Best saloon cars 2026: seven sedans compared by cost, safety and space
Saloons, or sedans, have lost buyers to SUVs, but the best of them combine low running costs with the highest safety scores Euro NCAP has awarded recently. The seven four-door cars below are on sale new in Europe in 2026. They cover the compact executive class of the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the larger executive class of the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6. An electric Tesla and an electric or mild-hybrid Mercedes-Benz CLA complete the list.
Quick picks
- Best overall: Tesla Model 3 – Best in Class safety 2025 and the lowest monthly cost here.
- Best compact executive: BMW 3 Series – 1.1 ADAC breakdowns per 1,000 for 2022 cars.
- Safest: Mercedes-Benz CLA – Euro NCAP's best performer of 2025.
- Most economical executive saloon: Mercedes-Benz E 200 d – 4.7 l/100 km.
- Most reliable large saloon: BMW 5 Series – 0.8 breakdowns per 1,000 for 2023 cars.
The table compares the entry version of each saloon with the figures listed by ADAC, Germany's motoring club. Monthly cost is ADAC's estimate over five years and 15,000 km a year, including depreciation.
| Model (version) | Power | Consumption (WLTP) | Boot | Euro NCAP | Cost per month | List price, Germany |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 (RWD) | 208 kW (283 PS) | 12.2 kWh/100 km | 594 l | 5 stars, 2025 | €789 | €36,990 (2025) |
| BMW 3 Series (320i) | 135 kW (184 PS) | 6.5 l/100 km | 480 l | 5 stars, 2019 | €1,126 | €52,200 (2025) |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class (C 200) | 147 kW (200 PS) | 6.2 l/100 km | 455 l | 5 stars, 2022 | – | €48,844 (2026) |
| Mercedes-Benz CLA (200 electric) | 165 kW (224 PS) | 12.3 kWh/100 km | 405 l | 5 stars, 2025 | – | €49,421 (2025) |
| BMW 5 Series (520i) | 153 kW (208 PS) | 5.7 l/100 km | 520 l | 5 stars, 2023 | €1,280 | €60,000 (2025) |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class (E 200 d) | 137 kW (186 PS) | 4.7 l/100 km | 540 l | 5 stars, 2024 | – | €58,429 (2025) |
| Audi A6 (2.0 TFSI) | 150 kW (204 PS) | 7.3 l/100 km | 492 l | 5 stars, 2024 | €1,224 | €56,300 (2025) |
A dash means ADAC showed no cost estimate for that version. Need more boot space than a saloon offers? The best used diesel estates carry far more for less money.
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1. Tesla Model 3
Best overall
- Production years
- 2016–present
- Body type
- Sedan
- Fuel
- Electric
- Power output
- 170–393 kW (231–534 PS)
The facelifted Model 3 is the cheapest saloon here to buy and to own. The rear-wheel-drive version costs from €36,990 in Germany, and ADAC estimates the total at €789 a month, about €340 less than a BMW 320i. It has 208 kW (283 PS), 572 km of WLTP range and an efficient 12.2 kWh/100 km. Euro NCAP named it Best in Class large family car of 2025, with 89 out of 100 points. Its 594-litre boot and 88-litre front boot are the largest here. The drawbacks: it may tow only 1,000 kg, and it is the only car here without a combustion option.
Pros
- ��789 a month total cost
- Euro NCAP Best in Class 2025
- 594-litre boot plus front boot
Cons
- 1,000 kg towing limit
Spec sheet: Tesla Model 3 RWD (2023 refresh) 208 kW (283 PS)
Full review: Tesla Model 3 -
2. BMW 3 Series G20
Best compact executive saloon
- Production years
- 2018–present
- Body type
- Sedan, Station wagon
- Fuel
- Petrol, Diesel, Plug-in hybrid
- Power output
- 115–285 kW (156–387 PS)
The G20 3 Series has been on sale since 2019 and was updated again in 2024, with a successor listed by ADAC from 2027. The 320i has 135 kW (184 PS), rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic, reaches 100 km/h in 7.4 s and uses 6.5 l/100 km WLTP. It costs from €52,200, and ADAC estimates €1,126 a month to own. ADAC records only 1.1 breakdowns per 1,000 for 2022 cars and 1.4 for 2023. Euro NCAP awarded five stars in 2019. The drawback: ADAC lists no manufacturer vehicle warranty.
