12 Mid-Size Luxury Cars Ranked from Best to Worst
Last month, I test drove fourteen mid-size luxury cars back-to-back on a weekend getaway with my brother. What started as a fun adventure turned into a heated debate about which rides truly deliver on their luxury promises.
We compared everything from performance and comfort to tech features and value. Here’s my definitive ranking of today’s hottest mid-size luxury contenders, from absolute dream machines to not-so-much dreamy ones.
1. Mercedes-Benz E-Class: The Benchmark Bearer
German engineering shines brightest in the E-Class, a masterclass in blending old-world craftsmanship with cutting-edge tech. The cabin feels like a private jet with its ambient lighting and buttery-soft leather.
Under the hood, you’ll find engines that deliver smooth, effortless power without breaking a sweat. The ride quality? Simply magical – it floats over potholes while still feeling connected to the road.
Mercedes packs this beauty with semi-autonomous driving features that actually work as advertised.
2. BMW 5 Series: The Driver’s Delight
BMW’s 5 Series delivers that magical connection between car and driver that’s increasingly rare in today’s luxury market. Tackling winding roads feels like a choreographed dance rather than a commute.
Tech-wise, the iDrive system finally hit its stride – intuitive enough for your tech-phobic uncle while still packing enough features to impress Silicon Valley types. The optional Harman Kardon sound system turns your favorite playlist into a private concert.
3. Audi A6: The Tech Titan
Stepping into an A6 feels like walking into the Apple Store of automobiles. Those dual touchscreens respond with satisfying haptic clicks that make other luxury touchscreens feel like cheap toys.
Quattro all-wheel drive transforms snowy commutes from white-knuckle nightmares into confidence-inspiring cruises. The cabin stays library-quiet even at highway speeds thanks to acoustic glass and serious sound insulation.
Fun fact: Audi’s virtual cockpit display packs more computing power than the Apollo moon missions!
4. Genesis G80: The Value Virtuoso
Korean luxury crashes the German party with this stunning bargain! For the price of a stripped-down German competitor, the G80 comes loaded with features that would cost thousands extra elsewhere.
The 3D digital gauge cluster feels straight out of a concept car, while the 21-speaker Lexicon audio system embarrasses setups costing twice as much. Genesis throws in 3 years of free maintenance and valet service – they’ll literally come to your house for oil changes!
5. Lexus ES: The Reliability Rock Star
Bulletproof reliability meets genuine luxury in this Japanese standout. While European rivals visit repair shops with alarming frequency, the ES just keeps purring along year after year. My neighbor’s hit 300,000 miles and still looks showroom-fresh!
Inside, the craftsmanship rivals hand-built furniture, with perfect stitching and zero rattles. The hybrid option delivers Prius-like fuel economy with country-club comfort.
Mark Levinson audio transforms your commute into a concert hall experience.
6. Volvo S90: The Scandinavian Sanctuary
Swedish minimalism never looked so good! The S90’s cabin feels like a high-end furniture showroom, with genuine driftwood trim and wool-blend upholstery options that make leather seem passé.
Safety innovations border on psychic – the car can literally sense an imminent crash and prepare itself before you even touch the brake. Those massage seats? Heaven during traffic jams.
Volvo’s Bowers & Wilkins audio system includes a concert hall mode that reproduces the acoustics of Gothenburg Concert Hall!
7. Cadillac CT5: The American Athlete
Detroit brings the heat with this surprisingly agile luxury sedan! The CT5’s Magnetic Ride Control suspension reads the road 1,000 times per second, adapting faster than you can say “pothole.”
Super Cruise hands-free driving actually works better than Tesla’s Autopilot on highways – I drove hands-free from Chicago to Detroit while catching up on podcasts. The V6 engine produces a growl that’ll make European sports sedans jealous.
Bonus: no one else at the country club will have one.
8. Jaguar XF: The British Character Actor
Charisma oozes from every curve of this distinctive Brit! While German rivals blend together in parking lots, the XF turns heads with its seductive proportions and growling exhaust note.
The cabin feels like an exclusive London club – all rich leather and textured aluminum. That rotary gear selector that rises from the center console still feels like a magic trick every morning.
Cornering abilities defy physics for a car this size – thank decades of racing heritage for that gift!
9. Infiniti Q50: The Aging Athlete
Behind the wheel, the Q50 still delivers thrills that younger competitors can’t match. That twin-turbo V6 unleashes a tsunami of torque that pins you to your seat like a roller coaster launch.
Sadly, the dated interior betrays its age – the dual-screen setup feels like using two different generations of smartphones simultaneously. The steer-by-wire system remains divisive; some love its quick responses, others miss the road feedback.
Still, the value proposition remains strong.
10. Acura TLX: The Overlooked Overachiever
Flying under the radar has its advantages! While luxury shoppers flock to showrooms with German nameplates, savvy buyers discover the TLX offers 90% of the experience for 75% of the price.
The Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system (yes, that’s really its name) works magic in corners, rotating the car with uncanny precision. Those 16-way adjustable seats somehow know exactly how to support your specific back pain points.
ELS Studio audio makes even compressed streaming music sound fantastic.
11. Alfa Romeo Giulia: The Passionate Problem Child
Mamma mia, what a beauty! The Giulia drives like it’s constantly auditioning for an Italian racing film – the steering responds to your thoughts rather than your hands. Nothing sounds quite like that Italian exhaust note echoing through a tunnel.
Unfortunately, reliability issues plague this gorgeous machine. Owners joke that Giulia stands for “Garage Is Usually Likely If Accelerated.” The infotainment system feels cobbled together from parts-bin components.
Still, that soul-stirring driving experience almost makes up for it.
12. Maserati Ghibli: The Designer Disappointment
That exotic Italian badge commands attention, but the Ghibli fails to deliver substance behind its stylish facade. Chrysler parts-bin switches and knobs feel wildly out of place in a car with this price tag.
The Ferrari-built engine sounds glorious – a genuine opera of internal combustion. Sadly, reliability issues, dated technology, and build quality quirks undermine the experience.
Depreciation hits harder than a heavyweight boxer, with three-year-old examples selling for less than half their original sticker price.