EmailSee Also
For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.
by Editors of Edmunds.com
Each year the editors of Edmunds.com extensively test and recommended cars in a variety of categories. For 2008, three luxury cars make the list of recommended sedans costing over $60,000: the Audi A8,… Lexus LS460 and Mercedes S-Class. Clicking on each vehicle brings up a list of models with pricing and a link to a detailed review. The recommended list also links to a "Sedan Buying Guide," an analysis of all the noteworthy sedans on the market in various price classes.
by Editors of Consumer Reports
by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Top-rated vehicles in crash tests are honored by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety with a "Top Safety Pick" award. Each of the vehicles must earn "Good" ratings in frontal, side-impact crash tests,… plus evaluations of head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. In addition, each winning vehicle must offer electronic stability control. Not all models are tested, but the 2008 Volvo S80 and 2009 Acura RL are among the winners.
by Frank Markus
Motor Trend compares four upper-echelon luxury sedans, with base prices ranging from almost $90,000 to more than $116,000. The most expensive of the group, the 2007 Maserati Quattroporte, is the winner for… its leading combination of performance, handling and elegance. The Mercedes S550 (a 2007 model that is virtually identical to 2008) finishes second. Editor Frank Markus says the Mercedes is "arguably the best car here by all objective measures." The long-wheelbase Jaguar XJ Super V8 takes third and the hybrid Lexus comes in last.
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
Consumer Guide is an excellent source for pricing and options information, and editors also include road-test results. Cars get objective ratings in ten areas, and those ratings are compared to the average… rating of similar models. The Lexus LS and Mercedes S-Class are Best Buys among luxury large cars and the Lexus ES 350 is considered among the best in the luxury midsize category. Recommended cars include the Audi A8 and Cadillac DTS.
by Joe Wiesenfelder
Although some reviews at Cars.com are just a quick summary, most have detailed driving impressions. In addition, editors often reprint reviews from other publications in the same section for each car, so… it's possible to read several reviews in succession. Each year, Cars.com editors choose a number of "Best Bets" in various categories. Luxury cars that win for 2008 include the BMW 7 Series, Cadillac DTS, Jaguar XJ, Lexus ES 350, Lexus LS 460, Lincoln MKZ and Mercedes S-Class.
by Editors of KBB.com
KBB.com is the online home of Kelley Blue Book, long regarded as a top resource in determining the resale value of used vehicles. Reviews here are a descriptive summary of the pros and cons of each car,… plus a wealth of other automotive research and information. Editors don't compare cars as much as other reviewers, and there's no overall ratings system, but recommended models are identified in various categories. Best luxury sedans include the Cadillac DTS, Audi A8, BMW 750, Jaguar XJ, Lexus LS and Mercedes S-Class.
by Editors of J.D. Power and Associates
J.D. Power and Associates conducts numerous vehicle market research studies that are widely respected in the auto industry. One such study is for long-term vehicle quality, based on responses from owners of… three-year-old cars. While this study is actually about 2005 model year vehicles, top-rated vehicles are good indications of the predicted quality of the latest models. The top brand for dependability is Lexus. In two premium-car categories, the award-winning cars are the 2005 Lexus ES 330 and Lexus LS 430.
by Amy Skogstrom
Based on testing by the editors, Automobile Magazine names a Car of the Year along with ten "All-Star" picks that just miss. The Mercedes S-Class is named one of the All-Stars. Editor Amy Skogstrom says,… "In a segment with no shortage of excellent competitors, from the Lexus LS 460 to the BMW 7-series, the Mercedes-Benz S-class stands out, because pretty much everything about it is just right." Unfortunately, there is no detailed road test included.
by Mark Solheim and Jessica Anderson
Each year, Kiplinger's revises this buyer's guide, which complements a series of excellent reference articles on this site about auto insurance, leasing, driving and safety tips. Picks are weighted toward… value, reliability and running costs. In the sedan category priced from $30,000 to $45,000, the Lexus ES 350 wins the Best in Class rating. The Volvo S80 is noted as "First in Safety" in the sedans-over-$45,000 class. Other cars are notable for fuel economy and resale value. While not very detailed, this short article makes a good case for its ratings.
by Editors of IntelliChoice.com and AutoPacific
Every year, IntelliChoice awards the Motorist Choice Awards in 26 automotive market categories. The awards are based on IntelliChoice cost of ownership data combined with customer satisfaction survey data… compiled by automotive research firm AutoPacific. For 2008, the top-scoring car is the Lexus LS 460, also the winner in the premium luxury car class. In the luxury mid-size segment, the Lexus ES 350 wins the award, and the Cadillac DTS is the best large luxury car. Although no testing is done, this data-driven analysis presents an interesting point of view not often considered in other reviews.
by Staff of ForbesAutos.com
by Editors of U.S. News Rankings and Reviews
U.S. News and World Report has researched other publications' reviews of luxury cars and translated them into numeric scores for several 2008 models. Editors don't perform their own testing, but provide a… good summary of data. In the "Super Luxury Cars" category, the first-place finisher is the Mercedes S-Class, followed by the Lexus LS and Audi A8. While the individual write-ups are helpful, editors don't try to compare and contrast the cars.
by Editors of Consumers Digest
Consumers Digest is a publication that tests and reviews a wide variety of consumer goods, including vehicles. Each year, staff editors work with four respected automotive editors from various publications… to select a group of Best Buy vehicles, based on test driving and evaluations of a wide range of factors. The 2008 Best Buy list features 48 cars and trucks, including the Lexus LS 460 and Lincoln MKZ. Unfortunately, the poorly organized website provides very little additional information.
by Staff of IFCAR.net
IFCAR, the Institute for Consumer Automotive Research, lists its Recommended and Best-in-Class picks for the top considerations in each vehicle category, but the criteria for inclusion aren't well… explained. Links to several more thorough comparison reviews are available for some classes, but editors don't have a current comparison for luxury cars. In the ultra-luxury category, the top title goes to the Mercedes S550.
by Staff of Autotropolis.com
Autotropolis provides a list of its ten best "understated" luxury cars. The cars are ranked based on "style, fit & finish, performance, price, comfort and luxury features." Style is the most important… criteria, according to the described methodology. The Mercedes S-Class is the number-one luxury car on this list of cars that "offer more substance than flash." However, there is no indication that editors have test-driven these vehicles, and there is little additional information about each model.
|
This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.
Read more about our Ratings Criteria by clicking the link at the top of the page.
|
||
