Best Compact Sedans

The Honda Civic has been one of America's best-selling vehicles for years. It checks all the important boxes — economy, reliability, comfort, safety — that buyers want in a compact car. And the special sauce is the Civic's fun-to-drive nature. From the bottom of the lineup on up, the Civic can put a smile on your face simply by the way it drives. And that's a claim few others in the segment can make.

For years compact sedans and hatchbacks have been getting bigger, but the new-for-2022 Civic doesn't stretch the envelope much. It's less than 2 inches longer than the previous generation and it is exactly the same height. Those seem to be the right dimensions because most compact cars mimic them almost exactly. Key competitors in the segment include the Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, and Hyundai Elantra. The Asian brands have been so successful, they now have no domestic competitors and only one from Europe: the Volkswagen Jetta. Like its challengers, the Civic will seat five adults but is more comfortable with just four on board. It is currently available as a sedan only, but hatchback and performance models are expected.

Volkswagen announced that it will discontinue production of the midsize Volkswagen Passat sedan in the U.S. to make room to produce the Volkswagen ID.4 electric crossover SUV. Thus, the compact Jetta has become the sole remaining sedan in the German automaker's lineup. Even with the rapid rise in SUV sales, the Jetta has been the best-selling Volkswagen sedan for years.

The current version of the Jetta was introduced for the 2019 model year. It doesn't possess the evocative styling of the Hyundai Elantra, the uplevel interior materials and all-wheel-drive content of the Mazda3, or the Toyota Prius-like fuel economy of the Toyota Corolla Hybrid. However, it offers a uniquely European-flavored driving experience in a roomy-on-the-inside, tidy-on-the-outside front-wheel-drive sedan. Its small size also makes it easy to park and maneuver in congested urban settings.

It's also easy to purchase. In base trim, it's the least expensive Volkswagen you can buy as well as the least expensive offering in the compact-sedan segment. Higher trims offer up-to-date infotainment and driver-assistive technology. And the GLI versions are some of the most fun-to-drive entries among compact sport sedans that include the Honda Civic Si, Elantra N Line, and Subaru WRX.

Polestar, once Volvo's in-house performance arm, is now a stand-alone electric car company within the Volvo Car Group, which in turn is owned by China's Geely Auto. There's a temptation to slot the Polestar 2 into the luxury small-EV class with the likes of the Audi e-tron and Jaguar I-Pace, but it falls short of true luxury car status.

Instead, the all-electric Polestar 2 is a well-appointed, sporty hatchback sedan — Polestar calls it a fastback. It provides scorching acceleration; great handling; loads of high-tech safety; driver-assistance and infotainment features; a comfortable, pleasantly designed interior; and decent cargo capacity. Its safety and driver-assist systems and Google-powered onboard infotainment are top of class. And as a performance car, the Polestar 2 does well even against the most powerful versions of the Tesla Model 3 and Ford Mustang Mach-E. Its biggest drawbacks are its price and range. Even with a $7,500 federal tax credit, the Polestar 2 costs about $1,000 more than a Tesla Model Y Long Range. For that kind of money, it has an unimpressive range.

The Mazda Mazda3 is one of the most engaging compacts on the market. It's available as a sedan or sleekly styled hatchback with three responsive engines from which to choose. There's also front-wheel or all-wheel drive for those who need extra traction in colder climates. Thanks to the Mazda3's wide range of configurations, it's easy to find one that suits your preferences. But this car is designed for people who like to drive. Its sporty handling makes it fun to take winding country roads. While incredibly fun to drive with a smooth ride and a luxurious interior, its infotainment system is challenging. Instead of a touchscreen, there's a rotary controller on the center console that takes time to master.

The Honda Civic offers a smaller range of trims but with an equally engaging drive at a lower price. The Toyota Corolla has nine trims, including a hybrid and lower overall pricing. The Subaru Impreza has four trims with lower pricing but with a rougher ride and less attractive interior.

The Kia Forte is a solid-if-unremarkable sedan that drives with assured confidence and competence. It does everything well at a price that undercuts many of its competitors. The standard engine is one of its few weak spots as it delivers average performance at best, but the optional engine in the GT trim goes a long way toward making the Forte feel fun to drive. A no-nonsense interior design and quality materials make the cabin a pleasant environment, while the infotainment system is one of the best in the class. There's even a spacious trunk.

This segment has a number of appealing competitors. At the top is the unmatched excellence of the Honda Civic, followed by the quality-durability-reliability of the Toyota Corolla, upscale interior of the Mazda 3, intriguingly styled Hyundai Elantra, standard all-wheel-drive Subaru Impreza, value-packaged Nissan Sentra, and Germanic elegance of the Volkswagen Jetta.

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.