smk4565

I don't really have any interest in even driving one because it is dressed up Impala for old folks. I've driven the CTS 3.6 DI with FE2 suspension and it was fine, but didn't wow me in anyway, I thought a 5-series was much more agile, and rode just as well. The Genesis V8 was more quite and rode better than a CTS, but in the corners was a bit softer and you felt the weight. The XTS isn't going to be better in driving characteristics than a CTS, so I have no reason to bother with it. I wasn't impressed with the Epsilon 1 chassis, the G-body was far better. I guess the only reason I would drive an XTS or LaCrosse is to see how they compare to G-body cars like the Aurora and Seville STS of the early 2000s. But to be fair I wouldn't waste time driving a ES350 or Lincoln MKS or Acura either because all won't do what a rear drive car can do.

The Genesis is a stretch up market for Hyundai, so sales have been slow, but improving. In time Hyundai will start getting better sales, the car is far better than a Taurus, Avalon, Acura, Lincoln, or other front driver of equal price. More importantly, the Genesis gave Hyundai a flagship car that improved their image, and the Sonata, Elantra, Tuscon and Santa Fe are lighting up the sales chart. And the Genesis I think is there for the long haul, it won't be a one and done stop gap.

Even if they are looking for just a smooth ride and no handling, I still think rear drivers can deliver better than the XTS. And the MKS is a little bit cheaper and Lexus ES even cheaper than that. I think the old folks that bought the DTS will buy the XTS but I don't see the XTS hitting it big with baby boomers and younger, or anyone looking for good driving characteristics.

Retiring baby boomers? You mean the generation that largely ditched GM starting in the 70s and never returned? Agreed 100%. The baby boomers are buying imports for the most part, and are largely the reason GM went from 40% market share to 17% market share. Also the reason Cadillac went from #1 selling luxury car for 55 years in a row (in the USA) to 6th place last month. The baby boomers have been buying German and Japanese luxury. And to dfelt's point, a better driving charateristic than what? A water bed? Look at cars near $50k, E-class, 5-series, A6, XF, GS350, Genesis 5.0 R-Spec, all those would have better driving characteristics than an XTS. The XTS will be luckly outhandle the new Acura RLX.

The wood and leather look better than what Buick uses. However the design and layout of that interior is bad. I don't think Lexus uses cheap or low quality materials, but the execution is bad, on pretty much all models.

It is less bland than before, but the only reason the old Avalon sold was because it was super boring and old folks liked it. The seniors might be a little put off by this.

You can definitely tell it is a Lexus. Looks pretty ugly inside and out.

Looks pretty much the same as the RL has for the past 8 years. No one bought that car, no one will buy this one.

XTS is priced where I thought it would be, contiues where the DTS was.

I think it is excellent. You take 212 inch long Crown Vics off the road getting 15 mpg, and replace with a 186 inch van with more interior space and perhaps 25 mpg. Less congestion, less pollution, less fuel consumption. And I like the interior with the TV screen in back and the low-annoyance horn.

More size, more powerful, more technology, more money. Yep, it's a Mercedes.

The Malibu Eco just finished 6th our of 6 in a family sedan comparison in Car and Driver. And that didn't include the 2013 Altima or Fusion. The Malibu is probably only the 8th best mid-size sedan and possibly 9th with a revised Subaru Legacy on the way too. So I would agree that the Malibu could easily be lost in the shuffle.

I think what I don't like most about it, is that isn't very original. As many have stated it looks like a lot of other cars. And maybe that is a safe way to go for the target market of the middle-America older buyer, but nothing really wows me about this car. I like the Taurus interior more and that it has an Ecoboost 4 and a V6, but other than that I guess the Taurus is pretty boring too. I am more impressed with the Altima, 38 mpg beats the Malibu Eco and I like the Altima interior more than the Impala interior. The Altima looks like a serious player in the midsize segment, the Impala to me just doesn't do enough to stand out.

