Consumers may be craving crossovers in ever larger numbers, but sedans are far from dead. While the market shift to SUVs has caused some automakers to give up on cars altogether (with the discontinuation of the Dodge Charger, there are no American entries on this list) automakers that have stayed the course are making some of their best and most stylish sedans ever.
Today’s best compact sedans, such as the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, and Mazda3, have interiors that would’ve been considered midsize a generation ago, and they get excellent mileage for their size even before you factor in optional hybrid versions. Midsize cars have also undergone major changes, upping their style quotient with fastback shapes and screen-heavy interiors. There are also many recently revised entries in the luxury sedan world, from the compact Acura Integra and Audi A3 to the big Genesis G90 and BMW 7 Series.
While these cars' personalities vary widely, from light and lithe sports sedans to big luxury limos, most of them have a few things in common relative to their SUV siblings. Cars are generally lighter, smaller, and lower to the ground than SUVs, attributes which make for better driving dynamics and fuel efficiency than even the sportiest, smallest SUVs can achieve. Beyond that, cars are usually less expensive than equivalent SUVs, too. And, with average new car prices hovering around $50,000 these days, that’s important to many shoppers.
We've gathered some of the best sedans of 2024 for your consideration, with options to suit whether you're looking for value, luxury, or power.
The Best Sedans of 2024
- Acura Integra
- BMW 3 Series
- Genesis G80
- Honda Accord
- Honda Civic
- Hyundai Elantra
- Hyundai Sonata
- Lexus ES
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class
- Toyota Camry
Acura Integra
One of the Japanese brand’s original 1980s products, the Acura Integra returned to great fanfare in 2023 after a two-decade absence. Like the original, this new Integra shares considerable DNA with the humble Honda Civic, but Acura has created a car that’s a genuine rival for pint-size luxury machines like the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, with fine materials, sleek styling, compelling performance, and an abundance of equipment that costs thousands more on those European alternatives.
The Integra comes standard with a 200-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, shared with the Honda Civic Si. It’s the least powerful engine in its class, but the Integra’s light and lithe chassis makes it fun even with the standard continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and it’s even better with the six-speed manual. New for 2024 is the 320-hp, manual-only Integra Type S. it costs nearly $52,000, but all of its rivals cost even more, and few are so satisfying to drive or so well equipped.
The little Acura’s performance is only part of the equation, too. The automaker bundles in loads of safety and driver-assist gear, including adaptive cruise control that works with the manual transmissions. There’s also plenty of in-car tech and a hugely roomy interior that puts even pricier luxury cars to shame. Available only as a hatchback, cargo room is enormous by compact car standards and at the top of the class among small luxury entries.
BMW 3 Series
In the world of compact luxury sedans, the BMW 3 Series casts a long shadow. It’s been a benchmark of performance and refinement for its class since the 1970s, and its most recent redesign in 2019 marked a return to form in terms of fun and driver involvement. The lineup got a major update again for the 2023 model year, with slightly sleeker styling and big interior upgrades.
There are three basic variations, the entry-level 330i, the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 330e (with 22 miles of electric range), and the hot M340i. All are rear-wheel drive (RWD) to start, with all-wheel drive (AWD) optional, and each one accelerates, handles, and brakes like a proper sports sedan. Plus, they all get surprisingly good fuel economy. There are no more wagons and if you want a two-door or a hatchback (Gran Coupe, as BMW calls it), you should check out the 4 Series, but the 3 Series is a practical machine with a good-sized trunk even if the back seat isn’t huge.
Inside, last year’s updates brought a pretty curved display dashboard with a 14.9-inch infotainment screen and 12.3-inch instrument cluster under a single pane of glass, and it runs BMW’s latest iDrive8 software. It can be complex to use, but there’s a helpful virtual assistant, too, and lots of nice features, though the cabin isn’t as opulent as that of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The downsides? The 3 Series isn’t cheap, and BMW makes buyers spend extra to get the nicest driver-assist gear.
Genesis G80
Compared to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series, the Genesis G80 is still a relatively unknown midsize luxury sedan. It shouldn’t be. Entirely redesigned into its second generation in 2021, the G80 is drop-dead gorgeous inside and out and the epitome of a quiet, refined luxury car. Genesis bundles in lots of equipment and undercuts the Germans on price. But a luxury car should make the driver feel special, and the G80 doesn’t sacrifice performance or gravitas to cut costs. Inside, it’s just as luxe as a Mercedes, and it comes with powerful four-cylinder and V6 engines.
There are two turbocharged powerplants: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder dubbed the (2.5T), which turns out 300 horsepower, and a 375-hp twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 (3.5T). RWD is standard and AWD is optional on all models, and there are three basic trim packages for each version with increasing levels of poshness and tech features like Nappa leather upholstery, automated lane-change assist, rear sunshades and surround-view monitoring. But the important stuff, like adaptive cruise control, is all standard.
