It's still classy but some rivals are even classier. (used)

You'll be surprised that not everyone will find the BMW 5-series entertaining and the Mercedes E-class a bit too boring for their taste. What else could one consider? Well the Audi A6 certainly has the looks and the charm, but is that enough of a reason to buy one?

The standard 2-liter turbo four-cylinder offers decent flexibility around town and on the highway. It never feels short on pull thanks to loads of torque at low revs. You can option for a 3-liter supercharged six-cylinder that has all-wheel-drive fitted standard. Pick of the range goes to the 2-liter turbo with all-wheel-drive. Audi is known for it's Quattro all-wheel-drive system so it only makes sense to option for one with it, and of course that 2-liter turbo does such a good job that the 3-liter supercharged six-cylinder seems a tad bit pointless in our books. However, if you are willing to pay the premium for it then by all means go ahead because it is such a lovely engine.

The A6 doesn't feel as sharp to drive as the 5-series. It does handle quite nicely but you're constantly reminded that this is a front-wheel-drive chassis unlike the 5-series and E-class. You won't be tossed about as much on rough surfaces as the A6 ride comfort is smooth, the only other car that has the A6 beat on that aspect is the S90. You won't have too much to complain about with wind and road noise, as both are well hushed thanks to a well insulated cabin.

The interior feels classy and well sorted. The only car that may have the Audi sleepless at night is the Volvo S90 which has a far classier approach to its overall interior layout. The infotainment screen swings out of the dashboard and all the controls and dials fall right into your hand. The quality of them are top notch. You shouldn't expect anything less from Audi, especially at this price point. The front seats are comfortable and offer plenty of support, while those in the back may feel a bit shortchanged on foot room due to the large transmission tunnel. The boot space is decent but nothing really compares to a traditional wagon when it comes to versatility.

Premium Trim gets a navigation system, rearview parking camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a 7-inch driver information system. You'll have to step up to the Premium Plus trim to get Full LED headlights, power tilt and telescopic adjustable steering column and four-zone automatic climate control. Top of the range Prestige gets the 3-liter supercharged six-cylinder engine, head-up display, power trunk open & close, and surround view parking camera. Our tester car was the middle of the range Premium Plus trim which had an amazing Bose surround sound system and also large 20-inch alloy wheels. The overall package did seem a tad bit expensive considering there are so many options that are more compelling to look at and to drive.

You'll love the A6 as it is comfortable to drive and easy to live with. The styling is a bit on the boring side and the interior is lavishly designed with top notch build quality. It's hard trying to find fault in the A6 but it certainly is hard to find anything to like about it, especially when you look at rivals from Volvo and Jaguar. The A6 is a good car but we just expected a little more from it considering how far ahead some of its keen rivals have leaped. It's still a great choice but for how much longer?

Likes: Both engines are silky smooth, and the all-wheel-drive helps the A6 live up to the reputation Audi is known for. The interior is top notch and elegant. We love those LED headlights.

Dislikes: You're constantly reminded that it's front-wheel-drive bias. The exterior styling is a tad bit too dull when you look at the Jaguar XF and Volvo S90.

Resting comfortably on its laurels

Mercedes has been known to rest on their laurels when it comes to the E-class. Sure it has the latest tech that all Mercedes comes with, but why would one buy this over the more exciting BMW 5-series and superbly refined Audi A6?

The E300 comes with a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder which is shared with the C300. We found the engine to be more than enough for the C-class and the same can be said here with the E-class. It certainly has more torque at low revs than the outgoing 3.5 six-cylinder and the running costs are much improved. What we miss the most though is that despite the high torque at low revs with this turbo four, the six-cylinder felt more refined. You can option for all-wheel-drive with the E300 if you desire the extra traction, we certainly wish that we had the opportunity to test drive both for comparison but there wasn’t any examples available during the test drive. The 4matic all-wheel-drive system certainly does offer the traction needed when the roads became slippery. Steering feedback is much improved over the previous generation while the handling aspect certainly isn’t up to snuff with the BMW 5-series. Our test car came equipped with driver select suspension setting which allowed us to slip it into sport and comfort modes. The sport mode made the suspension way too firm and borderline unforgiving, we’d much prefer the suspension in comfort mode which helped give the E-class the driving characteristics that it’s known for. It truly is comfortable to drive around town and when you’re on the highway it doesn’t feel out of its depths, but we do feel it might be worth waiting for the E400 turbocharged six-cylinder to arrive.

