The Best Sedans of 2025 (So Far)
That said, of those holdouts, there are some truly excellent options to choose from. Ranging from affordable compacts to high-performance EVs, companies like Audi, Hyundai, and Kia are committed to keeping the family four-door alive.
This year, we've driven several great sedans. Though not nearly as robust as our list of
Best Performance Cars
or
Best SUVs
, our choice for the top sedans of 2025 (so far) includes a few excellent options to look out for the next time you're in the market.
With that in mind, take a look.
Audi RS E-Tron GT Performance
Photo by: Audi
912 Horsepower
Price: $168,295
Why We Love It:
Yes, the Audi RS E-Tron GT still exists. Despite its Porsche platform sibling being the more commonly sold variant, Audi stuck to its guns and gave its electric sports sedan an upgrade for 2025. Now with 912 horsepower, a comprehensive suspension upgrade, and retuned steering, the E-Tron GT is worthy of being a great sedan.
The RS E-Tron GT's Porsche-derived active suspension—similar to what's used on the current Panamera Turbo S—is its calling card. The upgraded suspension completely controls body motions, making the $168,295 Audi super-EV a willing dance partner around corners while having world-class ride quality.
Read Our Review
Audi S3
Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1
328 Horsepower
Price: $49,995
Why We Love It:
It's unusual to call a mid-level Audi sports sedan a driver's car. Yet, the facelifted, retuned, and powered-up 2025 Audi S3 is part of a real renaissance. But its 328 horsepower and new torque vectoring rear differential don't tell the whole story.
With different suspension ball joints, retuned steering calibration, and a subtle refocusing of Audi's driving philosophy, the S3 delivers quiet exceptionalism. It's closer to RS3-lite than A3-plus. Along with a high-quality interior and plenty of tech, its $49,995 starting price feels appropriate, and maybe even something of a bargain.
Read Our Review
BMW M5
Photo by: BMW
717 Horsepower
Price: $120,675
Why We Love It:
Few things on Earth go 190 miles per hour while maintaining a local gravitational field. One of those things is the 5,390-pound, 717-horsepower, plug-in hybrid 2025 BMW M5. Maligned for its weight—not least of which by us—it does still fulfill the historic role of an M5: Brutal speed in a well-cut suit.
Under the hood sits a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 with hybrid assist and 25 miles of EV range, essentially lifted from the BMW XM. Complete with BMW's new design language and idiotic interior air vents, it is truly an M5 for the modern, hybridized world. Starting at $120,675, and with plenty of room to go up with options, it's no bargain. But it is a capable, fast, and luxurious super-sedan—if you can live with the complication and weight.
Read Our Review
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1
668 Horsepower
Price: $96,990
Why We Love It:
Did you expect the CT5-V Blackwing to
not
be on this list? It's one of the most beloved, most badass performance cars on the market today, and it gets even better for 2025 with a minor facelift, some extra interior tech, and a new Precision Package that adds stickier tires and a reworked suspension.
Of course, the ubiquitous supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 remains. It still makes 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque, and it pairs with your choice of a six-speed manual transmission or a 10-speed automatic. Power travels to the rear wheels exclusively. You will have to pay a bit more for 2025, though; the CT5-V Blackwing starts at $96,990, and the Precision Pack starts at $114,995.
Read Our Review
Hyundai Elantra N
Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1
275 Horsepower
Price: $35,595
Why We Love It:
For under $40,000 to start, few performance cars do it better than the Hyundai Elantra N. The sports sedan gets a minor facelift for 2025 that fixes some of the former model's visual flaws, while adding some much-needed additional technology in the cabin.
The Elantra N is still powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 275 horsepower—or up to 286 horsepower over short bursts with the special N Grin Shift mode engaged—paired to either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. For 2025, the Elantra N starts at $35,595 for the manual and $36,600 for the automatic.
Read Our Review
Kia EV4
Photo by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1
201 Horsepower
Price: $39,000 (est.)
Why We Love It:
The EV4 is Kia's answer to the Tesla Model 3. Aimed directly at the affordable electric sedan space, it delivers a smooth, comfortable ride, adequate power, and competitive range. While its looks might not be for everyone, the EV4's button-rich interior is a lovely place to spend time, with nary a touch-capactive control to speak of. There's standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, of course, along with wireless phone charging and an optional eight-speaker Harmon Kardon stereo.
When the EV4 goes on sale in the first quarter of 2026, it'll offer two battery pack sizes, with estimated ranges of 235 miles and 330 miles, respectively. No matter which battery you choose, it'll be paired to a single electric motor mounted up front, sending 201 horsepower and 208 pound-feet of torque to the wheels. We estimate a 0-60 time of around 7.5 seconds, while top speed is electronically limited to 105 mph.
Read Our Review
Kia K4
Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1
147 / 190 Horsepower
Price: $23,165
Why We Love It:
The new K4 is Kia's replacement for the aging Forte, and it's a worthy successor that's larger and more feature-packed than its predecessor. The K4 is a car that feels great a soon as you step inside, with a pair of displays and rows of physical controls. It has a bold design that's a nice alternative to the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla.
The standard engine is a 147-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, but Kia also offers the model with its turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, making 190 horsepower. The GT-Line Turbo is the sportier option, but it starts at $29,265 compared to the entry-level K4 LX with the larger engine that costs $23,165.
Read Our Review
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