In the world of sedans, you have two main categories: The ho-hum, everyday drive vehicles that offer little excitement, and the sport sedans that promise thrills.

With its Jetta sedan (a staple for four decades in the VW lineup), Volkswagen offers both of these options — a standard version for those on a smaller budget who aren’t seeing power, and the Jetta GLI offering that will spruce up your everyday drive.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, which only comes in one trim called Autobahn.

Battling against other fun vehicles like the Honda Civic Si and the Hyundai Elantra N, as well as VW’s own Golf GTI hatchback, the Jetta holds its own quite well and is one of the most affordable sporty compact sedans available.

Read on for a full review of this performance-focused VW offering. 

As SUVs continue to rule the road, Kia is one of the few car brands still offering a compact sedan offering that remains affordable for buyers on a budget.

New for 2025, the Kia K4 (an updated version of Kia’s previous compact sedan, the Forte), shows that a small vehicle can still have a lot to offer.

Here are 5 key things to know if you are considering taking home the Kia K4.


1.  Sharp design

Design is a strong point of the Kia K4 — which offers a wide build, sharply designed front end, and standout lighting designs, plus an attractive sloping roofline. It’s unique enough that you won’t mistake the K4 for any other compact sedan offering.

Opting for the GT-Line trim level also adds gloss black exterior accents.

Interior design is modern and highlighted by a futuristic dashboard, and a sport style steering wheel with paddle shifters.

You won’t get luxury level seating materials at this price point, but it’s a higher quality than you might be expecting. All five passengers in the K4 will be traveling in comfort, with plenty of head room and leg room.

Cargo space is also respectable, with 14.6 cubic feet in the trunk area.

People looking for a smaller car these days have fewer options than ever before, but thankfully many in the segment are sticking around for the long haul.

And if you’re looking for something that’s pretty high-end in design but doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, your choices are even more thin.

One vehicle that does check this box in 2025 is the compact Mazda3, which comes in both a sedan and hatchback version. It’s attractive, sporty, fun to drive, and it looks and feels more expensive than the price tag would indicate.

I recently tested a 2025 Mazda3 2.5 S Carbon Edition AWD sedan, and I’m back with a full report on how it stacks up against the remaining compact offerings — such as the Honda Civic, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla.

Automakers are wisely leaning into their hybrid lineups as the switch to EVS happens at a slower pace than many had anticipated.

One brand with a strong hybrid lineup is Hyundai, including its midsize sedan offering — the Sonata hybrid, which competes mainly with hybrids from Toyota (Camry) and Honda (Accord).

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2025 Hyundai Sonata Limited hybrid, and I’m back with a full report on how it holds up in this resurging category of vehicles.