Are you looking for a car that has the sophisticated style and practicality of a saloon, and happens to be brilliantly fast too? If you're looking for a car that ticks these particular boxes and you have the budget, then your spoiled for choice.
But which are best? In this guide we highlight five of the best fast saloons, also known as ‘super saloons’, which you can buy new on the market right now.
BMW M3
Thanks in large part to the M3 badge, BMW holds an excellent reputation for offering fun, high quality saloons and coupes. The latest M3 saloon has to therefore live up to very high expectations, which it does in convincing style.
Powering the latest M3 is a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 425bhp. There’s also 550Nm of torque, which kicks in from around 1,850rpm and feels beyond plentiful.
The M3 will go from zero to 62mph in just 4.3 seconds when using the six-speed manual gearbox, or 4.1 seconds with the popular seven-speed dual-clutch automatic ‘box. With the dual-clutch selected, the M3’s benchmark sprint time is the same as the Jaguar F-TYPE R AWD Coupe. That's right, this luxury saloon can keep up with hardcore sports cars.
There’s no question this is a fast saloon then, but what really makes it one of the best fast saloons is how practical its body is and how well it handles too. The grip is immense and the driver can tweak the suspension and steering between a few different settings, which can make the car either feel very civil or like an on-the-road race car depending on your mood.
With pricing starting at about £56,600, the M3 is relatively very well priced for a super saloon and pretty economical too.
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Mercedes E63 AMG
Mercedes’ AMG performance division is known for offering delivering some of the maddest cars on the planet, but there’s actually quite a lot that’s sensible about the current E63 AMG saloon.
This souped-up version of the E-Class saloon still offers a very large cabin, filled with expensive, high-quality materials and there’s plenty of standard luxury kit too. The boot is also large at 540 litres, so the E63 AMG can comfortably serve as a premium family car.
While the styling changes do make the AMG look sportier than a standard E-Class, it still looks fairly understated compared to other super saloons that have come and gone. When the urge to go fast comes, however, then the E63 AMG does have one hell of a party piece.
Under the bonnet is a 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol unit that boasts 549bhp as standard and a colossal amount of pulling power.
Go for the AMG S specification and the output increases to an even crazier 577bhp. With this output, this car takes just 4.1 seconds to cover the zero to 62mph sprint, while the standard model takes just one tenth of a second less.
With prices starting at close to £75,000, the E63 AMG is a costly investment, but for those that want to combine practicality and a wild driving experience, this Mercedes delightfully succeeds.
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Porsche Panamera
For car buyers who love Porsches but want something that’s more practical than a sports car, without ending up with a 4x4, there’s the Panamera range.
This car can be considered an acquired taste. The divisive styling, small 445 litre boot and the fact the cabin seats four rather than five may disappoint some super saloon enthusiasts. But on the plus side, the Panamera still offers a very spacious interior with plenty of kit and an all-round classy feel. An update for 2014 improved the Panamera’s visibility thanks to the introduction of a bigger rear screen.
The Panamera range offers a diverse mix of powertrains, including an efficient diesel and a plug-in hybrid version which officially claims 91mpg and emits just 71g/km of CO2. Even the slowest Panameras can cover the zero to 62mph sprint in less than 6.5 seconds.
If ultra-fast performance is a must though, then you’ll want to take a close look at the GTS and Turbo models which use a 4.8-litre V8 and offer a 0-62mph sprint time between 4.3 and 3.8 seconds. For these sort of models, however, you will have to pay around £100,000 or more, whereas cheaper Panameras start from under £70k. Overall, this is a costly but very compelling super saloon option.
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Vauxhall VXR8 GTS
The Vauxhall badge might usually adorn sensible family cars or affordable superminis, but the VXR8 GTS is far less civilised in an entertaining way. With a starting price of about £55,500, the VXR8 GTS is far more expensive than your average Vauxhall but that figure is fairly competitive compared to other super saloons.
Essentially, the Vauxhall VXR8 GTS is a rebadged Holden muscle car with sporty looks, a vibrant paint job and a huge engine. The engine in question is a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 petrol unit pumping out an amazing 576bhp, linked to a six-speed manual gearbox as standard.
It takes just 4.2 seconds to cover the 0-62mph sprint in the VXR8 and with all the power going to the rear wheels, a lot of tail-happy driving action can ensue.
Compared to most other super saloons around, the VXR8 GTS does admittedly have a somewhat utilitarian feel all-round, but that in a way is part of its charm. In areas such as interior quality, refinement and comfort this car does lag behind most other super saloons but those qualities aren’t the reasons you would buy this car anyway.
The cabin and boot is still roomy, and on the right sort of road this Vauxhall’s drive should be loud and wild enough to put a huge smile on your face.
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Subaru WRX STi
If the super saloons mentioned so far in this guide are way out of your budget, then consider the Subaru WRX STi which has a much more accessible starting price set just below £30,000. That sort of pricing is more on par with modern-day hot hatches than the majority of super saloons on the market.
Largely because it’s not from a premium brand, the WRX STI doesn’t have the most luxurious interior or most comfortable ride. The interior has an old-school vibe, which will probably actually please enthusiasts as the WRX STI has a strong following thanks to Subaru's past success in rallying. Room in the interior and boot are still both decent for a saloon, however, and buyers are most likely to just care about the drive if they’re buying this car.
Even better, the WRX STi delivers decent performance from its four-cylinder boxer turbo engine, hooked up to a six-speed gearbox. The official zero to 62mph sprint time is a very respectable 5.2 seconds and the permanent four-wheel drive powertrain offers loads of grip, even in adverse weather conditions.
Expect high running costs and a firm ride, but the WRX STi has a cult appeal which is understandable when you experience how fast and agile this saloon is on the road.