There are sports sedans, and then there are sports sedans. Strictly defined, only a select few cars—the BMW M5, the Porsche Panamera, the Cadillac CTS-V—deserve the italics. They deliver exalted levels of grip, power, structural rigidity, and responsiveness, all in family-friendly packages. But most sports sedans are less tightly focused; they may have evolved from luxury cars, adding performance for the sake of competitiveness or car magazines such as this one. This is what we’re dealing with here.

Competing in the tough $50,000-to-$60,000 bracket, neither the Audi A6 nor the Lexus GS350 is a track monster like the M5. They promise an all-around blend of usability, refinement, comfort, and engagement—a liberal and livable definition of the term “sports sedan.” So we dialed up an A6 and a GS wearing trim levels that placed them in the sweet spots of their respective lineups, versions with summer tires and athletic chassis but without the kind of naked aggression that causes passenger nosebleeds.

Returning to these pages is the formi*dable new Audi midliner, already the unofficial ruler of the group based on its performance in its first road test [October 2011], plus the achievements of its predecessor, which prevailed against much newer cars, including the latest BMW 5-series, in a pair of comparos [September 2009 and August 2010].

READ ON

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...omparison-test

 

I like Lexus but would buy a new A6 over the GS in a heartbeat.
I'd like to add I don't keep my vehicle past basic warranty.

 

Of course the GS was going to finish 2nd, its C&D after all.

 

"One asterisk to all the plaudits. It’s helpful when steering feel is part of the driver’s data stream. But the 350’s electric power steering is devoid of this kind of information. Memo to Lexus: Round up GS steering engineers; reassign all to corporate carwash duty."

what a line! C&D didn't insult Lexus as bad this time around.

 

This was discussed in the 4GS forum already

 

Recap:

Here was the premise of this comparison:

The GS is quieter, more comfortable, has better seats, a better interior, better technology, better handling but more numb steering, a more lively chassis, and is their choice as driver's car while also being more fuel efficient. Also, they do mention that the GS is cheaper but don't say by how much.

The A6 is faster with a less engaging chassis, duller handling, a more supple ride, more communicative steering, worse MPG, a 2nd best interior, is less fun to drive, has spongey brakes and is more expensive.


On the Audi's exterior:
On the Lexus' exterior:
I see. The Audi has a "bold face" but the Lexus' unusually-controversial spindle front end is "nondescript". The Audi "radiates character" and the Lexus has slab sides and a rear that looks like a Kia Optima.


On the Audi's interior:
On the Lexus' interior:
In the "Highs, Lows and Verdict" section, this is what they say about the Audi's interior, " Flawless fit and finish." To the Lexus, they say, " "....oh wait...they don't say anything.


So, let's go back to the original premise of this comparo, just one more time:

So, the GS 350 has a nicer interior, is more comfortable, quieter, has better seats, better technology, better MPG, and is more fun to drive, but the Audi wins because, "Moving or stationary, this car radiates character. It may not be high on our list of sports-sedan attributes, but in the real world of luxury cars, character sometimes trumps all."

Sorry to do this, but ONE more time:

vs. the winner:

 

Ah yes. Its Car and Driver's monthly Toilet Edition.

 

snicker all you want. if lexus hadn't screwed up the exterior of the 4GS, and didn't have a 4x4 front wheel fitment, it would win hands down. the A6 looks much more unified, even if it's technically weaker, and the GS interior definitely wins too.

it's the ol' left brain / right brain thing. it's like the PC guy who can tell you all day long how good his PC is compared to a Mac. but many buy the Mac anyway.

 

I am thinking that we essentially agree on this issue, but are you saying that although the A6 is hardly a looker (say, along the lines of the XF or 5 Series), at least it's design flows well (is universally bland) vs. the GS which has an aggressive face and rather ambiguous body?

If so, I sort of agree and disagree. I can barely tell if I'm looking at an A6, A7 or A8 from the front. From the side and back, the A4 is just as nondescript looking, so you have a whole range of sedans that just look...well...blahhh. I don't mind the "same sausage, different length" theory that BMW and MB use because their cars are at least good looking (IMO). Audi's are very nondescript to me, so for that, I really can't say that I find the A6 to be any better looking than the GS. In fact, I would have to say that I find the GS to be better looking overall.

 

I find the C&D review rather contradicting, especially after reading the scorecard. How can the GS, which lacks in subjective steering feel and trails in objective chassis performance (losing to the A6 in both skidpad and slalom tests by a fair margin), be considered better handling and more fun to drive? But at the same time, if the GS felt "frisky and eager to attack corners, while the Audi felt like the two-tonner it is", a strong steering feel must be part of that eagerness equation, no? It's quite baffling.

 

That was so brilliantly written C&D should send you a check just for exposing their complete bull**** again.

I've been explaining the Lexus double standard for awhile now and here is another great example of it. Lexus makes the better sports sedan but lets give it to the other car not based on the figures but on our opinion. Its okay to like another car better, if they like the Audi better, fine but it should not be awarded the win b/c it is clear it was not the better car.

Its also an Acura/Audi double standard b/c the A6 is AWD. Why not compared an AWD GS then? B/C the A6 without the AWD is FWD and the GS would have demolished it. They love to mention FWD orgins/relations with Acura, why not Audi?

 

well i think what they are saying is the problem is the criteria... it ended up being exterior design. before it was handling feel... not anymore.

 

yes. having said that, still not sure how C&D can give the win to the a6.

 

it doesnt really matter, does it though? I think it is important here that we know that GS is big step forward, car that is actually sportiest out of the bunch, with awesome interior and usable space finally (which is what review says too).

Yes, you guys might crave for V8, and yes, we Europeans might want GS250h... hopefully we both get our wishes in next year :-).

 

C&D gives the win to the car with the higher score total.
http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...exus-gs350.pdf

But like I said above, some of the ratings baffle me as they conflict with each other and with the review itself.