Best New Sedans of 2022 (2024)

Just because a car is cheap doesn't mean it needs to look cheap, and the 2022 Hyundai Accent offers dignified styling despite its bargain-basem*nt price tag. We like it enough that we named it to our Editors' Choice list for 2022. All models come with a 120-hp four-cylinder engine with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). It's not exciting, but it gets the job done and does so while sipping fuel. The interior, which is also unexciting but functional, offers modern conveniences and even some luxuries. The loaded Limited model costs less than $21,000 and offers heated seats, touchscreen infotainment, and push-button start. No matter which trim you choose, the Accent's appearance is mature and contemporary, saving you from the embarrassment of being outed as a penny pincher.

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The Kia Rio represents cheap, simple transportation at its best. Fuel efficient and inexpensive but with a surprising amount of driving sophistication and features for the price, this subcompact provides good value for the money. It’s available as either a sedan or a hatchback, but neither body style has much space in the rear seat or cargo area. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard equipment, and several driver-assistance features are optional. Now that many of its competitors—including the Chevy Sonic, Honda Fit, and Toyota Yaris—have left the marketplace, the Rio is one of the last truly cheap new cars left, and it’s good enough to earn a spot on our 2022 Editors' Choice list.

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Honda's popular Civic compact car gets a big glow-up for the 2022 model year as it debuts a more grown-up appearance, new features, and a refined cabin design. The improvements and more helped it earn a spot on our Editors' Choice list for 2022. A selection of four-cylinder engines—including a turbocharged 1.5-liter—are offered; front-wheel drive will continue to be standard as Honda insists all-wheel drive is not part of the plan. Updated tech features such as a larger infotainment display, wireless smartphone connectivity, and improved driver-assistance features are all meaningful updates that will help the Civic stave off competition from the likes of the Hyundai Elantra, the Mazda 3, and the Toyota Corolla.

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The 2022 Honda Civic Si is arguably the sweet spot in the brand's small-car line, with a near-perfect ratio of performance and daily-driver traits. We even named it to our Editors' Choice list this year. Since the regular Honda Civic it's based on was just transformed for a new generation, the Si benefits from the same improvements to its interior space and roster of features. A specially tuned chassis and punchy turbo-four engine give the Civic Si the performance to compete with sport compacts such as the Subaru WRX and VW Golf GTI, both of which were also recently redesigned. Plus, the Civic's sub-$30,000 price tag helps it deliver on value. The 2022 Civic Si sedan will continue to only offer a manual transmission and front-wheel drive, and its fun-to-drive nature carries on, too.

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Hyundai is expanding its N performance sub-brand with fire-breathing version of its new Elantra compact car. The 2022 Elantra N is powered by a 286-hp version of the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder from the spunky Veloster N hatchback. Buyers can choose from either a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic. We've grown quite fond of the Veloster N during its stay with us for a 40,000-mile long-term test, and the Elantra's upscale vibe adds another layer of desirability. We put the Elantra N on our 2022 Editors' Choice list because it has what it takes to challenge established sport compact cars such as the Subaru WRX, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI, and the upcoming Toyota GR Corolla.

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For buyers with champagne taste but only a sparkling-cider budget, the 2022 Mazda 3 delivers a premium package at a normal compact-car price. It's offered both as a sedan and a hatchback and can be equipped with optional all-wheel drive, a punchy turbo engine, and enough upscale features to be taken seriously among small Audis, BMWs, and Benzes. Entry-level models are, of course, not as posh, but the 3 looks handsome, and its playful personality will win over enthusiast drivers, even with front-wheel drive and base engine on board. That's why we put it on our 2022 Editors' Choice list. Although it is priced similarly to rivals such as the Honda Civic, the Toyota Corolla, and the Volkswagen Jetta, the Mazda offers a level of sophistication and style that those cars can't match.

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The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is about as satisfying as moderately priced sports sedans get. Volkswagen's recipe is simple and well-executed. Spawned from the regular Jetta (reviewed separately), the high-performance variant enjoys the same spacious interior and large trunk but adds a zestier 228-hp turbo four, an independent rear suspension, and stellar ride-and-handling tuning. This combination makes the GLI quick and agile whether you shift for yourself with the standard manual transmission or opt for the dual-clutch automatic. While the compact sedan's interior would benefit from better materials, and its outward appearance will never be called enticing, the rest of the 2022 Jetta GLI is pretty damn great, even earning a spot on our Editors' Choice list.

