If you want a luxury car and favor ride and comfort over performance, the 2012 Lexus ES 350 is one of the better picks, though there are plenty of other options.
The Hyundai Azera and new Buick LaCrosse also tend toward the comfort end of the scale, but both have a very competitive price and the Buick in particular has an expressive new interior that's arguably better looking than that of the Lexus; the Buick also gets a new fuel-efficient eAssist powertrain.
The Nissan Maxima is a sportier option; it has a roomy, stylish interior and more of an emphasis on performance, but it lacks the refinement and isolation of the overall experience in the Lexus and doesn't offer the excellent Lexus dealership experience.
The Lincoln MKZ is also a sharper-edged car, with an interior that is at the same time more stylish but less rich-looking.
The Lincoln’s engine also has more growl, and it's available with all-wheel drive; some might be interested to hear that there's an MKZ Hybrid, with fuel economy ratings of more than 40 mpg.
Acura's TL is a bit sportier than the ES 350, and it can be had in a performance SH-AWD (all-wheel-drive) guise that doesn't forgo much comfort.
Get FREE Dealer Quotes
 2012 Lexus ESBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Acura TLBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Buick LacrosseBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Hyundai AzeraBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Lincoln MKZBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Nissan MaximaBrowse Used Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick Specs | |||||
|
The 2012 Lexus ES 350 is a great pick for those who want a lavish interior and the latest in-car tech, but place a priority on comfort over cornering performance. |
The 2012 Acura TL is a surprisingly well-rounded luxury sedan, with a host of advanced tech features, and in top SH-AWD trim morphs into a complete and compelling sport sedan. |
As a sophisticated, roomy, tech-savvy premium sedan—now with up to 36 mpg—the 2012 Buick LaCrosse hits the mark for a lot of shoppers who want luxury on a limited budget. |
With real design appeal, confident performance, and a true luxury-car ambiance, the new 2012 Hyundai Azera brings far more sophistication to the showroom, but doesn't lose its carry-over attributes of comfort and value for the money. |
The 2012 Lincoln MKZ has supple leather and wood trim for luxury-car street cred, and hybrid flower power to appeal to greens. |
The 2012 Nissan Maxima is a great pick if you want a stylish, sporty, comfortable, and lavishly trimmed sedan; serious sport-sedan enthusiasts should look elsewhere, however. |
| MSRP From | |||||
| $36,725 | $35,705 | $30,170 | $32,000 | $34,755 | $32,420 |
| Gas Mileage | |||||
| 19 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy | 17 MPG City / 29 MPG Hwy | 16 MPG City / 36 MPG Hwy | 20 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy | 17 MPG City / 36 MPG Hwy | 19 MPG City / 26 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | |||||
| Gas V6 | Gas V6 | Gas/Electric I4 | Gas V6 | Gas/Electric I4 | Gas V6 |
| EPA Class | |||||
| Compact | Mid-Size | Midsize Cars | Large | Midsize Cars | Mid-Size |
| Style Name | |||||
| 4-Door Sedan | 4-Door Sedan Automatic 2WD | 4-Door Sedan Base FWD | 4-Door Sedan | 4-Door Sedan Hybrid FWD | 4-Door Sedan V6 CVT 3.5 S |
| Drivetrain | |||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front-Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front-Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | |||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | |||||
| Sedan | 4 Door Sedan | Sedan | 4 Door Sedan | Sedan | 4 Door Sedan |
| Transmission | |||||
| Automatic | Automatic | Automatic w/manual shift | Automatic w/manual shift | Continuously Variable Ratio | Continuously Variable |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
| 2012 Lexus ES vs. 2012 Acura TL | 2012 Lexus ES vs. 2012 Buick Lacrosse | 2012 Lexus ES vs. 2012 Hyundai Azera | 2012 Lexus ES vs. 2012 Lincoln MKZ | 2012 Lexus ES vs. 2012 Nissan Maxima | |
