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While the new RS3 thrills with the amount of features and performance it offers for the price, it's not the best in its class.
Sports sedans are the popular options for buyers seeking to combine four-door practicality and a fun driving experience. Sliding behind the wheel of the right sports sedan can take you from the office to the track and back. The 2022 RS3 is based on the A3’s geometric styling and the sporty feel of the S3. The new RS3 is the raciest version of Audi's small luxury sedan, and it’s blessed with more power from a turbocharged 2.5-liter that makes 401 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. All that power is transmitted through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. Choosing the sportiest setting of the gearbox and activating the launch control takes the Four Rings from a standstill to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds.
The interior of the new RS3 is quite similar to the A3 and S3, but its specially-bolstered front seats set it apart. The four-door sedan can comfortably accommodate five passengers The new RS3 starts at just under $60,000, but if we ever want to take any other 2022 sports sedan for a spin, these would be our top picks.
Related: Why We Love The New 2022 Audi RS3 Sedan
Whether you desire some leisure or lunacy on the road, the 2022 Charger has got you covered. The Dodge Charger has that old-school vibes with a modern touch that muscle car lovers can't resist. The Scat Pack package starts at $49,000 and comes with a melodious V8 engine that dishes out 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque.
Even though the 2022 Charger is all about the performance, with a 0-60mph time of 4.3 seconds, the seats offer plenty of bolstering and lumbar support for your long road trips.
With the all-new 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, the Audi RS3 and other German marques are once again reminded that American automakers still make badass performance sedans. The new CT4-V Blackwing has a standard manual transmission and a 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 that churns out 472 hp and 445 lb-ft of torque.
The track-ready CT4-V Blackwing sprints to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, which means it's significantly faster than the regular CT4-V it is based on. Cadillac also gives customers a sense of luxury and comfort, with the microsuede accents, specially-bolstered front seats, and generous cargo space.
The 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S sedan is a near-perfect ride in terms of performance, luxury, and comfort. Under the hood, you will find a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that blasts out 503 hp and 516 lb-ft of peak torque. The 2018 AMG C63 S sedan goes from 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds and tops out at 180 mph.
The 2018 C63 S makes for a great daily driver. Simply move the sedan from Comfort mode to Race mode if you want to get some adrenaline rush. You can get a 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S sedan for about $57,000.
Related: Here's What Makes The Mercedes-AMG C63 So Awesome
The 2021 BMW M340i is a causal-looking M3 lite with more than enough power to cater to your daily routine. Its turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 squeezes out 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels of the M340i, but there's an optional xDrive all-wheel drive.
The Bimmer comes with a torque-vectoring rear differential, firmer springs, and adaptive suspension, making it a joy to drive on the freeway or along backroads. The interior offers a host of luxury features, but nothing above and beyond.
The beautifully sculpted and brutally powerful 2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is almost out of the league of the Audi RS3. Enthusiasts will appreciate the communicative chassis responses and impeccable ride quality of the 2019 Giulia sedan, which you can get for just $56,000 on the used-car market.
What's under the hood of this sexy sports sedan is what matters most. Alfa Romeo plants a rhapsodic twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 in the 2019 Giulia Quadrifoglio. The Ferrari-sourced engine spits out 505 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. That power is enough to push the Giulia sedan to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds.
Related: 10 Things To Know Before Buying The 2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
The BMW M3 is a legend in its own right and even though it was initially offered as a coupe back in 1986, today's M3 is a sedan with a six-cylinder, firmer suspension, stronger brakes, and bigger wheels. The ride quality of the M3 is still really cool, and it accelerates with potency, turns sharply, and stops quickly.
The glorious-sounding twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six puts out 425 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The M3 Competition package offers a little more ponies and achieves 60 mph in 4.0 seconds. You can find a 2018 M3 Competition for $55,000.
Built to command attention, the 2022 IS 500 F SPORT Performance is the debut edition of the Lexus F SPORT Performance line. It's one of the few sleek, rear-wheel-drive cars with a naturally aspirated V8 that doesn't come with a six-figure price tag.
The heart-racing sound, aggressive look and feel, as well as stacked quad exhaust tips, sets the new IS 500 F SPORT Performance from the regular F SPORT models. Its 5.0-liter V8 cranks out 472 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque. The 2022 IS 500 F SPORT Performance tops out at 165 mph, beating the Audi RS3 by 10 mph.
The 2020 E53 Sedan reminds us that the AMG isn't all about monstrous power, as it shows us the softer side of Mercedes' performance arm. But don't get it twisted, the mild-hybrid boost, quad exhaust tips, and 20-inch wheels prove that the E53 Sedan can't get rid of its performance nature.
The 3.0-liter turbo I6 engine works with a 48-volt mild-hybrid tech to produce 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque. If you select "Eco Mode" on your highway drive, the EQ Boost mild-hybrid system allows for smooth sailing while the engine turns off. A 2020 AMG E53 Sedan goes for about $58,000.
Peter Akpejeluh is a content writer with years of experience in the automotive industry. His love for cars makes crafting colorful stories around them quite effortless. When Peter is not developing automotive content, you can find him taking one of his favorite cars for a spin.