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WHAT? Road and Track Lists The Top 5 Most Comfortable Cars In America
Your daily commute is a grind. Slow traffic long hours behind the wheel. It's enough to drive even the most laid-back motorist mad. The solution? These five new models promise respite for weary road warriors everywhere.

Road And Track's Top 5 Most Comfortable Cars In America

1. 2009 Lincoln MKS

2. 2009 Hyundai Genesis

3. 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP

4. Volkswagen Passat CC

5. 2009 Infiniti FX


"Comfort" and "quiet" describe the new Lincoln MKS, the upcoming flagship for Ford's luxury division. Sporting a new split waterfall grille that will become a styling signature for Lincoln, the MKS offers ample room for five and plenty of power from its 3.7-liter V-6, which makes 270 horsepower. Buyers will get to choose between front- or all-wheel drive when this new sedan goes on sale later this year.

For those looking for luxury on a budget, the Hyundai Genesis sedan is just the ticket. This full-size 4-door comes equipped with a choice of 264-bhp 3.3-liter V-6, a 290-bhp 3.6-liter six or the flagship 4.6-liter V-8, which makes 368 horsepower. The styling is understated, yet elegant and like fine European imports, it is rear-wheel drive. Price of admission? Right around $30,000.
 

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WHAT? Road and Track Lists The Top 5 Most Comfortable Cars In America



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kthorkthor - 3/25/2008 11:09:38 AM
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It's just a marketing piece for their regular advertisers. Turn the page.

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silver1silver1 - 3/25/2008 11:49:55 AM
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I know! very strange! NO LEXUS!

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silver1silver1 - 3/25/2008 11:50:50 AM
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And Infiniti is one of the most sporty cars to drive. Nothing smooth about Infiniti... Very sporty and fun I might say.

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goochgooch - 3/25/2008 8:25:55 AM
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Perhaps Road and Track needs an infusion of youth -- but mature, well-reasoned youth (an oxymoron, I know), not a bunch of fanboys who have no perspective.

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Agent009Agent009 - 3/25/2008 8:35:36 AMView My AgentSpace
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They need an infusion of something!


r15mohdr15mohd - 3/25/2008 8:51:28 AM
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^^^why because they chose comfort over driving dynamics? or that there is no mention of a bimmer? lol...


0to600to60 - 3/25/2008 9:36:47 AM
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Thanks r15mohd! I was thinking the same thing


Agent009Agent009 - 3/25/2008 10:23:26 AMView My AgentSpace
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I would think there would be a Cadillac or Lexus on the list. BMW really didn't come to mind here.


goochgooch - 3/26/2008 8:04:45 AM
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Precisely. Road & Track is not about comfort, Buick-style. Road & Track is about grand touring and sports cars. Any clod with a license can pilot one of these alleged comfort vehicles. You'll never see Car and Driver do an article like this. Oh... wait...


JRobUSCJRobUSC - 3/25/2008 9:06:15 AM
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a couple of those cars no one has even driven, so how can they be the most comfortable cars on the road? The Pontiac rides like the BMW 550i sport it was patterned after, so "comfort" is not exactly the target there. And who knows how comfortable the Passat CC, Genesis, or FX are? I don't think any magazines have even tested them yet. Incidentally, if the new FX on 21" wheels is anything like the old FX on 20" wheels, the only sentence containing "comfortable" and "FX" together will also contain the words "extremely not". That was by far the harshest riding SUV I've ever been in, and one of the harshest vehicles period. I'm sure it drives great, but I'm going to guess "comfort" will not be its forte either.

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M35MTM35MT - 3/25/2008 9:13:47 AMView My AgentSpace
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I dont understand the FX either. I've ridden in an FX45 w/ 20" stock wheels and you feel EVERY bump.


07G35J07G35J - 3/25/2008 9:27:13 AM
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I agree. How can they describe a car's comfort level when it isn't even on the market yet. It seems that the editors at Road & Track are running out of stories...


