jrock65

2005 Consumer Reports - AWD Mid-Luxury Sedan Comparison

The Audi came in the 2nd place again, which is a good consistant showing for Audi. The A6 had the best fuel economy, but got a low score for controls & displays. The RL placed more at the bottom this time and got a low score for trunk space and controls & displays . The GS got the lowest scores for emergency handling and driving position. The STS placed mid-pack, but didn't get good scores for fit & finish and trunk space. The M got a low score for trunk space and fuel economy as did the others with 18 MPG. Trunk space was an issue for all of them. The GS and A6 had the best scores for noise. The M35x is now CR's overall top rated sedan.

1. Infiniti M35x
2. Audi A6 3.2 Quattro
3. Cadillac STS V6
4. Acura RL
5. Lexus GS300 AWD

Infiniti M35x:
0-60 MPH - 7.0 Seconds
60-0 MPH - 128 Feet
Fuel Economy - 18 MPG

Audi A6 3.2 Quattro:
0-60 MPH - 7.7 Seconds
60-0 MPH - 129 Feet
Fuel Economy - 21 MPG

Cadillac STS V6:
0-60 MPH - 7.1 Seconds
60-0 MPH - 131 Feet
Fuel Economy - 18 MPG

Acura RL:
0-60 MPH 6.9 Seconds
60-0 MPH 131 Feet
Fuel Economy - 18 MPG

Lexus GS300 AWD:
0-60 MPH - 7.4 Seconds
60-0 MPH - 133 Feet
Fuel Economy - 20 MPG

Credit: DrewSRX

jrock65

This is how the luxury sedans now rank, according to Consumer Reports:

1. Infiniti M35x
2. Mercedes-Benz E320
3. BMW 530i
4. Audi A6 3.2 Quattro
5. Cadillac STS V6
6. Acura RL
7. Jaguar S-Type 4.2
8. Lexus GS300 AWD
9. Volvo S80 T6

Previously, the Lexus LS430 and E39 BMW 5-Series were the best luxury sedans.

Credit: DrewSRX

msu79gt82

What issue of Consumer Reports are you referring to??

acurafox

It's interesting that CR rates the Benz so highly, given their recent (and ongoing) reliability problems. I have noticed that reliability seems to have been weighted differently (ie, less) in recent reviews than it had been in the past, since several autos with questionalbe reliability have come out near or on the top of their lists (the Passat is the ost obvious recent example-nice car with lots of featues but less than stellar reliability history).

msu79gt82

Consumer Reports separates the product ratings from its reliability ratings. Thus reliability does not effect where a vehicle ranks. HOWEVER Consumer Reports will not recommend any product will less than average reliability ratings. Thus a car can rank first, third, whatever and NOT be Recommended based on it repair records.

Rob L

So because the RL has a small trunk in their opinion and because they dont like its controls/displays they ranked it that low? Odd.

I gotta wonder if the RL was ranked first and the M 4th if jrock would have posted this

psteng19

I don't see why not.
JRock does not seem to be biased towards any particular brand.

jrock65

I generally try to post comparos in forums regardless of who wins (like the A6 in the Automobile comparo in CL). Also, if someone has already posted (like the Edmunds comparo), no point in posting in that forum.

However, fact of the matter is that the M has won a lot of comparos that it's been in, so it may end up that a comparo I post will have the M as the winner.

I like comparos not because of the rankings (which are generally worthless given the subjectivity), but for ratings on specific aspects of the car and test times.

acurafox

I agree that they do separate them for their current ratings, but it seems like the link used to be much stronger between the reliability data and the overall ratings that they used to rank the cars in each category in the past. I have a couple of old CR issues (I don't know why), so maybe I will examine them and see if there is any evidence of this or if it is just my imagination and middle aged (lack of) memory at work.

msu79gt82

I think your memory is fine; I seem to recall a change in how CR reports their findings. In the past I do believe that reliability was part of the overal score. The change as made sevaral years ago, I think. Now the score is test results only and recomendations are made based on test results AND reliability. Only those cars that test high and are above average in repair record get recommended.

SPUDMTN

Maybe I'm a little bitter, but is Consumer Reports a publication luxury car buyers go to? I really don't think of them as an auto magazine and find them useful only for reliability ratings. I could care less if the people of Consumer Reports find that the RL doesn't handle too well...what do they know? Funny thing is that all enthusiast magazines have rated these vehicles in practically the opposite order...hmm...who to believe?...choices, choices...

--End of immature, petty, RL fanboy rant--

msu79gt82

I believe that CR does as good a job of anybody with their objective measurments and that is part of their score; e.g. I think their accident avoidance maneuver tests are very useful. CR brought rollover ratings to the public with their Isuzu results However their objective measures are only part of the story. CR does indeed include subjective values as part of the final score; but what publication doesn't? CR has a test track and on-staff automotive engineers; auto tests are a major part of what CR does.

