The car is very common, but this means that it is suitable for everyone. Some people don't care about looks or driving experience. And in particular, if you're looking for something sporty, the ride height, and often the weight, make it more fun to drive while offering a modicum of practicality. There are a few options that really show the sportier side of things, and I've discovered all of your combinations on the market.
Our picks are listed in alphabetical order. It's a variety of gas, electric, hybrid, four-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, and many other variants of powertrain
We start this list with one of the most anticipated: the Alfa Romeo Giulia. Yes, it's a stereotype that the Italian sports sedan is fun to drive, but the truth is that it is. The Giulia comes standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 280 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful four-cylinders in its class. It is mated to a quick and smooth eight-speed transmission and either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.
The engine is lively and torquey, if a little lower revs, and the chassis feels super light. The steering is keen and the car jumps into turns. We also highly recommend getting a version with the nice oversized aluminum shifters that make clicking gears more pleasant. On the subject matter of the interior, it's attractive, but the various switches and knobs feel a bit cheap, and the infotainment system is weak.
Of course there is also the stunning Giulia Quadrifoglio. You can get a Ferrari-derived 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 with 505 horsepower, rear-wheel drive only. It's one of the best-driving cars on the planet with crisp, talky steering, great stability, and an agile feel. And he's obviously darn quick with all that power. You'll need to be in good standing to be able to afford its $80,000-plus base price.
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Although it has stumbled in the past, the small luxury sport sedan standard is in much better shape in the current iteration. And there are a lot of things that make the third series attractive. It's available with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a four-cylinder hybrid engine, or several different versions of the turbocharged straight-six. It also has a great interior with high-quality materials and very comfortable seats. And of course, each version has a fast and fun structure.
The base model 330i gets a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 255 horsepower. It is very responsive and makes very low torque. The eight-speed transmission, versions of which appear on all 3 Series models, is quick, smooth, and one of the best in its class. The steering is pretty dope, but the chassis is stiff and eager to corner. The BMW rides very well, too. For even more power, there's a plug-in hybrid engine that makes 288 horsepower and an electric range of up to 22 miles. It doesn't cost much more than that either.
The M340i's turbocharged inline-six engine produces 382 horsepower. It also gets an upgraded suspension and brakes and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. Then there are the M3 models, which increase power to 473 hp for the base model and 503 hp for the Competition. They're also getting additional suspension, brake, and transmission upgrades to make some amazing sports sedans rival the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. The base M3 also featured one of the only manual transmissions in the segment. With a base price of over $70,000, it's not cheap, but it's quite a bit cheaper than the Alfa.
We have just gone over most of the positives in the BMW 3 Series Sedan such as the driving dynamics and the interior. It's missing a powertrain, though: electric power. This is where the i4 comes in. It's more powerful than the 4 Series, which is essentially a four-door hatchback from the 3 Series, and adds a more powerful engine or two electric motors. It's all the benefits of a Series 3, but it's all-electric.
The base engine is reasonably powerful with 335 horsepower, and the i4 will sprint to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. And if you outfit it right, it'll go 301 miles on a full charge. Also stronger than a standard 3 or 3 series guide. The M50 packs a third gear pair that produces 536 horsepower, more than the M3 and M4, and will get the car to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds. This is M-car acceleration without a drop of fuel.
Unfortunately, the full version of i4. You get the quick correction and body you'd expect from a Series III. The interior organization is just as nice as the other 3 Series, but it shares the disappointing recent iteration of BMW's drive tech interface.
It was published in the first session of the first schedule. The Cadillac CT4 represents one of the last internal combustion Cadillacs, and it's a fine example of the breed with excellent handling, impressive refinement, and a stunning premise.
There are three basic iterations of the car, starting with the base turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 237 hp or the turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder making 310 hp. The 2.7-liter CT4-V Black wing twin-turbo V6 makes 472 horsepower. Black drive train is available.
The 2.7 is the same as the 2.7 models, but every CT4 is very responsive in its movements, with a very good first-rate feel. It is one of the most attractive cars in its class. And, of course, you can greatly improve things with a manual option in the high-end sports sedan segment. It's so good, one of our editors even bought one. They were not supported.
The Dodge Charger isn't exactly a sports sedan, but that's a big part of its appeal. Elsewhere, rear-wheel drive. It's paired with a velor transmission and wrapped in a sinuous, aggressive chassis. Very good at driving off the hook or hitting corners thanks to the compliant suspension and surprisingly good grip.
Captain, quiz of furniture. Just check out the subcompact SRT 392 and Kia Stinger GT (the one level at the bottom of the list). Plus, the Charger delivers a lot of power for the money, powertrain V8s: the R/T with 370 horsepower, the Scat Pack with 485 horsepower, the Hellcat with 707 horsepower, and the Hellcat Redeye with 797 horsepower. Those are ridiculous numbers for its price point and/or just ridiculous power numbers, period.