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Although SUVs and crossovers are the people haulers these days, we think those folks are missing out by not considering the superb 2022 Honda Accord sedan. The Accord can do most things your average compact crossover can do, and its spry handling will give its driver more of a thrill should they encounter a twisty road. Two turbocharged engines are offered, as is a hybrid powertrain that provides a more efficient twist on the daily commute. With a commodious trunk and enough space for four adults to relax in comfort, the Accord is also an ideal road-trip partner, made even better by its comprehensive set of standard driver-assistance features and intuitive infotainment system. There's a reason the Accord makes our 2022 10Best and Editors' Choice lists like it has done time and time again: It's a winner.

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The 2022 Hyundai Sonata is a family sedan that's both visually interesting and a really good value. Hyundai's mid-sizer comes in a variety of flavors, from well-equipped entry-level trims to a trio of thrifty hybrids to a tire-squawking performance model. While the latter's 290-hp turbo-four engine and sporty suspension can liven up grocery runs, the rest of the Sonata line is less exciting from a driver's perspective. Instead, the sedan impresses with an array of standard driver assists and an upscale interior that's full of popular tech features. Its comfy seats and roomy accommodations offset its firm ride—most pronounced in the N Line performance model. Although the 2022 Sonata isn't as satisfying to pilot as, say, the Honda Accord, it's still one of the top options in its class and one of our Editors' Choice picks.

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The 2022 Kia K5 is classified as a family sedan, but its exciting design and 290-hp engine option allude to something sexier. Sure, the sedan formerly known as the Kia Optima isn't about to usurp its perennially excellent rival, the Honda Accord, but the K5's roster of popular equipment and friendly pricing make it a strong value play. We even named it to our 2022 Editors' Choice list. Every model enjoys standard active safety features and infotainment tech, and the sedan's attractive interior is bolstered by a roomy back seat. The K5 GT gets a souped-up engine, and its tire-spinning antics will either draw or deter shoppers. The standard powertrain is largely inoffensive, and it's also the only way to access all-wheel drive. Despite a driver's seat that's too high and ride isolation that's negatively impacted by the biggest available wheel-and-tire combo, overall the 2022 K5 is an impressive sedan—whether it's bought for a family or not.

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With a near-ideal blend of performance, driving range, and accessible pricing, the 2022 Tesla Model 3 is an electric vehicle that lives up to the hype. It's fast—especially the Performance trim—and it's agile, which means the Model 3 is an EV that driving enthusiasts like us can get behind. We even named it to our 2022 Editors' Choice list. Driving range is an impressive 358 miles per charge on the mid-level Long Range trim, so it's not necessary to charge the Model 3 every day. Its attractive entry price doesn't unlock the Model 3's full potential, though, and its fit and finish don't quite match alternatives such as the Chevy Bolt and Ford Mustang Mach E. Still, there's not a more inexpensive way to park one of Tesla's groundbreaking EVs in your driveway.

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The well-respected last-generation A3 sedan has been replaced by an all-new 2022 model which has been modernized in every fashion but retains the fun-to-drive nature that endeared us to the previous model. German rivals such as the BMW 2-series Gran Coupe and the Mercedes-Benz A-class are fueling consumers' appetites for small, premium sedans so it's no wonder Audi is doubling down on its compact car and giving it a richer interior, advanced technology, and razor-sharp looks. A turbocharged four-cylinder engine is standard, all-wheel drive is optional, and a host of driver-assistance features are on hand, which make the A3 a desirable choice and one of our 2022 Editors' Choice picks.

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Even in the Age of the SUV, the entry-luxury compact sedan segment still has juice, and Audi is set to deliver a performance-oriented challenger in the form of the new-for-2022 S3. A hot-rodded version of the new A3 sedan, the S3 goes head-to-head with the aggressive BMW M235i Gran Coupe, Cadillac CT4-V, and Mercedes-AMG A35. This pint-sized sports sedan certainly looks the part, and we're happy to report that the fun-to-drive nature that made the last-generation car so impressive is alive and well here too. We even named it to our 2022 Editors' Choice list. The cabin is shared with the all-new 2022 A3, which borrows styling and technology from Audi's larger sedans—the A4 and the A6—but everything about the S3 feels more youthful. If the S3 doesn't quite hit the performance marks you're looking for, Audi will also soon offer a resurrected RS3 model, which we review separately.

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No matter which one of its silky powertrains is on duty, the 2022 BMW 3-series is supremely satisfying to drive. While its remarkable refinement is offset by not-quite-great steering feel, its body is composed on any kind of road, its brakes are strong, and its ride is comfortable for daily chores. Plus, its interior is rich and roomy and it has a sizable trunk. Rivals such as the Genesis G70 offer better value, and the Alfa Romeo Giulia is a sexier alternative, but no other sports sedan possesses the bandwidth of the Bimmer. Along with a sublime eight-speed automatic and rear- or all-wheel drive, the 3-series is available with a terrific turbocharged four-cylinder (330i), a plug-in-hybrid setup (330e) with up to 23 miles of all-electric range, or a ferocious 382-hp turbo straight-six (M340i) that's as eager and effortless as engines come. Thankfully, the sedan's excellence doesn't begin and end with driving excitement. That's because the 2022 3-series is sporty any time but luxurious and practical all the time, a reason we put it on our Editors' Choice list.

