The entry-level luxury sedan market is a crowded, competitive field with few sub-par players. For the price, the base TL will be a value pick that offers a lot of room and features for the money. Only the Cadillac CTS, Infiniti G and Audi A4 play in this realm in the same price range. For the commuter who favors a smooth ride and gadgets to an all-out driving experience, the base TL really delivers the goods, with a radical look to boot.

I’m much more hesitant to whole-heartedly recommend the TL SH-AWD. While it’s a very good car and fun to drive, I just don’t think it does enough to win over enthusiast drivers who yearn for the powerful grunt of an Infiniti G or the silky-smooth turbo power of a BMW 335i. For those who just want an all-wheel-drive version of the TL, it also loses the refinement of the base model.

The TL’s pricing will surely keep both trim levels in consideration among shoppers in this segment, as it will beat most competitors when comparably equipped. My hope is that the frenzy around ultimate performance doesn’t stop people from testing what really is a better all-around car.

Source: cars

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