Are sports sedans really fast or simply pretending to be fast to quench our thirst for speed in a four-door car? Many sports sedans deliver blindingly fast sprint times to 60 mph and in the quarter mile. When you want actual performance combined with the practicality of a sedan, the right sports sedans provide amazing driving excitement while wearing the comfortable and practical body style you need.
Where can you find the most impressive sports sedans? Most of the top choices are part of the luxury car market, giving you top-end features, excellent performance items, and names that garner respect in the automotive community.
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Vehicle performance data and information were sourced from various automakers, and this list is sorted by quarter-mile time from slowest to fastest.
10 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo
Quarter-Mile Time: 12 Seconds
The Ferrari-derived engines and aggressive Italian styling make the Ghibli an incredible sports sedan for those seeking a little speed and style. The distinctive exhaust note sounds amazing but doesn’t sound like anything else on the market, adding just another unique quality to this impressive car.
Performance Specifications
Engine | 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 |
Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 580 hp |
Torque | 538 lb-ft |
Driveline | RWD |
0-60 MPH | 3.7 seconds |
Quarter-Mile | 12 seconds |
Top Speed | 203 MPH |
The only drawback to the Maserati Ghibli Trofeo is its age. The model you’ll find today is part of the same generation that began in 2014, making it the 11th model year of this car. It’s been refreshed with new styling updates and tech, but it might be time for a new generation.
Pros
- Expressive Italian styling
- Sharp handling makes it fun to drive
- Provocative exhaust note
Cons
- Interior fit and finish lack refinement
- Rear seat access is a bit tight
- Limited dealer network
9 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Quarter-Mile Time: 11.9 Seconds
If you want a unique car among the sea of BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz models, turn your attention to the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. This high-performance sedan crosses the line before most sports car models, giving you a stunning sports sedan to drive.
Performance Specifications
Engine | 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 |
Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 505 hp |
Torque | 443 lb-ft |
Driveline | RWD |
0-60 MPH | 3.6 seconds |
Quarter-Mile | 11.9 seconds |
Top Speed | 191 MPH |
A special 100th 'Anniversario' model of the Giulia Quadrifoglio is offered for 2024 to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Quadrifoglio badge. Only 100 of these special models were built, each with gold brake calipers, mirror caps, and stitching, along with unique wheels and a carbon fiber grille.
Pros
- Strong turbocharged engine
- Abundance of performance features
- Additional Quadrifoglio Super Sort turns performance up a notch
Cons
- Rear seat space is tight for the class
- Truck space is good but difficult to access
- Not as refined or as finished as other sports sedans
8 Audi RS3
Quarter-Mile Time: 11.8 Seconds
This small Audi rockets across the quarter-mile line in a hurry. The Audi RS 3 is one of the quickest compact luxury sports sedans available, and it has the comfort and Audi quality that makes it a great daily commuter car as well.
Performance Specifications
Engine | 2.5-liter turbocharged 5-cylinder |
Transmission | 7-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 401 hp |
Torque | 369 lb-ft |
Driveline | AWD |
0-60 MPH | 3.6 seconds |
Quarter-Mile | 11.8 seconds |
Top Speed | 180 MPH |
The RS 3 doesn’t have many changes for the 2024 model year, but a few might turn your head. This car now has a standard matte carbon-looking interior trim and the RS Design package now has red contrasting stitching on the seats and other interior items, replacing the old green stitching.
Pros
- Strong and impressive engine
- Excellent grip and stability around corners
- Comfortable front seats and ride for a performance car
Cons
- Driving experience is a bit lacking in character
- Some interior materials seem low-rent for the price
- Superficial add-ons inflate the price
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7 Bentley Flying Spur Speed
Quarter-Mile Time: 11.7 Seconds
The flag-bearer for Bentley is the Flying Spur, which is an incredible sports sedan with a quick and decisive quarter-mile time. This amazing car is shockingly quick and powerful, and it’s one of the few cars on the market with a W12 engine setup.
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Performance Specifications
Engine | 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 |
Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 626 hp |
Torque | 664 lb-ft |
Driveline | AWD |
0-60 MPH | 3.5 seconds |
Quarter-Mile | 11.7 seconds |
Top Speed | 207 MPH |
The Bentley Flying Spur Speed is a specific car for a specific customer. This amazing sports sedan is one of the most luxurious in the entire market, making it fun and active when driven hard into the corners. You’ll love the nimble feeling and amazing power that slingshots this car out of every corner.
Pros
- Surprisingly, light in the curves
- Powerful yet refined engine
- Marvelous styling inside and out
Cons
- Lacks standard safety tech
- Limited storage up front
- Extremely expensive
6 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
Quarter-Mile Time: 11.7 Seconds
The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing generates incredible power and speed to rocket this brute-in-suit sedan down the line in a hurry. The CT5-V might be a midsize sedan, but that doesn’t prevent it from being a sports sedan that makes many high-performance cars quake in their proverbial boots.
Performance Specifications
Engine | 6.2-liter supercharged V8 |
Transmission | 6-speed manual/10-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 668 hp |
Torque | 659 lb-ft |
Driveline | RWD |
0-60 MPH | 3.7 seconds |
Quarter-Mile | 11.7 seconds |
Top Speed | 205 MPH |
Among GM performance sedans, the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing proudly carries the torch high. This American performance luxury sedan delivers the driving engagement and performance you’ll admire when you see a stretch of open road in front of you.
