Best saloon cars 2025

Finding the best saloon car can feel a bit like your grandparents choosing a new phone – most look quite similar and do the same things.  

But when you get into the nitty-gritty of it all, there’s actually a wide range of different saloons on the market. 

From electric and hybrid saloons to performance and executive examples, you're sure to find one that suits you down to the ground. Some of these categories include electric, hybrid, family saloons and posher executive saloons. 

But where should you start? Keep reading for some inspiration of the best saloons. 

Which saloon car is best? 

• Tesla Model 3 

• Skoda Superb 

• BMW 3 Series 

• Mercedes S-Class 

• Peugeot 508 

• Skoda Octavia 

• Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio 

Best saloon cars 

Tesla Model 3 

Best electric saloon car 

The Tesla Model 3 is one of the most popular saloons and best-selling electric cars in the world, and it’s perhaps best known for having some of the most impressive tech of any car. 

With a 436-mile range and up to 446hp, the Model 3 is a well-rounded option before you consider its 594 litres of boot space and spacious five seats.  

And, while other charging networks have done a lot of catching up, Tesla Superchargers are still the best in the world and a massive pull for picking up a Model 3. 

• Read our Tesla Model 3 review 

Skoda Superb 

Best hybrid saloon 

Hybridisation is key to expanding a brand’s lineup, and that’s precisely what Skoda has done with the Superb to bring it into the modern era. 

With a 44-mile electric-only range from its plug-in hybrid setup, it means you can complete most daily journeys completely on electricity alone, producing zero tailpipe emissions. 

As well as being efficient, the Superb also gets a 645-litre boot and a family friendly cabin due to its size and comfort. 

• Read our Skoda Superb review 

BMW 3 Series 

Best small saloon cars UK 

BMW has been making smart-looking saloons for decades, and this expertise and experience really shows through with every generation of the 3 Series. 

It might be one of the more compact saloon cars on the market, but it still has a 480-litre boot, and a punchy engine range – from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder to the top-spec 3.0-litre six-cylinder M3. 

Plus, with the worthy BMW badge on the steering wheel, it’s hard to ignore its prowess in the small saloon market. 

• Read our BMW 3 Series review 

Mercedes S-Class 

Best executive saloon 

Sitting at the top of the executive saloon tree is the Mercedes S-Class – it’s effortless elegance and interior luxury set it apart from everything else. 

Often used as a limousine, it’s a car you can drive long distances in without any discomfort, especially if you’re in the back and enjoying the optional massaging seats. 

Plus, it’s still got a 540-litre boot and a hybrid option offering up to 68 miles of electric-only range to move quietly through when you fancy. 

• Read our Mercedes S-Class review 

Peugeot 508 

Best cheap saloon cars 

If you’re on a budget, look no further than the Peugeot 508 – a futuristic-looking family saloon with a quirky interior and strong tech. 

Its 487-litre boot may not be the largest, but the overall cabin size is plenty for most people.  

A used Peugeot 508 can be a real bargain, so make sure to keep an eye out for one.  

Since it shares parts with other cars in the Stellantis Group, it should be pretty cheap to run too.  

• Read our Peugeot 508 review

Skoda Octavia 

Best family saloon car 

If you need the best family saloon, there’s very little as compelling as a Skoda Octavia, especially if you’re after fantastic value.  

Available as both a saloon and estate, this versatile vehicle has plenty of space for all the family and a 600-litre boot. 

Plus, you benefit from Skoda’s reliability, which trickles down from the wider Volkswagen Audi Group. 

And who doesn’t love umbrellas in the door and an ice scraper in the fuel filler cap? 

• Read our Skoda Octavia review 

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio 

Best sports saloon 

When we talk sports saloons, we’re more often than not talking about the Alfa Romeo Giulia – perhaps the greatest to ever grace our roads. 

With a grumbling Ferrari-derived 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine and 500hp, the Quadrifoglio is a petrolhead’s dream. Of course, its rivals such as the Mercedes-AMG E63 and BMW M5 are great options, but very few corner and accelerate like the Giulia does. And that sound...

You also get a decent-sized 480-litre boot and all the bells and whistles of the standard Giulia, plus a few extra flourishes.

• Read our Alfa Romeo Giulia review

Explore used saloon cars for sale 

There are so many different used saloon cars on offer, and you can start your hunt right here.  

Whether you’re after a fully electric or petrol one, there are plenty of options to consider. 

Or why not come down to one of our cinch Stores and try one out for yourself before buying?