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 2024 in various fields and give them a final BuzzScore out of 10.
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Base MSRP
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$23,750
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Fuel Economy
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31/40 MPG
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Horsepower
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158 hp
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Base MSRP
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$28,800
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Fuel Economy
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27/37 MPG
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Horsepower
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200 hp
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Base MSRP
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$32,900
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Fuel Economy
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22/31 MPG
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Horsepower
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276 hp
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Base MSRP
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$51,800
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Fuel Economy
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21/28 MPG
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Horsepower
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320 hp
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Base MSRP
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$52,000
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Fuel Economy
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109/108 MPG
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Horsepower
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335 hp
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Base MSRP
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$31,585
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Fuel Economy
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26/37 MPG
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Horsepower
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228 hp
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Base MSRP
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$41,500
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Fuel Economy
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21/29 MPG
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Horsepower
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300 hp
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Base MSRP
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$62,300
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Fuel Economy
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19/29 MPG
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Horsepower
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401 hp
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Base MSRP
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$78,200
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Fuel Economy
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18/25 MPG
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Horsepower
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444 hp
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Base MSRP
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$19,990
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Fuel Economy
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30/41 MPG
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Horsepower
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147 hp
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Base MSRP
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$23,500
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Fuel Economy
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53/46 MPG
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Horsepower
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138 hp
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Base MSRP
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$44,850
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Fuel Economy
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25/36 MPG
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Horsepower
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255 hp
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Base MSRP
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$39,350
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Fuel Economy
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25/36 MPG
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Horsepower
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221 hp
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Base MSRP
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$45,600
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Fuel Economy
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TBC
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Horsepower
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288 hp
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Base MSRP
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$46,800
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Fuel Economy
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23/32 MPG
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Horsepower
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306 hp
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Base MSRP
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$52,800
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Fuel Economy
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21/30 MPG
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Horsepower
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349 hp
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Base MSRP
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$22,050
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Fuel Economy
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32/41 MPG
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Horsepower
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169 hp
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Base MSRP
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$35,400
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Fuel Economy
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28/38 MPG
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Horsepower
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201 hp
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Base MSRP
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$55,800
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Fuel Economy
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21/30 MPG
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Horsepower
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349 hp
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Base MSRP
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$60,995
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Fuel Economy
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15/23 MPG
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Horsepower
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472 hp
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Base MSRP
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$16,750
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Fuel Economy
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32/41 MPG
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Horsepower
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120 hp
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Base MSRP
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$31,300
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Fuel Economy
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30/37 MPG
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Horsepower
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200 hp
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Base MSRP
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$37,800
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Fuel Economy
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24/34 MPG
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Horsepower
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241 hp
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Base MSRP
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$44,600
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Fuel Economy
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24/33 MPG
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Horsepower
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201 hp
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Base MSRP
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$46,595
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Fuel Economy
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20/29 MPG
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Horsepower
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325 hp
2023 BMW M3 Sedan
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Base MSRP
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$74,300
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Fuel Economy
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16/23 MPG
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Horsepower
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473 hp
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Base MSRP
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$118,700
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Fuel Economy
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15/22 MPG
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Horsepower
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543 hp
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Base MSRP
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$21,625
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Fuel Economy
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32/41 MPG
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Horsepower
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147 hp
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Base MSRP
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$34,395
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Fuel Economy
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23/34 MPG
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Horsepower
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237 hp
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Base MSRP
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$51,250
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Fuel Economy
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TBC
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Horsepower
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455 hp
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Base MSRP
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$58,270
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Fuel Economy
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17/25 MPG
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Horsepower
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472 hp
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Base MSRP
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$21,435
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Fuel Economy
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29/42 MPG
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Horsepower
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158 hp
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Base MSRP
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$40,300
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Fuel Economy
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24/33 MPG
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Horsepower
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201 hp
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Base MSRP
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$19,795
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Fuel Economy
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23/31 MPG
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Horsepower
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152 hp
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Base MSRP
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$40,085
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Fuel Economy
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21/31 MPG
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Horsepower
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241 hp
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Base MSRP
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$44,500
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Fuel Economy
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25/34 MPG
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Horsepower
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255 hp
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Base MSRP
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$49,900
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Fuel Economy
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124/106 MPG
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Horsepower
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299 hp
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Base MSRP
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$15,980
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Fuel Economy
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27/35 MPG
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Horsepower
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122 hp
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Base MSRP
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$20,890
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Fuel Economy
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30/40 MPG
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Horsepower
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149 hp
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Base MSRP
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$30,605
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Fuel Economy
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19/26 MPG
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Horsepower
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271 hp
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Base MSRP
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$48,300
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Fuel Economy
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25/34 MPG
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Horsepower
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255 hp
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Base MSRP
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$79,760
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Fuel Economy
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17/25 MPG
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Horsepower
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505 hp
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Base MSRP
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$41,300
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Fuel Economy
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26/35 MPG
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Horsepower
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247 hp
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Base MSRP
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$17,245
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Fuel Economy
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35/41 MPG
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Horsepower
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78 hp
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Base MSRP
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$43,050
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Fuel Economy
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20/29 MPG
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Horsepower
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300 hp
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.
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
Cons
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.