Pros
- 1.1 breakdowns per 1,000 (2022 cars)
- Rear-wheel drive and eight-speed automatic
- 480-litre boot
Cons
- Successor due in 2027; no vehicle warranty listed
Spec sheet: BMW 3 Series G20 2.0 l 318i 115 kW (156 PS)
Full review: BMW 3 Series G20 -
3. Mercedes-Benz C-Class W206
Best value premium saloon
- Production years
- 2021–present
- Body type
- Sedan, Station wagon
- Fuel
- Petrol, Diesel
- Power output
- 147–150 kW (200–204 PS)
The W206 C-Class arrived in 2021, and the facelifted car reaches German customers from August 2026. The entry C 200 has 147 kW (200 PS), a nine-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive, and costs from €48,844, less than the BMW 320i. ADAC lists 6.2 l/100 km WLTP and a 455-litre boot. A C 300 e plug-in hybrid with 240 kW is also offered. Euro NCAP awarded five stars in 2022. The drawback: ADAC records 6.1 and 6.7 breakdowns per 1,000 for 2022 and 2023 cars, with the starter battery as the listed cause.
Pros
- From €48,844 in Germany
- 6.2 l/100 km WLTP
- Plug-in hybrid with 240 kW available
Cons
- 6.7 breakdowns per 1,000 (2023 cars)
Spec sheet: Mercedes-Benz C-Class W206 1.5 l C 200 150 kW (204 PS)
Full review: Mercedes-Benz C-Class W206 -
4. Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class C174/C178
Safest
- Production years
- 2025–present
- Body type
- Sedan, Station wagon
- Fuel
- Hybrid, Electric
- Power output
- 200–260 kW (272–354 PS)
The third CLA is a coupé-style saloon offered with electric and petrol drive. Euro NCAP named it the best performer of all cars tested in 2025, and ADAC lists 91 out of 100 points. The electric CLA 200 has 165 kW (224 PS), a 58 kWh usable battery, 542 km of WLTP range and just 12.3 kWh/100 km. It charges at up to 200 kW DC and costs from €49,421. Petrol versions with an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox start at €46,243 for the Coupé 180. The drawback: the 405-litre boot is the smallest here.
Full review: Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class C174/C178Pros
- Euro NCAP best performer 2025
- 542 km WLTP range (CLA 200 electric)
- 200 kW DC charging
Cons
- 405-litre boot
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5. BMW 5 Series G60
Most reliable large saloon
- Production years
- 2023–present
- Body type
- Sedan, Station wagon
- Fuel
- Petrol, Diesel, Plug-in hybrid, Electric
- Power output
- 145–535 kW (197–727 PS)
The eighth 5 Series, coded G60, was launched in 2023. The 520i has 153 kW (208 PS), rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic, reaches 100 km/h in 7.5 s and uses 5.7 l/100 km WLTP. At 5,060 mm it is the longest car here, with a 520-litre boot. Plug-in hybrid 530e and 550e versions with 220 kW and 360 kW are also listed. ADAC records just 0.8 breakdowns per 1,000 for 2023 cars, and Euro NCAP awarded five stars in December 2023. The drawback: ADAC estimates €1,280 a month to own, the most here.
