Yahoo Autos Best sport sedans for 2024
SUVs dominate the car industry at every size and price level, but some people still prefer the looks, and more importantly, the performance and comfort, of the traditional sedan. With a lower ride height, lighter weight and generally smaller size, they often are much more fun to drive, and can even be more comfortable. Sport sedans of course lean harder on the performance side of things, and are among the best options for sheer speed and fun, thanks to those inherent characteristics. We've rounded up the ones in the segment that do the sporty dance better than any others in 2024 to give you a handy guide when you're shopping for one of your own.
You'll find a wide array of cars here including gas, electric and hybrid powertrains. They'll have manual and automatic transmissions and drive the front, rear or all four wheels. Technically a few hatchbacks have slipped in, but they're close enough in look and feel that we wanted to include them. And excluding them means you might miss out on some of the best-driving options available. You wouldn't want that, would you?
Alfa Romeo Giulia
Why it stands out: Punchy four-cylinder; astounding power from Quadrifoglio; light and nimble character; awesome shift paddles
Could be better: Clunky infotainment; sub-par switchgear
Read our Alfa Romeo Giulia review
We start this list with one of the most predictable inclusions: the Alfa Romeo Giulia. Yes, it's a stereotype that the Italian sport sedan is fun to drive, but the fact is, well, it is. The Giulia comes standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 280 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful four-cylinders in the segment. It's paired with a snappy and smooth eight-speed transmission and either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.
The engine is lively and torquey, if a little short of revs, and the chassis feels super-light. The steering is eager and the car jumps into corners. We also highly recommend getting a version with the enormous and superb aluminum paddle shifters that make clicking through gears much more entertaining. And on the topic of the interior, it's attractive, but the various switches and knobs feels a little cheap, and the infotainment system is clunky.
Of course there's also the incredible Giulia Quadrifoglio at the high end. It gets a Ferrari-derived twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 making 505 hp, and it's rear-wheel drive only. It's one of the best driving cars on the planet with clear, talkative steering, loads of grip, and a nimble feeling. And obviously it's darn fast with all that power.
Audi RS 3
Why it stands out: Magnificent sounding and massively powerful five-cylinder; super grip from all-wheel-drive; fat, aggressive fender flares
Could be better: Numb steering; low-rent interior materials
The Audi RS 3's crown jewel is, unquestionably, it's mad turbo five-cylinder under the hood. It doesn't make any sense that it exists in today's world, as it exists in only this one trim of this one model (at least in the U.S. line-up). But that's part of the appeal. The other, much bigger part of the appeal, is the huge power and stunning sound. It has a howl unlike anything else, and it does so with a whopping 401 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. And it's all in a package the size of a VW Golf.
And if that was all the RS 3 had going for it, we would still love it. But in the words of many an infomercial host: "Wait, there's more!" It has amazing suspension and a wickedly quick dual-clutch transmission to make it handle and shift in a way fitting that amazing engine. And it has all-wheel drive to make sure every pony reaches the ground.
The RS 3 also features a thoroughly beefy body with big box flares and scowling lights. The interior has a crisp, angular and futuristic looking interior. We wouldn't mind seeing nicer materials inside, and the steering could be better, but they're small complaints in light of a thoroughly unique and exhilarating sedan.
BMW 3 Series and M3
Why it stands out: Lots of powertrain options; sure handling; available manual in the M3
Could be better: Annoying infotainment; numb steering; questionable styling
Read our BMW 3 Series review, our 330e long-term review updates and our M3 review
While it has faltered in the past, the small luxury sport sedan benchmark is in much better form in its current iteration. And there are many things that make the 3 Series appealing. It's available with a turbo four-cylinder, a plug-in hybrid four-cylinder, or a few different versions of a turbocharged straight-six. It also boasts a great interior with high-end materials and highly comfortable seats. And of course, every version has a quick and fun chassis.
The base 330i model gets a 255-hp turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder. It's very responsive and makes great low-down torque. The eight-speed transmission, versions of which appear in all the 3 Series models, is fast and smooth, and one of the best in the segment. Steering is pretty numb, but the chassis is stiff and eager to corner. The BMW rides very well, too. For a bit more power, there's the plug-in hybrid that makes 288 hp and has up to 22 miles of electric range. It doesn't cost much more, either.
The four-cylinder models are solid, but the six-cylinder cars are, unsurprisingly, more exciting. The M340i's turbo six-cylinder makes 382 hp. It also gets upgraded suspension, brakes and an electronically-controlled limited-slip differential. Then there are the M3 models that increase power to 473 hp for the base model, and 503 hp for the Competition. They also get additional suspension, braking and transmission upgrades to make for some astounding sports sedans to rival the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. The base M3 also boasts one of the only manual transmissions in the segment. With a base price that tops $70,000, it's not cheap, but it's quite a bit cheaper than the Alfa.
There's also the limited-edition M3 CS. The power is increased even further to 543 horsepower, and torque up to 479 pound-feet. It has even more chassis reinforcements, and generally is the hardest core of M3s. We really like it.
