3rd Place – 2005 Acura RL
The Acura RL is like a man in a suit wearing white tennis shoes. Doesn’t matter how nice he looks, or the fact that it’s plain to see he’s on a lunch walk. It’s just not right. And neither are the wheels on the RL – it’s a faux pas right up there with flip-flops in the office. Then again, you seem to notice more if the person wearing flip flops has hairy toes and a corn…so perhaps the overall design of the RL just adds to the abhorrence of its wheels. It’s a shame, because all in all, the car has a nice, mild personality. Combined with its capability as a very nice driver, those darn wheels just throw a wet towel on the whole get up.

Not to obsess or anything.
Ranked third – but a close third – the RL just flat doesn’t feel like a car that costs $50,000, and a large reason for that is the design, including some bits and pieces that you don’t expect to see on a car for this much cash. Fake chrome trim used to spruce up a very average look is one such example. Simply put, for that kind of coin, you want more style and more flair. You want your new luxury sedan to speak aloud the success you enjoy. And if you dare look down your snout and claim a great disinterest in the whole “image” thing, then why are you buying luxury in the first place? Go get yourself a Kia Rio and commute to work like a real man.

But again, I obsess.
Ignore the outside – and it’s easy to do – the power of a 3.5-liter, 300-horsepower V6 engine that generates 260 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,000 rpm impresses. With a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode and paddle shifters, there’s a lot to like about driving this car. Especially when it comes to handling, thanks to its SH-AWD system. It’s the kind of car you can drive all day, a wonderful road companion, easy to drive and fun when you want it to be. The interior helps that along with a nice design that evokes a feeling of personal space. The back seat is spacious, and overall, the interior is a well executed place from which to drive. Sadly, the interior is also plagued by some nasty bits, such as a cheap headliner. Given the amount of real estate a headliner covers, one would think they’d put some nice material up there. At a price approaching $50,000, the 2005 Acura RL has to offer more than excellence in engineering. Give this car a thorough design and materials upgrade, and you have yourself a winner. – Brian Chee

2nd Place – 2006 Lexus GS 300 AWD
There’s a Camry in there somewhere, so sayeth my colleague. He’s not far off the mark with that comment, though the GS is a few grandmas away from the Camry by now. This vehicle excelled in being a darn fun car to drive, with sexy appeal and a runner-up interior. The best thing about the GS is its six-speed manu-matic transmission, connected to a 3.0-liter, 245-horsepower V6 engine that generates 230 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,600 rpm. Torque is plentiful at the low end where you need it, horsepower is more than enough, and shift ratios are close – it’s such a shame that someone at Lexus decided to take the steering wheel paddle shifters away. Riding on 17-inch wheels, the GS performs capably, unless you plan to drive it like a clown.

If you do, the VDIM will kick in and settle you down. And that’s part of the problem, because, well, I kinda like being a clown. Then that darn VDIM kicks in, you get that irritating beep, beep, beep and ABS starts pulsing…thanks, Lexus. Yeah. THANKS. Please, put the electronic dogs on a leash or something – and while you’re at it, please tune the electronics in your brake-by-wire setup. This much brake fade and pedal travel is not okay in a $45,000 car.

At least, given the VDIM and the brake play, drivers will be muttering in a nice interior. Really, the only reason Lexus comes in second here is because the Infiniti offers a refreshing take on luxury design, and surprisingly, the Lexus has left a few screws loose. Interior design is typically Lexus in precision and simplicity, with the right amount of everything in the right place. The same sentence defines the navigation, which is easily the easiest to use. A few weaknesses pop up, however, such as the flip-down control panel. It fights for space with knees and the steering wheel can block visual access. On the outside, the Lexus GS has significantly more sex appeal. It makes the other two contenders look dumpy by comparison. All in all, a good buy if you don’t plan to carve foothills on the weekend. If you do, however, here’s the rub: At $45,000 and change for the AWD version, the advice here is to shop Infiniti. If you like the GS inside and out, though, consider the rear-wheel drive GS 300. Yes – it is the base model. But look at the upside: It means that you’ll make your alimony payment this month, and besides, the rear-drive GS 300 has got to be a hoot to drive with that lively little powertrain. – Brian Chee

1st Place – 2006 Infiniti M35x
Ouch. What the Infiniti M35 does to the Lexus GS and the Acura RL is akin to walking up to someone, a stranger, and for no reason – just because – whipping around and kicking them, hard, on the keister.

Right there, on the tailbone. The pain lasts for days, as it surely does for Lexus and Acura when they take a look at the M. The excellence of an interior that takes a new approach to luxury with a unique mesh fabric headliner, matte wood trim and an instrument panel that is unique, sensible and brilliantly designed puts the traditional fuzzy lids and leather to shame in the GS and RL.

Come on guys. Think outside the box.

On the road, meanwhile, the Infiniti is a better ride overall, though there are some aspects of the RL and GS that trump the M, namely noise and vibration. While the M can get to it better than the competition, a long commute on a freeway exposes some rough edges. Fun over function, is what I say, however, and the fun of a hip luxury car with plenty of power, and nice design and a great interior overpowers the function of a quiet interior and a softer ride. Fun, after all, is having a sedan that’s powered by a 3.5-liter, 280-horsepower V6 engine that generates 270-lb.-ft. of torque at 4,800 rpm. Fun is riding on 18-inch wheels. The M35 is fun – because when you pull up to the office or up your driveway, you’ve chosen the car that’s slightly different, slightly irreverent and, well, slightly more fun than the competition. Drive it and you will at least feel how much fun you can buy for $50,000. – Brian Chee