Sports cars have been around for what seems like a century. It wasn't until the 21st century that manufacturers would start making sedans that could perform just as well as their 2-door counterparts. We're talking about sports sedans. They're fast and nimble, yet still capable of seating an entire family in the cabin.
These top 15 sports sedans have earned their place on this list for offering everything a sports sedan needs - and doing it well. To be considered a sedan it clearly needs four doors, a trunk (not a hatchback), and decent performance figures. This includes fast zero to sixty times and a lap record that has beaten either sports cars or supercars on a reputable track.
15 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is nothing short of the definition of a sports sedan. Packing 505 horsepower in a 2.9L twin-turbocharged V6 and sending it to the rear-wheels, the Giulia cannot be overlooked. Zero to sixty takes less than 4 seconds and it has a near supercar top speed of 191 miles per hour.
To make everything more interesting, the Quadrifoglio has a Nurburgring lap record of 7:32. That's faster than some supercars. Alfa Romeo made the Giulia Quadrifoglio available with both a manual and automatic gearbox just to add a bit more sportiness to the mix.
14 Chevrolet SS
The Chevrolet SS was built to be what every married motorhead wanted to drive their family around in. A throaty 6.2L LS3 V8 that made 415 horsepower. Just to get more people attracted to the SS, it came with both a manual and automatic gearbox.
0-60 for the SS was under 5 seconds. Sadly, no lap times could be found but this does not make it any less of a sports sedan. It has the numbers. Sure, it is a rebadged Holden Commodore, but that only means more people everywhere can enjoy it.
13 Porsche Panamera Turbo
When talking about sports sedans, the Porsche Panamera Turbo definitely takes the cake for what people want in a sports sedan. Even though it is a luxury name, the Porsche Panamera Turbo holds a Nurburgring lap time of 7:38 set back in 2016.
The 2011 Turbo S set a 7:52.2 lap time on the same track. The 2016 model actually produced 570 horsepower out of a 4.8L V8 powering all four wheels. Imagine going that fast with all of that comfort and luxury. Must be something, right?
12 Cadillac CTS-V
Back in 2009, Cadillac set a Nurburgring lap record of 7:59.32 with its CTS-V. At the time, the CTS-V produced nearly 560 horsepower out of a 6.2L V8 and came with either a manual or automatic transmission. America's fastest looking cardboard box was able to show the world that it can make a sedan that can turn corners.
What is crazy to know about the 2009 CTS-V is that it could go from 0-60 in just under 4 seconds. I can only imagine hitting my head on the back of the seat after a wide-open throttle run in one of those machines on an open road.
11 BMW M3 CS
The BMW M3 CS is a stripped-down performance version of a regular M3. If the M3 was not already sporty enough, the CS gives it more of a nitty-gritty feel that packs a punch. The inline-6 produces 460 horsepower and the transmission uses a dual-clutch gearbox powering the rear wheels.
0-60 in 3.7 seconds and top speed is a crazy 174 miles per hour. That is all very impressive for an inline-6. But what's even more impressive is the Nurburgring lap time of 7:38. That is comparative to the Porsche Panamera Turbo S mentioned earlier.
10 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S
In 2013, the AMG E63 S did a lap of the Nurburgring in just 7:55. A Mercedes-Benz going sub-8 minutes on a track that accepts nothing but performance is remarkable. The 5.5L V8 produced 550 horsepower and sent it to the rear wheels.
To get from 0-60 only takes the E63 S 4.2 seconds. Just like other luxury manufacturers, it is easy to believe that Mercedes-Benz would be willing to give a sedan the kind of sportiness like the AMG E63 S received.
9 Audi S6
When Audi made the S6 and threw a V10 under the hood from Lamborghini, the motoring world paused and revered in the brilliance of the sedan. Someone decided to put a V10 under the hood of a sedan and give the V8's and 6 cylinders a run for their money.
Sure, the V10 only produced 435 horsepower and powered every wheel in 2011, but it took the S6 from 0-60 in 5.1 seconds. Some critics do say that though it seems a bit more relaxed than the rest of the competition, it does have a performance edge to it in all aspects of what it means to be sporty.
