January is cold. Who needs to be cold? You can build your own warm front. You just need the right machine. Five or six speeds. Horsepower climbing past 200. Tires that bite asphalt. Seats that hold you tight when the g-forces hit. Wrap it all in four-door bodywork to confuse the authorities.
“No, officer. Just taking the kids to 4-H.”
That is the sports sedan. A fuzzy category. A place where fun meets function. No DNA test exists. You trust your gut. You know them when you drive them. The price? Anything from cheap to expensive. Let’s pay up. Thirty thousand dollars minimum. Maybe thirty-five if you want options. Options always creep up.
In this segment, BMW is the enemy you can’t fight. Munich built the reputation. The cars handle beautifully. They took two spots on Car and Driver’s 2001 10 Best list. Every other automaker aims their sports sedan at a BMW. Bimmers are the standard.
We considered a stripped-down 325i. Base price: $27,560. It has a 3.0-liter inline-six making 200 horsepower. But we wanted well-rounded cars. That base price leaves room for toys.
Usually, Audis and BMWs duke it out at the top. The Audi A4 Quattro with a 2.8-liter V-6 fits the bill. But where is the Saab? The 9-3 SE has a turbo making 205 hp. Obvious choice.
Then come the newcomers. Lexus targeted the 3-Series with the IS300. It matches the BMW’s dimensions. It uses the 3.0-liter inline-six from the GS300. 215 horses. Smooth revving. Promising.
Volvo introduced the S60. A smaller S80. Looks identical without checking the badge. But the T5 model catches your eye. Turbocharged five-cylinder. 247 horsepower. A massive jump. That outguns the 325i.
Mercedes-Benz also claims sportiness. The new C-Class. 2.6-liter V-6. 168 hp. They offer a six-speed manual. Aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.27. Sleek.
Six cars. Two front-wheel drive. Three rear-wheel drive. One all-wheel drive. The calendar says January, but these cars make the temperature rise. Let’s see which ones blur the scenery.
6th Place: Saab 9-3 SE
The 9-3 is getting old. It started as the 900 in 1994. 1,000 improvements later, it’s still showing its age. The competition is sharper. This veteran’s ride is stiff. On bumpy roads, the suspension bottoms out. The steering jerks. The adventure factor becomes too high.
The turbo four delivers thrust. Second best to 60 mph in this group (6.8 seconds). Second quickest through the quarter-mile (93 mph). Boost hits low in the rev range. You feel the torque steer. It fishtails at the front. Worse on bad roads. Torque steer is a front-wheel-drive problem. Weirdly, both turbos in this test go to the drive trains least equipped to handle the power.
Space is okay. The Saab has the most backseat room. Just enough for three adults across, barely. The five-door hatch is great for cargo. None of these sedans fit three adults comfortably for long.
Braking is weak. It needs 196 feet to stop from 80 mph. That puts it last. Skidpad grip is only 0.77 g. The all-season tires sacrifice dry grip for winter safety. Mercedes wears them too.
The Saab feels like an old friend who hasn’t learned anything in twenty years.
HIGHS: Leather-scented cockpit. Hydraulic turbo rush. Practical hatch.
LOWS: Torque steer. Harsh ride on bad roads. Wind noise from sunroof.
VERDICT: The elder statesman. Full of memories. Lacking a future.
The interior smells like leather. But it lacks intimacy. The shifter is vague. Seats are flat. Console is low. Door panels are plain. It feels like a large room with a high ceiling. Familiar to a fault.
Specs:
* Engine: 205-hp 2.0L Inline-4 Turbo
* Transmission: 5-speed Manual
* Curb Weight: 3,427 lbs
* Price: $34,015 (as tested)
* 0-60 mph: 6.8 sec
* Braking (80-0): 196 ft
5th Place: Mercedes-Benz C240
The C-Class is a new friend. But we messed up. We couldn’t find one with the Sport Package. That kit adds stiff springs, high-control shocks, and better tires. We got a luxe version instead. Mercedes claims “sport” is baked into the DNA. We couldn’t feel it.
The car is mild. Luxurious. Good at noise isolation. Very little ride harshness. But the body rocks. Lots of up-and-down motion. Steering inputs lead to tippy roll angles. It moves like a boat. Not a sports sedan.
The Sport Package would likely fix this. We have other issues. The clutch grabs abruptly. The brakes feel squishy before locking on. Pedal effort doesn’t match stopping power. Half our drivers hated the steering. You turn the wheel, think about it, then turn it again. Uncoordinated.
Passengers love it. The interior is plush. Pastel colors. Fine leather. Seats support without being hard. Rear space nearly matches the Saab.
HIGHS: Quiet cabin. Luxurious materials. Smooth styling.
LOWS: Abrupt clutch. Squishy brakes. Floaty handling. Tiny tachometer.
VERDICT: A compact luxury sedan wearing sports sedan clothes.
It’s a passenger car. Not a driver’s car.
Specs:
* Engine: 168-hp 2.6L V-6
* Transmission: 6-speed Manual
* Curb Weight: 3,389 lbs
* Price: $35,560 (as tested)
* 0-60 mph: 8.8 sec
* Braking (80-0): 183 ft
4th Place: Volvo S60 T5
247 horsepower. Not shy. The S60 launches to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds. Best in the group. Quarter-mile in 15.3 seconds at 97 mph. Faster than the Saab by a bit. Top speed is electronically limited to 130 mph.
