Comparo: 2012 Mid-size AWD luxury sport sedans

By John LeBlanc With many of the features found in more expensive full-size models, the mid-size luxury/sports sedan segment can offer a great deal of relative value. Especially if you prefer to drive the car instead of being chauffeured around. Here is a trio of such mid-sizers, each with four-doors, room for five, and the promise of driving fun. Plus, this being Canada, all three come with available traction at all wheels: THIRD PLACE: 2012 BMW 528i xDrive Redesigned for 2011, the “big” news this year for BMW’s 5 Series sedan is the introduction of the entry-level four-cylinder 528i model. On paper, the turbocharged 2.0-litre matches last year’s 3.0L six in horsepower (241), yet betters it in torque (258 to 230 pound-feet), and fuel-economy — obviously this model’s raison d’être. With a mandatory eight-speed automatic transmission, the all-wheel-drive 528i xDrive is rated at 8.8L/100 km in the city, and 5.9L on the highway. That’s substantially less than the competition here — the Audi A6 3.0 TFSI Quattro and Infiniti M37x, rated at 11.3/12.0 city and 7.4/8.3 highway, respectively. However, what you gain with the BMW sports sedan at the pumps, you lose in performance and refinement. Taking 6.6 seconds to go from zero to 100 km/h, the BMW is about one second behind the competition. And fans of BMW’s silky inline-sixes will be disappointed. Compared to the Audi and Infiniti sixes, the BMW four is smooth, all right. But the sound it makes is more of a whine than its purring rivals. Plus despite being down on cylinders and power, the 528i xDrive’s $56,900 sticker (all starting prices) is still more than the M37x. Spun off the larger 7 Series, the 5er delivers a high level of refinement and luxury features inside. But when driven with verve, it feels much larger and more cumbersome than its rivals. Beyond its engine bay, the biggest let down can be found at the 528i xDrive’s tiller. The lack of steering feel had me checking to see if there really was a blue and black propeller logo on this car’s hood. SECOND PLACE: 2012 Infiniti M37x Also all-new in 2011, the mid-size M is the antithesis of the limo-like BMW. With an aggressive handling setup, the Infiniti feels smaller than its size chart says. When hustled, the M37x feels solid, and comers flat. I liked the way the car steers too: direct and accurate. I only wish the steering ratio was a bit more linear. And — at times — road imperfections were felt more readily than in the smoother-riding BMW and Audi. I tend to favour naturally aspirated engines, like the Infiniti’s 3.7L six. And with 330 hp on-board, it trounces the forced-induction BMW and Audi mills. Off the line, though, torque is what you want. And with only 270 lb-ft the M37x is 55 behind the A6. Starting at $54,900, the M37x has the lowest MSRP of this trio. But I didn’t feel it sitting in its cockpit. The Infiniti offers a more sensual and elegant cabin than the more austere Teutonic sedans. Build quality and passenger comfort is excellent, and with an active noise control system standard, the Infiniti was by far the quietest mid-size sedan I’ve driven in some time. Debits? Although its seven-speed automatic gearbox knocks-off down- and upshifts in an immediate fashion, it doesn’t help the Infiniti in the fuel economy department. And as stylish as the M37x’s interior is, I like the more logical layout of the A6’s central controller setup and higher resolution central screen. FIRST PLACE: 2012 Audi A6 3.0 TFSI Quattro The last-generation A6 sedan was no slouch. Through the years it had been slowly creeping up the lists of critics like yours truly, with excellent cabin ergonomics, gutsy engines, and Audi’s class-leading all-wheel-drive system: a.k.a. Quattro. And now with an all-new model for 2012, you get a sense that Audi should be penalized for piling on, as the $58,800 A6 3.0 TFSI Quattro betters the competition here in the majority of areas that matter to customers in this segment. For starters, the A6’s powertrain has been measurably upgraded. With 310 hp and 325 lb-ft (increases of 10 and 15, respectively) the Audi’s supercharged six comes mated to an automatic gearbox, now with eight gears (two more than the outgoing model). That helps fuel economy and still delivers prompt responses from your right foot when called upon. Where Audis in the past have sacrificed ride quality for athletic handling, not so with the new A6. It offers a sinewy feel through the corners, but doesn’t suffer some of the harshness the M37x exhibits. And this may shock Bimmer fans, but the A6’s steering feels more natural and intuitive than the 535i xDrive’s setup. With such an overall competent package, some drivers may ask for more power in their A6. That should be rectified when the 420 hp S6 comes later this year. But until then, know the current A6 is the best all-around mid-size luxury sports sedan you can buy.

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