Best Compact Performance Sedans

According to company founder Elon Musk's vision, the Tesla Model 3 was supposed to be the car that would democratize electric vehicles. It's meant to be a midsize EV family sedan within reach of anyone who could otherwise afford a fully loaded Honda Accord or Toyota Camry.

But things haven't exactly panned out that way. The 2021 Tesla Model 3 starts at around $40,000, for one thing (about $3,000 more than a top-trim Accord), making it more of a gamble for those who just want a rock-solid family car. Tax incentives can lessen the bite. But quality control issues and uncertain resale value also dampen enthusiasm for Tesla's mainstream play (note that a $7,500 federal tax credit no longer applies to the Model 3).

Still, there's no denying that the Model 3 has broadened the appeal of EV ownership. It's practical, offering plenty of room for four passengers. Plus, there's a conventional trunk and a "frunk," a smaller front trunk for cargo. The Model 3 is the most "tech-forward" car you'll find in large volume production. Nearly all of Tesla's features and functions are controlled via the tablet-style touchscreen. This tech will delight some users and baffle others. But it eliminates a swath of switchgear inside the cabin, leaving behind a slick, stark interior design straight out of a German art movement.

Sure, there are many other EVs that cost less than the Model 3. Most are sized like compact cars, subcompacts, crossovers, or hatchbacks. Few come close to offering 353 miles of range. However, the new Ford Mustang Mach-E comes close enough at 305 miles.

The Model 3 is without a peer in some ways and feels like a car from the future. It also has some fundamental flaws that buyers would reject in cars costing half as much. The Model 3 may be imperfect, like the future, but it's a fascinating window into what's ahead.

Coupes used to be all the rage. Now only a few thousand deals cross the salesman's desk every year. Already susceptible to hot-then-not fashion fatigue, the BMW 4 Series sells half (or less) the volume of the BMW 3 Series sedan upon which it is based. But there is something cool about the cleaner lines of a coupe — or convertible in this case.

Competing against the clinical Audi A5, stylish Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe, swoopy Lexus RC, and slinky Infiniti Q60, the 4 Series has its work cut out for it. But as the most recently redesigned of the bunch, it has an advantage.

BMW has also reintroduced the 4 Series "Gran Coupe" to the lineup, a four-door hatchback sedan with a sloping roofline (read: less headroom for the second-row occupants). Body style aside, every 4 Series offers swift acceleration, powerful brakes, and a supple suspension that makes for an enjoyable ride no matter the route.