Pros
- Massive V8 attitude and fun
- The only remaining manual-transmission super sedan
- World-class handling
Cons
- Limited headroom and trunk space
- Interior materials are not as premium as those in German rivals
- Some driver-assistance features are not offered
5 Audi RS7
Quarter-Mile Time: 11.3 Seconds
The Audi RS7 isn’t the fastest sports sedan in the quarter mile, but it might be the most unique and useful. This impressive car has coupe-like styling and SUV-like utility. It seems the RS7 wants to be everything except a sports sedan, but that could be to your benefit.
Performance Specifications
Engine | 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 |
Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 621 hp |
Torque | 627 lb-ft |
Driveline | AWD |
0-60 MPH | 3.0 seconds |
Quarter-Mile | 11.3 seconds |
Top Speed | 190 MPH |
This fast and impressive Audi rockets to 60 MPH in a hurry while providing you with enough room for a family of five and all their gear. You’ll love the advanced safety and connected tech that goes along with the lush and comfortable cabin where you’ll ride fast in the lap of luxury.
Pros
- Powerful turbocharged V8
- The hatchback body style provides excellent utility
- Great balance between comfort and performance
Cons
- The touchscreen interface can be distracting to operate
- Most driver-aids must be added as options
- Limited storage for small items
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4 Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid
Quarter-Mile Time: 11.1 Seconds
The Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid sends incredible power to the wheels, giving this four-seat Porsche the power and speed to complete any sprint in a hurry. This hybrid-powered sports sedan is the only sedan in the Porsche lineup, making it unique and desirable.
Performance Specifications
Engine | 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 |
Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 670 hp |
Torque | 685 lb-ft |
Driveline | AWD |
0-60 MPH | 2.8 seconds |
Quarter-Mile | 11.1 seconds |
Top Speed | 196 MPH |
The Panamera is quick and nimble, giving you a great car for extreme fun. This Porsche can also handle your daily driving needs with the practicality of a four-door sedan that has better-than-average cargo space, thanks to the hatchback design.
Pros
- Sports-car-like performance in every trim
- Air suspension delivers a smooth ride and exceptional handling
- The cabin is packed with impressive tech
Cons
- Only seats four unless you pay extra for the optional middle rear seat
- Lots of screens; there might be too many
- High price, even at the base models
3 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT63 S
Quarter-Mile Time: 11.1 Seconds
Finish a quarter-mile sprint in a hurry with the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT63 S. This incredible sports sedan has the power, quickness, and agility to rocket off the line and turn some fast laps. When you want pure luxury and performance in a great package, this is the car to drive.
Performance Specifications
Engine | 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 |
Transmission | 9-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 630 hp |
Torque | 664 lb-ft |
Driveline | AWD |
0-60 MPH | 2.6 seconds |
Quarter-Mile | 11.1 seconds |
Top Speed | 195 MPH |
The Mercedes-Benz AMG GT lineup has received some small upgrades for 2024, including a new grille and revised front bumper. There’s also a new plug-in hybrid model that takes the power to 831 horsepower, making it the most powerful version of this car ever made.
Pros
- Rapid acceleration
- A satisfying blend of comfort and sporty handling
- Luxurious, high-tech cabin
Cons
- Limited storage space
- Reduced rear visibility
- The infotainment layout is overly complex
2 BMW M8 Gran Coupe Competition
Quarter-Mile Time: 10.8 Seconds
The BMW M8 Gran Coupe Competition puts another large four-door sedan across the quarter-mile mark in a hurry. This big and impressive sedan turns up the heat and rockets across the line, all while providing top-shelf luxury comfort in the cabin.
Performance Specifications
Engine | 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 |
Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 617 hp |
Torque | 553 lb-ft |
Driveline | AWD |
0-60 MPH | 2.7 seconds |
Quarter-Mile | 10.8 seconds |
Top Speed | 190 MPH |
The M8 received some upgrades last year, including new lights, a larger infotainment display, and carbon-fiber sports seats. This means the 2024 model doesn’t undergo any changes, but adding the Competition package means more power and performance in this large and luxurious BMW sedan.
Pros
- Rapid, effortless acceleration at all speeds
- Impeccable interior materials and build quality
- Excellent blend of power, size, and handling
Cons
- Lacks the raw performance thrills of some rivals
- The button-heavy interior looks cluttered
- Chunky ride
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1 BMW M3 CS
Quarter-Mile Time: 10.7 Seconds
If you want a sports sedan that puts many sports cars in their place, you don’t get much better than the BMW M3 CS. This car is a higher-performance take on the Ultimate Driving Machine, a name given to the BMW M3 for how well it drives and performs on any road.
Performance Specifications
Engine | 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged 6-cylinder |
Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
Horsepower | 543 hp |
Torque | 479 lb-ft |
Driveline | AWD |
0-60 MPH | 2.7 seconds |
Quarter-Mile | 10.7 seconds |
Top Speed | 188 MPH |
The CS model not only turns up the heat with 40 additional horsepower over the regular M3, but it also loses some weight with the use of lightweight materials. This weight loss is estimated at 75 pounds, which can help make this performance sedan extremely fast.
Pros
- Stupendous speed
- Thrilling driving dynamics
- Daily driving practicality
Cons
- Big price premium for small performance gains
- Confining front seats
- Only available with an automatic transmission