The interior is what you’d expect of a Mercedes, all materials used are top notch and high quality. The front seats offer plenty of support and adjustability, while the rear seat is decent in space but headroom maybe a bit tight for taller passengers. Also, life for the middle man may not be as fabulous as the exterior styling due to the high transmission tunnel and somewhat tight elbow and shoulder space. The boot is decent in space though, but the wagon version offers way more versatility. The biggest letdown for the E300 is the infotainment system which is too fiddly to operate while on the move, and also the single stalk that controls the windshield wipers and the turn signal. It’s not a complicated setup, rather than an annoying one. We found it very easy to select the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal, and it requires some getting used to as in other cars the turn signal is a separate control from the turn signals.

Mercedes tends to be stingy when it comes to standard kit. We were surprised that our tester car came fitted with keyless ignition and premium leather seats. The previous Mercedes we’ve tested didn’t have premium leather seats nor did they have keyless ignition fitted, but Bi-xenon headlamps were fitted optionally. The E300 we had as our tester car didn’t even have LED headlights fitted nor a rear reversing camera either, and at nearly $70k that’s just disappointing.

If you desire a fully kitted E300 you’ll pay an arm and a leg for one. What we like the most though is despite the high price of admission, there really isn’t any other car on the road that feels quite like a Mercedes. You’ll either love it or loathe it. We certainly love it for the refined cabin and comfortable driving experience, what we wish though is that Mercedes fitted some features such as LED headlights standard. Otherwise, the E300 is a great choice but the Volvo S90 has it beat in the styling and better four-cylinder engines.

Likes: The E300 is comfortable to drive and the turbo four offers tons of torque at low revs. This maybe the most refined and sophisticated E-class to date.

Dislikes: It can get expensive with options. Halogen headlights at this price point, really?

Familiar looks with improved road feel (used)

The BMW 5-series may still look familiar on the outside, but what matters the most is how it feels on the road. Does the new 5-series feel like a proper BMW? That’s the real question.

The previous few generations have often been described as lacking in the fun to drive department. BMW has been focusing more on road comfort rather than road dynamics. It’s faster than majority of its competition but some rivals are becoming even more talented with each generation, making it harder and harder for the 5-series these days.

The standard 2-liter turbo four is the way to go honestly. It offers decent flexibility and running costs that are respectable. The optional plug-in hybrid is a great alternative if you are willing to put in the miles to make up for the higher purchase price. The 540 and M550 offer the performance that many would come to expect from a 5-series. We would stick with the 540 trim if you have to have a six-cylinder BMW, while the turbocharged eight-cylinder in the M550 could be seen as a bargain M5 rendition.

Our tester car was the 540i with xDrive all-wheel-drive system fitted optionally. This maybe the sweet spot in the 5-series range if you are seeking a striking balance between performance and running costs; you may pay a little bit more in terms of purchase price but your investments will be well protected as BMWs tend to have strong residual value.

On the road the 540 engine is silky smooth and very potent when you need it to be. However, since this is a BMW and we didn’t really care too much about shoving it around corners and bends. We decided to just drive it casually and discretely. The engine doesn’t feel overpowered when you aren’t driving it like a hooligan; and the overall feel of the transmission is pure perfection. What we like the most however is the steering isn’t overly heavy but weighs up nicely where it matters the most. We’ve driven BMWs in the past and the steering has either been extremely heavy or lackluster feeling. You can select from several driving modes depending on your mood. We left the 5-series in Eco-pro mode which helps to boost fuel economy since majority of our driving was mixed stop/start traffic. Visibility is decent all-round with wind and road noise so well suppressed that it could be considered an Achilles heel.