The Genesis G80 capably handles twisty roads but skews towards quiet (truly quiet, as the interior is almost like an electric car) comfort and relaxed cruising. It has lots of room in its beautifully appointed cabin, too, with more rear legroom than its German rivals, but the trunk is skimpy. Fuel economy is also only so-so. Genesis also offers a fully electrified G80, but at a steep price premium (more than a Tesla Model S). Like the Korean automaker's other models, the G80 is also backed by five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranties.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord has been a family-sedan all-star since the 1970s, with credit going to its affordability and dependability, efficiency, comfort and spaciousness, simplicity, and, until recently, unassuming looks. To remain relevant in an increasingly SUV-hungry automotive landscape, sedans like the Accord have found it necessary to dress themselves in some new sporty duds, so Honda did just that and entirely redesigned the Accord for 2023. The new model, which rolls into 2024 unchanged, looks like a cut-price Audi A7 but hasn’t changed much philosophically.
The all-new Honda Accord features a revised hybrid powertrain on the top four trims, or a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine on the first two. Its fresh exterior styling gives it a distinctly premium look, and the interior design follows in the successful footsteps of the recently updated Civic, HR-V, and CR-V. The expansive trunk of the previous generation continues into the new one. Leg room, meanwhile, grows marginally larger even though the Accord already dominated most of its opponents in this area.
With six trims, the Accord offers something for everyone. The standard advanced safety features make even the base LX a great value proposition, while features like heated rear seats and wireless charging make the top Touring trim downright luxurious. Although the Accord isn’t as fun or engaging as it looks, it does just about everything well and has an enviable rep for quality. Regardless of which version you choose, you’ll get a capable sedan that exceeds expectations.
Honda Civic
Redesigned the 2022 model year, the now eleventh-generation Honda Civic is a handsome design inside and out, and much prettier than its predecessor. But while it looks very different from before, the Civic still offers a truly cut-above mixture of excellent driving dynamics, good fuel economy, enviable safety ratings, a roomy interior, and lots of standard equipment. Available as a four-door sedan or an even more versatile hatchback, the Civic doesn’t offer AWD, but it does just about everything else as well or better than its competitors.
Let’s start with fuel economy: These are small cars, and there isn’t a Honda Civic trim level that provides less than an EPA-estimated 37 mpg highway apart from the specialized high-performance Type R. The EX model, with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, delivers 42 mpg on the highway, and a 36 mpg combined EPA estimate. But even in this low-end form, with the standard CVT, the Civic is an engaging and rewarding car to drive. At the top end, the 180-hp Sport Touring hatchback and 200-hp Si sedan are genuine fun.
At the top of the trim-level ladder, the Civic Touring provides power leather front seats, Sirius XM radio, a satellite-based navigation system, a new, larger 9-inch color touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Bose premium sound system (a first in a Civic), a new 10.2-inch all-digital and customizable instrument display, front and rear parking sensors, Sport driving mode, wireless smartphone charging, and LED fog lights. All in, the MSRP is still under $32,000, leaning heavily on the Civic’s heritage as a value leader for the Honda brand.
Hyundai Elantra
Consumers might be skewing to crossovers, but smaller cars are better than ever and the Hyundai Elantra is proof. New in 2021, the current-generation Elantra is a visual feast of trapezoids and triangles that's been refreshed for 2024. The fastback shape drapes a huge interior. The Elantra’s back seat has almost as much room as the Genesis G80 and it has more trunk space too, 14.2 cubic feet to be exact. Hyundai has also created an Elantra for virtually any small-car buyer, and they’re all affordable.
The base model uses a gentle 2.0-liter, 147-hp four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels via a CVT and costs less than $22,000. Above that are models with a more exciting 201-hp 1.6-liter turbo and progressively more equipment. But there’s also the Elantra Hybrid, with only 139 hp but a talent for returning 50 to 54 mpg combined. At the top of the pile is the 276-hp, enthusiast-oriented Elantra N, available with a dual-clutch automatic transmission or a six-speed manual and lots of performance hardware. It’s much faster than Honda’s Civic Si.
The roomy cabin is a bit drab in the very cheapest Elantras, but Hyundai makes lots of nice technology and safety features available, including 8.0 or 10.3-inch infotainment screens, navigation, adaptive cruise control and lots of other goodies. The interior can also be equipped with nicer materials on the higher trims. While the N is a little pricier than the others, most Elantras sell for less than $30,000, and all of them come with Hyundai’s lengthy warranty.
Hyundai Sonata
The current-generation Hyundai Sonata will crush any preconceived notions you may have about the Korean brand. This is a top-level automobile that easily competes with anything from Honda or Toyota, blows away competition from the Nissan Altima or Chevrolet Malibu, and does so at a value-packed price. The only real demerit is a smallish back seat, but the Sonata is still comfy for adults and boasts a big, 16 cubic foot trunk.
