of Consumer Guide, the Auto Editors. "The Consumer Guide to 2008 Premium Midsize Cars." 26 February 2008. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2008-premium-midsize-car-buying-guide.htm> 05 September 2008.

by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide

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The Consumer Guide to 2008 Premium Midsize Cars

2008 Premium Midsize Car Lineup

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2008 Premium Midsize Car Lineup

Acura RL
Base Price Range: $46,280-$53,700
EPA MPG Range: 16-24
Body Style: 4-door sedan
The 2008 Acura RL carries over with no changes. RL shines for its sporty demeanor and smart, efficient engineering, plus standard all-wheel drive, handsome interior, and Acura's reputation for reliability and resale value. The Technology Packages add worthwhile safety and convenience features, but like-priced rivals offer the V8 power and high nameplate prestige that resonate more with many buyers in this class.

Acura TL
Base Price Range: $33,725-$38,425
EPA MPG Range: 17-27
Body Style: 4-door sedan
The 2008 Acura TL gets slightly revised exterior styling. This Acura is an impressive blend of sport and luxury. It has a tendency toward torque steer and has a somewhat uncomfortable rear seat. Its basic design is also aging--and the Type S compromises too much ride comfort for minimal gains in handling. Still, the base TL is a solid Recommended choice, delivering high refinement, solid workmanship, and lots of features at hard-to-beat prices.

Audi A6
Base Price Range: $42,950-$72,350
EPA MPG Range: 14-27
Body Styles: 4-door sedan, 4-door wagon
The 2008 Audi A6 sees trim changes and the addition of an optional lane-departure warning system. A6 is tough to top for craftsmanship, and offers all-weather AWD capability, great overall refinement, and cool sophistication. It's a must-see for any luxury-car shopper.

BMW 5-Series
Base Price Range: $44,300-$82,900
EPA MPG Range: 11-27
Body Styles: 4-door sedan, 4-door wagon
Freshened styling and new 6-cylinder engines mark the 2008 BMW 5-Series. The 5-Series bristles with technology, but not all of it is beneficial. Active Steering is a love/hate affair, and the iDrive control center can be downright confounding. But Active Roll Stabilization is truly useful, and helps BMW maintain the 5-Series' world-class handling without compromising its admirable ride quality.

Cadillac CTS
Base Price Range: $32,245-$34,545
EPA MPG Range: 17-26
Body Style: 4-door sedan
The 2008 Cadillac CTS is redesigned this year, gaining new styling, more available power, and new features such as optional all-wheel drive. Major upgrades to the interior address the previous generation's most glaring flaws, while the new direct-injection engine delivers class-topping refinement and performance. Cadillac's smallest sedan is finally a legitimate alternative to cars from Audi, BMW, and Infiniti. Competitive pricing is icing on the cake for this Best Buy premium midsize sedan.

Cadillac STS
Base Price Range: $42,390-$76,555
EPA MPG Range: 13-26
Body Style: 4-door sedan
The 2008 Cadillac STS gets updated styling and a more powerful V6 engine. STS impresses dynamically, and the availability of all-wheel drive is an asset. Inside, STS disappoints with subpar rear-seat space and materials that are not in step with class pacesetters. On any model, extra-cost items can quickly add to the price, making a judiciously-optioned V6 model the best value in this line.

Infiniti G
Base Price Range: $31,600-$35,500
EPA MPG Range: 18-27
Body Styles: 4-door sedan, 2-door coupe
The 2008 Infiniti G37 coupe becomes the newest addition to this roster of midsize cars from Nissan's luxury division. The 2-door G37 joins 4-door G35 sedans, which continue largely unchanged after their 2007 redesign. These Infinitis might lack the brand prestige of rivals from Audi, BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes, but their performance, space, and available all-wheel drive (on sedans) make them excellent alternatives. These virtues, teamed with prices that undercut those rivals, make these coupes and sedans Best Buy values.

Infiniti M
Base Price Range: $41,450-$50,550
EPA MPG Range: 17-25
Body Style: 4-door sedan
Expanded AWD availability makes news for the 2008 Infiniti M. This impressive sedan is a credible competitor to such class bellwethers as the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Generously equipped in standard form, with convincing performance and available all-wheel drive, the Ms are Recommended alternatives to these and other premium-midsize rivals.

