Teutonic Shootout - Which Entry-Level Luxury Car Is NOW The King Of The Hill?

It is with a keenly self-aware fear of apostasy that BMW has declined to fit its brand-defining inline-6 engine to the 2012 BMW 328i and instead has substituted a turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.

This sea change aligns the entry-level version of the 3 Series with its four-cylinder competitors, the 2012 Audi A4 and 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250. But in light of BMW's rich tradition of inline-6 engines and its loyal following of customers, is this new four-cylinder really progress?

This test aims to find out.

DuDE - 3/20/2012 11:37:34 AM

0 Boost

Until the REDESIGNED C-class and the A4 come out, The BMW 3 will be the sales champion. Cant count out the next gen Infiniti G and Lexus IS either.

enthusiastx11 - 3/20/2012 6:07:42 PM

+1 Boost

well, considering the new 328i is an incredibly car (easily the best performance and looks, in particular). and considering that the 3-series outsells the competition (at premium prices) year after year after year. i'm not sure why you'd place a bet on a new C or A4 since these two are relatively new. and let's not even pretend like the IS is a serious competitor.

DuDE - 3/21/2012 1:52:25 AM

+2 Boost

Well, only the BMW were given a complete redesign for 2012 and the rest were just given a mild refresh. A sales bump is expected a newly designed car is bound to enter the market.

DuDE - 3/21/2012 2:00:43 AM

+2 Boost

Well, only the BMW were given a complete redesign for 2012 and the rest were just given a mild refresh. A sales bump is expected *in a newly designed car is bound to enter the market.

skytop - 3/22/2012 10:00:47 AM

+3 Boost

DudE: You are only about 100% incorrect. The BMW is NOT the only new car. You missed this in the article:
"2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 is an all-new model created specifically to sip fuel."

LexSucks - 3/20/2012 11:48:04 AM

0 Boost

Best luxury entry level? Lexus IS and Lexus ES. But I would hardly call those cars entry level.

LexSucks - 3/20/2012 12:01:27 PM

-6 Boost

Why does it bother your so much?

enthusiastx11 - 3/20/2012 6:05:29 PM

+1 Boost

i think he's kidding...

Caraficionado - 3/20/2012 1:19:38 PM

+1 Boost

C is got the overall package
3 is the one to drive
A4 is just nice but also an alternative to "old Mercedes" and "street boy racer leased-3-BMW"

Car4Life - 3/20/2012 2:45:20 PM

+2 Boost

C- Best Overall Pkg. Most Improved
3- Most fun to drive
A4- Nice until a C or 3 pulls up beside you at light

CarCrazedinCali - 3/20/2012 4:17:23 PM

0 Boost

The C class always felt extremely cheap to me inside mostly. I have not seen their "new" interior they have fitted it with currently. 3er is still king in any comparison I say.

pepito66 - 3/20/2012 8:28:12 PM

+1 Boost

1 BMW
2 Mercedes
3 Audi

dayday - 3/20/2012 8:30:07 PM

+1 Boost

C is comfortable, but hopeless in driving dynamics
A4 is somewhere in between.
3 is the most comfortable, most spacious and most fun to drive.
Even with the next C and A4 out, it will be hard to defeat the F30 3 consider the E90 was never this much better than the competitions when it first came out.

AgentOrange - 3/21/2012 5:24:44 PM

+4 Boost

My dad's primary criteriawas luxury and comfort and would likely go for the "C" if he were still alive.
I like fun to drive and I'd go for the 3er any day of the week.
I had a hernia repaired a few months ago and noticed that 3 of the 5 cars parked in the doctor's reserved spots were A4s. Nuff said.

skytop - 3/24/2012 7:32:04 PM

-4 Boost

The Hyundai Sonata is the real winner. Wherever I go, I see the Sonata populating the parking lots. I hardly see any Tutonic cars but lots and lots and lots of Korean cars.