The latest premium sedans debuting for 2009 have unprecedented sophistication and fuel economy. The latter is pretty much a necessity as declining sales show that not even luxury automakers are insulated from the hard knocks of the slumping global economy.
The following sedans — typically defined as cars with four doors and a trunk — are either all-new or significantly improved for 2009. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOTTEST SEDANS OF 2009
Audi A4 sedan
Starting price: $30,700
Mileage: 17-23 mpg city/26-30 mpg hwy
Audi’s new A4 sedan doesn’t look all that different from the existing model until you put it next to one. Like other redesigned Audis of late, it’s a stunner. Arguably, the most dramatic visual change is the headlights, which now incorporate Audi’s signature row of white LEDs.
The 211-horsepower 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and 265-hp 3.2-litre V6 engines are not only more powerful, but also 10 per cent more fuel-efficient than the engines they replace. The quattro all-wheel-drive system, standard with the V6 and optional with the four-cylinder, sends more power to the rear wheels under normal driving conditions for a sportier feel.
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HOTTEST SEDANS OF 2009
Acura RL
Starting price: $46,280
Mileage: 16 mpg city/22 mpg hwy
Critics have slammed the RL, Acura’s top sedan, for not offering a V8 engine, but with gas prices the way they are, perhaps Acura’s strategy will pay off. Plus, with a 300-hp 3.7-litre V6, the car has plenty of performance.
The RL gets new styling and added muscle for 2009. Its all-wheel-drive system is also improved. The RL is comfortable, quiet and luxurious, but it isn’t the best choice for driving excitement.
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HOTTEST SEDANS OF 2009
Acura TL
Starting price: $34,955
Mileage: 17-18 mpg city/25-26 mpg hwy
Acura’s redesigned midsize TL sport sedan is larger, more powerful and better equipped than the outgoing model. It also looks dramatically different. The new 280-horsepower 3.5-litre V6 base engine outperforms last year’s top engine. Performance enthusiasts will want to upgrade to the 305-hp 3.7-litre V6, which also brings a high-tech all-wheel drive system designed not only to enhance traction on slick roads, but to increase the fun factor during spiriting driving.
The interior is more spacious and has thoughtful storage compartments, but the center console is littered with controls that can be confusing to use.
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HOTTEST SEDANS OF 2009
Acura TSX
Starting price: $28,960
Mileage: 20-21 mpg city/28-30 mpg hwy
The Acura TSX is one of the most fuel-efficient premium cars available, thanks to its four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive. It has been redesigned to be even more sophisticated than before, with richer styling inside and out.
Its 201-horsepower four-cylinder engine isn’t as powerful as the V6 engines in the RL and TL, but it offers snappy acceleration in city driving and enough muscle on the highway for comfortable, high-speed cruising. The standard six-speed manual transmission gets slightly worse fuel economy than the five-speed automatic, which comes with paddles on the steering wheel so drivers can shift gears themselves if they want.