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Although it shares its underpinnings with the Kia Stinger, the 2022 G70 kicks the luxury quotient up a notch and proves that the Genesis brand is a credible competitor in the entry-luxury segment. Going head-to-head with sports sedan leaders such as the BMW 3-series and the Mercedes-Benz C-class requires both an athletic chassis and a posh cabin—two things that happen to be the G70's strengths. Not only does it deliver driving enjoyment and a nicely-trimmed interior, but the smallest Genesis sedan is also an exemplar for the brand's bargain pricing, coming in several thousand dollars cheaper than its key rivals from Germany. This helps it earn a spot on our 2022 Editors' Choice list. Not to mention its standard 10-year warranty package, which is more than double what most entry-luxury cars offer.

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With a 505-hp twin-turbocharged V-6 under its bulging hood, the 2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio turns up the heat on the sports sedan segment. It shares its chassis and interior with the standard Giulia, which means it inherits that car's sharp handling and fun-to-drive demeanor, but that Ferrari-derived six is really the star of the show. Its performance rivals established players the BMW M3 and the Mercedes-AMG C63 as well as the new Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, but it offers a certain Italian flavor that's missing from those sedans. While our long-term Giulia Quadrifoglio was plagued with reliability issues, we still think the car's performance and charisma make it worth a look for buyers seeking driving thrills, so we put it on our Editors' Choice list.

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Whenever the letter M and the number 3 are together on a model badge the driver can expect a great experience, and that's true once again for the 2022 BMW M3 sedan. Sure, it might get ridiculed for its overwrought, oversize grille, but row its satisfying manual gearbox or chase its silky six-cylinder to the redline, and the styling stigma is forgotten. The standard 473-hp M3 is the purist's M3 because rear-wheel drive and a stick-shift are mandatory. If quicker lap times are more important, the Competition model has an enhanced twin-turbo straight-six with 503 horsepower and a track-tuned chassis. It only comes with an automatic, but it's also the only way to add all-wheel drive. When the track day is done, the furious Bimmer can transform back into a tranquil daily driver. Too bad its busy digital gauges and excessive drive-mode adjustments can kill the mood. As impressive as the 2022 M3 is, both the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing are better at entertaining our lizard brain, so this Bimmer falls just short of being the ultimate driving machine, but it still makes our Editors' Choice list.

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With a souped-up engine and track-ready hardware, the 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing is the hottest version of the brand's smallest sedan. Based on the regular Cadillac CT4, the Blackwing boasts both a standard manual transmission and rear-wheel drive, which serve as twin appetizers for driving enthusiasts. The main course is its spicy 472-hp twin-turbo V-6 and unique chassis tuning, which includes enhanced suspension components and specially developed tires. Cadillac also provides a sense of luxury with a roster of desirable features, but the interior isn't quite as nice as other cars in this segment. Still, the 2022 CT4-V Blackwing capitalizes on the company's penchant for producing great-driving cars, and this one is so good we named it to our 10Best and Editors' Choice lists.

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With a striking exterior design and a posh cabin, the 2022 G80 legitimizes Genesis as a true luxury brand. It's also on our Editors' Choice list. Two turbocharged engines are offered—a 2.5-liter four-cylinder or a 3.5-liter V-6—and both deliver plentiful power and refinement. While the G80 slots in between the smaller G70 and the larger G90 in the Genesis lineup, its interior design is a cut above both of those sedans and it offers a more modern infotainment package too. The G80's fresh take on what makes a premium car premium puts it near the head of a competitive class of luxury sedans which includes established nameplates such as the Audi A6, the BMW 5-series, and the Mercedes-Benz E-class.

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There are sportier alternatives to the 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-class, but few are as seamlessly high-class and high-tech. While the behind-the-wheel experience isn't as exciting as that of its AMG-tuned twin­–the separately reviewed 429-hp E53–the regular E is subdued and serene. Its cabin is beautifully appointed, remarkably quiet, and fitted with flashy tech features such as the dual displays embedded in its dashboard. The E350 sedan is powered by a common-for-the-segment turbo four, but the E450 enjoys a sweet turbocharged straight-six. This strong, smooth mill is available in the sedan and standard on the coupe and cabriolet. Regardless of the powerplant, all body styles supplement their classy interiors with a cushy and composed ride. Add the 2022 E-class's roster of advanced driver assists to its luxury appointments and quality assembly, and its esteemed position among mid-size luxury cars is evident, as is its spot on our Editors' Choice list.

Review, Pricing, and Specs