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Finer Things
How to choose: Jaguar, Saab or Infiniti
By Rita Cook
Driving a luxury sports car just got easier. With the Jaguar XF, the Saab 9-3 convertible and the Infiniti G37 no matter what you decide you can't go wrong.
Jaguar XF
Luxury sedan meets Jaguar sport style with its coupe-inspired design and sport-style handling you get one ride making this one the best in show. The suspension on this Jaguar is reminiscent of the XK - which translates into sporty. Another favored feature is the coupish roof line that crawls all the way to the back of the car's tail. Note too - the cool look of the big headlights and the grille that comes square. Final cool feature - the start button mounted in the console and the heated steering wheel and active cruise control.
What You Need to Know: It's a powerful ride with a V8 engine. Add to that a 300 or 420 horsepower and it's 0 to 60 in six seconds. The XF replaces the S-type Jaguar from year's past, but it keeps that "oh so British" feel. This is Jaguar's entry-level model, but it always looks good. Trim levels are Luxury, Premium Luxury and Supercharged. It gets better as it goes up with Luxury offering quite a few niceties, but the big supercharged version coming in with 20-inch wheels, a power rear sunshade, a rearview camera and an upgraded audio system.
Miles Per Gallon: 16 miles in the city and 25 miles on the highway.
Cost: $55,000 and up.
Saab 9-3
It's an entry-level Saab, but it still feels right with a design rivaling the best. Expect a quiet ride with steering that let's you know you're in charge and an all-wheel drive system. Comfortable seats. If you don't want the convertible you can opt for the sedan or the wagon.
What You Need to Know: Several trim levels to choose from you get the 2.0T with all-wheel drive and the Aero trim performance enhancements. Bluetooth phone connectivity. 16-inch alloy wheels look good with leathery upholstery and an eight-way power drive seat for starters. Keep going up the trim line and find a number of handling feature choices. For the convertible expect a 60/40-split rear seat and a fully-automatic cloth top. All the models (except the Aero) are 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder with 210 horsepower. The Aero offers 2.8-liter V6 with 280 horsepower.
Miles Per Gallon: 18 miles per gallon in the city and 24 miles per gallon on the highway.
Cost: $31,000 and up.
Infiniti G37
Sporty, and another good design for this entry-level luxury sport sedan. With four trim levels there's the Base, Journey, G37x or the Sport 6MT. At the bottom of the trim the base is 17-inch alloy wheels and on the higher end of the spectrum it's 19-inch. All are top-of-the-line with xenon headlights, keyless ignition and entry, leather upholstery and one "you won't forget it" sound system. The rear seats offer room for passengers. Gear changes are easy with a steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifter - ala downshifts with just the perfect throttle moves.
What You Need to Know: V6 engine with great handling, good brakes and some high-tech features that other cars in this class don't come close to offering. In addition to the sedan as in year's past you can also get all-wheel drive and look for a convertible coming out soon. The Infiniti G37 has a 3.7-liter engine with seven-speed automatic transmission and 328 horsepower. Fun too with what is called a "self-healing clearcoat paint" too. 0 to 60 in 5.4 seconds.
Miles Per Gallon: 18 miles per gallon in the city and 24 miles per gallon on the highway.
Cost: $33,000 and up.