Best Sports Sedans

Best 2008 sports sedans

It was easy to name this year's top-rated sports sedan. We found more recommendations for the cars in the BMW 3-Series than any other sports sedan for the 2008 model year. The 3-Series lineup is composed of a variety of models. The BMW 328i has a 230-hp, 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine, while the BMW 335i has a 300-hp, 3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder engine. Coupe, convertible, wagon and all-wheel-drive variants are offered as well. An ultra-high-performance sedan variant is the 414-hp BMW M3 (*Est. $53,800) , a highly modified and expensive V-8-powered model with coupe and convertible body styles that we also cover in our sports car report.

In almost every review we found, the BMW 3-Series is the standard by which all other sports sedans are measured. Car and Driver has named the "perennial benchmark" BMW 3-Series one of its 10 Best for 17 consecutive years. Automobile magazine gives the 3-Series an All-Star award for the 13^th time. Other publications and websites that rank the BMW 3-Series among the best of the year are Edmunds.com, Cars.com, ConsumerGuide.com, Popular Mechanics and KBB.com.

While every car must make compromises, the BMW 3-Series manages to excel at many different and seemingly mutually exclusive tasks. It's powerful and accelerates quickly, while still getting respectable fuel economy (in the 19-29 mpg range, according to EPA estimates). The 3-Series sports sedan ride is smooth and adequately comfortable, reviewers say, while offering best-in-class handling. The driver's relationship with the car is what's most notable in a sports sedan -- the balance between driver action and the vehicle's feedback and response. In this respect, auto writers say the BMW 3-Series gets it just right.

In addition to its handling, reviews like the 3-Series' interior, which uses mainly high-quality materials, while cutting a few corners to keep the price down. The one feature that garners few positive reviews is iDrive, a system that places access to most entertainment, navigation and communication controls on a single joystick controller. While the system is tweaked every year and has received less negative feedback than in previous years, there are reviewers that will not stop complaining until the iDrive is obsolete. However, the iDrive system is optional for the most part, and it only comes with the navigation package. To be fair, many owners like the iDrive system. In terms of fuel, one downside is that all 3-Series sedans require premium fuel, an extra hit to the wallet.

Just as it was easy to find the top sports sedan, it's easy to pick the BMW's nearest competitor -- the Infiniti G35 . The Infiniti even beats the BMW in one Edmunds.com test because "it's outstanding to drive and it gives you the most car for your money." Among reviews that directly compare the two, the Infiniti sports sedan is often said to be just behind the class leader. A review at Car and Driver sums up the rivalry best: "In isolation the G35 feels like a winner, but it only takes a drive in the 328i to understand why the Infiniti is second best."

After major changes for the 2007 model year, there are only a few changes to the G35 sports sedan for 2008, including revisions to improve clutch and shifter feel. The single available engine is a V-6 rated at 306 hp. All G35 models have rear-wheel-drive standard, while AWD is an option. A sport suspension package is available, but you'll get a harsher ride. Without the sport package, ride quality is called taut, stable and comfortable. Safety features include six airbags standard, antilock brakes and an electronic stability system. Fuel economy estimates from the EPA are about 17 to 25 mpg, slightly lower than the BMW 3-Series. Premium gas is recommended.

The Infiniti G35 sports sedan has gathered its share of accolades, including being named one of Automobile magazine's All-Stars, a ConsumerGuide.com Best Buy and Recommended by KBB.com. Automobile magazine points out that choosing between the BMW 3-Series and Infiniti "is less about what the cars can do than it is about what their drivers want." The Infiniti's biggest advantage is value. Its base price is about the same as a 230-hp BMW 328i, but the 306-hp G35 has more standard equipment that is optional on the BMW, such as a five-speed automatic transmission, leather upholstery and 17-inch wheels. The price difference between a similarly equipped BMW 335i and G35 is even greater.