Five must-see four-door sedans
Performance attributes keep these cars at the front of the pack
Despite the sales charts, where SUVs and CUVs continue to dominate the family segments, the sedan is still around and for many drivers a preferable choice. As such, these five must-see sedans get the heart racing with performance attributes lacking in most utilities:
Audi A7
One of the sportiest luxury sedans on the market, the Audi A7 gets restyled for the 2019 model year, retaining its trademark fastback hatch profile, but sporting an even more athletic look. The grille and headlights now resemble the A8’s, and the rear end features a single LED light bar. A new, 48-volt mild-hybrid powertrain is paired with a new turbocharged 3.0-litre V6. The new powertrain is rated at 340 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque, and, claims Audi, will hit 100 km/h in just 5.3 seconds. The powertrain will be coupled to a seven-speed automatic transmission and Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system.
Genesis G70
The all-new 2019 Genesis G70 is a compact luxury sport sedan available with two different powertrains — a 2.0-litre turbocharged I4 with an estimated 252 horsepower and a 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 with an estimated 365 horsepower. That power gets harnessed in a sporty way thanks to a rigid, Nürburgring-tuned chassis and performance-oriented components such as Brembo brakes, a mechanical Limited-Slip Differential and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires, and a chassis. The G70 comes standard with a full-time active all-wheel drive system; however, a rear-wheel drive version is available in the special 2.0T Sport model, which also includes a six-speed manual gearbox and other equipment chosen with a focus on enhancing the driving experience. The all-new G70 will be available in six variations in the Canadian market, ranging from the well-equipped 2.0T Advanced to range-topping 3.3T Sport that encompasses all the model’s available luxury and high-performance features.
Mazda6
Mazda thoroughly re-engineered Mazda6 sedan is the flagship of the automaker’s passenger car lineup. The development team’s goal for this round of updates, the third since the model was fully redesigned in 2012, was to “enhance the daily lives of people who love cars,
incorporating premium details and new engineering concepts and technologies based on Mazda’s human-centred design philosophy.” The powertrain lineup adopts new technologies, including a cylinder deactivation system for the 2.5-litre gas engine. In addition, the turbocharged 2.5T direct-injection gas engine that debuted in the CX-9 crossover has been added to the engine lineup. The Mazda6 also offers a wider range of safety technologies to help the driver identify potential risks and reduce the likelihood of damage or injury.
Toyota Avalon
The all-new 2019 Avalon ushers in the fifth generation of Toyota’s flagship mid-size premium sedan. Underpinned by a Toyota New Global Architecture platform, and powered by a 3.5-litre V6 powertrain, the new Avalon boats a bevy
of Toyota-firsts, including standard Apple CarPlay and Dynamic Auxiliary Turn Signals, available authentic Yamaha wood and aluminum cabin accents, and engine sound enhancement. The new sedan received a complete makeover by Toyota’s design, engineering, and manufacturing entities and is available in two available grades: the sporty XSE (all-new) and the more opulent Limited.
Volkswagen Arteon
Replacing the CC as Volkswagen’s flagship sedan, the new 2019 Arteon is a four-door hatchback, with coupe-style fastback design cues reminiscent of Audi’s A7. As with much of VW’s line-up, the Arteon uses the MQB platform and carries over many of the mechanicals. It is expected to be powered by a 270-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Though front-wheel drive is being offered in some markets, it’s likely only 4Motion all-wheel drive will be available here. Look for it around summertime. A higher-performance R version is rumoured.