By Jeff Perez – Motor1
Let’s be honest: The Germans still dominate the compact luxury segment. Those companies have been building sporty sedans for decades and doing it very well. But there’s enough room in that class for brands like Lexus and Acura to emerge as very enticing alternatives, and the pair has proven that over the years with their two most-notable offerings, the IS and the TLX.
By Miguel Cortina – MotorTrend
A few minutes after the checkered flag waved at 2017’s rainy 24 Hours of Daytona, Acura’s bossman, Jon Ikeda, was cheering inside the luxury brand’s suite at the raceway. The #86 NSX GT3 car crossed the line in a respectable fifth place—but Ikeda was not only acclaiming a successful debut for the new Acura race car, he was celebrating what the brand was building for the future.
The 2021 Acura TLX is a big part of that destiny. For the past few years, the TLX has been among the second-tier sales leaders in the hyper-competitive sport sedan segment—trailing the stalwart BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class, but putting the hurt to the Audi A4, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Lexus IS, and Genesis G70. Still, it’s never been seen as particularly sexy.
Welcome back to Fabulous Auto Club, and this post is the largest comparison (and also longest title) in our blog to date! We’re comparing ten different compact luxury sedans which are for family comfort with prices ranging from $35000 to $50000 CAD.
Pricing
Prices are subject to change.
Styling
The C-Class, 3 Series, TLX, XE, and A4 all look somewhat boring, but a new 3 Series is coming for the 2020 model year. The sportiest is the Genesis G70 because of its position and the side vent that makes it feel like a racing car. The Giulia is very similar, just like what you would expect from an Alfa Romeo. The Q50 looks like a baby Q70 and can appear outdated. The best looking car by far here is the Volvo S60 for only $42400! The Lexus ES literally looks sharp because of its edges, not to mention the oversized grill.
Performance
The performance of compact/midsize sedans range from 240 to 500 horsepower, which is a big range due to the fact that you can upgrade to AMG, Quadrifoglio, F Sport, Polestar and many others. I have to note that the A4 only has 188 horsepower, and that’s just another example of an under-powered Audi. Most of them are powered by an inline-4 with the optional V6.
Interior Comfort
To make sure everyone in your family/group of friends has comfort, luxury sedans are equipped with leather seats (heated and cooled), wood trims, and advanced climate control. The C-Class and G70 specifically stand out by looking in the interior. The Jaguar XE has failed to provide optimal interior quality unlike other rivals in this segment.
Verdict
