Video: 2017 Luxury Sedan Challenge: Acceleration Test

Now we've got the bread and butter models here, the turbocharged four cylinder, but don't tune out just yet. These are powerful four cylinders with up to 280 horsepower. And their acceleration is surprisingly quick for the base model versions. We're here at Atlanta Dragway to see which one is the fastest. The Gulia felt like it had more guts under the hood than it's 280 horsepower suggest. Their measured acceleration backs that with the quickest zero to 60 mile an hour time and quickest quarter mile time. Our test car had all wheel drive and it ripped out of a hole after building engine speed in the line. That punch to the gut during launches feels like there's an extra few cylinders under the hood. In second place was the Audi A4. And it surprised us with its straight-line acceleration. The 252 horsepower and not so spelt curb weight, didn't look the best on paper, but boy did A4 have it where it counts. The A4 for secret sauce was it's launch control, which launches the car from 3000 RPM and greatly helped reduce those zero to 60 mile an hour times. It's lightning quick shifts from the dual clutch transmission were also the Crispus of the group. At the top end of the track however, the Alpha remained strong, while the A4 ran out of steam. Now in third and fourth are the BMW 330 and the Cadillac ATS. And they're near identical in terms of straight line acceleration. The BMW, however, edged down the Cadillac by one 10th of a second to 60 miles an hour, but they posted identical quarter mile times. It's almost impossible to tell the difference between these two behind the wheel. We did notice how each one of the car sounded at wide open throttle, and we give the edge to BMW here. The Cadillac's four cylinder is greeny sounding, (car engine revving) while the BMW has a very smooth meeting ground. (car engine revving) In fifth place was the Mercedes-Benz C300. And despite having all wheel drive like the Alpha and Audi, the Mercedes just couldn't put up times like the Gulia. It's 241 horsepower is on the blow side for this test, and overall it proved adequate being only a few ticks behind the Cadillac and BMW, but not really notable in any way. In sixth place is the Jaguar XE. And the Jaguar second and last performance and acceleration is a bit misleading. Sure, it took almost seven seconds at 60 miles hour and there's over a half second slower than the Mercedes in the quarter mile. But once you get this on the street, it packs a mid range punch that doesn't feel like it would be back of the pack in outright acceleration. In seventh and last place is the Lexus IS200 T. The Lexus has arguably the raceiest looking at the bunch with the F sport package and ultrasonic blue mica exterior paint, but it was a slowest of the bunch, and by a lot. The engine, despite making similar power and torque as the others, fell completely flat. The linear power delivery is commendable for a turbocharged engine, but it didn't feel powerful or even turbo-charged like the others that surged with on-demand power. Acceleration is only part of our test in determining which one of these is the best luxury sports sedan. And you can see the full results at Cars.com/news. (car engine revving)