In a world now dominated by SUVs and crossovers, the traditional sedan has become something of an endangered species. The definition of a sedan varies: Some insist sedans must have a three-box silhouette, while others accept fastbacks and coupe-like shapes. For this article, we’re keeping it simple — a sedan has four doors, an engine up front, and a trunk big enough for a week’s worth of groceries.
Sure, plenty of sedans are little more than A-to-B appliances (looking at you, Camry), but a rare few manage to combine function with beauty. This article celebrates the most stunning European sports sedans introduced since the dawn of the 21st century. Sadly, that means some late ’90s legends — like the E39 M5 — don’t make the cut.
How We Picked The Stunning Sedans
This list is based entirely on my personal opinion, with each model chosen purely for its aesthetics. Where applicable, specs and figures were sourced directly from manufacturers or reputable sources, such as BMW Blog, Top Gear, and Car and Driver. The cars are listed chronologically, based on the year each model debuted.
Jaguar XJ (X350)
In 2018, Jaguar celebrated the XJ nameplate’s 50th anniversary, and for over four decades, its design stayed true to Jaguar’s classic DNA. The X350 was the final generation to flaunt the historic design language, featuring a low, wide stance, traditional chrome accents, and a front end defined by four round headlights.
Some might say Jaguar failed to innovate the XJ line — but let’s be honest: Porsche has been doing the same with the 911 for ages, and nobody seems to mind.
Alfa Romeo 159 Ti
It’s sleek and elegant, yet the Alfa Romeo 159 has an underlying sense of aggression, especially in its Ti trim level. Maybe it’s because of the tiny headlamps hidden in what seems to be a frown. Maybe it’s because the wheel arches are far too wide. Maybe it’s the high beltline. Or maybe it’s a mix of all the above.
Alfa Romeo is no stranger to designing beautiful cars, just look at the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. To many Alfisti, including myself, this remains one of the most handsome sedans ever made.
BMW M5 (E60)
I know there’s a big chunk of people who can’t stomach Chris Bangle’s BMW-era. While I understand the disgust felt towards the E65 7 Series, the E60 5 Series — especially in M5 form — doesn’t deserve the scrutiny. Fortunately, it seems like the public’s perception has started to shift, and even the tough-to-please Reddit crowd is starting to appreciate the misunderstood 5 Series’ appearance.
According to Steven Paul from BMW Blog, the E60’s design language was known as “flame surfacing” — the flowing, dynamic lines inspired by the movement of fire. In a nutshell, this means that the design was influenced by a flickering flame.
Mercedes-Benz S 65 AMG (W221 Facelift)
I don’t think Mercedes-Benz has ever made an ugly S-Class. But if I had to choose my favorite, it’d be the facelifted W221 S-Class. While early models suffered from clunky, segmented taillights, the 2009 refresh introduced a sleeker rear end thanks to updated LED lights.
All in all, the facelift gave the S-Class an even statelier presence. The W221 is the kind of car that makes an impression without ever needing to shout.
Aston Martin Rapide S
The Aston Martin Rapide is the perfect example of how a luxury sports car maker deviates from tradition without it becoming sacrilege. In essence, the Rapide is nothing more than a four-door DB9, with the S being a four-door DBS — yes, that includes the V12 engine, too.
Aston eventually offered the Rapide as an AMR, too, but I feel that’s too over the top, at least from a visual standpoint. The S hits the sweetspot by being more appealing the a base model Rapide, but not a borderline race car.
Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG (Second Gen Pre-Facelift)
In the early 2000s, Mercedes-Benz unveiled one of the very first sedans to adopt a coupe roofline, the CLS. Unfortunately, its design was, dare I say, goofy. In 2010, Mercedes gave the world the second-generation CLS, a much more refined version of thereof.
The coupe-inspired roofline and pinched LED headlight design gave the car a feline, almost predatory look. Mercedes gave the CLS a facelift in 2014, but I prefer the original LED-block pattern headlights. Although it might not look as modern, I think it added a more masculine presence to the stylish CLS.
Bentley Mulsanne
Bentley has made quite a number of good-looking sedans over the years, including the Flying Spur. However, the stand-out four-door Bentley in my opinion is the modern Mulsanne.
It embraced Bentley’s traditional aesthetic — boxy proportions, oversized round headlights — but had one headlight significantly larger than the other. This tiny detail is enough for it to reign superior over the Flying Spur, at least from a visual standpoint.
BMW M6 Gran Coupe (F06)
In the early mid-2010s, BMW introduced a brand-new model variant in its line-up of cars, the Gran Coupe. Derived from the 6 Series, the Gran Coupe added rear doors, and it’s just as much eye candy as the two-door version.
BMW even made an M version of the Gran Coupe, and it had everything the F13 M6 had, from its sweeping roofline to its handsome face and quad exhaust tips. Unfortunately, this also includes its notoriously unreliable twin-turbocharged V8 engine.
Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo (Sixth Gen)
The Quattroporte name has a rich history behind it, with Maserati making eight generations to this day so far. And like a true Maserati, the Quattroporte is a four-door work of art.
I know calling a sedan an exotic seems contradictory, but I feel this one is the exception. According to Top Gear, the Quattroporte packs a Ferrari-derived 3.8-liter V8 — maybe that’s enough reason to crown it the Ferrari sedan we never got.