Jaguar S-Type
Base Price Range: $48,335-$64,335
EPA MPG Range: 15-26
Body Style: 4-door sedan
The 2008 Jaguar S-Type gets a minor exterior facelift as it enters its final model year. The 2009 Jaguar XF will replace it later this year. These Jaguars are a pleasure to drive, with appointments and features worthy of the class. On the downside, prices are steep vs. top competitors, and resale values pale vs. most rivals in the premium-midsize car class.

Lexus ES 350
Base Price: $33,720
EPA MPG Range: 19-27
Body Style: 4-door sedan
The 2008 Lexus ES 350 is largely unchanged, remaining a luxury version of the Toyota Camry; Lexus is Toyota's premium division. Lexus paints its trimmer, tauter IS model as a performance luxury car. The bigger, more comfortable ES 350 is focused on coddling, which it does extremely well. That's what makes ES a Best Buy pick among premium-midsize cars.

Lexus GS
Base Price Range: $44,150-$54,900
EPA MPG Range: 17-27
Body Style: 4-door sedan
The 2008 Lexus GS gets slightly revised styling and a new V8 engine. Ride quality over sharp bumps disappoints, and hiding some controls in a drop-down dashboard pod is counterproductive. Those negatives aside, any GS model is comfortable, cultured, and competent. Traditionally-strong Lexus resale values and top-notch customer care appeal help too. Overall, the GS 350s are the smart buys here as they offer good power and are available with all-wheel drive. Lexus' boast for the GS 450h is a tall one, but not unrealistic. Lexus claims it blends V8-style acceleration with fuel economy typical of 6-cylinder cars and exhaust emissions usually associated with 4-cylinder engines.

Lincoln MKZ
Base Price Range: $30,175-$32,045
EPA MPG Range: 17-28
Body Style: 4-door sedan
Rear obstacle detection, heated/cooled front seats, and Ford's Sync cell-phone/multimedia voice control system are newly standard on the 2008 Lincoln MKZ. MKZ is a premium midsize sedan that tilts toward comfort rather than sportiness. As such, it's a good match against the Lexus ES 350. This Lincoln is not as refined, but MKZ is competitive for roominess, quietness, and overall performance. It trumps the Lexus in price and is available with all-wheel drive, too.

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
Base Price Range: $67,600-$93,200
EPA MPG Range: 12-21
Body Style: 4-door sedan
We have not yet tested a 2008 CLS.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Base Price Range: $50,900-$85,800
EPA MPG Range: 12-32
Body Styles: 4-door sedan, 4-door wagon
After getting revised styling, new engines, and additional safety equipment for 2007, the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class arrives with few changes. Contemporary and sophisticated, rock solid and confident on the road, the E-Class brims with worthwhile features and Mercedes cachet. Prices are steep, but overall, these very appealing cars are easy Recommended picks.

Saab 9-5
Base Price Range: $36,460-$38,805
EPA MPG Range: 17-28
Body Styles: 4-door sedan, 4-door wagon
The 2008 Saab 9-5 carries over with no major changes. The 9-5 is among the oldest designs in the premium-midsize-car class and counts among its shortcomings the absence of curtain side airbags. It's also pricey for a 4-cylinder automobile. Still, this is a roomy, solid, good-handling car available with the added utility of a wagon body style.

Volvo S60
Base Price Range: $30,885-$38,985
EPA MPG Range: 17-27
Body Style: 4-door sedan
The 2008 Volvo S60 pares down its model roster, losing manual-transmission models and the high-performance R model. These Volvos are stylish and solid, but lag most other premium midsize sedans in ride quality and powertrain finesse. The all-season traction of available AWD is an asset, but doesn't help S60 match the Acura TL or Lexus ES 350 for overall value, or the Audi A4 and Cadillac CTS for driving satisfaction.

Volvo V70
Base Price: $32,465
EPA MPG Range: 16-24
Body Style: 4-door wagon
The 2008 Volvo V70 is redesigned with freshened styling and more standard power. We have not yet tested the 2008 Volvo V70.

Volvo XC70
Base Price: $36,775
EPA MPG Range: 15-22
Body Style: 4-door wagon
The 2008 Volvo XC70 is redesigned with freshened styling and more power. This SUV-flavored wagon is essentially a raised-suspension version of Volvo's V70 wagon, which is also redesigned for 2008. We have not yet tested the 2008 Volvo XC70.