Cars.com, USA Today, 'MotorWeek' $46,000 Sport Sedan Challenge

Cars.com has teamed up with our partners at USA Today and “MotorWeek” for the past three years to compare the most popular car categories on the market. We’ve tackled compacts, compact crossovers, midsize sedans and even minivans.

Finally, we found a segment that gave us an excuse to rent a racetrack for a day: the luxury sport sedan.

Cars.com/USA Today/ “MotorWeek” $46,000 Sport Sedan Challenge

We first thought up the grouping when both BMW and Mercedes-Benz announced their entry-level versions of the 3 Series and C-Class would switch from six-cylinders to turbocharged four-cylinders like Audi’s A4. Then a short while later Cadillac introduced the ATS and its turbocharged model as well.

We rounded out the group with the Acura TL — with a V-6 — and the Volvo S60 with a turbocharged five-cylinder and hit the road to California for a few days of testing on area roads, the track and the drag strip.

Find out which car bested the field — most handedly — and let us know what you think in the comment section below.