8 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
Dodge shook the world when not only the Challenger received a 707 horsepower V8, but the Charger was given one as well. All of which powers the rear wheels. The Charger Hellcat is nothing but a beast in a sedan body. Amazingly enough, it is also the most affordable new sedan with that much power.
0-60 miles per hour is a shocking 3.6 seconds and a quarter-mile time, since Americans like going in a straight line, of either 11 seconds or 10.96 if the wide-body is purchased. The entire Hellcat Charger screams 'Murica while the family either cries in despair or wants to go faster.
7 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport
Infiniti has been known for making great sedans. The Q50 Red Sport is no different. Sure the twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6 packs a mere 400 horsepower, but there are sedans here that have slightly more horsepower than that and they have V8's and V10's. The power can be sent to either the rear wheels as standard, or pay a little extra for all-wheel drive.
Zero to sixty only takes 4.5 seconds in the Q50. Sadly, no one has driven it around a well-known track, but those figures there are plenty enough for the Q50 to count as a great sports sedan produced.
6 Kia Stinger GT2
Kia shocked the motoring world when the Stinger debuted with a 3.3L twin-turbo V6 that produces 365 horsepower. It may not seem like much, but the Stinger was built and designed by engineers from both Audi and BMW's M-Division. That means performance and handling are included with the GT2.
It only takes 4.7 seconds for the Stinger GT2 and a top speed of 167 miles per hour. Kia entered the sports sedan race late, but it really did hit the ground running. Sure, no professional lap times were set, but it still a legitimate sports sedan that is great.
5 Lexus GS F
Lexus did not want to feel left out in the sports sedan race, so it produced the GS F. There's a 5.0L V8 under the hood that produces 467 horsepower and accelerates the GS F from 0-60 in 4.4 seconds.
Not too bad from a car manufacturer that's the luxury brand of Toyota. Even though this should be expected. After all, the LFA was made by the same manufacturer as well. The GS F surely is not the fastest sedan on this list, but it definitely is not the slowest.
4 Chrysler 300 SRT8
Who would have thought Chrysler would have thrown a Hemi V8 under the hood of the 300? Well, in 2014 the new 6.4L V8 Hemi produced a whopping 470 horsepower and could get from 0-60 in 4.6 seconds. The gearbox only came automatic but the power was sent to the rear wheels.
Another plus for the Chrysler 300 is that it is widely known for being a comfortable ride. So, for those who want to enjoy a journey can do so, but can also overtake a few sports cars if needed.
3 Jaguar XF
Jaguar made a sports sedan as well with the XF. Under the hood, the optional supercharged 3.0L V6 that produced 380 horsepower and sent it to every wheel. Sadly, one of the slowest times on this list from 0-60, the XF gets there at just 5.3 seconds. But comparatively speaking, it is quicker than some sports cars out there.
Ride comfort and handling are great. Too bad there are not any lap times set on a professional track to compare it to the rest of those on the list. It is a great start for Jaguar but surely they can do better. It still is able to get on this list after all.
2 Volvo S60 Polestar
Yes, that is right. Volvo made a sports sedan and actually drove it on the Nurburgring. It set a lap record of 7:51 seconds. That is faster than some supercars and also some of the sports sedans on this list. How did it manage that? Well, for starters the S60 Polestar produces 346 horsepower through the all-wheel-drive system from its 3.0L twin-scroll inline-6 motor.
Almost the entire S60 was remade to be given a different suspension and handling parts as well as changes in the transmission to make everything perform better. What else for the Polestar? It only takes 4.7 seconds for it to get from 0-60. That is quite impressive for a Volvo.
1 Maserati Ghibli S Q4
It wouldn't be much of a sports sedan list with only one Italian sports car here. The Maserati Ghibli takes the last slice of the cake with its 0-60 time in 4.7 seconds thanks to its 3.0L twin-turbocharged V6 that produces 424 horsepower and all-wheel-drive system working together.
Maserati is a luxurious manufacturer, but that doesn't mean it can make their cars fun to drive and be sports sedans. Sure, the price tag is one of the highest of the bunch but it doesn't matter for those who have one. Whatever the case may be, the Maserati Ghibli has earned its place on this list for the good reason of performance. Sadly, there is not a track time set, but the figures still count.