# 2000 Luxury Sedan Comparison Test: Ground-Level Penthouse Living
Car and Driver's 2000 luxury sedan comparison test arrives as Wall Street prosperity fuels demand for high-end automobiles. The test examines the segment's leading contenders during peak economic expansion, when affluent buyers prioritize refinement and prestige over practical constraints.
The year 2000 represents peak competition in the large luxury sedan market. German engineering dominated through the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, while Japanese manufacturers challenged with the Lexus LS 400 and Infiniti Q45. American luxury made its case via Cadillac's DeVille. Each model promised penthouse-level comfort at ground level, metaphorically placing buyers in the lap of luxury while their vehicles remained firmly planted on asphalt.
Luxury sedan buyers in 2000 valued smoothness over sportiness. Power came standard across the field: the S-Class delivered 362 horsepower, the 7 Series offered 326, and the LS 400 produced 290 from its legendary V8. Transmission technology mattered less than isolation quality. Sound deadening, suspension tuning, and interior ambiance determined winner status more than 0-60 times.
The comparison test framework reflected buyer priorities. Acceleration proved secondary to acceleration's smoothness. Handling took a backseat to ride comfort. Technology integration, leather quality, wood trim selection, and climate control sophistication shaped verdicts. Each sedan promised to cocoon occupants from road noise, engine vibration, and the outside world entirely.
This testing moment captured a unique market crossroads. Luxury sedans had reached remarkable engineering maturity. Safety systems proliferated. Navigation technology advanced rapidly. Yet drivers still craved analog controls and mechanical feedback alongside electronic wizardry. The