s a good, long-term ownership car, but it’s lacking any flair,” says Iny. Bouchama is even less flattering. “They need to do something radical with the RL because just doesn’t sell,” he says. “Why would somebody pay $65,000 for it when it’s boring?” Looks aside, the RL has the same power as Lexus but you’ll pay a little more at the pumps. Inside the cabin is fairly roomy and full of high-end finishes and luxury touches. Technological advances include a “collision mitigation braking system,” which can predict an imminent collision and apply the brakes, even if you’re not paying attention to the road.
Cadillac CTS 3.6L
Cadillac CTS 3.6L ($51,565) The only domestic car in our top five, the CTS has plenty of style and the lowest starting sticker price. Iny likes the original looks but notes that reliability is expected to be “a bit less than the European vehicles and significantly lower than the Japanese models.” The CTS is another slow seller, thanks in part to the lack if sweet leasing deals that became extinct when the North American auto market began to sputter. It offers similar power to the Acura and Lexus, but if you can get by with 30 less horses the Cadillac offers another version with a 3.0-litre engine that is $6,000 cheaper. Both can be had with all-wheel-drive at the prices mentioned. Frequent buyers should be warned that the CTS also has the lowest resale price of our group.
Mercedes-Benz E-350 ($62,500) You can’t talk about luxury cars without mentioning Mercedes-Benz. Few vehicles carry as much cachet as these German luxury sedans. Bouchama says their appeal is strongest with the professional crowd, but you don’t have to be a doctor or lawyer to appreciate its beautiful interior or simple elegance. Iny says reliability hasn’t always been a strong suit for Mercedes-Benz, but the APA has logged few complaints in recent years. The E-Class has the weakest base engine of our choices, but the Mercedes experience is defined by prestige, not power. Besides standard leather, sunroof and wood trim, the E-350 also boasts high-tech features such as “Attention Assist,” which monitors your driving patterns and alerts you with bells and lights if you start to drift off.
Verdict: Although it doesn’t carry quite the same prestige as the Mercedes or BMW, the Lexus GS 350 gets the nods from our consumer experts for its performance, impressive reliability and high resale value.
Story: Phil Raby
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