Acura TLX
!
The TLX has potential butlacks panache, ultimatelyfalling short of the bestluxury compact sedans.It's available with a four-or six-cylinder engine, but AWD is
available only with the V6. The
2.4-liter Four uses an eight-speed
automatic transmission that delivers
quick, direct shifts and contributes to
the very good 27 mpg overall. The V6 is a gem, with plenty of power, but it's
paired with a nine-speed automatic that isn't all that smooth or responsive.
We found the ride to be quite comfortable and handling to be responsive
though not sporty. The cabin is quiet, but the infotainment system is distracting
and awkward to use. Standard safety equipment includes forward collision
warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning.
$33,000-$48,950RELIABILITY3SATISFACTION2ROAD-TEST SCORE 76-79 MPG 25-27Alfa Romeo Giulia
Alfa's compact luxury sportsedan corners and steerslike a sports car. But it'sfilled with everyday annoy-ances, such as its unin-tuitive controls. The 280-hp, 2.0-liter
turbo four-cylinder engine is mated to
an eight-speed automatic transmis-
sion and provides punchy acceleration
even in the all-wheel-drive version.
The firm ride absorbs most bumps, but it's less plush than that of many
competitors. Fuel economy is excellent at 27 mpg overall. The attractive interior
has matte wood and nicely textured surfaces, but some switchgear is cheap.
Seat comfort is compromised by a short cushion and limited range of adjust-
ments, and the cabin isn't as quiet as that of its peers. The high-performance
Quadrifoglio version is even sportier, but at the expense of comfort. Forward
collision warning and automatic emergency braking are standard for 2020.
OVERALL
SCORE
51
$39,345-$74,445RELIABILITY1SATISFACTION4ROAD-TEST SCORE 70 MPG 27Alfa Romeo Stelvio
The Stelvio deliversfantastic handling thatmakes it fun to drive on atwisty road. That, however,doesn't mean it's fun to livewith on a daily basis, and it falls short
of most competitors on the refinement
and luxury quotients. The standard
engine is a punchy 280-hp, 2.0-liter
turbo four-cylinder that gets 24 mpg
overall on premium. The ride is a bit jittery, but the suspension absorbs bumps
rather well. Among constant annoyances are a driving position with a limited
range of seat adjustments and controls that are not user-friendly enough. Like
with the Giulia, the parking sensors are too sensitive and go off constantly in
an urban environment. Rear and side visibility are wanting, and the cargo hold
is modest. Forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking are
standard for 2020.
OVERALL
SCORE
67
$41,345-$80,445RELIABILITY3SATISFACTION3ROAD-TEST SCORE 74 MPG 24Audi A3
!
Audi's A3 is a compellingentry-level luxury car, butit lacks certain expectedfeatures for its price,and the interior, thoughwell-made, feels austere. It's solid
and quiet, and has a drum-tight body
structure. Crisp handling and a firm,
controlled ride make the A3 enjoy-
able to drive. We tested it with the
now-discontinued 1.8-liter engine, which delivered a respectable 27 mpg in our
tests. The cabin is quiet, and the front seats are comfortable and supportive.
The rear seat is tight. It takes a bit of time to get used to the MMI infotainment
system, but it ultimately proves to be logical. It's easy to hit $40,000 with just
a few options. A sporty RS3 is also available. Forward collision warning and
automatic emergency braking are standard.
OVERALL
SCORE
74
$33,300-$56,200RELIABILITY4SATISFACTION3ROAD-TEST SCORE 77 MPG 27Audi A4
!The A4 is among thehighest- ranking luxurycompact sports sedans,thanks in large partto its fantastic drivingexperience. Power comes from asmooth and punchy 2.0-liter turbo-charged four-cylinder engine, matedto a slick seven-speed dual-clutchautomatic transmission. We got acommendable 27 mpg overall. Handling is nimble and precise, the ride is firmyet supple, and the A4 feels tight-as-a-drum solid, with a very quiet cabin.The instrument panel shows pertinent information in front of the driver in aclear, comprehensive way. Interior fit and finish is excellent, and the front seatsare comfortable, though the rear seat is tight. The A4 has standard forwardcollision warning and city-speed automatic emergency braking. The wagonversion is called the Allroad.OVERALLSCORE$39,200-$58,350RELIABILITY5SATISFACTION4ROAD-TEST SCORE 88 MPG 27Audi A5
The A5 is based on the A4.In addition to the coupeand convertible versions,the A5 is available as afour-door hatchback calledthe Sportback. The A5 gets a 2.0-literturbocharged four-cylinder enginematched to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Morepotent S5 versions are powered by a3.0-liter turbo V6 mated to an eight-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is stan-dard. Standard safety equipment includes forward collision warning with city-speed automatic emergency braking. We found that the A4 drives well, withnimble handling and a firm yet supple ride, and we expect the A5 to behavesimilarly. The convertible's soft top can be operated up to 30 mph. Based onour experience with the A4, the controls require a learning curve but prove tobe logical with familiarity. The gear selector, however, is not intuitive to use.OVERALLSCORENA
$44,200-$74,200RELIABILITY4SATISFACTION4ROAD-TEST SCORE NA MPG NAAudi A6
The redesigned Audi A6 fea-tures lots of new technology,including a new infotainmentsystem. Most versions comewith a 2.0-liter turbochargedfour-cylinder engine; a 3.0-liter V6engine with a mild hybrid system is alsoavailable. Both engines are paired witha seven-speed dual-clutch automatictransmission, which is short on refine-ment at low speeds, and the car hesitates before launch or from a rolling stop.In our tests, the four-cylinder returned a commendable 26 mpg overall. Agilehandling gives the Audi a sporty driving experience. The ride is taut, with under-lying firmness, but still comfortable. The quiet cabin is a delight in terms of fitand finish; the seats are extremely comfortable and supportive. The dual-screeninfotainment system is daunting at first, but we found it to be ultimately logical.Forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking are standard.OVERALLSCORE65
$54,900-$79,600RELIABILITY1SATISFACTION4ROAD-TEST SCORE 93 MPG 26Audi A7
The A7 is pretty much amore stylish take on the A6.It has more emphasis onstyle, luxury, and high-techfeatures than its predeces-sor had. It maintains the same swept-back profile and the practical benefitof a hatchback. Powering the baseA7 is a 335-hp, twin-turbocharged V6engine coupled to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. This mild-hybridpowertrain includes a 48-volt electrical system to ensure that accessories don'ttax fuel economy. Inside, a new control system consists of two touch screensthat prove to be fairly easy to use. Fit and finish and seat comfort are superb.Both 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder and V8 engines will be added later. The high-performance S7 brings a 444-hp turbocharged V6. Forward collision warning,automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning are standard.OVERALLSCORENA
$69,000-$89,500RELIABILITY1SATISFACTION4ROAD-TEST SCORE NA MPG NAOVERALL
SCORE
88
NEW CAR PROFILES ACURA — BMW50 CR.ORG APRIL 2020