The coming 2016 Explorer looks fantastic. I haven't liked most of the earlier generations though.

The W220 also changed in the game in inspiring the W203, whcih was itself a game-changer for the entry-level luxury car. So the W220 was both changed-by-the-game and a game-changer-by-proxy.

This is true, but you can throw the Jeep Grand Cherokee into this same discussion. It started truck-based true off-roading SUV and turned uni-body. Now they even have a Summit model that is more like an MDX than it is an offroading vehicle.

Apples to oranges. You're comparing new versus used.

Ford Fusion Titaniums with AWD are going for around $30k at dealers now. I doubt you're going to get an AWD MKZ for that price.

Those old prior gens are ugly though.

W203s are still bullet proof. I still think they are some of the best cars MB has put out from a reliability standpoint.

W203s are still bullet proof. I still think they are some of the best cars MB has put out from a reliability standpoint.

W203 are still bullet proof. I still think they are some of the best cars MB has put out from a reliability standpoint.

Not if it is FWD only.

Agreed. At the price point in Europe, the Mondeo isn't the best deal given that you can pick up German competitors. Ironically, the One Ford approach is what makes the Ford Fusion such a good deal in the U.S., as the Fusion is almost the same car (at least from a driving dynamics perspective) as the Mondeo, but the…

" The Focus RS ups the ante with a 2.3-liter turbo four, sourced from the Mustang EcoBoost, with 'at least' 320 horsepower and 'at least' 320 pound-feet of torque."

Jeep is Chrysler's own money machine.

"The poser-spec base Range Rover is $80,000, optioning up to $150,000."

GM is NOT premium (ultra or otherwise). Come on, man.

I don't think anyone is going to cross-shop an Explorer with a Land Rover Discovery. The Explorer is a much bigger vehicle.

A comparably equipped Trailhawk is certainly comparable and much less expensive. I'd prefer to go with the Jeep. I prefer the interior and (gasp) exterior styling of the Jeep over the Land Cruiser.

The Mondeo platform is a decent platform to build on. I've enjoyed most of the cars I've driven that utilize it.

I can't tell exactly from the photos, but I would think given the size this is more comparable to a Cherokee, not a Grand Cherokee. Is the DS bigger than the Cherokee and on-par with the Grand Cherokee in the size department?

How great the MDX was but one generation ago. The current generation is uninspired.