The infotainment system in our tester car is vastly improved over the previous generation. We can honestly say the interior looks better and feels better too in terms of quality materials and the plastics used around the dashboard. The iDrive interface is light years better than it has ever been, with improved graphics and menus that are easier to navigate through. The front seats offer superb comfort with easy adjustability. The rear seat is best left for four-passengers as the massive transmission tunnel makes having three abreast a bit of a squeeze. Boot space is decent too; the only car that may have the 5-series beat is the Volvo S90.

Our tester car came fitted with WiFi Hotspot, LED headlights with auto high beam assist and electrically operated front seats with lumbar support. Also fitted standard is 19-inch alloy wheels, integrated body-kit, dual-zone climate control and 12-speaker premium sound system powered by Harman Kardon.

You may find that the 5-series is rather dull looking compared to the Volvo S90. However, the only real difference between the two is you can option for a silky smooth turbo six-cylinder and a turbo-eight-cylinder that makes it a real bargain M5. It’s hard trying to fault the 5-series for what it is good at, but easy to loathe it for what it falls short in. BMW maybe hitting all the right notes with this 5-series but it certainly takes the wallet to really want one because there are options far cheaper and just as talented.

Likes: The interior is much improved over the previous generation. The plug-in hybrid offers decent running costs while the M550 could be considered the bargain M5 that everyone will want.

Dislikes: It’s not the most exciting looking car on the block; typical BMW being stingy on standard kit and making the desirable options expensive.

K900 (Kia 900?)

The appeal of luxury cars all fall in the badge. Certainly buyers choosing a Rolls Royce couldn’t give two fucks about running costs. However, what if you want it all but your wallet says ‘no’. You can certainly have win-win success with the Kia K900.

Even the V6 Premium trim comes with loads of luxury features for the money. The real question however is should you spend your hard earned money on one? We’re here to help.

The standard 3.8 six-cylinder is smooth and offers tons of punch and flexibility while the 5-liter eight-cylinder takes things to a whole new level. It certainly is a firecracker of an engine with no shortage of power, and certainly is a class rarity considering that most of its supposed ‘keen’ rivals are switching to turbo six-cylinder engines. Pick of the range is the 3.8 as it fits the price tag nicely. If you were considering something like a BMW 5-series but the version that you are seeking costs $70k or more, the K900 has more space and more refinement than the 5-series and the only reason to really ignore the K900 is the Kia Badge.

Driving the K900 is simply a real treat. It may not be as driver focused as we’d like, but it doesn’t try to be something that it isn’t. The interior feels posh with very little wind and road noise to complain of. The suspension offers the comfort and agility that makes it feel easy to drive around town and is quick on its toes on the highway. The 3.8 is enough but for those who feel luxury also accounts for size of engine, the 5-liter is an excellent choice none the less. We certainly enjoyed driving the K900 around town and certainly felt more rewarded knowing we what we are driving is far cheaper than some Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

The interior of the K900 lives up to the price tag and can actually be seen as classier than the top German three automakers. What we love the most is the attention to detail. The plastics used are soft to the touch and feel long lasting. The infotainment screen is decently easy to navigate through, although we always recommend getting used to using it first before even attempting to navigate through it while on the go. (Remember always keep both eyes on the road.)

The front seats offer plenty of comfort and adjustability while those in the rear seat will be treated to oodles of leg and headroom. The boot space is generous in space too; even though we certainly wish it were a hatchback like the Audi A7 to increase practicality.


The V6 Premium is the entry-level trim and makes the most sense financially. You get 9.2-inch touch screen infotainment screen, ventilated leather front seats, auto-folding wing mirrors and HID headlights which are fully automatic. V6 Luxury adds Nappa leather seating surfaces, and real wood console trim. Top of the range V8 Luxury adds a 12.3 inch instrument cluster, surround view monitoring system and LED headlights with dynamic bending light. We’ve stated previously that the 3.8 is provides enough in terms of flexibility and decent running costs. You can step up to the 5-liter if you want all the bells and whistles. It may be steep for a Kia but if value for the money is something you’re seeking, this is one of the best options out there.