BMW i4
Why it stands out: All the goodness of the 3 Series and 4 Series Gran Coupe, but electric; available 300-mile range; M50 acceleration on par with M3
Could be better: Front-end design; annoying infotainment; M50 accelerates like a M3, doesn't handle like one
We've just gone over most of the positives of the BMW 3 Series sedan such as its strong driving dynamics, nice interior and wide array of powertrains. It's missing a powertrain, though: electric power. And that's where the i4 comes in. It's based on the 4 Series Gran Coupe, which is itself basically a 3 Series four-door with a hatch, and it adds either one or two electric motors. It's all the 3 Series goodness, but fully electric.
The base motor in the eDrive35 is reasonably strong at 282 horsepower and will take the i4 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. Range can hit 276 miles. Next up is the eDrive40, which was the previous base model, with 335 horsepower a 0 to 60 mph time 5.5 seconds. And equipped correctly, it'll go 301 miles on a full charge. It's also more powerful than the base 3 Series or 3 Series plug-in hybrid. The xDrive40 adds another motor and all-wheel drive and brings output to 396 horsepower. It can even top the eDrive40's range with up to 307 miles. The M50 packs a pair of motors making 536 horsepower, more than the M3 and M4, and it'll get the car to 60 mph in under 4 seconds. That's M-car acceleration without a drop of fuel.
Unfortunately, there isn't a full-M version of the i4, so handling will always be on the softer side. But you still get the quick steering and composed chassis you would expect from any other 3 Series model. The interior is also just as nice as any other 3 Series, but shares the frustrating latest iteration of BMW's iDrive tech interface.
Cadillac CT4
Why it stands out: Extremely communicative steering and chassis; strong four-cylinder options; powerful Blackwing model; available manual transmission
Could be better: Interior is a bit bland; manual only on the Blackwing; base four-cylinder isn't particularly inspiring
The 21st century has been a time of reinvention for Cadillac as it transitioned from floaty barges to world-class sport sedans. The Cadillac CT4 represents one of the last internal combustion Cadillacs, and it's a superb example of the breed with excellent handling, impressive refinement, and the availability of an incredible halo model.
There are three basic iterations of the car, starting with the base turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 237 hp or a 310-hp turbo 2.7-liter four-cylinder. Above that is the CT4-V with a 325-hp version of that 2.7-liter engine, and the monster CT4-V Blackwing with a 472-hp twin-turbo V6. Only the Blackwing is available with a six-speed manual transmission, and the four-cylinder cars are the only ones available with all-wheel drive.
If you can, we recommend stretching to at least one of the 2.7-liter models, but every CT4 is extremely composed and responsive in its moves, with immense communication. It's one of the most engaging cars in the segment. And of course, the Blackwing improves things immensely, and is a rare manual option in the high-end compact sport sedan segment. It's so good, one of our editors actually bought one. If that's not a ringing endorsement, we don't know what is.
Cadillac CT5
Why it stands out: Nearly 700 horsepower; supercharged V8 soundtrack; available manual transmission; brilliant chassis
Could be better: Four-cylinder is a little weak for this car; manual only for Blackwing; drab interior
In addition to the CT4, the CT5 is another excellent sport sedan, just bigger. That applies to under the hood, too, where the most beastly CT5 packs a monster supercharged V8.
The basic CT5 shares its turbo four-cylinder with the CT4 and makes the same 237 horsepower. The upgrade engine is a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 making 335 horsepower. Rear-drive is standard on each with all-wheel drive available as an option. They're comfortable and engaging, a great blend for a fun daily driver.
The V models are where things get exciting. The regular V brings power from the twin-turbo V6 up to 360, and it gets a sporty version of GM's magical Magnetic Ride Control suspension, plus Brembo brakes. But the Blackwing is the cream of this crop, with a 668-horsepower supercharged V8. It'll do 200 mph, and you can even have it with a six-speed manual transmission. It's a righteous steed that's a little heavier and less sharp than the CT4, but makes up for it with character.
Genesis G70
Why it stands out: Excellent bang for the buck; extremely powerful V6; brilliant chassis; user-friendly infotainment
Could be better: Cramped back seat; transmission could be sharper
Our final choice from the compact luxury sport sedan segment is probably the best value, the Genesis G70. It comes with either a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder making 300 hp, or a beefy twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6 making 365 hp. Both come standard with an eight-speed automatic and rear-wheel-drive, with all-wheel drive as an option. They're amazing deals, too. You can get a V6 G70 for similar pricing as the four-cylinder Alfa or BMW we mentioned before, and with so much more power. Or if you want the four-cylinder, you can have a healthy discount, period.
The low price doesn't mean the Genesis sacrifices quality or driving fun. The V6 in particular is a blast. It feels underrated, with the two turbos pinning you to the seat when they spool up. The chassis is rock-solid, balanced and communicative. The transmission feels a beat behind those used in the Alfa and BMW, but doesn't get in the way of enjoying the car. The four-cylinder isn't as exciting, but the chassis is just as good, and the lighter engine makes it a bit more nimble.
The interior materials could be a little nicer, but panel gaps are tight and everything feels solid. The infotainment system is far easier to use than either of the European cars on this list, too. And the G70 is even better looking now than when it came out. If you're looking at a fun sedan from this segment, you can't ignore the G70.
