You wouldn't be blamed for thinking that a sports sedan doesn’t make much sense when there are coupes out there. However, modern buyers are no longer satisfied with a car that does just one thing really well, especially with highly versatile crossovers now dominating the market. Now, people want speed, comfort, and practicality all bundled together, which is where the best sports sedans of 2022 come in.
You have to tick a lot of boxes to earn a spot among the best performance sedans since these cars try to be everything to everyone. There are many qualities one has to look for when they buy a new car, and there are some sacrifices that you need to be willing to make, too. With that in mind, here are the most common traits among the top-rated sports sedan models.
Performance: A car won’t even qualify for a first look if it doesn’t have an impressive powertrain under the hood. Turbo and superchargers are common and help to maintain high power outputs without relying on high-displacement engines. However, there is no denying that the glorious soundtrack of a large V6 or V8 is a big part of the charm of these vehicles.
Price: While you don’t need to pay exorbitant sums to find a good performance sedan, the best are found among the premium brands like BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz. Not only are these cars not cheap, but their hungry engines increase the cost of ownership, too, thanks to frequent stops at the gas station. If you’re lucky enough to find one with a diesel engine, you can offset this slightly.
Practicality: The main reason to pick a sedan over a coupe is for the more spacious cabin, and sometimes a larger trunk. These are concerns for people who want more than just a fast and fun car. You’ll want to ensure that everyone, even passengers in the back seat, are comfortable for the duration of the drive, even if the added weight means you won’t be able to zip around as quickly.
What to Consider When Buying a Perforamces Sedan
Even the best sports sedan has a flaw or two to contend with, but most garner stellar ratings for a reason. Still, it is worth considering the advantages and disadvantages before putting down your money:
Pros
Impressive outputs from powerful engines
Quite a few all-wheel-drive options
Great handling is part and parcel
More practical than a coupe
Many luxury brands mean high overall levels of quality
Cons
Usually expensive to buy
Not as spacious and practical as go-fast SUVs
Some are too large to easily maneuver in the city
Fuel efficiency is often an afterthought
FAQs
Which luxury sports sedan is the best?
There are a number of great options, and your budget will determine which you have access to. That said, The Mercedes-AMG CLA is one of the best and it comes in at a reasonable mid-$50k mark. The Audi e-Tron GT will cost you double that but its amazing good looks and 469-horsepower engine will silence any objections.
What is the most affordable sports sedan?
The Dodge Charger costs just over $30k at base level, making it one of the cheaper options along with the Honda Civic Si. The former is considerably faster, though. Any car can seem affordable if you look at older used models, though. Other worthy mentions include the Subaru WRX STI or Volkswagen Jetta GLI.
What is the most reliable sports sedan?
Reliability isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when we think of performance vehicles but there are a few that won’t break down on you without a good reason. The Lexus GS G is a particularly reliable model, and surprisingly the Porsche Taycan isn’t too far behind.