This power comes from a high-pressure turbo intercooled 2.2L five-cylinder. If you want less heat, there’s a non-intercooled version with 197 hp.
Handling is better than the Saab. Less torque steer. Suspension rarely bottoms. Like the Benz, there is body roll, but Volvo added damping. It helps. Grip is good. 0.84 g on the skidpad.
On twisty roads, understeer dominates. The car prefers comfort and isolation over athletic ability. It’s a tourer. Not a frisky racer.
Interior is striking. The “Space Ball” shifter on the console is a large frosted sphere. Looks like it needs mittens. Door latches are carved from metal. Dashboard uses simulated walrus hide? Seriously. Seats have a thick, cushy feel. Makes the car feel more expensive than it is. Rear seat space is average.
HIGHS: Strong acceleration. Cushy seats. Unique interior design.
LOWS: Understeer. Thrilling noise under boost. Expensive options.
VERDICT: A powerful cruiser. Gives you a small smile.
Specs:
* Engine: 247-hp 2.2L Inline-5 Turbo
* Transmission: 5-speed Manual
* Curb Weight: 3,410 lbs
* Price: $35,675 (as tested)
* 0-60 mph: 6.4 sec
* Braking (80-0): 172 ft
3rd Place: Lexus IS300
This Lexus is energetic. It wants to play. The steering is switchblade quick. It feels the most “sporty” of the bunch.
There’s a catch. Only an automatic transmission is available. A slick one. You can use paddle shifters on the steering wheel. But it’s still an automatic. That caps its potential.
The car looks like a tight box. Sheet metal pulled over wide tires. Tall wheels. Silver taillights. West Coast attitude. Low beltline. Good visibility.
Interior features brushed metal sills. Rubber pedals. Firm bucket seats with suede inserts. Grips your body like Velcro. Less plush than the Volvo or Benz. Everything feels pulled taut.
Response time is instant. No slack in the steering. Best handling rating in the group. Brakes are excellent. Body roll is minimal. Tires communicate well with the road. Noisy for a Lexus.
Skidpad grip: 0.82 g. Second best. Braking distance from 80 mph: 163 feet. Best in class. Acceleration lags due to the auto (7.5 sec). Top speed: 143 mph.
Lexus built a car that begs you to drive it fast.
HIGHS: Sharp steering. Excellent brakes. Engaging handling.
LOWS: Automatic transmission only. Firm ride. Rear visibility could be better.
VERDICT: A compact sports sedan that actually feels sporty.
Specs:
* Engine: 215-hp 3.0L Inline-6
* Transmission: 5-speed Automatic
* Curb Weight: 3,300 lbs (approx)
* Price: $36,000 (approx)
* 0-60 mph: 7.5 sec
* Braking (80-0): 163 ft
2nd Place: BMW 325i
The benchmark. You can’t ignore it. The 325i has the reputation to back it up. The driving dynamics are sweet.
We tested a 325i sedan. Base price around $27k. Options pushed it higher. The inline-six makes 192 horsepower. Smooth. Responsive.
Handling is precise. Feedback is excellent. The chassis is balanced. It turns in quickly. The rear end stays planted. Braking is strong. Suspension manages body roll well.
Interior is driver-focused. Everything angles toward you. High quality materials. Build is solid. It feels expensive.
Rear seat space is tight. Typical for a compact sports sedan. But who buys this car for the backseat?
HIGHS: Balanced handling. Precise steering. Quality interior.
LOWS: Tight rear legroom. Base power is modest.
VERDICT: The standard against which all others are judged.
Specs:
* Engine: 192-hp 2.5L Inline-6
* Transmission: 5-speed Manual
* Curb Weight: 3,230 lbs
* Price: $32,000 (approx with options)
* 0-60 mph: 7.1 sec
* Braking (80-0): 158 ft
1st Place: Audi A4 Quattro
The winner. The A4 Quattro combines traction with handling. The all-wheel-drive system provides confidence. The 2.8-liter V-6 makes 190 horsepower.
On the skidpad, the Audi posted 0.83 g. Second best grip. Braking was 159 feet. Top speed was 139 mph.
The ride is firm but compliant. It eats up bumps better than the BMW or Saab. The interior is logical. Durable materials. Functional layout.
Rear space is better than the BMW. Front space is good. Visibility is excellent.
It’s not as sharp as the Lexus. Not as fast as the Volvo. But it does everything well. It is the total package. The daily driver that can still have fun.
HIGHS: All-weather capability. Comfortable ride. Practical interior.
LOWS: Not as engaging as RWD rivals. V-6 lacks the character of an inline-six.
VERDICT: The smartest choice for year-round driving.
Specs:
* Engine: 190-hp 2.8L V-6
* Transmission: 5-speed Manual
* Curb Weight: 3,460 lbs
* Price: $33,500 (approx)
* 0-60 mph: 7.4 sec
* Braking (80-0): 159 ft
Final Thoughts
Six cars. Six different approaches. The Saab is nostalgic. The Mercedes is plush. The Volvo is powerful. The Lexus is agile. The BMW is balanced. The Audi is capable.
Which one wins? Depends on your priorities. Do you want speed? Go Volvo. Do you want feel? Go Lexus. Do you want safety? Go Audi. Do you want the classic experience? Go BMW.
There is no perfect answer. Only the right one for you. And maybe, just maybe, a reason to break the speed limit.
The sun comes out eventually. The pavement dries. The warm front arrives. Drive it while you can.
