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In a world now dominated by SUVs and crossovers, the normal sedan has develop into one thing of an endangered species. The definition of a sedan varies: Some insist sedans should have a three-box silhouette, whereas others settle for fastbacks and coupe-like shapes. For this text, we’re maintaining it easy — a sedan has 4 doorways, an engine up entrance, and a trunk sufficiently big for every week’s value of groceries.
Positive, loads of sedans are little greater than A-to-B home equipment (taking a look at you, Camry), however a uncommon few handle to mix perform with magnificence. This text celebrates essentially the most gorgeous European sports activities sedans launched for the reason that daybreak of the twenty first century. Sadly, meaning some late ’90s legends — just like the E39 M5 — don’t make the reduce.
How We Picked The Beautiful Sedans
This checklist is predicated completely on my private opinion, with every mannequin chosen purely for its aesthetics. The place relevant, specs and figures have been sourced immediately from producers or respected sources, corresponding to BMW Weblog, High Gear, and Automotive and Driver. The vehicles are listed chronologically, primarily based on the yr every mannequin debuted.
Jaguar XJ (X350)
In 2018, Jaguar celebrated the XJ nameplate’s fiftieth anniversary, and for over 4 a long time, its design stayed true to Jaguar’s traditional DNA. The X350 was the ultimate era to flaunt the historic design language, that includes a low, large stance, conventional chrome accents, and a entrance finish outlined by 4 spherical headlights.
Some may say Jaguar didn’t innovate the XJ line — however let’s be sincere: Porsche has been doing the identical with the 911 for ages, and no person appears to thoughts.
Alfa Romeo 159 Ti
It’s smooth and chic, but the Alfa Romeo 159 has an underlying sense of aggression, particularly in its Ti trim stage. Possibly it’s due to the tiny headlamps hidden in what appears to be a frown. Possibly it’s as a result of the wheel arches are far too large. Possibly it’s the excessive beltline. Or possibly it’s a mixture of all of the above.
Alfa Romeo is not any stranger to designing stunning vehicles, simply take a look at the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. To many Alfisti, together with myself, this stays one of the crucial good-looking sedans ever made.
BMW M5 (E60)
I do know there’s a giant chunk of people that can’t abdomen Chris Bangle’s BMW-era. Whereas I perceive the disgust felt in the direction of the E65 7 Collection, the E60 5 Collection — particularly in M5 type — doesn’t deserve the scrutiny. Luckily, it looks as if the general public’s notion has began to shift, and even the tough-to-please Reddit crowd is beginning to recognize the misunderstood 5 Collection’ look.
In response to Steven Paul from BMW Weblog, the E60’s design language was often known as “flame surfacing” — the flowing, dynamic traces impressed by the motion of fireside. In a nutshell, which means the design was influenced by a flickering flame.
Mercedes-Benz S 65 AMG (W221 Facelift)
I don’t assume Mercedes-Benz has ever made an unsightly S-Class. But when I had to decide on my favourite, it’d be the facelifted W221 S-Class. Whereas early fashions suffered from clunky, segmented taillights, the 2009 refresh launched a sleeker rear finish because of up to date LED lights.
All in all, the facelift gave the S-Class an excellent statelier presence. The W221 is the sort of automobile that makes an impression with out ever needing to shout.
Aston Martin Rapide S
The Aston Martin Rapide is the right instance of how a luxurious sports activities automobile maker deviates from custom with out it changing into sacrilege. In essence, the Rapide is nothing greater than a four-door DB9, with the S being a four-door DBS — sure, that features the V12 engine, too.
Aston ultimately provided the Rapide as an AMR, too, however I really feel that’s too excessive, no less than from a visible standpoint. The S hits the sweetspot by being extra interesting the a base mannequin Rapide, however not a borderline race automobile.
Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG (Second Gen Pre-Facelift)
Within the early 2000s, Mercedes-Benz unveiled one of many very first sedans to undertake a coupe roofline, the CLS. Sadly, its design was, dare I say, goofy. In 2010, Mercedes gave the world the second-generation CLS, a way more refined model of thereof.
