The Finer Things
You don't have to break the bank to get one of these luxury sedans.
Few symbols of success signify you've arrived better than a
luxury business car. Outfitted with leather, exotic wood trim and
creature comforts, along with high-performance engines, they
communicate upward mobility. The good news: You can purchase a
well-equipped luxury sedan--such as the Acura TL, Buick Park Avenue
or Volvo S60--without breaking the bank.
The TL from Acura, starting at $33,100, is available in six
versions. A comfortable, gracefully designed four-door with
category-leading power, the base model boasts a strong 3.2-liter
270-horsepower engine teamed with an automatic transmission. A long
list of interior conveniences includes leather-trimmed seats, doors
and steering wheel; heated front seats; Bluetooth wireless
technology; a tilt wheel; a power moon-roof; the Homelink system,
which can control garage doors, house lights and locks; maintenance
interval reminder; remote trunk release; auto-off headlights; a
killer sound system; and side-curtain air bags like those in more
expensive vehicles.
Larger and longer is Buick's impressive five-passenger
flagship sedan, the $36,350 Park Avenue. Transporting you in
spacious stateliness, this sedan has a 3.8-liter V-6 engine with
205 horsepower and a four-speed automatic transmission. Standard
are front and side air bags, cruise control, a tire monitor, front
split-bench leather seats, a concert sound system, anti-lock
brakes, an oil/life monitor and a burled walnut/leather steering
wheel. An economical touch: It uses regular gasoline.
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The least expensive of the three is the $27,585 S60 sedan.
Maintaining one of the safest reputations on wheels, Volvo has
redesigned its midsize sedan for 2005. Available in five different
versions, the base model has a 2.4-liter 5-cylinder 168-horsepower
engine. Inflatable side-curtain air bags, side-impact air bags, an
orthopedic driver's seat, stability/traction control and an
anti-theft engine immobilizer are standard. Another safety option
available later this year is Volvo's blind-spot camera to warn
of approaching vehicles.
Editor and consultant Jill Amadio has been reporting on the
automotive industry for 26 years.