Styling is subjective, and Hyundai’s biggest competition here may come from Kia, which offers the same basic vehicle in what some may consider to be a better-looking car as the K5. To keep pace, Hyundai has given the 2024 Sonata a visual update that only improves the looks. Opt for the top-of-the-line Limited trim level and there’s little difference between this car and anything from one of the entry-level luxury brands like Cadillac and Volvo.
That said, you can get all of the style without some of the accoutrements for thousands less by selecting an SE or SEL model, each equipped with the base engine, a 191-horsepower four-cylinder. The Limited employs a turbocharged four-cylinder offering more torque but only 180 horsepower, while the Sonata Hybrid pairs 192 net horsepower with an EPA-rated 54 mpg on the highway. Notably, Kia does not offer a hybrid K5. If you’re looking for more power, there’s an option for that too, the 276-hp, dual-clutch automatic Sonata N-Line.
Lexus ES
It isn’t a particularly exciting car to drive, but the Lexus ES is a bargain. Size-wise, it competes directly with the Genesis G80 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, but it costs $12,000 to $19,000 less than those rivals. Correspondingly, it isn’t quite as opulent as they are, but it does lots of things very well and has more interior room than either of them. Plus, the ES comes as a fuel-sipping, 44-mpg combined hybrid.
There are actually several versions of the ES including that hybrid. The Gas-powered ES 250, the least expensive one, uses a 203-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and AWD, while the ES 300h hybrid mates that same engine with an electric motor for 215 system horsepower, but only with FWD. The fastest ES is the 350, which is FWD only but uses a silky-smooth 302-hp 3.5-liter V6. The hybrid uses a CVT while the gas-only versions use eight-speed automatic transmissions.
None are particularly vigorous to drive. The ES is a quiet cruiser and nothing more, even with the V6, but all have a sterling reputation for reliability and used ES models dating back to the 1990s still command a premium because of their quality. Lexus also bundles in a huge amount of safety and driver-assist gear, including adaptive cruise control with lane-centering, and the ES gets high marks for safety, including a 2023 Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Performance is not its game, but the ES is distinctive, efficient, and certain to remain a good value for a long time to come.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Although its place at the very top of the sedan pile has recently been threatened by the all-electric Lucid Air as well as redesigned BMW 7 Series and Genesis G90 sedans, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is still the gold standard by which large luxury cars are judged. And with good reason. The full-size S-Class, 208.2 inches long, is a rolling showcase of technology, style, and performance that’s still superior to the upstarts.
The S-Class offers an array of AWD powertrains including a 442-hp turbocharged inline-six (S500), a 496-hp twin-turbo V8 (S580), a six-cylinder, 510-hp, fast-charging capable PHEV with 46 miles of electric range (S580e), and a 791-hp hybrid V8 (Mercedes-AMG S63 E-Performance). These huge sedans can sprint to 60 mph in under 4 seconds and handle like performance cars, with four-wheel steering and adaptive suspensions for a silky smooth ride. And they do all that while delivering whisper-quiet, private-jet-like accommodations in beautiful, opulent surroundings, though none have great cargo space.
Mercedes-Benz also fits lots of tech features, including a hands-free semi-autonomous driving system, evasive driving assist, self-parking, and screens galore (as many as five if you count the optional rear seat entertainment screens). It can all be a bit much to learn, but the S-Class really is the best luxury choice among gas-powered sedans. Of course, it doesn’t come cheap. Even the base model S500 starts at a cool $117,300 for 2024, and the AMG and even more rarified Maybach models can range beyond $200,000 with options.
Toyota Camry
There are lots of good reasons why the Toyota Camry is the best-selling sedan in America. It’s much more stylish than it once was but still just as reliable, it’s a genuinely enjoyable car to drive, and they make many different versions to suit different tastes, including a performance-oriented, V6-powered TRD model. That last one isn’t long for the world though, as Toyota has announced that the Camry will go all-hybrid and be heavily restyled for the 2025 model year, with cars arriving in the spring of 2024.
Although we’ll miss the spicy Camry TRD, the Hybrid is by far the most fuel-efficient. For the time being, however, you can still buy all the other Camry versions. The base model uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 203 hp, the hybrid mates this engine with an electric motor for 208 hp, while the 3.5-liter V6 models, including the TRD, get 301 hp. Come 2025, the hybrid will make 232 hp, and in both 2024 and 2025 FWD will be standard and AWD optional.
Last redesigned in 2018, the Camry is roomy and comfortable inside, and while backseat legroom and trunk space can’t quite match the Honda Accord, they’re still big at 38 inches and 15.1 cubic feet, respectively. As you’d expect from a Camry, safety technology is at the forefront, thanks to the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ version of its driver-assist technology. Toyota added further safety tech to the lineup for the 2023 model year, and it earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation from IIHS, the ratings organization’s highest honor.