In October 2005, the American Magazine Car and Driver "...called to order this annual festival of circa-$35,000 sports sedans, pleased by the attendance of so many new faces. Among them: the Audi A4, packing a newly available 3.1-liter direct-injection V-6 behind its beaver-tail grille. The BMW 330i, which now hacks through traffic in a fully Bangle-ized body with larger dimensions and a new aluminum-and-magnesium engine, light of weight and vitalized to 255 horsepower with BMW's nifty Valvetronic variable valve-timing-and-lift system.

The Lexus IS350, a headlight-to-tailpipe overhaul of the littlest Lexus, is itching to do some Bimmer stomping with a tightened suspension, upsized brakes, and an all-new dual-overhead-cam 24-valve 306-hp, 3.5-liter V-6. Irritatingly, the IS350 ships with a six-speed automatic only. A Cadillac CTS six-speed also made the roster, thanks to its new engine: a 3.6-liter DOHC 24-valve V-6 with variable valve timing. The Swedish Eccentricity Team at Saab slipped in for the same reason. The Saab 9-3 Aero now offers a new 250-horse, 2.8-liter turbocharged and intercooled version of the same GM global V-6. Also joining: the Volvo S60R AWD. Likewise, the Acura TL and the Infiniti G35 are old friends invited back. Mercedes-Benz didn't make it aboard the crazy bus because a C-class couldn't yet be had with the company's new DOHC 3.5-liter V-6.

We wandered into our own desert, spent many hours testing the cars in all possible situations. And eventually, we picked a winner:"

First place: BMW 330i
"The preferred running shoes for runners!"  
"BMWs win many of our comparison tests for the same reason marathoners prefer running shoes to mukluks: they just work better for the task at hand. Not different in this test. The core BMW traits are all there: slot-car steering response, implacable structural rigidity, sublime balance. See your path through a corner, and the BMW nails it with a wrist flick. It doesn't clomp, it doesn't float, its throttle doesn't surge or cause the driveline to buck. It doesn't force you to wrestle with mushy controls or negotiate with bionic brains. It just makes every road your personal pavement playpen."

2nd Place: Lexus IS350, "The quiet horsepower king, seamless interior finish, the most entertaining Lexus so far.Speaks softly and carries a big stick..."

3rd Place: Infinity G35, "Makes fast-car noises, attacks corners, strikes a happy balance between ride and handling.Aging gracefully down the rankings..."

4th Place: Acura TL, "Lubricated controls, a V-6 that loves its redline, everyone's favorite back seat.A sharp design without fatal flaws..."

5th Place: Audi A4 3.2 Quattro, "Serene expressway cruiser, German sportlich handling, the same brilliant Audi interior. Standing pat as others catch up..."

6th Place: Cadillac CTS, "Distinctive machete-hewn styling, 'GM' and 'handling' are no oxymoron any longer; solid torque, lustrous paint. An extended teaser for the next CTS..."

7th Place: Volvo S60R AWD, "Made-by-Maserati interior, thorough upgrades that separate it from other snoozy Volvos, decent ride with suspension set to comfort. A wealthy guy's WRX..."

8th Place: Saab 9-3 Aero, "Mod cockpit details, generous back seat, lusty thrust once the turbo is spinning. Somebody tell GM that mediocrity is not a Saab heritage trait..."