There are a litany of sports sedans on the market. Here are some of the most powerful, reliable options from major brands, including EVs and gas-powered cars.
The sports sedan has bridged the gap between everyday usability and thrilling performance for over a century. Sports sedans combine the responsiveness and agility of a sports car with the practicality and comfort of a sedan, dating back to early European models that prioritized functionality and speed. Over the years, sports sedans have evolved into technological showcases, offering advanced suspension systems, powerful engines, and sharp handling. Nowadays, these four-door cars have exceptional acceleration and handling, making them a thrill to drive.
The modern sports sedan landscape is as diverse as ever, with automakers refining traditional internal combustion engines to offer a visceral driving experience. In addition, the rise of electric vehicles has ushered in a new era of sports sedans, thanks to their instant torque, which delivers better acceleration than ICE counterparts. Below, we explore the latest high-performance sports sedans from established automakers, showcasing the spectrum of available powertrains, including internal combustion and electric vehicles.Acura TLX Type S — 355 HP
Acura reintroduced the TLX Type S in 2021 after a 13-year hiatus. In our review, we liked the TLX Type S, even though it was a little slow. The car was part of the second-generation Acura, and fully redesigned in 2021. For the 2024 model year, the Type S is still the most powerful TLX variant, boasting a $57,000 starting price and a high-output turbocharged V6 engine. The TLX Type S also has powerful Brembo brakes and a sport-tuned chassis, helping boost its handling.
Under its hood sits a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 with 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. The engine pairs with a sport-tuned 10-speed automatic transmission, powering all four wheels through Acura’s rear-biased Super Handling All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system. The TLX Type S has a reinforced and stiffened chassis with double-wishbone front suspension, promising drivers intuitive handling on all roads.
For an enhanced experience, Acura integrates five driving modes: Comfort, Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Individual. While Comfort and Normal driving modes are ideal for daily driving, Sport and Sport+ unleash the full power of the Type S. Individual driving mode enables the driver to customize up to five vehicle performance settings, including adaptive damper settings, throttle response, ambient sensor lighting, and shifting.Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio — 505 HP
The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is a premium sports sedan, competing with rivals like the expensive BMW M3, the surprisingly affordable Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, and the Mercedes-AMG C63. While the 2024 Giulia Quadrifoglio has an $83,570 starting price, it has a comprehensive equipment list, including leather upholstery, heated front seats, a 15-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system, and in-dash navigation.
In addition, the Giulia Quadrifoglio has a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine with 505 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. The engine pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission, powering the rear wheels. This enables the five-passenger sports sedan to scamper from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and reach a 191-mph top speed. Alfa Romeo also equips the Giulia Quadrifoglio with mechanical limited-slip differential technology, which distributes power to each wheel, helping give the driver optimal precision and performance.
The Giulia Quadrifoglio also has a DNA drive mode selector with four drive modes: Dynamic, Natural, Advanced, and Race. Natural and Advanced modes make the Giulia Quadrifoglio a great daily driver. Dynamic mode gives it forceful throttle and responsive handling, while Race mode is the most aggressive profile, activating the over-boost function and altering the steering, exhaust, suspension, traction, and stability control.Audi RS e-tron GT — 637 HP
Audi introduced its e-tron GT lineup in 2022, offering buyers an electric sports sedan to rival Tesla’s Model S and Porsche’s Taycan. The RS e-tron GT is the most powerful variant thanks to a dual motor setup that produces a combined 590 hp as standard or 637 hp with Boost engaged and 612 lb-ft of torque. With this performance, the RS e-trom GT can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and reach a 155 mph limited top speed.
In addition, the RS e-tron GT commands a premium price tag, starting at $147,100. For this, buyers get a luxury sports sedan with a premium Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system, a carbon fiber roof, Audi’s virtual cockpit, a head-up display, and a suite of driver assistance features. Unlike most electric vehicles, the RS e-tron GT has two convenient and accessible charging ports: an AC/DC Level 3 port on the passenger side and an AC port on the driver’s side. Audi also equips the RS e-trn GT with rear-wheel steering, which promises precision handling and responsiveness at all speeds.Bentley Flying Spur Speed — 626 HP
Bentley’s Flying Spur is a luxury four-door sedan with four- and five-seat configurations, powerful powertrains, and intuitive equipment. The Flying Spur Speed isn’t a typical luxury sedan, boasting the brand’s iconic W12 engine as standard. This 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 engine produces 626 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque. It pairs with an eight-speed ZF dual-clutch transmission, powering all four wheels. The transmission promises refined acceleration, improved fuel economy, and quicker gearshifts by pre-selecting the next gear. This setup helps the Flying Spur Speed dash from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and reach a 207 mph top speed.
Bentley also fits the Flying Spur Speed with innovative chassis technology like the Dynamic Ride system, which increases the sedan’s stability in corners. This system uses a 48-volt system to control the stiffness of the anti-roll bar and keep the Flying Spur Speed level. The Flying Spur Speed also has electronic all-wheel steering, helping offer stability when maneuvering in the city and at highway speeds. Bentley also gives the Flying Spur Speed an exterior similar to other Speed models. This entails darker tint finishes on the headlights, taillights, front grille, and Speed badges.BMW i7 M70 — 650 HP
The i7 is BMW’s first purely electric 7 Series sedan. This luxury sedan has a starting price of $105,700 and three trims: eDrive50, xDrive60, and M70.
