Cars.com Faceoff: Luxury Sedan Showdown

Someone recently asked us what the heck it is we do all day at the Cars.com offices, you know, besides blogging here on KickingTires. Well, one of the things we do is compare some of the big players in segments from convertibles to SUVs. This month we took three of the best entries in the luxury sedan market and compared the good, the bad and the kind of expensive. The 2008 BMW 528i, 2008 Cadillac STS and Infiniti M35 deliver style and value, but which one brings home the win?

Cars.comparison: Luxury Performance Sedans (Cars.com)

Cars.com Reviews the 2008 BMW 5 Series

Recently I had the chance to test the 2008 BMW 528i and 550i. BMW only made minor cosmetic changes, but it beefed up the entry trim’s engine and added the twin-turbo from the 335 to create a 535i as well. Check out the review for the full rundown on all three models and what they offer.

2008 BMW 5 Series Expert Review

Friday Fleet Notes: 6.22.07

One perk about working around cars is that you get to drive a lot of luxury brands that you’re probably not going to end up plunking down your own hard-earned money for. That’s the case with two recent entries into our fleet from BMW and Jaguar. We were all easily swayed by the luxury cruisers, but that’s because they did a terrific job impressing us with their substance and style, not because we pine away for them. Well, for the most part.

2008 BMW 550i

Question: What does the 550i do that I like? Answer: Everything. The seat's good, the drivetrain’s good, the shifter was good; I liked the steering wheel, headroom, visibility, exhaust note … heck, I even liked the white paint. I drive everything that comes in here with a manual transmission if my bosses let me (they hogged the Mini we had), and this was the best.

BMW Prices 2008 5 Series, On Sale Now

The 2008 BMW 5 Series is already at dealerships, but it doesn’t look much different than the outgoing 2007. For the new 528 and 535 models, there are considerable engine upgrades and a slight price bump as well.

The 528 comes in sedan form only, as a 528i (rear-wheel drive) and a 528xi (all-wheel drive) while the 535 sports those two sedan trims, 535i and 535xi, as well as an all-wheel-drive 535xi sports wagon. The 525 gets a 15-hp bump over the outgoing 525 to 230 hp, while the 535 has a totally new power plant: a twin-turbo six-cylinder producing 300 hp and 300 pounds-feet of torque.

The 550i remains the top of the line with the same 360-hp V-8 engine from last year and an improved automatic transmission. Its prices remain unchanged. Full pricing on all three models below.

2008 BMW 5 Series Revealed

OK, we were just at one of the largest automotive shows in the world, and BMW was there, too. You’d think that would be a good opportunity to bring out a revised 5 Series, but nope. We get home and find the notice waiting for us, along with these photos. From the outside you won’t notice significant changes, but the front and rear have been altered to give it a more streamlined look, and the inside has gotten a slight update as well.

The engines have also gone through a change. Most significantly, the 535i gets the same twin-turbo six-cylinder we loved in the latest 335i coupe. It produces the same 300 hp and 300 pounds-feet of torque here. The 528i has a much lesser six-cylinder with 230 hp. Then there’s the 550i’s 4.8-liter V-8 pumping out 360 hp. All 5 Series come with a six-speed manual standard, but moving to the six-speed automatic is now a no-cost option.

BMW’s all-wheel-drive system, called xDrive, is available with the six-cylinder engines in the 528xi and 535xi sedans and the 535xi wagon. Prices and availability have not been released, but these alterations are a needed boost to the aging 5 Series.