McDonald’s dropped its limited-time Big Arch burger on Tuesday, billing it as its “most McDonald’s McDonald’s burger yet.”

The new double burger has already been tested in other countries, including Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Portugal, France and Switzerland, and has found a permanent home in some of them.

The company said in a fourth-quarter earnings call quoted by USA Today that, in creating the new sandwich, it was answering customer demand for a “heartier,” “more satisfying” burger.

Indeed there’s more of everything here. It is noticeably bigger than the Big Mac, and the numbers back that up. It features two quarter-pound beef patties, three slices of white cheddar cheese, both crispy and raw onions, lettuce, pickles, toasted buns with sesame and poppy seeds and a sauce that the company says balances mustard, pickle and sweet tomato flavors.

The Big Arch boasts a half pound of meat (before cooking), which is more than double what the Big Mac brings to the table at 3.2 ounces. Compare the Big Arch’s three slices of white cheese (if it is technically “cheddar,” it added only a melty texture and little flavor) to the equally tasteless single slice of orange American cheese in the Big Mac.

In a side-by-side comparison with the Big Mac, my husband, who doesn’t often eat fast food, immediately said the Big Arch was better. He noted it was “creamier” and more appetizing, bringing a mix of textures. The bun also won points for having more consistency, while the Big Mac bun immediately squishes down with a little pressure.

The addition of crispy onions was a nice touch. But the longer they stayed in the sandwich, the soggier they got. The sauce is tangier than the Big Mac’s. And the Big Arch also eliminates the unnecessary third piece of bread between the patties.

While he granted the Big Arch superiority, my husband also wondered whether it was worth paying $3 more. He answered himself with a shrug.

Prices differ around the country, but at my local store, the Big Arch sandwich alone costs $8.79 ($12.49 for the meal), compared to $5.79 for the Big Mac ($9.39 for the meal).

Those who are watching their calories should also be forewarned. The Big Arch weighs in at 1,020 calories, compared to the Big Mac’s 580 calories.

The Double Quarter Pounder, which has the same half-pound of meat as the Big Arch and two slices of cheese, costs $7.39 ($11.19 for the meal) and carries 740 calories.

It's up to you to decide which set of numbers you can accept.

“If someone eats at McDonald’s all the time, it’s a change,” my husband said, noting that the higher price tag might be worth it for that type of customer.

Eating the two burgers side by side, I agree that the Big Arch is appealing in many ways.

But if I had not eaten them together, I’m not sure I would have been able to point out many differences in overall presentation and flavor. I guess that’s what makes it a McDonald’s burger, if not the most McDonald’s McDonald’s burger.

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