Infiniti G35
	Lexus ES
	Nissan Maxima
	Lincoln MKZ
	Buick Lucerne
	Saab 9-5 Photos by Tracey Kroll

The sporty Infiniti G35 and the luxurious Lexus ES350 are two very different cars, yet both have found their way to the top of our upscale sedans Ratings.

Sedans in the $30,000 to $40,000 range have varying blends of sportiness and opulence. The more posh models tend to be quieter, have more interior space, and ride more smoothly. Sporty models usually have less room inside, ride firmly, and handle more nimbly.

For example, the G35 and BMW 3 Series focus on sporty driving, but are small inside. At the other end of the spectrum, the Lexus ES350 emphasizes comfort and quietness. Other sedans, such as the Acura TL, strike a good balance.

While not in the upscale segment, high-end V6 versions of the Honda Accord, Volkswagen Passat, and Toyota Camry rival those in performance and amenities while costing less.

Some good choices in this category include the Acura TL, the sporty BMW 3 Series, the agile and well-finished Audi A4, and the Lexus IS. For considerably less money, the Acura TSX is an alternative that performs well.

The Cadillac CTS is another capable car, but a 2008 redesign is on the way. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan is a sporty, agile entry but has proven to be unreliable. Its 2008 redesign arrives this summer.

For this test, we chose the Lexus ES350, Lincoln MKZ, Nissan Maxima, Buick Lucerne CXS V8, Saab 9-5, and rear- and all-wheel-drive versions of the Infiniti G35 (all available to ).

All those cars have amenities such as heated (and sometimes cooled) leather seats, sunroofs, and powerful engines. Stability control is almost universal in this class, but the Lincoln MKZ does not offer it.

The G35 was extensively updated for 2007. Our rear-wheel-drive G35 had a sunroof and a power-adjustable steering wheel as options and cost $35,140. The all-wheel-drive G35x included a navigation system and rang in at $39,400.

Based on the Toyota Camry, the ES is redesigned for 2007. Ours cost $41,289 and had the optional navigation system, cooled seats, and power-adjustable steering column.

The Nissan Maxima was freshened for 2007 and got a continuously variable transmission. Our Maxima 3.5 SL had stability control, a sunroof, memory seats, and a power-adjustable steering column among options for $33,715.

Other than a name change from the Zephyr, the MKZ got a larger engine for 2007. With a sunroof, heated and cooled seats, and 17-inch wheels it came to $32,675, the least expensive vehicle in the group.

Dating back to 1998, the Saab 9-5 has seen only mild tweaks since, the latest for 2006. Our 9-5 2.3T had an automatic transmission, xenon headlights, and backup sensors for $38,635.

We tested a Lucerne CXL V6 in 2006. This time, we bought a top-level CXS with a V8 engine, stability control, different suspension tuning, and different tires. The CXS included options such as a remote start, park assist, sunroof, heated and cooled seats, and chrome wheels. It rang in at $38,935.

All vehicles in the group have proven reliable in our subscribers survey and are recommended.