Best Performance Sedans

Are you interested in electric driving? The Tesla Model 3 is one of the best places to start. Under $40,000 before tax incentives, the likable small sedan offers style, an excellent driving range, and premium tech features. It runs on electricity, meaning you never have to go to a gas station again. Depending on which trim you choose, driving distance ranges from 263 to 353 miles. It gives the Model 3 enough mileage per charge to make it a viable daily driver. Its spacious cabin comes with an elegant design centered around a multipurpose 15-inch touchscreen.

The Model 3 is fun to drive, with quick acceleration and sharp handling. Its ride is about as absorbent as rivals, though some road noise comes through at high speeds. Overall, Tesla's Model 3 delivers next-generation propulsion and tech features in an affordable and practical package.

The Genesis G70 is the smallest and best-selling entry of three premium sedans offered by Hyundai's quickly growing luxury brand. It competes head-to-head with such long-standing entry-luxury sedan favorites as the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A5, and Lexus IS. It offers evocative design, a luxurious interior, and a long list of amenities that often cost extra in competing European-brand models. The G70 also leads the segment with advanced safety and driver-assistive technology.

The G70 delivers an engaging driving experience with nicely balanced ride and handling. Although the base G70 2.0T four-cylinder won't match the acceleration response and fuel economy of its 3 Series competitor, the small Genesis is fun to drive in both rear- and all-wheel-drive form. It also costs less than its European rivals, is comparably equipped, and comes with a much stronger warranty: 10 years or 100,000 miles on the powertrain and 5 years or 60,000 miles bumper to bumper, plus three years of free scheduled maintenance.

High-riding crossovers may dominate the market, but that hasn't stopped Cadillac from leaning into sedans. The luxury automaker followed up its out-of-production ATS and CTS sedans with Cadillac CT4 and Cadillac CT5 successors, respectively.

The 2021 CT5 is a midsize sedan that features significant performance and tech updates, including new engines and a 10-speed automatic. All CT5s have the latest in onboard technology, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Premium Luxury, Sport and V-Series models optioned with the Technology package get a new reconfigurable 12-inch high-definition (HD) gauge cluster. But by far, the most significant tech advancement available in the new CT5 is Super Cruise. In addition to providing hands-free driving capability on more than 200,000 miles of U.S. and Canadian highways, the latest iteration of Super Cruise changes lanes on demand.

Although the CT5 is roughly the size of midsize German sedans such as the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series, the Cadillac's price point aligns it more closely with the smaller Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series.

Pricier than the mechanically similar E-Class, you may be asking why the CLS is worth the extra money. It's a valid concern; the CLS has a smaller back seat and less practicality than its sibling. The answer is in how the CLS makes owners feel. Its swooping exterior style and pampering cabin luxury give it a touch of panache that is hard to find elsewhere on the road. One would need to step up to the flagship S-Class and its six-digit price to get a fancier Mercedes-Benz.

The CLS provides superb quietness and ride comfort on the road, and passengers are coddled in fantastic seats. Standard technology surpasses most rivals, though some driver-assistance systems are costly options. Overall, the CLS is a well-engineered luxury car with exceptional style that is as satisfying to drive as it is to admire.

The BMW 8-Series straddles the line between high-end luxury and sportiness. It has all of the Euro appeal that drivers have come to love about the automaker, with a long, sleek exterior that elegantly hints at the performance lying within, along with a tasteful cabin packed with cutting-edge tech.

Shoppers can equip their 8-Series in one of several sophisticated color combinations, and high-performance cooling and tires are optional. At the same time, it is eminently comfortable on the highway and around town. Some customers will prefer the posher cabins of BMW’s rivals, though they come at a higher starting price. At the end of the day, the 8-Series is a masterful blend of sportiness, style, and luxury, making it a great daily driver and long-distance cruiser.

With its large and imposing exterior and sporty touches, the BMW 7-Series sets its sights on being the ultimate German luxury cruiser. It mostly succeeds at its goal, providing effortless speed and a buttery-soft ride. The restrained interior styling is not for everyone, but it offers a subdued environment for rejuvenation on the way to the next destination.

BMW includes numerous standard features, with optional semi-autonomous driving systems to help take the strain out of traffic. While some rivals are more fun to drive, the 7-Series prevails in its efforts as a stylish and high-tech luxury limo.