Pros
- 0.8 breakdowns per 1,000 (2023 cars)
- 5.7 l/100 km WLTP
- Plug-in hybrids up to 360 kW
Cons
- ��1,280 a month total cost
Spec sheet: BMW 5 Series G60 530e 220 kW (299 PS)
Full review: BMW 5 Series G60 -
6. Mercedes-Benz E-Class W214
Most economical executive saloon
- Production years
- 2023–present
- Body type
- Sedan, Station wagon
- Fuel
- Petrol, Diesel
The W214 E-Class was Euro NCAP's best performer of 2024, with 89 out of 100 points according to ADAC. The E 200 d diesel has 137 kW (186 PS) and uses only 4.7 l/100 km WLTP, the lowest figure of any combustion car here, with a 66-litre tank. Its 540-litre boot is the largest of the combustion saloons. It costs from €58,429 in Germany, and an E 300 e plug-in hybrid is also offered. Mercedes guarantees the body against rust for 30 years. The drawbacks: 8.5 s to 100 km/h and a two-year vehicle warranty.
Full review: Mercedes-Benz E-Class W214Pros
- 4.7 l/100 km WLTP
- 540-litre boot
- Euro NCAP best performer 2024
Cons
- 8.5 s to 100 km/h
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7. Audi A6 C9
Best for choice of engines
- Production years
- 2025–present
- Body type
- Sedan, Station wagon
- Fuel
- Petrol, Diesel
- Power output
- 150–270 kW (204–367 PS)
The combustion A6, coded C9, went on sale in Germany in July 2025 alongside the separate electric A6 e-tron. The range covers petrol, diesel, mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions from 150 kW to 270 kW. The entry 2.0 TFSI has 150 kW (204 PS), front-wheel drive and a seven-speed S tronic, and costs from €56,300. Euro NCAP awarded five stars in December 2024. The drawbacks: the base petrol uses 7.3 l/100 km WLTP, the most here, and ADAC estimates €1,224 a month to own.
Pros
- Petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid versions
- Five-star Euro NCAP (2024)
- 492-litre boot
Cons
- 7.3 l/100 km WLTP (2.0 TFSI)
Spec sheet: Audi A6 C9 3.0 l TFSI quattro 270 kW (367 PS)
Full review: Audi A6 C9
How we chose
Selection. The list covers four-door saloons sold new in Germany in 2026 that have a published model page on 1cars. The Toyota Camry was left out because ADAC lists it in Germany only until 2021, and the Volkswagen Passat is now sold only as an estate. For each model, the cheapest version was used, except the CLA, where the electric car carries the 2025 Euro NCAP result.
Data sources. Power, torque, acceleration, WLTP consumption, dimensions, boot volumes, warranty terms, Euro NCAP results, monthly cost estimates and German list prices come from the ADAC Autokatalog pages for the named versions (accessed October 2026). Euro NCAP stars that ADAC does not show come from the 1cars catalogue. Breakdown rates come from the ADAC model pages, which show the Pannenstatistik 2026 values, and Best in Class awards from Euro NCAP.
Ranking. The order is editorial. It weighs running costs, safety, reliability data, space and price, and it is not a test score. More detail is on the 1cars pages for the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 5 Series.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best saloon car to buy in 2026?
For most buyers, the Tesla Model 3. Euro NCAP named it the best large family car of 2025, and ADAC estimates its total cost at €789 a month, far below the €1,126 of a BMW 320i, because its energy and running costs are low.
Which saloon has the biggest boot?
The Tesla Model 3, with 594 litres plus an 88-litre front boot, according to ADAC. Among the combustion cars, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class leads with 540 litres, followed by the BMW 5 Series with 520 litres.
Which saloon is the most reliable?
On ADAC breakdown data, the BMW 5 Series, with 0.8 breakdowns per 1,000 cars for 2023 registrations and 1.2 for 2022. The BMW 3 Series records 1.1 for 2022 and 1.4 for 2023.
Which executive saloon uses the least fuel?
The Mercedes-Benz E 200 d diesel, at 4.7 l/100 km WLTP. The BMW 520i petrol mild hybrid uses 5.7 l/100 km, and the Audi A6 2.0 TFSI 7.3 l/100 km.
Are saloons safer than SUVs?
Not by definition, but saloons led Euro NCAP's overall results in 2024 and 2025. The Mercedes-Benz CLA was the best performer of 2025 and the E-Class of 2024, and the Tesla Model 3 scored 89 out of 100 points in 2025.