SVXXXSVXXX - 3/26/2008 4:03:52 AM
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I have an FX45 and love it because it is balanced towards the handling vs. comfort (like Lexus does generally).
I'm not sure what the new FX50 would have different that will make it comfortable... I hope it is not if it comes at the cost of handling and performance driving dynamics!

So to me it a weird list.


MiltonMilton - 3/25/2008 9:09:39 AM
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I guess they haven't driven the Lexus LS 460 yet...

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M35MTM35MT - 3/25/2008 9:14:22 AMView My AgentSpace
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I was expecting to see some Lexus on there, isolation from the road seems to be their thing.


stash84stash84 - 3/25/2008 2:05:42 PM
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"There was this story about a Palestinian leader who was being driven through a war zone in and he said he couldn't hear anything because the cabin was so quiet. Lexus offers you this for such a cheap price too."

lmao..hilarious



pushrod27pushrod27 - 3/25/2008 9:31:49 AM
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that's a dumb list. here's the real one:

1. Lexus LS
2. tie - Cadillac DTS
2. tie - Cadillac Escalade
3. Mercedes-Benz S-Class
4. BMW 7-series (w/ optional 14-way comfort seats)
5. tie - Lexus ES350 / Toyota Avalon
5. tie - Buick Lucerne (i dare you to sit in this car and not fall asleep - it's like one of those mattresses from the commercials)

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r15mohdr15mohd - 3/25/2008 9:43:04 AM
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the MKS is very deserving of the list too. lincoln's on a whole drive like you're on clouds, the same can be said for most cadillac's and definitely all buicks.

lexus' as well, but the GS/IS/IS-F don't fit the criteria. the GS though more comfy, still has a biot more stiffness than you'd find in the ES or LS. same can be said for the IS.

the 7-series, it's more harsh than the S-class or LS...so in comfort i wouldnt include it.


the Genesis, well we'll have to wait n see


WillisWillis - 3/25/2008 10:11:37 AM
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The MB S class has been shown to be more comfortable than the LS actually.


r15mohdr15mohd - 3/25/2008 10:34:37 AM
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possibly, i've never driven the LS to say it is or isn't but i wouldnt question a review saying so.



silver1silver1 - 3/25/2008 12:13:30 PM
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"pushrod27"

Couldn't agree with you more.

Thats a perfect list!


texaspride488texaspride488 - 3/25/2008 5:26:47 PM
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Couldn't agree with you more. Then seven series is definitely comfortable speaking from experience. That list seems pretty good, except I'd throw in the Lincoln Town Car.


PlanBPlanB - 3/25/2008 9:39:34 AM
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I think this is some sort of joke because none of these cars are available for purchase yet.

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Agent009Agent009 - 3/25/2008 10:34:36 AMView My AgentSpace
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April fools day is next week



WhelanWhelan - 3/25/2008 10:29:56 AM
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Lincoln MKS, haha! Go get yourself a leather Ford Edge and save 7 grand.

As for the Pontiac G8 GXP, it's not even out yet! They have the base and GT model only with leather available. Not sure how they got to sit in a G8 GXP when it's not even available.

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WhelanWhelan - 3/25/2008 10:37:58 AM
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I meant 500


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 3/26/2008 8:09:04 PMView My AgentSpace
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You meant Taurus.


richard112360richard112360 - 3/25/2008 11:01:24 AM
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What!!!! I almost crapped in my pants reading this!!!!

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HyundaiHyundai - 3/25/2008 11:31:27 AM
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Road & Track must have bought out Consumer Reports.

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skinnyskinny - 3/25/2008 11:40:18 AM
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What a utterly stupid list?

The Lincoln MKS? It isn't even out yet, is it?

And how can you narrow down your list to just 5 cars out of all the great cars on the market these days.

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SteveLSteveL - 3/25/2008 12:55:45 PM
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Road and Track are just like Consumer Reports. They are totally bought out by the car companies. Road and Track used to be a very well respected magazine many years ago but now greed runs the magazine and ignorant so called Automobile Journalists who have less experience than cow now write articles for the magazine. It’s sad and frustrating.

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TurboSpyderTurboSpyder - 3/25/2008 1:01:30 PMView My AgentSpace
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JRobUSC : "And who knows how comfortable the Passat CC, Genesis, or FX are? I don't think any magazines have even tested them yet."