I like the grille, and the front overall looks good, but the headlights are too small and plain, and does remind me of a Honda Crosstour or an Acura TL from 2004. I wish they did something more than with the headlights to make the car stand out. The back looks like a Jetta or Sonata sort of, nothing new there, it doesn't even have a Chevy feel to it. Not a fan of the sweepsphere thing from the back door over the rear wheels, but I guess they felt they needed something to stand out. Interior looks nice for the class, but a little busy, I don't like the dual cockpit thing and how you have light tan over the gaugues, then dark brown behind that then light brown. It is if they wanted to copy the Jaguar XJ interior, but couldn't execute it right. Engines make sense although 195 to 303 hp is a big gap with nothing in between. Overall a solid B.

I like this a lot, and I don't care much for the current car. 38 mpg is amazing for a non-hybrid regular mid size sedan, beating out the Sonata by 3 mpg. I like the interior too, it is simple and nicely laid out, has a bit of Infiniti feel with the wood trim. Some of these new interiors are so busy and chaotic, I like this and the Passat for being luxurious for the class, but easy to understand also.

LaCrosse is cheaper than the ES and MKZ though, plus it is larger. Which is good for the LaCrosse because the old people that have been scared off by the MKZ and ES, and want a larger, and more cost effective alternative can go for the Buick. The MKZ and ES are also priced right against a lot of rear drive luxury cars that aren't just a dressed up family sedan. And there in lies the problem, they can put the interior off a Rolls Royce into an MKZ or ES350 but the car will still drive like a Fusion or Camry. (and I've driven an 07 MKZ, it felt like a Ford in every way)

Looks like they are trying to scare away the old people. But if they do that, they won't have any customers left.

It is a pretty good price. A CR-V awd EX-L is about $29k and some other little utes go up that high too. Mid 30s for BMW brakes, BMW steering, BMW suspension, BMW handling, BMW engine and a ZF transmission is pretty good. This will sell to girls that buy small SUVs, they buy junk like the Nissan Rouge and Rav4 in mass quantity, they will buy this too.

Looks sort of like a Kia. Better engine choices is good, it does look unique and will stand out unlike the 07-2012 MKZ that is sort of boring looking. However it might be too radical. Problem is, it is still a front wheel drive Fusion against rear drive imports and a rear drive CTS.

Yet it is stil faster 0-60 than a 3.6 DI CTS. Everyone in that class has a four cylinder, the ATS has two of them.

Mercedes is getting too many 3 letter names. I like the idea of a smaller cheaper CLS, but not a front drive one. If this was more a C-class variant rather than an A-class variant it would be interesting. Although if they price it against the Passat CC, Regal and TSX, those cars could be in big trouble. I don't like a front drive Mercedes (the A/B class I don't mind because that is more a city car and perhaps necesarry evil to meet fuel economy requirements.) But to me this is like the front drive SRX, I don't like it, but this car will sell.

It's still a Fusion underneath that roof.

The BMW 3-series has had a straight six forver, and for 30 years every auto magazie or website has claimed it the best sport sedan there is. Even Cadillac and Lexus say the 3-series is the best sport sedan and that it is what they have targeted with the ATS and IS350. I don't think anyone is claimining a straight six to be past it's prime, if it was, the 3-series wouldn't be the gold standard that everyone is chasing. BMW sells over 1 million cars a year and the straight six whether it be gas or diesel is the bread and butter of their line up. Furthermore, the 335i will still have a straight six, the 535i will also. Why make a V6 for just the M3 when the rest of the line has inline, and the inline is better. They are setting themselves up for the 335i to have a better engine than the M3.

I don't think the Suburban/Tahoe will die off totally, but the numbers will drop. The Expedition has faded away, I can see that being gone in 10 years, does Toyota even make the Sequioa anymore? These huge trucks will become a thing of the past, similar to how the Town Car and Crown Victoria's time had come to an end. I do think that the Tahoe/Suburban will survive in a niche role for those that need towing or hauling ability of a truck. But the Navigators and Escalades of the world I can see being changed to a unibody crossover in the name of fuel economy.

Uh, no. The inline six is more balanced and smoother than a V6 or V8 for that matter. I've driven the non turbo straight six in a BMW, it is fantastic.