For quality, gas mileage, Acura TSX and Buick Regal
Q. Which small luxury/premium car should I buy? Important things are an automatic transmission, upgrades, ride quality and gas mileage. We live in Florida from October through May and in New York the rest of the year. We are considering the BMW 328 and 135i coupe, Audi A3 and A4, Mini Cooper Countryman S, Nissan Juke and Mazda3 hatchback.
A. We're not sure you're on the right track with some of your candidates if ride quality and gas mileage are priorities.
Depending on the specific model, some of those you listed ride harshly due to their firm suspensions and high-performance tires. They may have responsive handling and good grip in hard cornering, but the ride may be too stiff for your comfort over bumpy surfaces. Our advice is to try before you buy and test-drive vehicles you're considering over the worst pavement available to see if you can tolerate the ride on a long trip.
Tires play a big part in ride quality, so you should check out the size, type and speed ratings of tires on the cars you're considering (they vary by model). Larger, high-performance tires with higher speed ratings tend to be stiffer and noisier. The Cars.com Advice section has more information on choosing the right tire.
As far as gas mileage, the A4, Countryman, Juke and Mazda3 all have versions with automatic transmissions that get 30 mpg or more on the highway. However, on all except the Mazda3 the manufacturers recommend premium gas, which adds 20 to 30 cents per gallon.
The Cars.com Vehicle Recommender may help you make a decision because it lets you choose features you desire (and eliminate ones you don't) to find cars that deserve to be on your A-list.
If you want a premium car with good gas mileage, comfortable ride and some sportiness consider the Acura TSX or Buick Regal.
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