What is a premium midsize car? Consumer Guide defines the class as "luxury, performance, and prestige without excess bulk." There are 23 entries in this class: sixteen 4-door sedans, six 4-door wagons, and a lone 2-door coupe. A great thing about the premium midsize class is that there are so many credible choices. We put five of them to the test back to back.
The Showdown
Recently seven Consumer Guide Auto editors spent the day with five entries from this class. Each editor drove all the cars, acted as passengers, tested the back seats, and checked out storage capabilities. All the entrants were driven on the same loop around our suburban Chicago offices. Driving conditions included a mixture of city side streets, busy arterials, and an expressway sprint.
The Subjects
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2008 Acura TL Type-S: The Acura TL is front-wheel drive. Base versions have a 258-horsepower 3.2-liter V6 mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. Type-S models get a 286-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine with either a 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. Our test car was a Type-S with the automatic transmission. Base price was $38,225. Destination added $670, for an as-tested total of $38,895.
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2008 Cadillac CTS: The CTS is offered in rear- and all-wheel-drive versions. Base models have a 263-horsepower 3.6-liter V6, while Direct Injection models are powered by a 304-horsepower 3.6-liter V6. Either engine can be paired with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. Our test car was a rear-wheel-drive Direct Injection model with the automatic transmission and a base price of $34,545. Options included the $3300 Performance Collection, $3145 Navigation/Bose stereo system, $1240 Summer Tire Performance Package, $495 Sapele wood trim, and $250 compact spare tire. Destination added $745, for an as-tested total of $43,720.
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2007 Infiniti G35x: The G35 is offered in rear- and all-wheel-drive versions. The only available engine is a 306-horsepower 3.5-liter V6. Rear-wheel-drive models offer the choice of a 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission, but the all-wheel-drive G35x model is only available with the automatic. Our test car was a G35x with a base price of $33,950. Options included the $2150 Premium Package and $2100 Navigation Package. Destination added $700, for an as-tested total of $38,900.
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2008 Lexus ES 350: The ES 350 is front-wheel drive. The only available engine is a 272-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Base price was $33,720. Options on our test car included the $2650 navigation system, $2480 Premium Plus Package, $815 steering-linked adaptive xenon headlamps, $500 front and rear obstacle detection, $486 satellite radio, $250 rear side airbags, $210 power rear sunshade, and $205 full-size spare tire. Destination added $765, for an as-tested total of $42,081.
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2008 Lincoln MKZ: The MKZ is offered in front- and all-wheel-drive versions. The only available engine is a 263-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Our test car had all-wheel drive and a $32,045 base price. Options included the $2495 navigation system, $495 cooled front seats, $495 xenon headlamps, $195 aluminum interior trim, and $195 satellite radio. Destination added $715, for an as-tested total of $35,640.
After we drove the cars, one thing that became clear was that each car had a unique personality. Instead of the usual new car comparison test ranking, our findings are being presented as a short description of each car and a synopsis of its traits. The listings are in alphabetical order.
The Specialist
The Acura TL Type-S had the sportiest personality of the competitors. Unfortunately on the mean streets around Consumer Guide HQ it had the stiffest, least comfortable ride. Though the TL is the oldest design in this test, the basic package holds up quite well.
| Acura TL Pros | Acura TL Cons |
| Sportiest of the bunch | Sportiest of the bunch |
| Minimal torque steer for a powerful front-drive car | Firm, uncomfortable ride |
| Responsive automatic transmission with well-placed paddle shifters | Heavy steering, especially at low speed |
| Good body control in the corners | The engine has to be worked hard to keep up with this pack |
The Extrovert
The Cadillac CTS has the most unique interior and exterior styling of this group. The CTS is a car that is comfortable in its own skin. One editor commented that the almost obsessive attention to detail was impressive, but maybe too much so, like the car was trying a little too hard. That may be true, but the interior won near-unanimous praise for its comfort, design, and quality of materials. A carefully optioned CTS is a serious competitor in its class.
| Cadillac CTS Pros | Cadillac CTS Cons |
| Direct Injection engine provides plenty of power and makes fabulous sounds | Stiff, uncomfortable ride with FE3 sport suspension and summer-only performance tires |
| Premium interior materials, excellent fit and finish | Options quickly raise the sticker price |
| Confident handling, great steering and brakes | Cabin storage could be more generous |
| Bold styling | Optional AWD is welcome, but it further inflates the bottom line |
The Overachiever
The Infiniti G35x packs what feels like the strongest engine in this test, and several editors thought it did the best job of balancing between practicality, performance, and value. Interior ergonomics are quite good, and the G35x boasts one of the easiest to use navigation systems on the market. Infiniti G35 Pros Infiniti G35 Cons Explosive power accompanied with a lusty exhaust note Abrupt throttle response and touchy brakes can conspire against smooth driving Great blend of luxury, performance, and value Some think the steering is too heavy at low speeds Understated, classy interior design with excellent material and assembly quality Larger drivers can find space a little tight behind the steering wheel Affordable all-wheel drive Interior storage is skimpy
The Coddler
The Lexus ES 350 excels at serene motoring and has no sporting aspirations. For buyers who place comfort and ownership experience above all other qualities, ES 350 has few peers. While the testers were unanimous in their opinion that most interior materials were of top quality, several thought the overall design was bland. Lexus ES Pros Lexus ES Cons Inviting and comfortable seats Subpar headroom in front and rear seats, can be tight for six-footers Strong and smooth engine Smooth ride isn't as well controlled as it could be Quality interior materials with many padded surfaces and soft-touch materials Sticker price quickly escalates with options Best isolation from noise and road imperfections Unnatural-looking color of the test car's wood trim did not impress some testers
The Traditionalist
The Lincoln is the lowest priced car in this group, but the sad truth is the MKZ is out of its element in this competition. Of the cars in our showdown, the MKZ is the closest to the "traditional" American recipe for luxury cars, and it provides the most room for passengers and luggage. But as one editor said, in this class vehicle dynamics and athleticism usually carry more weight than in more-pedestrian categories.Lincoln MKZ Pros Lincoln MKZ Cons Lots of features for the money, including cooled front seats Engine not as refined or powerful as the other cars in this group Most practical packaging with roomiest rear seat and trunk Interior appearance falls short of the others in this comparison Climate control buttons on steering wheel Gauges are difficult to read in daylight conditions Affordable all-wheel drive Steering over-boosted, and cornering generates plenty of body lean
The Analysis
In the end, it was clear that checking a couple of boxes on the option list can dramatically affect a car's character, for better or for worse. Two different engines in the same car can produce very divergent results. Sport packages can degrade ride quality more than is offset by improvements in handling. Some cars may be much better values when equipped with few options. Be sure to drive a car equipped the way you want it before buying.