The K900 is the complete opposite of what a Kia should be. It’s the most expensive of the range and offers the most refined engine options. You’ll certainly want to consider the resale value which isn’t strong and certainly you’ll want to remember that despite having the nice interior and high standard kit list, it’s still a Kia. Badge snobbery is real and if that’s the only reason you’d consider Audi, BMW and Mercedes over anything else. We’d certainly call you daft because there are options out there that may not have the badge appeal but certainly provide compelling reasons to consider them.

Likes: The standard kit is high, the interior is classy and the price tag is within reason and logic.

Dislikes: Residuals are more on the questionable side. It has to deal with badge snobbery.

Our pick: We’d stick with the V6 Premium and not pay a penny more. The V6 Luxury does add nicer leather seats but that leaves us questioning if we should just jump all the way up to the V8 Luxury. This is why we say stick to your laurels and pick the cheapest of the range, unless you are willing to put your money where your mouth is and get the V8.

US vs UK (Part two) Entry-level engines

We take a look at entry-level engines that's offered in UK vs US to see who gets the better engine choices.



Mercedes E-class
E200D SE (UK) 2-liter (turbo-diesel) 150hp ($44,019)
E300 (US) 2-liter turbo 241hp ($52,150)

We would gladly choose the 2-liter turbo-diesel offered in Europe with an AMG package. You get everything you love about the E-class with the running costs and the range of a small hatchback. It kind of sucks when you think about it, we associate luxury with engine size. If it doesn't get from zero to sixty quicker than a VW Golf then it's clearly not luxurious! (Sigh!)



Audi A6
SE Executive (UK) 2-liter (turbo-diesel) 187hp ($42,334)
Premium (US) 2-liter turbo 252hp ($47,600)

We really do miss the TDI engine options that we used to get here, but due to the emissions scandal we won't be seeing them anymore here. This is also quite interesting that both the A6 in UK and here are evenly kitted but the engine is what makes ours more expensive at $5,266. How many of you would pick the diesel over the gasoline engine? We certainly would.



BMW 5-series
520d SE (UK) 2-liter (turbo-diesel) 188hp ($46,695)
530i (US) 2-liter turbo 248hp ($51,400)

The previous generation of the 5-series used to come with a silky smooth 3-liter turbo-diesel which we loved. Sadly, it hasn't made it in the newest generation yet. The 3-series diesel has the same engine but with 8hp less and we love it despite the diesel clatter at idle. It would be nice to see this engine offered here in the US as luxury shouldn't be all about size and horsepower figures.



Lexus GS
GS 300h Executive Edition (UK) 2.5-liter 181hp ($46,192)
GS Turbo (US) 2-liter turbo 241hp ($46,310)

We aren't huge fans of hybrids and well to be frank, the hybrid offered in the UK version of the GS can stay there. It took us by surprise that Lexus even offered a turbo four-cylinder in the first place. The GS hybrid makes more sense as a company car buy and for anyone who drives tons of miles in the city and some on the highway. You'll have to do tons of driving to make up for what you paid for it in the hybrid premium. The turbo is way better, trust us on this one!



Volvo S90
Momentum D4 Automatic (UK) 2-liter (turbo-diesel) 187hp ($43,395)
T5 FWD (US) 2-liter turbo 250hp ($48,100)

We have yet to see a diesel Volvo sold here. It would be an interesting alternative to the T5 and the fact that it has nearly 300lb-ft torque means that it has tons of low-end torque. You can't really complain about the torque figures especially considering that most who will buy the S90 won't drive it like hooligans anyway. Low running costs and sexy Swede styling. Volvo would have a real winner on its hands.



Jaguar XF
Prestige (UK) 2-liter (turbo-diesel) 163hp ($41,635)
XF 25t (US) 2-liter turbo 247hp ($47,775)

We do get a 2-liter turbo-diesel here with 180hp but it is almost $6k more expensive than this entry-level diesel offered in the UK. Manual gearboxes aren't as common as they used to be in the US and it is a little sad too because we would be getting so many efficient and intelligent engines here. We do have a weird perception on luxury and well horsepower isn't everything. This XF is clear proof.