re: BMW vs Lexus vs Mercedes vs Acura vs Infiniti vs Audi for four door sedan

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You truly have no idea what you're talking about.

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This is an odd moment. Here we have a BMW 3 Series—the car that once ruled tests like this, the machine that was for decades everything we wanted in a sport sedan—in second place. In other news, up is down, hot is cold, black is a nice shade of eggshell, and this magazine is now about cats.

Okay, that's all gibberish. But for the first time in memory, the top-of-the-line 3 Series leaves us wanting. The basic ingredients haven't changed: You get rear-wheel drive; a longitudinally mounted straight-six; near-50/50 weight distribution; and a mind-reading transmission (eight-speed automatic in the case of our test car, but unlike the other cars here, a six-speed manual is still available). The cockpit is simple, purposeful, and mostly uncluttered. Sports-car guys see what you're driving and nod in approval; regular citizens just think you're a yuppie jerk. So it goes.

It's the feel that's different. In the past, you put up with a Three's yuppie image and high cost of ownership because the Bavarians seemed to care the most about the intangibles. Telepathic steering. Forgiving, unflappable suspension that did what you wanted, whenever you asked. Other sport sedans were faster or more comfortable, but they never struck the same sense of balance. With the right options and engine, a 3 Series was sublime.

The balance is still there. The chassis still makes you look like a genius, and in normal driving, the BMW exudes a rare sense of effortlessness. The ZF-sourced gearbox is so quick-witted and smooth that you almost don't miss a clutch pedal. But the new-to-this-car electric power steering is heartbreakingly bland and distant. As with past 3 Series, the brakes are strong and communicative, but the world has caught up, and they're no longer special. The Lexus's pedal changes less when hot, and the Cadillac's Brembos are more linear and predictable. On the road, chasing the IS 350, the BMW seems to offer less usable grip; this means the driver works harder and has to pay more attention, which is usually a good thing. But the message has been diluted. If the last 335i whispered in your ear, this one just yells at you in staccato bursts.

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