Best Compact Sedans of 2022

When it comes to affordable transportation, the compact sedan is hard to beat. These small automobiles make for great commuters thanks to their low price, easy driveability, and excellent gas mileage. However, there are also some great small sports cars, and even a number of elegant luxury brands have something to offer. These four-door cars are quite versatile and, therefore, finding the right one can be tricky. To help you, we rank the best compact sedans of 2022 in various fields and give them a final BuzzScore out of 10.

BuzzScore
Design
Performance
MPG
Interior
Infotainment
Reliability
Safety
Value
#1
2021 Kia Forte
9.3
BuzzScore
9
Design
8
Performance
9
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
9
Reliability
10
Safety
10
Value
#2
2022 Honda Civic Sedan
9.3
BuzzScore
8
Design
8
Performance
9
MPG
10
Interior
9
Infotainment
10
Reliability
10
Safety
10
Value
#3
2022 Volvo S60
9.1
BuzzScore
10
Design
8
Performance
9
MPG
10
Interior
10
Infotainment
7
Reliability
10
Safety
9
Value
#4
2022 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45
9.1
BuzzScore
10
Design
10
Performance
8
MPG
10
Interior
10
Infotainment
7
Reliability
10
Safety
8
Value
#5
2022 Nissan Versa Sedan
9
BuzzScore
8
Design
8
Performance
10
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
10
Value
#6
2022 Hyundai Elantra
9
BuzzScore
8
Design
8
Performance
10
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
9
Value
#7
2022 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
9
BuzzScore
8
Design
8
Performance
10
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
9
Value
#8
2022 Mercedes-AMG CLA 35
9
BuzzScore
10
Design
9
Performance
8
MPG
10
Interior
10
Infotainment
7
Reliability
10
Safety
8
Value
#9
2022 BMW i4
#9
BMW i4
9
BuzzScore
8
Design
9
Performance
9
MPG
9
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
10
Value
#10
2022 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
8.9
BuzzScore
8
Design
9
Performance
8
MPG
10
Interior
10
Infotainment
8
Reliability
9
Safety
9
Value
#11
2022 Genesis G70
8.9
BuzzScore
N/A
Design
N/A
Performance
N/A
MPG
N/A
Interior
N/A
Infotainment
N/A
Reliability
N/A
Safety
N/A
Value
#12
2022 Audi RS5 Sportback
8.9
BuzzScore
10
Design
10
Performance
7
MPG
10
Interior
9
Infotainment
8
Reliability
9
Safety
8
Value
#13
2022 Nissan Sentra
8.8
BuzzScore
8
Design
7
Performance
9
MPG
8
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
10
Safety
10
Value
#14
2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
8.8
BuzzScore
8
Design
6
Performance
10
MPG
8
Interior
8
Infotainment
10
Reliability
10
Safety
10
Value
#15
2022 BMW 3 Series Sedan
8.8
BuzzScore
8
Design
9
Performance
8
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
8
Reliability
10
Safety
8
Value
#16
2021 Mercedes-AMG A35
8.8
BuzzScore
10
Design
8
Performance
8
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
7
Reliability
10
Safety
8
Value
#17
2021 Mercedes-AMG C43 Sedan
8.8
BuzzScore
9
Design
9
Performance
7
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
8
Reliability
10
Safety
8
Value
#18
2021 Mazda 3 Sedan
8.6
BuzzScore
10
Design
9
Performance
7
MPG
10
Interior
8
Infotainment
8
Reliability
9
Safety
8
Value
#19
2021 Subaru WRX Sedan
8.6
BuzzScore
8
Design
10
Performance
6
MPG
8
Interior
9
Infotainment
9
Reliability
9
Safety
10
Value
#20
2022 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan
8.6
BuzzScore
10
Design
7
Performance
8
MPG
9
Interior
10
Infotainment
7
Reliability
10
Safety
8
Value

Characteristics of a Compact Sedan

Since they are available in a variety of forms, compact 4-door sedans don’t always share the same traits. Nevertheless, there are still some things you can count on when shopping in this segment.

  • Size: Naturally, the defining characteristic of these cars is their dimensions. This can be both a good and bad thing. Smaller cars are generally cheap compared to large, more practical SUVs. However, the cabin can be cramped, especially in the rear. There is almost always plenty of space in the front, though, and the trunk is often quite accommodating.
  • Economy: As already mentioned, you can usually buy a new compact sedan at a really affordable price. But, they also save you money in the long run, thanks to their great cost of ownership. Small displacement four- or even three-cylinder engines are common, and these small and light vehicles sip lightly from the gas tank, too.
  • Driveability: One of the best things about small sedans is just how easy they are to drive. They are lightweight and highly maneuverable, and with just a few driver assists, they are relaxing cars to commute in. On the other hand, compact sports cars are a blast to drive. They are fast and responsive, with a lot less weight to manage behind the wheel. These are also usually the only models that include the option of AWD.
  • Practicality: These are not particularly practical vehicles. If they do have a respectable trunk, this usually comes at the cost of room in the back seat. Luckily, the driver and front passenger shouldn’t have anything to complain about. This situation is usually reversed on premium models, which try to give rear passengers more space to enjoy the ride, but their trunks are laughably small.

What to Consider When Buying a New Compact Sedan

The automotive industry is extremely competitive, and there are a lot of options even within the sedan classification. But, when you start comparing them with SUVs, pickups, or even hatchbacks, you can’t help but wonder if a sedan is the best choice for you. Here is a quick run down of the pros and cons of compact sedan cars to help you make that decision:

Pros

  • Generally far more affordable than larger vehicles
  • Small size and light weight equals excellent fuel economy
  • Highly maneuverable around busy town streets and easy to park
  • Quite a few luxury and sports car variants if that’s more your speed

Cons

  • All-round practicality is rare, with most models favoring either the rear seat or trunk
  • Not many hybrid or electric options right now
  • Start to lose their appeal as your family grows

FAQs

Is a compact sedan better than a hatchback?

The answer depends on what you want. Both are great for driving in and around the city, but a sedan offers more interior passenger capacity. Meanwhile, hatchbacks are a roomier trunk, since it gives a lot more area from the trunk floor to the ceiling and the liftgate makes it far accessible.

Are sedans more efficient than crossovers in terms of fuel economy?

Most sedans use low-displacement four-cylinder engines fr improved efficiency. However, even when comparing an SUV model with the same powertrain, the added weight sees gas mileage drop noticeably. This is why sedans are great for regular commuters who want to keep fule costs down.

Are there any affordable compact sedans?

There are plenty of cheap sedans to choose from, but if you are looking for something more than the bare minimum, you may want to look at used models from 2021 or earlier. This gives you access to advanced features at a fraction of the price. Just make sure they have been kept in good shape, as a reliable secondhand car can serve you well for years to come and reduce maintenance fees.

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