---

A Korean car magazine has driven and reviewed the new Genesis:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=I8GEz6ioGTI


Hyundai even ran a commercial in Korea proclaiming "We overcome the German car.”

-

“Early this year, Hyundai Motor ran a TV commercial which features its Genesis luxury sedan in a head-on collision with Audi AG's A8 model at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour. The ad showed the two cars remained largely intact and ended with a message saying 'We overcome the German car.' ”


http://au.biz.yahoo.com/080319/17/1nslw.html

http://youtube.com/watch?v=u0O2-9JPoGI

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JRobUSCJRobUSC - 3/25/2008 1:23:18 PM
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ok, perhaps I should have been more clear -- "I don't think any magazines anyone in America has ever seen or heard of have tested these cars..."

Better?


TurboSpyderTurboSpyder - 3/25/2008 1:55:11 PMView My AgentSpace
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"Better?'

I wasn't criticizing you I just wanted an excuse to post that review. :)


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lyonboylyonboy - 3/25/2008 2:06:47 PM
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What a dumb list. Road and Track was a great magazine, but about ten years ago they lost there sense of direction. I have subscribed for 42 years but I am going to let my subscription expire.

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autoproautopro - 3/25/2008 3:45:34 PMView My AgentSpace
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You know what they say,opinions are like a**holes everybody has one.

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asiancars233asiancars233 - 3/25/2008 8:06:38 PMView My AgentSpace
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Weird. And those are cars that aren't even out(except for the passat). So no one can question them. I think a lot of cars feel similar or a lot different and then there are those who suck. I think nobody should pay attention to this . They probably are bored or something.

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S2000VS911S2000VS911 - 3/26/2008 12:48:27 AMView My AgentSpace
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3 brand are 2009 model ? bs... are they already released in the market ? how do they know they are most Comfortable Cars In America, i never see somebody driving a Hyundai Genesis in Canada.

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bclemansbclemans - 3/26/2008 2:34:31 AM
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What really puzzled me is the Infiniti FX, which wears 20 inch wheels with optional 21 inch wheels make the list. The 2009 model, like the current model, has big emphasis on sport. Assume that is true, how can it earn high marks on comfort when it has sport tuned suspension? I can bet anything that the Lexus RX 350 (just picking an obvious comfort-oriented SUV for comparison) is more comfortable and I think it has air suspension as an option too. Not sure I follow the logic behind R&T.

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MarcdegroofMarcdegroof - 3/28/2008 7:44:37 AM
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You Americans have different standards as far as COMFORT goes....But been over on the other side of the pond there myself some 40 times, even I as a common European must understand this list s*cks...
Being a Mercedes S-driver (ex BMW 7-series) I could genuinely appreciate the "comfort" of the previous Cadillac DE VILLE since it didn't hamper too much its driveability...
As for the rest of the list.....smacks of favouritism, indeed.

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monniemonnie - 3/29/2008 5:07:54 PM
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Silly list, for sure. Must be April Fool's come early. Hello, Bentley, Rolls Royce, MB, BMW, even Lexus comes t mind. A dumb list to stir trouble, for certain.

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UYPetersonUYPeterson - 3/29/2008 7:05:30 PM
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Long post - I love cars and I enjoy writing.

I wonder what criteria was used to rate these vehicles as the most comfortable available. If it were written that these are among the more comfortable cars available, I would agree that these vehicles could be considered comfortable based on asking price alone.

Over the years, I have sat in and driven so many different cars, it amazes me which cars are truly comfortable. I found the last generation Mini Cooper and Lexus GS to be very comfortable, but 15 minutes into the test drive, my left hamstring would cramp. The current GS does not present that problem. (I haven't driven the current Mini.) Although I loved driving the Rolls-Royce Phantom, I needed time to appreciate the high seating position. I expected to love the BMW 750Li based on my experience with the 525i and X5, but the 750Li does not have enough legroom for me to put up with it, and the seating position is way too high. I fussed with the seat longer than I drove the car. I hope the new 7 addresses that issue.

