In my younger days, I used to sneer at the bourgeoisie in their BMWs and the mucky-mucks in their Mercedes-Benzes. But as the years go by, I’ve learned to appreciate the little luxuries in life, not to mention the lines of a superbly crafted car.

The problem is, the pragmatist in me would never permit such a purchase unless I could be convinced of its value. With that in mind, I set out to find the best buy in a luxury sedan over $50,000. What follows are my impressions and the informed opinions of Canada’s top consumer car gurus.