A problem that has plagued petrolheads for as long as cars have been on the road is what you should drive once you’re grown up and your sports car doesn’t have space for the kids. The answer has often been sporty sedans, of which there are plenty to choose from in the modern age.
Modern sports sedans offer power that could put sports cars of old to shame, with exceptional driving dynamics to match. On top of this, you’ll find the backseats provide plenty of space to house the family. They are also tuned to be able to switch seamlessly from the track to daily driving.
We’ve found ten exceptional sports sedans that offer performance and practicality in bucketloads. We’ve ranked them by price, providing excellent options whether you’re searching forsomething on a budget, or you have money to burn.
to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including TopSpeed.
102025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
MSRP: $32,715
Volkswagen may be known mostly for their sensibility, they often break away from that reputation to deliver something fun and a little raucous. That description perfectly fits the Jetta GLI. Alongside its excellent performance, it offers an interior that is modern and exceptionally practical.
6-Speed Manual or 7-Speed DCT
228 HP
258 LB-FT
0-60 MPH
Top Speed
126 MPH
Volkswagen has put an uprated version of the inline-four that you’d find in a Golf GTI under the hood of the sporty Jetta. It comes with either a manual or automatic transmission, and while the latter is quicker, we’d almostalways opt for the manual.
92025 Hyundai Elantra N
MSRP: $34,250
If you’re looking for an entry-level sports sedan that really leans in to its role, the Elantra N will definitely excite. With very boy-racer-esque styling, it is guaranteed to turn heads, on way or the other. It is also much more spacious in the back than the outgoing Veloster N which it replaced.
6-Speed Manual or 8-Speed DCT
276 HP
289 LB-FT
155 MPH
Compared to the Jetta GLI, the Elantra N has a lot more power, and you can certainly feel it when you put your foot down. Once again a dual-clutch automatic is available, but we’d stick to the manual. This little sedan’s fantastic handling and sharp throttle response make it an absolute joy to drive.
82025 Genesis G70
MSRP: $42,500
Genesis has burst on to the scene, offering excellent luxury sedans at a fraction of the cost of those offered by its competitors. The G70 is their compact option and finds an excellent balance between luxury and sportiness. It is comfortable and smooth on your daily commute but has the guts to be a little naughty when you want it to be.
300 HP
311 LB-FT
RWD or AWD
Genesis offers the G70 in two forms. The 2.5T is the base model, outlined above, but those looking for more speed can opt for the 3.3T. This twin-turbocharged V-6 puts out 365 horsepower and can rocket to 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds. In either guise, it handles corners with plenty of enthusiasm.
72025 Acura TLX Type S
MSRP: $58,050
The TLX fits an interesting niche. It isn’t quite a compact sports car, with the Integra happily filling that spot. It isn’t quite large enough to be a mid-sizer either though. It does, however, boast a fairly spacious interior and a lithe chassis that is ready to offer plenty of thrills, all at a pretty agreeable price.
355 HP
354 LB-FT
156 MPH
The Type S is definitely the way to go if you’re looking for the sportiest driving dynamics. With a powerful V-6, a quick-shifting ten-speed, and Acura’s well-tuned SH-AWD, it is genuinelyexciting sitting behind the wheelof the TLX. It even comes with optional sticky summer tires.
62025 BMW M3
MSRP: $76,700
While it is fair that the M3 is smaller than the mid-sized M5, if you’re looking for sportiness the compact sedan is the way to go. The M3 still holds on to what has always made it so brilliant, with track-focused performance that never compromises its ability to be smooth and comfortable.
473 HP
406 LB-FT
Every M3 comes with a twin-turbo inline-six under the hood. The most affordable models, outlined above, come solely with a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. Opt for the Competition and get 503 horses instead, and you may choose between rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. You do have to drop the manual in favor of an eight-speed automatic.
52025 Audi RS5 Sportback
MSRP: $79,900
Audi has removed coupes from the A5 lineup, leaving the Sportback the only configuration of the RS5 left. With a slightly larger profile and a top-hinged hatch at the back, the Sportback is easily the more practical option anyway. It’s also more than powerful enough to entertain those behind the wheel.
444 HP
442 LB-FT
180 MPH
Audi doesn’t give you much choice when optioning your RS5, with all-wheel drive and the automatic transmission being your only choices. Despite having a little less power than rivals like the M3, it manages to keep up, at least up to 60 miles per hour. Its adaptive dampers mean that it offers a compliant ride when its not being pushed hard.
42024 Alfa Romeo Guilia Quadrifoglio
MSRP: $83,570
The Quadrifoglio version of the Giuliamay not be offered for the 2025 model year, but if you look hard you can still find some new 2024 models. It is a stunning compact Italian sports sedan that aims to stir the soul, something that it achieves quite effortlessly in our opinion.
505 HP
443 LB-FT
191 MPH
The fact that the Giulia Quadrifoglio is rear-wheel drive shows how dedicated it is to putting a smile on the faces of enthusiasts. It is a finely crafted machine that absolutely roars up to 60 miles an hour from a standstill and tackles corners in a way you’d expect a traditional coupe to.
3Mercedes-AMG C63
MSRP: $86,050
We’re aware that this may be a controversial entry due to Mercedes' decision to get rid of the V-8, but we think the downsized C63 more than lives up to its legacy of performance. It delivers comfort in the front and the back in only a way that a Merc can and yet still beats most sedans to 60 miles per hour.
2.0-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Four (PHEV)
671 HP
752 LB-FT
174 MPH
The V-8 from the outgoing generation is gone, replaced by an inline-four and a plug-in hybrid system. It features a 201 horsepower electric motor as well as an electric turbocharger to reduce any lag. The hybrid system is designed for performance over everything else, so only expect around 6 miles of all-electric driving.
22025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
MSRP: $95,595
When it comes to mid-size premium sports sedans, Cadillac proves that American automakers still have what it takes to overthrow European legends. The CT5-V Blackwing is an unadulterated weapon on the track, with tons of power and cornering prowess, and easily transitions into a high-end luxury sedan.
6-Speed Manual or 10-Speed Automatic
668 HP
659 LB-FT
205 MPH
The Cadillac proves that there is no replacement for displacement, with a massive supercharged V-8 under the hood. With rear-wheel drive, a manual transmission, and an eight-cylinder engine, this sedan is as American as it gets and is quite obviously designed for the driving enthusiasts of the world.
12025 Porsche Taycan
MSRP: $99,400
Where the CT5-V Blackwing represents the past, the Taycan represents the future. This all-electric sedanmakes no compromisesin the way of performance, yet manages to deliver on all the main reasons you’d want an EV in the first place. It also features a classy and minimalist interior with space for up to five.
429 HP
302 LB-FT
146 MPH
The Taycan comes in a nuber of different configurations, with different outputs. The base models make up to 429 horsepower, the 4S makes 536 horsepower, the GTS makes 690, and the Turbo S can put out a staggering 938 horsepower. The new GT model takes things even further, making up to 1,019 horsepower when in launch mode, getting it to 60 miles per hour in a seemingly impossible 1.9 seconds.
