This hotly contested segment has a clear benchmark, it is the Acura TL (and its 2-door cousin Acura CL). The TL succeeds in blending comfort, style, luxury, and sport into an efficient package at an affordable price.
But the Acura's not for everyone. We also recommend the sporty and Euro-flavored Audi A6, the comfortable Buick Park Avenue, the affordable and fast Infiniti I30, and the luxury-orientated Lexus ES 300.

Introduced for 1996 and a key factor in Audi's U.S. sales resurgence since then, the A4 is being redesigned for 2001 and a probable American debut in mid- to late fall 2000. The second generation is said to be a slightly larger A4 with a wheelbase of 104.3 inches, plus edgier styling patterned on that of Audi's larger A6, marked by creased hood and bodysides, a deeper grille, larger headlamps, and A6-like geometric taillights. More extensive use of aluminum for suspension and other underskin components should yield a modest weight reduction. The rear suspension itself switches from today's simple twist-beam axle to a more sophisticated setup like that used on Audi's flagship A8 sedan. This should provide more nimble handling with no penalty in ride comfort.
U.S. powertrain choices will likely stay as is, but Audi may eventually offer the A4 with its new "Multitronic" continuously-variable transmission (CVT), now under development, as well as a conventional automatic. Like other CVTs, Multitronic uses a system of belts and pulleys to provide an infinite number of gear ratios in a simpler, lighter transmission that's claimed to provide greater fuel-efficiency than a regular torque-converter automatic. Other automakers are also working hard on CVTs, but the system's basic design has been suitable only for low-power small-displacement engines up to now. Audi claims to have overcome that limitation by using belts made up of multiple chains instead of less durable rubber- or fiberglass-like material. It's an open question, though, as to whether CVTs of any kind will be accepted by American car buyers.
Predictably, the new A4 will debut in sedan models, with a derivative coupe, cabriolet and Avant wagons following in six-month intervals. The cabrio would be the make's first new 4-seat convertible since the late 90-based model. The related coupe will be Audi's first such in some 10 years and could be offered in a performance version a la today's hotshot S4 sedan. Quattro all-wheel drive should remain standard except on entry-level 4-cylinder models, though all A4s may come with Audi's antiskid Electronic Stability Program (ESP) as adopted for the 2001 TT.
In being redesigned, the '01 A4 also introduces the next generation of the versatile VW/Audi A-platform that supports the TT as well as VW's New Beetle, Golf and Jetta. Those cars, however, won't get similar makeovers for several years yet.