Test Drive Lexus IS C since 2009 Sedan
Comparative Premium Sports Schools Test
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But every great achievement will be frowning sooner or later.
And that is why we collected such a group of sports sedans. That is, in order to find out if Cadillac CTS, Infiniti G35 Sport, Lexus IS350 or Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport to defeat the Bavarian champion BMW 335i. Each tested model is equipped with sports attributes (more rigid suspension, larger diameter wheels and wider tires) and automatic transmission.
However, each car has its own individuality, and the representations of each manufacturer about sportiness, luxury and efficiency are different. The price of each tested machine is also different. However, prices, the maximum difference between which is $ 11,000, are practically proportional to the differences of each applicant regarding its features and luxury levels.
We calculated the number of points according to the preferences of buyers of sports sedans, equally estimating both the level of price and operational data, and also compared the characteristics and evaluation on its own scale of 31 points.
Fifth place: Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport
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However, it is quite easy to understand what is missing in it. She had no better not to won the first place in any of the categories. Perhaps the most expensive promach is how the transmission behaves. The engine from Benz with a volume of 3.5 liters V6 has 268 horses and 350 nm of torque, which makes this car the most low-powerful of all participating in the tests. The seven-step gearbox gives a big gain in the strength of the lever gear, but the acceleration is still suffering from this. The car accelerates to 60 miles per hour for the lazy (for this group of cars) 5.9 seconds and passes a quarter mile at a speed of 157.2 km / h from all, this machine is second from the end on overclocking dynamics. It saves only the fact that it is the most economical car from all on average in the city and on the highway 11.4 liters per 100 km.
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An extraordinary appearance seems to be a consequence of a good quality assembly of a C350 Sport car (reaction to surprisingly low quality build of this machine of the previous generation?) And the famous multimedia set set (option, $ 2,950), which combines a premium-class audio system with a hard disk and an excellent navigation system with an impressive user-friendly interface.
Total: The Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport model is all right. This is a slightly discreet sports sedan of high quality. The car is boring-ordered in quality indicators, and it is extremely lacking for the brightness of Infiniti and BMW. And this is the whole problem. The car goes well, but there is no something that would make us want to get behind the wheel waiting for more.
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Fourth place: Lexus IS350
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None of the editors who counted the points in this test could not find anything like personal attachment to this Lexus model, which they felt, while driving cars, who received top scores. Its awkward, unnatural control, soft brake pedal and slowly reacting gearbox did not allow us to maximize the assessment of the men's interface of this machine. It was almost impossible to combine the possibilities of IS350 with their own approach of each of the test, and the car earned less confidence in its capabilities than any other. And this is not because the model is not enough, it is not so, inertia from acceleration IS can tear your head, but it does not provoke to driving at the limit, which, in our opinion, should be part of the possibilities of each real sports sedan. If it doesn't matter for you, you can estimate it higher.
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The position of the driver in the IS model, as well as comfort in the back and front seats, lose compared to other tested models. The volume of the passenger compartment is 2,500 cubic meters. Meter, but the place for the legs in the backseat is only 78 centimeters, and the internal height (from the seat cushion to the ceiling) is 93 centimeters. The interface of the navigation and audio system system, as well as additional controls, are not so intuitive, like competitors. For the quality of the assembly, the car received high marks, taking second place after Mercedes.
In just three model years, Lexus has become an old man in the class of sports sedans. This is partly due to the rapid progress of competitors both at Cadillac and Benz navigation systems and audio systems are more perfect (and cost less), as well as a combination of luxury and sportiness, which does not allow the driver to merge so much with the car, as it turns out from competitors. Simply put, Lexus is a speedless, good assembly of a sedan who lacks the feeling of significance and the dignity of its more attractive analogues.
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Third place: Cadillac CTS
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The V6 engine of 3.6 liters with direct injection leads to move 1 810 kilogram CTS. It is the hardest, long, wide and high car among the subjects, which is simultaneously well, and bad. As for the general internal space, it is more only in Infiniti. The volume of the passenger compartment is 2.775 cubic meters, foot space in the backseat 91 centimeter, internal height 94 centimeters. But, if there is about the same with other power, these excesses make the car slower. Until the mark of 60 miles, the car gets in 6.3 seconds, and a quarter of a mile crawls in 14.8 seconds at a speed of 153 km / h.
But when it comes to turns and stop, the big Caddy is about as energetic as its smaller and lighter rivals. He showed the shortest in the entire braking path of 33.2 meters from 60 miles per hour and shared first place with Infiniti for
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Inside the CTS, the most equipped machine from all subjects. Not only the quality of its finishes and materials are superior to C-Class and G35, but also design as a whole both extraordinaries and functional. Starting with parts, covered with skin, to an incredibly advanced and easy-to-use navigation and audio systems, it is just a pretty machine in which it is pleasant to be.
