10. 2019 Volkswagen Jetta
VERDICT: 5.6/10
The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta is "another good option" in a segment led by the Honda Civic. It may not be as fun to drive nor as thoughtfully styled, but the Jetta gets high marks for price and connectivity. For $24,415 as tested, the 2019 Jetta is more affordable than the outgoing model. And with a standard eight-inch touchscreen and VW’s new Digital Cockpit, it offers a lot of tech at an affordable price.
"The new VW Jetta is a solid option that's even better for 2019. It's cheaper, more efficient, and tech-heavy compared to the previous model."
9. 2018 Kia Rio
VERDICT: 5.7/10
The 2018 Kia Rio may be basic, but the small sedan has "an impressive list of tech and safety equipment for a car costing under $20,000." The Kia Rio scores its most points in the price category; it starts at $13,900, but even at $19,425 as tested, it’s well equipped.
The Rio also gets high marks for efficiency. With a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 130 horsepower and 119 pound-feet of torque, the Rio achieves 28 miles per gallon in the city, 37 on the highway, and 32 combined.
8. 2018 Cadillac CTS-V
RATING: 5.7/10
The Cadillac CTS-V isn’t a segment leader, but on our scale, the performance sedan gets a decent 5.7 out of 10. Its impressive 620 horsepower engine and sharp looks make the CTS-V an entertaining option in its class. The super sedan "just wants to go; at any speed, in any gear, all 620 horses are always available from the supercharged 6.2-liter V8."
Where the CTS-V falls short is in pricing and fuel economy. Our tester cost more than $100,000, and with a fuel economy rating of 14 miles per gallon city, 17 highway, and 17 combined, it was well below the rest of the class.
7. Volkswagen Passat GT
VERDICT: 5.7/10
The Volkswagen Passat GT is an interesting outlier – but it shouldn’t be overlooked. With a score of 5.7 out of 10, VW’s most-recent performance option gets high marks for its price and comfort, as well as speed.
The Passat GT starts at $29,995, which puts it smack dab in the middle of the segment in terms of pricing. Compared to sporty options like the Accord Sport and V6-powered Camry, it’s the most affordable option. And with features like forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring standard, it’s a safe option, too.
"Priced at just under $30,000, the Passat GT is a reminder of what family cars used to be. But it’s also a reminder of just how far the mid-size sedan segment has come."
6. Lexus LS 500 F Sport
VERDICT: 6.0/10
The Lexus LS is one of the latest additions to the full-size luxury segment. Though it ranks as a "middle of the pack" option, it gets high marks for interior comfort and safety, at least.
The LS500 F Sport has a beautiful dashboard with a number of creative surfaces and materials. It's also roomy and comfortable with a "tomb-like interior." In terms of safety, the LS features a gamut of advanced active and passive safety features, most of which come standard throughout the range.
5. BMW M5
VERDICT: 6.3/10
In terms of performance, few sedans offer supercar-rivaling speed as much as the 2018 BMW M5 does. The four-door M car packs a whopping 600 horsepower and 553 pound-feet underhood, courtesy of a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8. But it’s not all about speed.
The M5 also gets high marks for tech and comfort; it has 20-way adjustability seats standard and tons of premium treatments, as well as the latest version of iDrive and a 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment setup.
"The new M5 is the latest piece of evidence that BMW is back."
4. Hyundai Elantra Eco
VERDICT: 6.5/10
Of all the compact cars we tested in 2018, the Hyundai Elantra Eco, surprisingly, ranks above all others. It gets high marks for its efficiency and price; the non-hybrid Hyundai returns up to 40 miles per gallon without a hybrid powertrain and costs just $16,950 to start.
"The 2018 Hyundai Elantra Eco is specifically designed for higher fuel economy; it has a different powertrain than other Elantra models, and hits the magic 40 miles-per-gallon number on the highway."
3. 2018 BMW 740e xDrive iPerformance
VERDICT: 6.6/10
In terms of posh plug-ins, the BMW 740e ranks above all others that we've driven. It gets high marks for comfort, tech, and safety, along with an efficient nature. The 2.0-liter hybrid setup returns a segment-rivaling 25 miles per gallon in the city, 29 highway, and 27 combined.
Sit in the backseat of the 740e, and it’s like riding "on a comfortable couch – it’s spacious, quiet, and the seats are extra plush." And with tech options like 4G LTE connectivity and Gesture Control, it’s hard to fault the big Bimmer for anything, outside of being outrageously expensive. This tester costs $99,875.
2. 2018 Kia Stinger GT
VERDICT: 7.0/10
The Kia Stinger GT is a performance darling – no wonder why it ranks as our second-best sedan of 2018. Outside of fuel economy, the Stinger GT gets high marks in almost every respective category – performance, design, and comfort being the three segments most highly regarded.
The twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 pumps out 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque, and the tout suspension makes it a supremely good handler in the corners. The Stinger GT is a serious threat, "and it should have companies like BMW and Mercedes-Benz worried (if they aren’t already)."
1. 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid
RATING: 7.0/10
The Honda Accord Hybrid ranks at the top of the list of sedans we’ve driven in 2018. It gets high marks for its standard Honda Sensing safety suite, its tech-filled cabin with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as comfort. The 2.0-liter inline-four hybrid engine is efficient, too; it returns a segment-rivaling 47 miles per gallon in the city, 47 on the highway, and yes, 47 combined.
In a world where plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles are becoming more prevalent, the Honda Accord Hybrid remains a solid hybrid option. "The more things change, the more they stay the same."
The Runner-Ups
These four sedans could easily crack our top ten. Unfortunately, we haven’t spent enough time with them to give them a star rating. Once we have more than a few days in the driver’s seat, expect them near the top of the leaderboard.
2019 Genesis G70
The Genesis G70 is a handsome, composed competitor to the established crop. It gets high marks for its punchy turbocharged V6, which produces 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque, and its inclusion of a manual transmission on the lower trim level. Bottom line: This thing is fun to drive, and well priced.
2019 Honda Insight
The Honda Accord Hybrid is the highest-rated sedan we’ve driven in 2018. But its sibling, the Insight, shouldn’t be far behind. The compact hybrid takes everything we love about the Accord, and packs it into a pint-sized package. The new Insight gets up to 55 miles per gallon on the highway, 49 in the city, and 52 combined.
2019 Kia Forte
There's a lot to like about the new Kia Forte. It borrows visual cues from the Stinger GT (number two on our list), and has a nicely finished cabin for the segment. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces a meager 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, is its only downfall, but the whole package might be good enough to make the top 10.
2019 Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door
Mouthful of a name aside, the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door "is possibly the best performance sedan [we’ve] ever driven." With 630 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, it bests the BMW M5 in raw power (which ranks at number five on our list), and can sprint to 60 miles per hour in just 3.1 seconds.
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