10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Lexus RX 350, Mazda CX-90 Outclass Mercedes-Benz CLE
Luxury vehicles — almost irrespective of any empirical comparison to a mainstream analog — carry an intangible air of comfort, quality and (perhaps most importantly) status, the I-bought-this-ness of it. But the luxury line may be more blurred than ever, with civilian brands upping the ante (Cars.com named the Ram 1500 its Luxury Car of the Year in 2020, for example) and even trying their hand at the luxury game against established German and Japanese players (namely, Hyundai’s Genesis spinoff). In the most popular Cars.com article of the past week, our editors put the question of “What’s luxe got to do with it?” to the test with a direct cabin comparison between the upmarket 2023 Lexus RX 350 with the mainstream 2024 Mazda CX-90.
Related: 10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: Kia Sportage Can’t Brake American-Made Tesla Model Y, 3, X, S
It bears noting that both vehicles as tested were the top trims for their respective models, with prices falling within roughly $5,000 of one another — something to consider depending on how much dollar-for-dollar value you put on that luxury nameplate. The full-size, three-row Mazda SUV can seat as many as eight passengers; the mid-size Lexus is limited to five. On the other hand, the RX 350 has managed to find the magical middle ground in the ideological war between touchscreen and tactile controls for infotainment and climate functions, whereas the CX-90 somehow gets it pretty much backwards with an uncommon overreliance on physical knobs and buttons. As for interior fit and finish, both SUVs offer upscale upholstery, high-grade accents and flourishes, and coddling seat comfort — while both also suffer from design blunders in the form of specific cheapo trim pieces that stick out like a sore thumb.
Follow the link below to the No. 1 article on this week’s countdown of most read stories and see our editors’ interior endorsement, then decide for yourself.
The lust for luxury was strong this past week, with another highfalutin marque, Mercedes-Benz, luxuriating in the penultimate spot on the strength of the notion that, for some car shoppers, less is more — when it comes to doors, anyway. Those disappointed by Mercedes’ exclusion of coupe or cabriolet options in either of its recent redesigns of its C-Class and E-Class four-door model lineups may be pleased to learn that the two have been synthesized into a sort of two-door portmanteau with the introduction of the 2024 CLE in both open- and closed-top varieties. The new design matches or surpasses both other models in size, and skews sporty and aggressive in its countenance while staying consistent — both stylistically and mechanically — with its siblings.
For our full preview of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE coupe and cabriolet — including powertrain specifics, estimated pricing and arrival date — follow the link below the No. 2 news story of the week.
Beyond all that, we’ve got headlines on the Audi A7, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Acura Integra and much more — so don’t stop reading till the digits double. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past week:
1. 2023 Lexus RX 350 Vs. 2024 Mazda CX-90: Which SUV Has the Nicer Interior?
2. 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe and Cabriolet: 2 Become 1
3. Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy
4. $70K for a 7: 2024 Audi A7 Gets Face-Lift, Boosts RS 7 Performance
5. 2023 Cars.com American-Made Index: Which Cars Are the Most American?
6. Which New Electric Vehicles Come With Free Charging?
7. Electric Cars With the Longest Range
8. Is the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid a Good SUV? 5 Pros and 4 Cons
10. 2024 Acura Integra: Type S Hits Dealerships, Lineup Priced From $32,695
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