In these SUV-crazed times, there are still plenty of compelling reasons to consider the stalwart, three-box configuration sedan. Regardless of how effective Sport Utilities have been at erasing the performance and comfort advantages that sedans once claimed, sedans will always possess a quiet dignity and elegance that will always have a place in your fleet. The following are ten of the most diabolical—cars that contain outsize creature comforts and state-of-the-art technology, yet are all exceedingly capable of digging deep when duty calls. And speaking of great sedans, hop in our time machine to view the 10 Best Cars of the 90s.
10 | Jaguar XJR
Base price: $121,000
Powertrain and performance: 5.0L, 550 horsepower, supercharged V8; 8-speed automatic, RWD; zero-to-60 in 3.8 seconds; 155mph top speed.
Why you want one: It's an aggressive, head-turning, soulful, pavement-pounding alternative to the big Germans.
9 | Tesla Model S P100D Ludicrous
Base price: $134,500
Powertrain and performance: 567 kW, 760 horsepower, dual motor electric; 1-speed automatic, RWD; zero-to-60 in 2.28 seconds; 130mph top speed (electronically limited).
Why you want one: An engineering masterpiece, it's the future, now. And it just happens to be one of the best-looking cars ever. Driving a Tesla is certainly better than working there.
8 | BMW Alpina B6 xDrive Gran Coupe
Base price: $122,500
Powertrain and performance: 4.4L, 600 horsepower, V8; 8-speed automatic, AWD; zero-to-60 in 3.8 seconds; 155mph top speed.
Why you want one: A bespoke Bimmer, upgraded by legendary BMW performance specialist Alpina. Highly exclusive, brutally powerful, immaculate build quality. Can't get enough of the German powerhouse brand? Then check out the greatest BMWs of all time.
7 | Maserati Quattroporte GTS Gransport
Base price: $145,000
Powertrain and performance: 3.8L, 530 horsepower, twin-turbo V8; 8-speed automatic, RWD; zero-to-60 in 4.5 seconds; 195mph top speed.
Why you want one: Historic lineage, unpretentious luxury, awesome Italian stallion.
6 | Mercedes-Benz AMG S63
Base price: $144,700
Powertrain and performance: 5.5L, 577 horsepower, twin-turbo V8; AMG Speedshift 7-speed automatic, AWD; zero-to-60 in 3.9 seconds; 186mph top speed (electronically limited).
Why you want one: Ultimate luxury in sheeps' clothing, hammer-of-the-Gods power on tap. (The S65 model features an even badder 621-hp twin-turbo V12 with RWD.) You Benz lovers should also check out our list of the greatest Mercedes-Benzes ever.
5 | Audi S8 Plus
Base price: $116,850
Powertrain and performance: 4.0L, 605 horsepower, twin-turbo V8; 8-speed automatic, AWD; zero-to-60 in 3.3 seconds; 190mph top speed (electronically limited).
Why you want one: Taught, fighter-jet performance masquerading as a rational executive saloon. And for more sweet, fast sedans and other rides, here are some of the insanely fast cars Hollywood's biggest celebrities drive.
4 | Cadillac CTS-V
Base price: $85,995
Powertrain and performance: 6.2L, 640 horsepower supercharged V8; 8-speed automatic, RWD; zero-to-60 in 3.6 seconds; 200mph top speed (track mode).
Why you want one: Dropping a Corvette Z06 engine into a practical sedan is the right kind of crazy. Equally happy as civilized daily driver or weekend track warrior, the CTS-V takes a backseat to none.
3 | Bentley Mulsanne Speed
Base price: $355,600
Powertrain and performance: 6.75L, 530 horsepower, twin-turbo V8; 8-speed automatic, RWD; zero-to-60 in 5.1 seconds; 184mph top speed.
Why you want one: To own a 90-year, thoroughly modern, hand-built (400 man-hours!) British legend. Ultra-luxury, otherworldly driving experience, dialed to eleven.
2 | Porsche Panamera Turbo
Base price: $150,000
Powertrain and performance: 4.0L, 550 horsepower, twin-turbo V8; Porsche double-clutch (PDK) 8-speed automatic, AWD; zero-to-60 in 3.6 seconds; 190mph top track speed.
Why you want one: Formidable though it was, the previous car suffered from an ungainly humpback profile, now beautifuly resolved as a four-door 911. The second-gen Panamera is a paradigm of Teutonic perfection. While not exactly a sedan, it is Porsche's sole entry in the segment, not merely a sportback iteration. Speaking of Porsche sedans, here is our list of the greatest Porsches of all time.
1 | Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge
Base price: $311,000
Powertrain and performance: 6.6L, 603 horsepower, twin-turbo V12; satellite-aided transmission (GPS data anticipates road ahead and shifts accordingly), RWD, air suspension; zero-to-60 in 4.3 seconds; 155mph (limited).
Why you want one: Unabashedly over-the-top and over-engineered, if that's how you roll. The ultimate everything with unmatched prestige. Largely hand-built, each one requiring 800 man-hours. Drop-dead gorgeous (even if the front-end bears more than a passing resemblance to the Chrysler 300).
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