And it is as good in management. Our test machine in the Fe-3 configuration not only demonstrates good indicators, but also proves that it is simply created for driving. Slightly reset the speed before entering CTS in turn, and turns will go down each time the transfer is reduced. And when you enter the turn, the combination of clutch and stability puts CTS much higher than Lexus and Benz on the way of driving pleasure. This combination of sustainability on the road, internal space and the world-class navigation and entertainment options put this car in third place. Its price $ 44,715 dollars, like her finish, stand just in the middle of the group.
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Second place: BMW 335i
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As usual, the acceleration of the model 335i is stunning, and although 5 seconds up to 60 miles per hour are not so fast as we noted in past tests, it is still 0.3 seconds faster than Lexus. This advantage is reduced to 0.2 seconds only by the end of the distance in a quarter mile and amounts to 13.6 seconds at a speed of 166 km / h. The car enters with an acceleration of 0.86g on the platform for testing a car on a drift and lateral inspection, it passes as a slalom at a speed of 111 km / h and stops from 60 miles per hour after 34.1 meters. All together gives the best dynamic characteristics in the tests.
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Model 335i is also at the top of the rating the most recommended, and this means that we would recommend it to your friend rather than any other car that participated in this test. She even won in our long scale from the 31st point, which evaluates everything from the feeling of controls before the design of the stand under the mug. It is quite spacious, having 2,633 cubic meters. Meter in the passenger compartment, and in the rear 88 centimeters for legs and 95 centimeters of internal height.
But still in the car there are a number of explicit omissions. As the fastest acceleration of the car in this group, model 335i would have to be the winning in the presence of a self-locking differential, but it is just not, despite the high price of the car. And for such money there should be a navigation system. But if you mark this item in the order form, the price of BMW risky rises almost to a level of $ 50,000 dollars.
But in terms of driving, the model 335i is the most comfortable and easy to control the car from all that was here, not to mention the fact that it is the fastest. And also the most comfortable. And such a combination is not easy.
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First place: Infiniti G35 Sport
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All G35 sports models include a standard setting of speeds on the steering wheel, self-locking differential and launch without key. For an additional amount of $ 2,650, our test sample was satellite Radio Hmm and a premium-class package, which included details such as a manual with an electric drive, a premium-class audio system and a memory settings for the driver's seat, steering and side mirrors, and Also many other pleasant little things. This car is the most suitable of all in this test, it has 2,803 cubic meters. Meter in the passenger compartment, place for the foot from behind 88 centimeters and an internal height in the back seat of 96 centimeters.
The power plant of the G35 model is the same 3.5-liter V-shaped six, used almost on each second Nissan and Infiniti model, but under the hood of this magnificent sedan it is most appropriate. On the model G35, the engine VQ35 gives 306 hp and 363 nm of torque with the best transmission in this class. The five-speed box of models G not only faster reacts to the gas pedal, but also has the sharper and most aggressive switching of speeds (with turns corresponding to the shift shift to reduced) from all machines on the automatic box on which we drove. Shows
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The suspension in the G35 is the toughest of all. As a result, the car rifles forward and reacts to the pedals so that only a thin face separates a quick ride from just nervous. But if you go intentionally quickly, then Infiniti the best car in terms of management of all participating in the tests. Our track indicators confirm this, the car showed the best results on the site for testing the car on a skid and side railway, with a marker of 0.89g, and on slalom 111.7 km / h.
When it comes to the road, the G35 model has the highest combination of characteristics. The 60 mph mark is achieved in 5.5 seconds, and a quarter mile is overcome by 13.9 seconds at a speed of 164 km / h. The machine slows down from a speed of 60 miles per hour 33.8 meters, yielding only CTS with her sticky tires Michelin.
If there is a weak point in the armor of the model G, then it is inside the cabin, where the design and materials are not always the same elegant as others in this segment. Our test car has passed a lot of miles, and its gear shift handle and lining on door thresholds are lost. Nevertheless, in general, these are little things when choosing a car that justifies expectations in all other ways, and it is several thousand dollars cheaper.
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Final opinion
In a short exception, the indicators of these five sports sedans are distinguished by tenth shares of seconds or a few miles per hour. BMW acceleration, as usual, amazing, and Cadillac is far behind. However, the scores for management among all participants in the competition are fairly smooth.
The decision-making in any case depends on more subjective things and personal tastes, which, in the end, is the fact that buyers are repelled. The fact is that all these five sedans are beautiful cars. And find the reason for buying any of them is easy.
We simply believe that in Infiniti, the combination of a pleasant character of driving, high quality characteristics and low prices is most attractive. In addition, all great achievements will sooner or later be born.
A source: Insideline.