Four Door Sports Cars

General Motors

A sporty sedan is a great option for many new car buyers. They offer the convenience of four doors and a trunk, space for four or five passengers, and performance to suit nearly any combination of power-hungriness and budget restraints. At the lower end of the market, a car with great handling can often hold its own against a car with a bit more power, but here, we focus on the high end: sporty sedans with at least 500 horsepower. Of course, lots of fast cars are offered with a number of powerful trims. To keep things simple, we looked at each model’s most powerful engine option, and ranked accordingly.

2016 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

The 2016 Dodge Charger, a large sedan, gets attention for its bold styling, even in base form. However, we aren’t really concerned about the base Charger (which, to be fair, makes a respectable 292 horsepower). The top-trim Charger, though, is one of the most powerful sedans on the market.

Buyers who want 707 horsepower from a sedan will find it in the Charger SRT Hellcat, which comes powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine that also makes 650 pound-feet of torque. The Hellcat comes with rear-wheel drive (though most Chargers do offer all-wheel drive as an option) and uses an eight-speed automatic transmission. The SRT Hellcat can sprint from a standstill to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds, and tops out at 204 mph. As expected, auto journalists are very, very fond of this setup. That said, if the SRT Hellcat is beyond the budget, no one will scoff at the Charger R/T Scat Pack or SRT 392 models, both of which make 485 horsepower.

2016 Cadillac CTS-V

The Cadillac CTS is a totally respectable option for a midsize luxury sedan. Though its looks are designed to appeal to upscale shoppers rather than thrill-seekers, it’s by no means an unattractive car – the styling simply disguises this sedan’s true potential when ordered in its potent CTS-V trim.

Four engines are available in the 2016 Cadillac CTS, but critics recommend that those who have the means should go straight for the CTS-V’s supercharged 6.2-liter V8. The CTS-V also comes with rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. 640 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque are on tap, and critics say it feels like every last pony is put to good use. The Cadillac CTS-V’s handling is also noteworthy, they say. The car has a composed ride and a nimble feel that are key components of any good sport sedan, earning the CTS-V a reputation as a truly usable car.

2016 Mercedes-AMG S65

Mercedes-Benz USA

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is classified as a super luxury car, a designation that typically implies that comfort takes priority over performance. That’s true across most of the S-Class lineup, which includes both a five-passenger sedan and a four-passenger coupe. Of course, there are exceptions.

The extensive 2016 Mercedes S-Class family includes not one, but two high-performance AMG models. AMG is Mercedes’ in-house tuning division, and when those three letters appear with a Benz’ badging, the driver is in for a treat. The 2016 AMG S63, for example, makes 577 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque from its twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 engine, paired to a seven-speed automated manual transmission and available all-wheel drive. Not enough? Just check out the AMG S65, which features a twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12, which increases horsepower and torque specs to 621 and 738, respectively.

2016 Audi S8

It’s another super luxury sedan, but the 2016 Audi A8/S8 lineup actually balances out its massive footprint and imposing road presence with surprisingly good handling. Critics say the Audi A8 responds much better to driver input than expected, and feels considerably lighter than it should, considering its bulk.

There’s nothing quite like the throaty rumble of a 12-cylinder engine, and Audi serves one up in the A8 L W12 trim, producing 500 horsepower. But, really, why not go for the Audi S8, which comes with a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8? Sure, the engine sounds smaller, and it is, but the turbo boost more than makes up the difference, producing output of 605 horsepower and 517 pound-feet of torque. Reviewers say the standard eight-speed automatic transmission manages power with smooth shifts, and Audi’s standard quattro all-wheel drive system keeps you planted in corners. An adaptive air suspension system helps smooth out any bumps in the road.

2016 BMW ALPINA B6 Gran Coupe

BMW of North America, Inc.

To get the 2016 BMW 6-Series in four-door format, look for a Gran Coupe version of the car. Though the 6-Series is also available in coupe and convertible body styles, the hatchback shape of the Gran Coupe is by far the most practical and seats five passengers.

Like the other super luxury cars we’ve looked at, the BMW 6-Series has an extensive lineup, with most models oriented toward the somewhat-above-average luxury car shopper. Nothing wrong with that, but those models don’t have enough horsepower to compete on a list of the best four-door sports cars. Focus on the ALPINA B6, which comes with a tuned version of the M6’s engine. 600 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque come from this twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8, paired with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. This limited-production version of the BMW 6-Series also features exclusive styling details.

2016 Mercedes-AMG CLS63 S

Don’t take that as a condemnation of the CLS, though – the AMG CLS63 S shares the same engine as the AMG S63, using a turbocharger to squeeze 577 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque from a 5.5-liter V8. That’s more than enough to earn a spot amongst the best four-door sports cars. Reviewers say that the Mercedes-AMG CLS63 S makes the most of its power, and that it stays steady on the road thanks to the car’s standard all-wheel-drive system. They add that the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission helps the car accelerate quickly.