The coupe-inspired roofline and pinched LED headlight design gave the automobile a feline, virtually predatory look. Mercedes gave the CLS a facelift in 2014, however I choose the unique LED-block sample headlights. Though it won’t look as fashionable, I believe it added a extra masculine presence to the fashionable CLS.
Bentley Mulsanne
Bentley has made fairly numerous handsome sedans through the years, together with the Flying Spur. Nonetheless, the stand-out four-door Bentley in my view is the fashionable Mulsanne.
It embraced Bentley’s conventional aesthetic — boxy proportions, outsized spherical headlights — however had one headlight considerably bigger than the opposite. This tiny element is sufficient for it to reign superior over the Flying Spur, no less than from a visible standpoint.
BMW M6 Gran Coupe (F06)
Within the early mid-2010s, BMW launched a brand-new mannequin variant in its line-up of vehicles, the Gran Coupe. Derived from the 6 Collection, the Gran Coupe added rear doorways, and it’s simply as a lot eye sweet because the two-door model.
BMW even made an M model of the Gran Coupe, and it had all the pieces the F13 M6 had, from its sweeping roofline to its good-looking face and quad exhaust suggestions. Sadly, this additionally contains its notoriously unreliable twin-turbocharged V8 engine.
Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo (Sixth Gen)
The Quattroporte identify has a wealthy historical past behind it, with Maserati making eight generations to this present day to date. And like a real Maserati, the Quattroporte is a four-door murals.
I do know calling a sedan an unique appears contradictory, however I really feel this one is the exception. In response to High Gear, the Quattroporte packs a Ferrari-derived 3.8-liter V8 — possibly that’s sufficient purpose to crown it the Ferrari sedan we by no means received.
BMW M3 (F80)
I had a tricky time deciding which M3 to incorporate on this article, particularly contemplating BMW has but to make an unsightly M3 — sure, that features the most recent G80, too. It’s grown on me. However from the get-go, I fell in love with the F80.
The F80’s predecessor, the E90, was a phenomenal automobile that has aged gracefully, little question about it. Nevertheless it doesn’t have the identical aptitude because the F80. It was one of many first angry-looking BMWs, able to pounce even at a standstill.
Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf
In 1976, Aston Martin confirmed the world the model’s very first four-door automobile, the Lagonda. And 40 years later, the Lagonda identify was resurrected, however as a substitute of being constructed from the bottom up, it shared the underpinnings with a well-recognized face. Automotive and Driver stories that the Lagonda Taraf shared its underpinnings with the Rapide.
That mentioned, it’s a completely totally different creature meant to bump heads with the likes of Rolls-Royce and Bentley, therefore its way more one-of-a-kind design.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Bear in mind how I mentioned Alfa Romeo had a knack for constructing beautiful vehicles? Properly, to this present day, they haven’t misplaced their magic contact. In 2016, they constructed the 159’s successor, sharing an necessary identify with traditional Alfas, the Giulia.
Seven years after its preliminary launch, Alfa Romeo gave it a facelift and redefined what it means to be a phenomenal sedan. Whereas the preliminary design was borderline flawless, its redesigned headlights gave the Giulia a breath of contemporary air, alongside another effective updates.
Jaguar XE SV Undertaking 8 Touring
The Jaguar XE SV Undertaking 8 is without doubt one of the most bonkers efficiency sedans ever constructed. It wasn’t all bark both, lapping the Nürburgring in 7 minutes 18.361 seconds. That mentioned, its racecar-esque look was simply too excessive for me to incorporate it within the article.
Luckily, Jaguar made a Touring model, which follows the identical philosophy as Porsche’s GT Touring vehicles. It ditched the gargantuan rear wing and entrance splitter for a way more reserved wing and lip, however retained some boy racer pedigree with too many vents to depend, chunky sideskirts, and a plethora of carbon fiber throughout its large physique.
