Motor Trend just did a comparison test of the new Infiniti I35, Jaguar X-Type, Lexus ES300, Mercedes C320, and Volvo S60 2.4T. In the end, all 4 testers picked the S60 2.4T as the winner.
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Here is some of what they said about all the cars:
Infiniti I35: Good - Excellent corporate 3.5 liter V6, large rear cabin, great oveall powertrain. Bad - Out of hand torque steer, harsh kidney stone eliminating suspension, twitchy handful at limit, generic Asian un-original styling, as vanilla as it gets, plasticky waterfall dash.
Jaguar X-Type: Good - Pleasant even ride, excellent fit and finish, top-notch paint, classy styling, beautiful interior and exterior. Bad - Unwillingness to rev, parasitic AWD feel, corner cutting interior materials, not so good brakes, too much plastic.
Mercedes C320: Good - Excellent chassis under all conditions, felt planted, secure, and communicative, timeless styling, comfortable seating positions. Bad - Looks like it was shot with a can of spray paint with terrible orange peel, frustrating switchgear, un-intuative controls, dumb no standard CD player on a $41k car, hollow-sounding doors, rattling engine.
Lexus ES300: Good - Nice adjustable suspension, just about perfect fit and finish, beautiful interior and materials. Bad - Needs power boost, last in all acceleration tests, smiling grille, Pokemon cartoon character styling, artsy interior.
Volvo S60 2.4T: Good - Confidence inspiring, springs and shocks matched beautifully compliant, high fit and finish levels, seat comfort and support is Scandanavian perfect, avaiation levels of control function and ergonomics, audiophile quality mid-level stereo, purpose built. Bad - Spartan looking interior, staid monochromatic interior design.
In the end, all 4 of the testers picked the Volvo S60 2.4T as the winner. Call it the sedate luxury vehicle, it doesn't try to impress you with lots of trinkets, splashy chrome, or over-engineered cupholders. Its brillance shines when it's on the road, through crisp handling, compliant ride, willing power, and poetic design. And while it may not have immediate curb appeal, the $36,260 as-tested price is a ticket to the good life that lots of folks can afford.
-Drew
[This message has been edited by InDy (edited 10-08-2001).]
Here is some of what they said about all the cars:
Infiniti I35: Good - Excellent corporate 3.5 liter V6, large rear cabin, great oveall powertrain. Bad - Out of hand torque steer, harsh kidney stone eliminating suspension, twitchy handful at limit, generic Asian un-original styling, as vanilla as it gets, plasticky waterfall dash.
Jaguar X-Type: Good - Pleasant even ride, excellent fit and finish, top-notch paint, classy styling, beautiful interior and exterior. Bad - Unwillingness to rev, parasitic AWD feel, corner cutting interior materials, not so good brakes, too much plastic.
Mercedes C320: Good - Excellent chassis under all conditions, felt planted, secure, and communicative, timeless styling, comfortable seating positions. Bad - Looks like it was shot with a can of spray paint with terrible orange peel, frustrating switchgear, un-intuative controls, dumb no standard CD player on a $41k car, hollow-sounding doors, rattling engine.
Lexus ES300: Good - Nice adjustable suspension, just about perfect fit and finish, beautiful interior and materials. Bad - Needs power boost, last in all acceleration tests, smiling grille, Pokemon cartoon character styling, artsy interior.
Volvo S60 2.4T: Good - Confidence inspiring, springs and shocks matched beautifully compliant, high fit and finish levels, seat comfort and support is Scandanavian perfect, avaiation levels of control function and ergonomics, audiophile quality mid-level stereo, purpose built. Bad - Spartan looking interior, staid monochromatic interior design.
In the end, all 4 of the testers picked the Volvo S60 2.4T as the winner. Call it the sedate luxury vehicle, it doesn't try to impress you with lots of trinkets, splashy chrome, or over-engineered cupholders. Its brillance shines when it's on the road, through crisp handling, compliant ride, willing power, and poetic design. And while it may not have immediate curb appeal, the $36,260 as-tested price is a ticket to the good life that lots of folks can afford.
-Drew
[This message has been edited by InDy (edited 10-08-2001).]