Different people have different methods of measuring personal comfort in a car. For me, I always consider the following (in order):

I'm 6'1" with long legs. Can I position the driver seat so my legs do NOT touch the brake and accelerator? (Few cars pass this test for me.)

Is the vehicle wide enough so my legs touch no part of the vehicle? (Some cars have recently failed this test. I think it is due to higher standards for side impact safety.)

Does the car have a dead pedal positioned in such a way that I forget my left foot is on it during a 15 minute test drive? (Honda, BMW, Mercedes almost always pass this test for me. Most domestics...)

Is the steering wheel thick enough and designed so I'm not changing hand positions every few minutes?

Is the relationship between the windshield, dashboard, steering wheel and driver seat engineered in such a way that the drive is equally enjoyable in traffic or a long trip?

Do I have enough headroom so I do not feel like I'm in a restrictive space?

Was the trip so comfortable that when I reach my destination, I would rather recline the seat and take a quick nap than immediately get out of the car?

Is my front passenger as comfortable as I am?

Whether I'm at the auto show, on a test drive, renting a car or using a company car, I always consider these points when evaluating a car for its comfort. Price doesn't mean much, because spending lots of money on a car does not promise a comfortable car. When the 2000 - 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was released, I didn't want to drive it because the car was not comfortable. To this day, those cars feel awful to me.

Based on that criteria, this is MY Overall Top 5. I could have a Top 5 for every class of vehicle available. I have driven every one of these vehicles for extended periods of time. These are current cars you can test drive and buy today.

1. BMW 5 Series. Of all the cars I have EVER driven, this is the mos

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UYPetersonUYPeterson - 3/29/2008 7:07:09 PM
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1. BMW 5 Series. Of all the cars I have EVER driven, this is the most comfortable car I have ever driven. Low seating position, thick steering wheel endless legroom, great engine and brakes. I tolerated the materials used for the interior. I like the styling. I drove a 2006 525i on purpose, because if the foundation is right, the higher models should naturally feel better. Although the deal breaker was iDrive, I am seriously considering one because of the USB interface for the audio system. That little thing made a BIG difference.

2. Honda Accord Coupe EX-L V6. For the money, this car is a definite winner. This is the only way I would buy it. I drove the sedan and it was OK, but I love the coupe.

3. Mercedes-Benz S550. There is a "luxury-sport edge" the S-Class has that the Lexus LS does not have. I felt it the moment I sat behind the wheel, before I drove the car, and it is unforgettable.

4. Lexus LS. Before 2001, no Lexus vehicle ever felt comfortable to me. In 2001, only the LS and GS were comfortable, but my left hanstring would cramp after 20 minutes. Today, the IS and GS are marvelously comfortable, and the LS is the standard bearer a pure luxury car. Although I would now buy a Lexus, the focus on luxury is a little too much for me. I LOVE the Mark Levinson audio system and this is the reason why I would buy a Lexus. The most memorable feature of the LS -- the leather wrapped steering wheel feels better than the one in the Phantom.

5. GMC Acadia. This one was a huge surprise. I was fully impressed with the Buick Enclave, but I was blown away by the comfort in the Acadia. The Acadia passed my legroom test, the Enclave did not, and both are based on the same platform. I wasn't even interested in the Acadia - I just sat in it because I wanted to try out GM's navigation system, which wasn't in the Enclave I drove. I had a very tough time deciding between it and the GMC Yukon Denali/Cadillac Escalade and the Acadia in terms of comfort, mainly because the big utes are larger and use better materials. In the end, the Acadia/Enclave drive better and park easier.

There are two honorable mentions:

BMW X5. I fell in LOVE when I drove this one. It would have been #2, but it didn't make the cut because it needs a bit more legroom length.

Honda Civic Sedan. If you have long legs, this is the only small car to consider. The seat is very comfortable and it offers a great driving experience. It didn't make the cut because when you're on the freeway, the noise level is too high to use the voice navigation system, and there is not have enough width for my knees - the left knee rubs on the door, the right knee is drilled by the handbrake.

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