Editors' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2006

Most Wanted Sedan Under $45,000
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Winner: BMW 5 Series

Whether you like its mildly controversial styling or not, it's hard to argue with the latest 5's incredible balance of ride, performance and comfort. The velvet-smooth inline sixes in the 525i and 530i are new this year as is the 360-horsepower V8 in the 550i. No matter which one you go with, you'll feel the same confidence-inspiring connection to the road and muted sensation of speed that typify the marque. Along with the sporting driving experience the 5 Series makes for a great touring car, thanks to a quiet ride and firmly supportive seats with plenty of room for everyone. We're still not fans of the adoption of iDrive (redesigned to be easier to use) and the price quickly escalates when you start ticking off options, but for sheer enjoyment, the 5 Series remains the one to beat.

Honorable Mention: Audi A6

Once again taking the silver is Audi's A6. In a recent luxury sport sedan test, the A6 won over editors with its elegantly detailed cabin that sets the standard for the class. Other Audi attributes include a huge trunk, a nimble chassis and a smooth 255-horsepower direct-injection V6 on the standard model. All A6s also come standard with Audi's superb "quattro" all-wheel-drive system which seamlessly transfers the power among all four wheels. And compared to its AWD luxury sedan rivals, the A6 is a bargain, listing for nearly less than a BMW 530xi. Although it's not as athletic as a 5 Series, the A6 is nonetheless a pleasure to drive and a lot closer to its countryman rival than its much lower sticker price would suggest.

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