Of course, it's entirely positive with the charger. It's in good recreational condition, but it's dated, cave-like and not the spacious feeling you'd expect from such a big car. All-wheel drive is only available with the V6 engine. And, of course, the bulk of the first fuel economy. However, it is worth noting that it is worth considering. But act soon, because the Charger line will be gone at the end of next year.
Our final pick from the luxury sports sedan segment is perhaps the best, the Genesis G70. It comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 252 horsepower, or a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 making 365 horsepower. Prices start at around $40,000 for the four-cylinder and $45,000 for the V6. So for the same price as a four-cylinder Alfa or BMW, you can get some serious horsepower. Or if you want to get a higher roller, or if you want to get a healthy discount.
Price doesn't mean Genesis sacrifices quality or driving fun. The V6 engine in particular is a blast. It feels simple, with the turbines that hook you to the seat as they roll. The chassis is solid, balanced and communicative. It appears to be text about sending behind that area. The four-cylinder isn't sexy, but the chassis is good, and the lighter engine makes it nimble.
It could be some tropical stuff, but the panel gaps are tight and everything is in place.
The infotainment system is more usable and the G70 looks better than it did. If you're looking for a fun sedan in this segment, you can't ignore the G70.
We're stretching sedan terminology a bit here with some of these versions of the Honda Civic, since the Type R is actually as much a hatchback as it is one of the more fun regular models (a Hatchback Sport Touring with a manual transmission). But we've already included one car that's technically a hatchback (BMW i4), and there are a few others that technically feature hatchbacks on their trunks. And the fact of the matter is, the Type R is amazing, and even the Civic's regular options are pretty good, so we felt compelled to mention that.
Now digging in, the base Civic is a great all-around car with a massive cabin, attractive dash, useful infotainment and a comfortable ride. But she also has a light and graceful body. The naturally aspirated base engine is a little underpowered nowadays, especially if only paired with a CVT, but the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that makes 180 horsepower is strong. In the hatchback, it's also available with a slick manual transmission that ups the fun factor enough that you should honestly ask yourself whether you really need the mechanically related Si or Acura Integra.
And the answer must be yes! Compared to a Subaru WRX or VW GTI, but it's one of the best sedans you can get for under $30,000.
Then there's the Type R. It's the culmination of everything Honda is known for, making it the best front-wheel-drive car in the world, one that can seriously compare to all-wheel-drive competition like the Toyota GR Corolla and Volkswagen's Golf R. as do her more modest siblings. Much of the advantage is down to the great steering, extremely smooth shifting, and deft handling. It produces an impressive 315 horsepower that puts the great chassis on par with the competition in straight lines as well. Unfortunately, it's priced at less than $45,000. But it is an amazing car.
As always, the VW GLI continues to be a GTI with the trunk. At least it mostly is. The current version of the hatch is retarded with less force (228) and there is no mechanical limited-slip differential (it only gets a brake-based limited-slip system). But we found that even with these shortcomings, the driving experience still came very close to the legendary hatch.
The engine has a wide and smooth torque range, the shifter is pretty decent, and it has electronically adjustable suspension. It allows the GLI to ride very comfortably, but also to turn impressively. And if you need an automatic transmission, the GLI is available with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that remains one of the best in the business. Most competitors have a choice of a less attractive car (WRX) or none at all (Honda Civic Si).
The GLI is now only available in one trim level: the Autobahn. This is a high trim level in VW-speak, which means it's well-equipped with a power sunroof, power leather seats with heating and ventilation, dual-zone automatic climate control, adaptive cruise control, and more. But that also means it's a bit more expensive at about $32,000. Adding in a dual-clutch automatic transmission, the price comes to about $35,000
A great sports sedan doesn't have to burn a lot of petrol, as the exciting Porsche Taycan proves. Every version of it is all-electric, with the base version featuring single-engine and rear-wheel drive, and higher trims offering two motors and all-wheel drive. They come in quick, faster, and faster versions. The base engine makes 321 hp, the 4S makes 429 hp, the GTS 590 hp, and the Turbo and Turbo S make 616. All of these models can deliver more power for a short time, and this is the main difference between the last two, the 670 hp "over boost" and the 750 straight horse.
Obviously, all of them provide plenty of instant torque—the regular Taycan will push you against the seat while the Turbos will try to crush you. And the rest of the driving experience is pretty much what you'd expect from a Porsche. The steering is perfectly weighted and precise and provides reasonable feedback. There is hardly any body roll and it feels neutral and balanced. Despite the weight of the batteries, it feels like a smaller and lighter car. Range is between 199 and 225 miles depending on the model, though we found the EPA numbers could easily be beaten.
The interior is typical Porsche, too. Well made with good materials, but a bit plain on the front design. Interior space is a bit tight for rear passengers due to the narrow door opening and low profile. Pricing is also classic Porsche, with the Turbo S coming in at $186,000 before any options. But the base model starts at a much more reasonable $84,000. The 4S, GTS and Turbo dive deep into the six liveries with options. We actually recommend the entry-level models that are still very fast and full of fun, but for a lot less money than the Turbo models. And if you need more space, there are versions of the Cross Turismo and Sport Turismo wagon.