BMW M3 (F80)
I had a tough time deciding which M3 to include in this article, especially considering BMW has yet to make an ugly M3 — yes, that includes the latest G80, too. It’s grown on me. But from the get-go, I fell in love with the F80.
The F80’s predecessor, the E90, was a beautiful car that has aged gracefully, no doubt about it. But it doesn’t have the same flair as the F80. It was one of the first angry-looking BMWs, ready to pounce even at a standstill.
Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf
In 1976, Aston Martin showed the world the brand’s very first four-door car, the Lagonda. And 40 years later, the Lagonda name was resurrected, but instead of being built from the ground up, it shared the underpinnings with a familiar face. Car and Driver reports that the Lagonda Taraf shared its underpinnings with the Rapide.
That said, it’s an entirely different creature meant to bump heads with the likes of Rolls-Royce and Bentley, hence its much more one-of-a-kind design.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Remember how I said Alfa Romeo had a knack for building gorgeous cars? Well, to this day, they haven’t lost their magic touch. In 2016, they built the 159’s successor, sharing an important name with classic Alfas, the Giulia.
Seven years after its initial release, Alfa Romeo gave it a facelift and redefined what it means to be a beautiful sedan. While the initial design was borderline flawless, its redesigned headlights gave the Giulia a breath of fresh air, alongside some other fine updates.
Jaguar XE SV Project 8 Touring
The Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is one of the most bonkers performance sedans ever built. It wasn’t all bark either, lapping the Nürburgring in 7 minutes 18.361 seconds. That said, its racecar-esque appearance was just too over the top for me to include it in the article.
Fortunately, Jaguar made a Touring version, which follows the same philosophy as Porsche’s GT Touring cars. It ditched the gargantuan rear wing and front splitter for a much more reserved wing and lip, but retained some boy racer pedigree with too many vents to count, chunky sideskirts, and a plethora of carbon fiber across its wide body.
Rolls-Royce Phantom (Seventh Gen)
The Phantom has been Rolls-Royce‘s most iconic model, with the first one being introduced in the 1920s. A century later, we have the seventh generation thereof, and it sticks to its roots. Like those that came before it, it too is a road-legal yacht that oozes “I’m better than everyone else.”
The iconic Pantheon grille, suicide doors, humongous wheels, and Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament, the latest Rolls-Royce Phantom is unmistakably aristocratic.
Audi RS7 Sportback (Second Gen)
The latest Audi RS7 ticks all the right boxes. Audi claims it can reach 60 mph from a stop in just 3.3 seconds, thanks to its 621-horsepower twin-turbocharged V8. And, albeit not as practical as its wagon variant, the RS6 Avant, the RS7 still has adequate room for five adults and their luggage.
But like all cars in this article, the design stands above everything else. The combination of its smooth, sloping roofline and razor-sharp design language gives the RS7 a unique design no one else has been able to replicate.
Porsche Taycan GTS (Facelift)
I know electric vehicles (EVs) aren’t everyone’s taste. But if there’s one electric car you have to give a chance, it’s the Porsche Taycan. Porsche restyled the Taycan for 2025, giving it a slightly more conservative design language.
Although it sounds counterintuitive, I think it’s the best thing that could have happened. Because of the recent facelift, I consider the Taycan one of the best-looking sedans, period.
Volkswagen Arteon
Volkswagen rarely does flamboyance, but the Arteon is a notable exception. Its sportback design, frameless doors, and chrome-infested grille that follows the headlight design make it look like a borderline concept car. Yet, it wears the same badge as a Beetle.
The Arteon has no right looking this good, and it reminds us that occasionally, even the sensible brands can pull a rabbit from a hat.
Volvo S60 Polestar Engineered (Third Generation)
Volvo is known for building safe, bland commuter cars, especially wagons. However, in the 2010s, they started making epic-looking cars, all flaunting what Volvo calls “Thor’s Hammer headlights,” with the third-generation S60 being one of the most jaw-dropping.
Although all the third-generation S60 models are stunning, my favorite trim level is the Polestar Engineered. It comes with diamond-cut wheels, a blacked-out appearance, and gold calipers, further excentuating its minimalist, muscular design language.
Alpina B8 Gran Coupe
Alpina has always found a way of taking opulent BMW models and adding icing on top of the cake. In the B8 Gran Coupe’s case, they took a BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe, gave it 20-spoke wheels, some bespoke Alpina pieces like a front lip, chrome grille, and quad-exit exhaust.
On paper, it sounds like a tacky version of the M8. But in reality, I’d argue it’s better-looking because it’s more refined and subtle than the full-blown M car.
Audi RS e-tron GT
The Audi RS e-tron GT looks like it rolled straight off a drawing board and onto the street. With it almost hugging the ground, its wide fenders, slim headlights, and rear light bar, it looks like a road-legal concept car.
It shares its platform with the aforementioned Porsche Taycan. But whereas Porsche wanted the Taycan to look more like a gas-fed sedan, Audi doubles down on the futuristic appeal of the e-tron GT. Even if you despise EVs, there’s no way you can hate the look of this one.
What Will Become Of Four-Doored Beauties?
As SUVs continue their global takeover, beautiful sedans are becoming a dying breed. And as this article proves, sedans can be much more than just your everyday commuter car. When done properly, sedans can rival sports car designs. Here’s hoping the next generation of automakers doesn’t forget that four doors can be just as seductive as two.