I find CR very useful as another research tool; one of the best in my opinion. Are they the only tool I use? Of course not. As far as other enthusiasts magazines go, to my knowledge the M has won virtually all of them. I see consistency across the board.

lumpydog

You left a handful of vehicles out of CR's latest Luxury Sedans ranking - including the Acura TL, which was second overall - only the M35 was ranked higher..... at least in the copy of CR that was on my doorstep yesterday

lumpydog

So here is Consumer Report's real list/ranking of Luxury Sedans:

1. Infiniti M35x
2. Acura TL
3. Toyota Avalon
4. Mercedes-Benz E320
5. BMW 530i
6. Audi A6 3.2 Quattro
7. Lexus ES330
8. Cadillac STS V6
9. Acura RL
10. Jaguar S-Type 4.2
11. Lexus GS300 AWD
12. Volvo S80 T6
13. SAAB 9-5

Doubtit

Wonder how they define "Luxury Sedans" evidently not on price as the above list has a wide spread.

Also they must use some value for the $$$ formula, which would explain the TL being rated higher than the RL. Or am I missing something here?

NJRonbo

Consumer Reports is indeed just a basic research tool.

They do so many tests on just about everything that they
rarely give more than just a glossy overview of the product.

I run a website that's big on electronics, computers and
Home Theater. Whenever I see CR doing their reports on
any of these categories I find that they totally miss their mark.
They limit themselves to the popular brand names instead of
telling you what "other brands" actually equal or exceed.

I'm not telling you guys anything you don't know already,
but if you really want reliable ratings you have to look at
specialized magazines, or even better , forums like
this one where you can connect with actual consumers.

This is why I trust Acurazine member opinions when it comes
to my RL.

On another note....

My day job outside of my Internet business is working for the
Postal Service. I see a lot of car magazines go by. Reading some
of the latest issues I find comments made about the Acura RL that
aren't very flattering. In one magazine a reader reffered to the
RL as a "car made more for a chauffeur rather than an enthusuast"
and another magazine took jabs at the car for being mostly full
of high-tech gadgetry and not much else including a V-8 engine.

All I know is that I am VERY happy with this car.

headersplus

Here's another view from Car and Driver Magazine. The RL ranks 2nd to the M35 in this one.
This was the article that finally swayed me to the RL.

I don't regret it a bit.


http://www.caranddriver.com/article....rticle_id=9391

curry7

Actually, in the Car and Driver article, the RL comes in second to the more-expensive M45-Sport, not M35. Edmunds.com shows that the price I could expect to pay for the M45-Sport with the Technology Package (to get roughly the same stuff that the RL has...maybe a bit more stuff), would be over $54,500. That's a lot more than I paid for my RL. I must say, though, that I test drove the M35 and M45, and I could have been pretty happy with one of them.

headersplus

my bad - M45; makes me feel even better about my choice

drugadman

As much as ACURA does so the mariginal advantages the M35x may have over the RL are offset by the increased price. Plus, the G series are fancy Altimas and the M series are fancy Maximas, and reliability is poor.

ACURAs are based on unique platforms with high reliability.

jrock65

You gotta be kidding me.

TypeSAddict

bwahahahaha Good one!

scottj

Obviously has never parked the RL next to an Accord.

dseag2

Well I traded my "fancy Accord" ('05 RL) for a "fancy Maxima" ('06 M45) back in April and I'm very happy with my decision. In fact, my fancy Maxima has been more reliable than my fancy Accord. The only problem is, they put the drivetrain in backward because the Maxima is FWD and the M45 is RWD. Should I ask for my money back???

vtecracer

The RL's platform was built from Honda's Global Platform. It pretty much starts off as a paper-clip and Honda stretches it, bends it, widens it and strengthens it where needed. So if you want to say the RL has it's own exlcusive form of the Global Platform, then you can. Same goes for the Accord, it's platform design started from the Global Platform. It was streched, bent, yada yada yada where needed to be an Accord.

psteng19

You should get your facts straight before you open your mouth.
I don't think anything you posted was even close to being accurate.

mg7726

i can't believe i just read this. i want my one minute back...

jhr3uva90

Pardon me for being late, but is this the same Consumer Reports issue where they diss the RL because it is hard to attach a baby seat to the back seat of the car?

tompd

Hard to attach a baby seat? Got to be kidding. What kind of seat were they putting in? The babyseat I have has seatbelt-like attachments (push button release and quick connect) and make connecting to the Acura quite easy. Also very easy to get back off.

jhr3uva90

That's what I recall reading in the issue of Consumer Reports that is currently on newsstands now. They felt that attaching a baby seat was problematic, which was one of their complaints. They also complained about the shifter being difficult to use and the controls being too complex.

SPUDMTN

lol...well that's enough right there to make me rank the RL as poor