Rolls-Royce Phantom (Seventh Gen)
The Phantom has been Rolls-Royce‘s most iconic mannequin, with the primary one being launched within the Nineteen Twenties. A century later, we now have the seventh era thereof, and it sticks to its roots. Like people who got here earlier than it, it too is a road-legal yacht that oozes “I’m higher than everybody else.”
The enduring Pantheon grille, suicide doorways, humongous wheels, and Spirit of Ecstasy hood decoration, the most recent Rolls-Royce Phantom is unmistakably aristocratic.
Audi RS7 Sportback (Second Gen)
The most recent Audi RS7 ticks all the best bins. Audi claims it could attain 60 mph from a cease in simply 3.3 seconds, because of its 621-horsepower twin-turbocharged V8. And, albeit not as sensible as its wagon variant, the RS6 Avant, the RS7 nonetheless has sufficient room for 5 adults and their baggage.
However like all vehicles on this article, the design stands above all the pieces else. The mix of its clean, sloping roofline and razor-sharp design language offers the RS7 a singular design nobody else has been capable of replicate.
Porsche Taycan GTS (Facelift)
I do know electrical autos (EVs) aren’t everybody’s style. But when there’s one electrical automobile you must give an opportunity, it’s the Porsche Taycan. Porsche restyled the Taycan for 2025, giving it a barely extra conservative design language.
Though it sounds counterintuitive, I believe it’s the very best factor that might have occurred. Due to the current facelift, I contemplate the Taycan one of many best-looking sedans, interval.
Volkswagen Arteon
Volkswagen not often does flamboyance, however the Arteon is a notable exception. Its sportback design, frameless doorways, and chrome-infested grille that follows the headlight design make it seem like a borderline idea automobile. But, it wears the identical badge as a Beetle.
The Arteon has no proper wanting this good, and it reminds us that often, even the wise manufacturers can pull a rabbit from a hat.
Volvo S60 Polestar Engineered (Third Technology)
Volvo is thought for constructing protected, bland commuter vehicles, particularly wagons. Nonetheless, within the 2010s, they began making epic-looking vehicles, all flaunting what Volvo calls “Thor’s Hammer headlights,” with the third-generation S60 being one of the crucial jaw-dropping.
Though all of the third-generation S60 fashions are gorgeous, my favourite trim stage is the Polestar Engineered. It comes with diamond-cut wheels, a blacked-out look, and gold calipers, additional excentuating its minimalist, muscular design language.
Alpina B8 Gran Coupe
Alpina has at all times discovered a method of taking opulent BMW fashions and including icing on prime of the cake. Within the B8 Gran Coupe’s case, they took a BMW 8 Collection Gran Coupe, gave it 20-spoke wheels, some bespoke Alpina items like a entrance lip, chrome grille, and quad-exit exhaust.
On paper, it appears like a cheesy model of the M8. However in actuality, I’d argue it’s better-looking as a result of it’s extra refined and refined than the full-blown M automobile.
Audi RS e-tron GT
The Audi RS e-tron GT seems prefer it rolled straight off a drafting board and onto the road. With it virtually hugging the bottom, its large fenders, slim headlights, and rear gentle bar, it seems like a road-legal idea automobile.
It shares its platform with the aforementioned Porsche Taycan. However whereas Porsche wished the Taycan to look extra like a gas-fed sedan, Audi doubles down on the futuristic attraction of the e-tron GT. Even in case you despise EVs, there’s no method you’ll be able to hate the look of this one.
What Will Turn out to be Of 4-Doored Beauties?
As SUVs proceed their world takeover, stunning sedans have gotten a dying breed. And as this text proves, sedans could be way more than simply your on a regular basis commuter automobile. When completed correctly, sedans can rival sports activities automobile designs. Right here’s hoping the subsequent era of automakers doesn’t overlook that 4 doorways could be simply as seductive as two.
