A Quick Look at Current Executive Luxury Sports Sedans in the US

"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
05/27/2017 at 11:10 • Filed to: Brands

I hope you’re ready to love the 5-Series! I went ahead and did another quick list for the middle luxury sedans (5-series, E-Class, A6, XF, CTS, GS, Q70, G80, and S90). I mostly wanted to point out how the GS F is nearly $13,000 overpriced for no discernable reason, that Jaguar is NOT a Porsche competitor anymore (they are the same segment as Cadillac), and most of all that BMW has absolutely lost their damn mind! Check this out.

Note that all information is from today on each automaker’s US websites (even if the 2018 models are on dealer lots). If 0-60 mph is claimed on site by the manufacturer then I placed the fastest claim possible with that drivetrain. Pricing is always the lowest available price to obtain that engine. This means that the price and 0-60 mph claims are not connected.

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BMW 530i: 248 hp, 8AT, 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds (MC). $51,200

BMW 540i: 335 hp, 8AT, 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds (MC). $56,450

BMW M550i: 456 hp, 8AT, 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds (MC). $72,100

Keep in mind these horsepower figures compared to their 0-60 mph claims because I think BMW switched to advertising wheel horsepower in second and third gears.

Mercedes-Benz E300: 241 hp, 8AT, 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds (MC). $52,150

Mercedes-AMG E43: 396 hp, 8AT, 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds (MC). $72,400

Audi A6 2.0t: 252 hp, 7DCT, 0-60 mph in 6.7 seconds (MC). $47,600

Audi A6 3.0t: 333 hp, 7DCT, 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds (MC). $58,600

Audi S6: 450 hp, 7DCT, 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds (MC). $70,900

So far we have 450 hp, 396 hp, and 335 hp all running 4.4 to 4.7 second 0-60 mph times.

(For 2018 model year)

Jaguar XF 25t: 247 hp, 8AT, 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds (MC). $47,775

Jaguar XF 35t: 340 hp, 8AT, 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds (MC). $52,600

Jaguar XF S: 380 hp, 8AT, 0-60 mph in 5.0 seconds (MC). $63,865

Cadillac CTS 2.0t: 268 hp, 8AT. $45,995

Cadillac CTS 3.6: 335 hp, 8AT. $53,695

Cadillac CTS V-Sport: 420 hp, 8AT, 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds (MC). $60,695

Cadillac CTS-V: 640 hp, 8AT, 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds (MC). $85,995

So the 340 hp Jaguar XF is an even better value than the NA V6 Caddy, not to mention the starting prices for a 4-cyl Benz or Bimmer. Oh, don’t forget to compare the CTS-V to the M550i.

Lexus GS Turbo: 241 hp, 8AT, 0-60 mph in 7.0 seconds (MC). $46,310

Lexus GS350: 311 hp, 8AT, 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds (MC). $50,695

Lexus GS F: 467 hp, 8AT, 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds (MC). $83,940

I have no clue why the GS F isn’t offered as a $70,000 sedan. Maybe Lexus is enjoying the benefits of high residual values on leases to the point where the GS F can be up charged $13,000 and still run the same leasing as a $70,000 competitor. Someone check that for me.

Infiniti Q70 3.8: 330 hp, 7AT. $50,100

Infiniti Q70 5.6: 420 hp, 7AT. $63,150

Genesis G80 3.8: 311 hp, 8AT. $41,400

Genesis G80 5.0: 420 hp, 8AT. $54,550

Volvo S90 T5: 250 hp, 8AT. $46,950

Volvo S90 T6: 316 hp, 8AT. $52,950

Yeah, you noticed that complete drop off once we hit Infiniti, Genesis, and Volvo too? Kind of tells you the amount of work still needed. Good on Volvo for NOT being in the same segment as Acura or Lincoln! This also backs up what I have been saying about Genesis really only impacts Infiniti and when you look at the product development and launch speed of Infiniti vs Genesis you start to see why the new Korean brand was launched when it was.

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I’ll update this when all the 2018 models hit the US websites so that you all can witness how quickly these brands are evolving. I personally believe you can learn a lot about a brand by what they do in this segment.

DISCUSSION (12)

dogisbadob > Wobbles the Mind
05/27/2017 at 11:23

The Tesla Model S might belong on that list, too.

Jaguar needs to bring back the hood ornament. At least Mercedes still offers it.

WilliamsSW > Wobbles the Mind
05/27/2017 at 11:29

The interesting bit to me, as you allude to, is that these numbers aren’t really comparable to each other in many cases. Some of these are sandbagged to varying degrees - I’m not aware of anyone here overstating HP or 0-60 performance, but that’s possible, too.

But, then again, shoppers aren’t doing instrumented tests on these cars- many are probably taking these numbers at face value- so perhaps the perception that these are comparable numbers matters more then the reality?

Wobbles the Mind > dogisbadob
05/27/2017 at 11:30

I place Model S with CLS, 6GC, A7, Panamera, and Ghibli.

WilliamsSW > dogisbadob
05/27/2017 at 11:33

I think that the Model S competes a class above this, really. The only cars listed above in its price range are the (overpriced) GS-F and CTS-V.

I love the Jag hood ornament but it seems like their design language doesn’t leave a place for it, unfortunately.

Wobbles the Mind > WilliamsSW
05/27/2017 at 11:53

Honestly I think there is a lot going on with launch control systems. I have a gut feeling telling me there is about a half second or more difference in 0-60 mph times with and without launch control with the exact same car, especially on optional summer tires vs the usual all seasons.

carcrasher88 > Wobbles the Mind
05/27/2017 at 12:03

No twin-turbo AWD Lincoln MKZ? I’m dissapointed.

WilliamsSW > Wobbles the Mind
05/27/2017 at 12:13

Very true. AWD v 2wd makes another difference in 0-60 times that doesn’t mean much in the real world.

But we happen to have 2, 300HP, 4,000 lb, AWD cars in our household and there’s a big performance gap between them, that shouldn’t exist in theory. One is a BMW, the other is a Lexus.

wafflesnfalafel > Wobbles the Mind
05/27/2017 at 12:25

If I was in the market I’d probably end up with a 540 or the 3.0 A6, but I’d love a CTSv as more of a toy.

Wobbles the Mind > carcrasher88
05/27/2017 at 12:35

It’s a different segment like the TLX and upcoming Buick Regal.

carcrasher88 > Wobbles the Mind
05/27/2017 at 12:47

How about the Continental, then?

Wobbles the Mind > carcrasher88
05/27/2017 at 13:01

Not in this segment however it is in a parallel segment to this one. Continental, RLX, K900, and XTS are all together. So you can shop them against this group and get more of that old school luxury in a larger car instead of performance in a midsizer.

Nick Has an Exocet > Wobbles the Mind
05/27/2017 at 14:05

The XF comes out looking great here. Having driven it (in diesel form), I can say that it’s probably every bit as good as most of these.