In its February 1997 issue, Car and Driver compared nine sedans priced around $30,000 for buyers seeking a step above the most expensive family cars without moving into the upper reaches of the luxury market. The field included the Acura 3.2TL, Cadillac Catera, Ford Taurus SHO, Infiniti I30, Lexus ES300, Mazda Millenia, Mitsubishi Diamante, Saab 900SE and Volvo 850GLT.
The magazine excluded several models based on previous comparison results and road tests. The BMW 3-series, Mercedes-Benz C-class and Audi A4 were also left out because their suitably equipped versions offered limited space or avoided the luxury-tax threshold only with smaller engines. The remaining nine cars were tested as practical sedans for carrying passengers while still offering a distinct expression of status and style.
The group was mechanically varied but broadly similar in straight-line performance. Seven cars used 24-valve V-6 engines, while the field also included a turbocharged five-cylinder and the Ford’s 32-valve V-8. All used four-speed automatic transmissions except the Infiniti, which was the only model offering a manual gearbox. Seven of the nine cars finished within 0.3 second of the group average in both the 0-to-60-mph and quarter-mile tests.
The differences were more apparent in handling, ride quality and equipment. None of the sedans included traction control, a CD player, remote keyless entry and variable intermittent wipers as a complete package. Only three had heated seats, two offered dual-zone climate control and the Saab was the only car with a trip computer.
The Saab 900SE finished ninth. Its hatchback body and folding rear seat provided more than 50 cubic feet of cargo capacity, while its distinctive design and unusual details gave it more personality than any other car in the test. It also recorded the group’s best braking distance and tied the Mazda Millenia for the highest skidpad grip.
However, the Saab’s rear seat was among the smallest and least comfortable, while its plastic-looking cabin, coarse ride and high noise levels worked against its luxury ambitions. The 2.5-liter V-6 lacked low-end power, and the steering offered little road feel. Car and Driver regarded the 900SE as an appealingly unconventional choice, but one whose harder-edged character suited lower-priced versions of the model better.
The Acura 3.2TL, Ford Taurus SHO and Infiniti I30 shared sixth place. The Acura excelled as a highway cruiser, with a smooth ride, low-cowl visibility, leather upholstery and convincing interior trim. Its aging 3.2-liter V-6 could be coarse, however, and the automatic transmission sometimes shifted sharply. The driving position, numb steering and limited rear-seat comfort also prevented it from standing out.
Ford’s Taurus SHO brought the only V-8 in the comparison and offered a spacious cabin at the lowest listed price in the group, $30,585. Its engine produced a smooth, appealing sound, but the car’s interior looked inexpensive and its ride was harsh over small bumps. Despite flat cornering and strong grip, its size made it less agile on winding roads, while tall gearing and limited low-rpm torque weakened its acceleration. Its recorded fuel economy of 18 mpg was the lowest among the nine cars.
The Infiniti I30 combined a lively 3.0-liter V-6 with comfortable seats, a Bose audio system and a relatively low price of $30,795. Its interior upgrades worked better than its exterior styling, which appeared overly embellished beside the cleaner-looking Lexus and Mitsubishi. The softened suspension handled isolated bumps well but allowed excessive pitch, dive and roll, and the car finished last in the lane-change test. A $2,200 Touring package added traction control, a limited-slip differential, larger tires and sportier suspension tuning, but that version was not available for the comparison.
The Mazda Millenia took fifth place, earning praise for its graceful design, excellent panel fit and exceptional freedom from vibration, squeaks and rattles. Its cabin used high-quality materials and included traction control, heated seats and an electrically adjustable steering column. The chassis combined precise steering, strong road feel and a comfortable ride, tying the Saab with 0.81 g of skidpad grip.
The Millenia’s weakness was its 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter engine. Its 9.2-second run to 60 mph was almost a second slower than the other cars, and its passing performance left it struggling on two-lane roads. The model appealed to buyers who valued refinement, rarity and handling balance more than outright performance.
The Cadillac Catera finished fourth. Derived from Opel and built around a rear-wheel-drive layout, it was the only rear-drive car in the group. Testers praised its stable, neutral handling, well-weighted steering, firm brakes and controlled ride. Its rigid body absorbed bumps cleanly, while the 3.0-liter V-6 benefited from a variable-resonance intake system that broadened its torque delivery.
At 3,794 pounds, the Catera was the heaviest car in the comparison and was not the quickest around the handling course. Nevertheless, its chassis inspired confidence. The tall front and rear seats provided good support and generous headroom, although the cabin’s switchgear and ergonomics were viewed as less refined than the car’s German engineering suggested.
The comparison presented the near-luxury segment as a contest less about outright speed than about interpretation. The cars delivered similar acceleration, but their approaches to comfort, design, equipment, handling and status varied substantially—from the Saab’s unconventional practicality to the Taurus SHO’s V-8 muscle, the Millenia’s polished chassis and the Catera’s European road manners.
Sources: Car and Driver.