The Consumer Guide to 2009 Premium Large Cars
by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide
2009 Premium Large Car Lineup
Base Price Range: $74,050-$120,100 EPA MPG Range: 13-23 Body Style: 4-door sedan The 2009 Audi A8 is largely unchanged. Audi's flagship A8 trumps rivals for interior decor, standard all-wheel drive, and, depending on model, base price. A8s can overwhelm with high technology, and the air suspension doesn't provide an ideal ride/handling balance. Still, these are formidable premium large sedans and worthy Recommended picks. | |
Base Price Range: $80,300-$84,200 EPA MPG Range: NA Body Style: 4-door sedan The 2009 BMW 7-Series is redesigned, gaining freshened styling, more power, and a new version of BMW's iDrive control system. With its 2009 redesign, BMW maintains and even improves upon the 7's class-leading dynamic properties, corrects most of its few flaws, and adds a host of useful hi-tech features. Rivals Audi A8, Lexus LS, and Mercedes S-Class all offer all-wheel drive and perhaps better isolation from outside disturbances, but the 7 is now a serious contender in the luxury-car sweepstakes. | |
Base Price Range: $46,280-$54,230 EPA MPG Range: 15-23 Body Style: 4-door sedan The 2009 Cadillac DTS receives a few new features, including a wireless cell-phone link and real-time traffic information for the available navigation system. In this price range, Cadillac leaves any sporting pretensions to its rear- and all-wheel-drive STS models. The front-drive DTS aims for the traditional American-luxury-car buyer, and scores. It's powerful, roomy, and refined, and matches most rivals for standard safety features. Starting in the mid $40,000s, the base and Luxury I versions are particularly strong values and thus earn our Recommended nod. | |
 Base Price Range: $32,250-$37,250 EPA MPG Range: 17-27 Body Style: 4-door sedan The 2009 Hyundai Genesis is this Korean automaker's first rear-wheel-drive vehicle. Though the Hyundai name has none of the cachet of rival brands in this class, Genesis holds its own in terms of powertrain performance, and offers impressive accoutrements at relative bargain pricing. Genesis trails premium competitors primarily in ride control and handing. While any Genesis is a Recommended pick, we think the V6 version is a better value that gives up little to the V8 in everyday driving. | |
Base Price Range: $65,700-$104,225 EPA MPG Range: 15-25 Body Style: 4-door sedan The 2009 Jaguar XJ Series lineup gains a new model, the Super V8 Portfolio. Jaguar's special character feels watered down in the XJ. Still, this is a solid enough luxury sedan. The basic XJ8 versions are the best value within this lineup. Though most XJ models tend to undercut many competitors on price, they don't match the resale values of key rivals. | |
Base Price Range: $63,825-$106,035 EPA MPG Range: 16-24 Body Style: 4-door sedan The 2009 Lexus LS makes news by expanding the availability of all-wheel drive to the entire model lineup. LS base prices start below those of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Audi A8. It is less sporty and more comfort-oriented than those German rivals, but Lexus' flagship is a Best Buy for its power, refinement, standard features, and optional gadgets. The addition of all-wheel drive to non-hybrid models further strengthens its appeal. The hybrid 600h is a technological tour-de-force, but in this price range, most European competitors offer the cachet of a 12-cylinder powertrain. | |
 Base Price Range: $38,490-$40,380 EPA MPG Range: 16-24 Body Style: 4-door sedan The 2009 Lincoln MKS is the new flagship sedan from Ford's luxury division. Lincoln's new flagship aims for a contemporary spin on traditional American luxury while still focusing on serene comfort instead of invigorating performance. Despite a generous list of standard luxury features and some unique high-tech gadgetry, MKS's overall refinement trails luxury-class leaders. | |
Base Price Range: $46,385-$52,055 EPA MPG Range: 16-24 Body Style: 4-door sedan The Lincoln Town Car returns unchanged for 2009 and is still the only American-brand premium large sedan with rear-wheel drive. Town Car blends old-school American luxury, space, and isolation with surprisingly good road manners, all things considered. Cadillac's rival DTS is a far newer design with better performance and handling, but this elderly Lincoln still makes sense to some buyers. | |
Base Price Range: $107,900-$203,700 EPA MPG Range: 11-22 Body Style: 2-door coupe The 2009 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class lineup gets an all-wheel-drive CL550 model in place of the rear-drive CL550, which is discontinued. Any CL-Class is very pricey, but they're all brimming with power, technology, and luxury. For the well-heeled shopper with little use for a rear seat, these well-crafted coupes are a wonderful indulgence. | |
Base Price Range: $89,350-$198,950 EPA MPG Range: 11-22 Body Style: 4-door sedan The 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class adds a few new features, including Mercedes' Parking Guidance and Blind Spot Assist systems. S-Class defines luxury motoring. Encompassing serenity and inspiring road manners are among its hallmarks. Unfortunately, cars of this caliber also force the driver to interact with diversionary hi-tech features, many of which require far too many steps to adjust. In that regard, the S-Class runs with the pack. Our Best Buy picks here are the S550 and all-wheel drive S550 4Matic. They deliver such high levels of performance and luxury that it is difficult to justify paying so much more for other S-Class models. | |
Base Price Range: $39,600-$51,850 EPA MPG Range: 15-24 Body Style: 4-door sedan The 2009 Volvo S80 receives a couple of new luxury-feature option packages. S80 is stylish and comfortable, but it can't match the brand cachet and the sportiness or pure luxury of the best in this class. The 3.2 model trails rivals for power and isn't offered with all-wheel drive. T6 and V8 versions are more in line with luxury buyers' expectations, and judiciously equipped, can undercut V8-powered competitors on price. |
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