Long before SUVs took over roads in the United States, the humble sedan was the default choice to get around. Most companies have taken their three-box cars off sale in 2026, with only a handful of American companies still making them. Although the options you have left in 2026 aren’t bad either.
It’s easy to see why sedans used to be so popular. There are three distinct areas of the car: the engine, passenger compartment, and cargo area. Many modern sedans actually have more interior space than their crossover counterparts. Here are some of our favorite American sedans from the last century.
We have included only sedans from manufacturers that still produce passenger cars, even if their 2026 lineup does not include any sedans. The list is arranged from oldest to newest.
1934-1937 Chrysler Airflow
1941 Chrysler AirflowChrysler
The Chrysler Airflow was one of many vehicles that were simply too far ahead of their time. It was the first car to be designed in a wind tunnel, as Carl Beer, Technical Director of Chrysler, was an aeronautics enthusiast and thought efficiency would sell cars. Walter Chrysler, the automaker’s CEO, believed that this sleek sedan would help the US market escape the peril it faced after the stock market crash.
After its 1934 unveiling, public reaction to the design was mixed. While efficient, with integrated headlights and a steel monocoque construction, it was seen as a little anonymous. In just three years of production, the car sold less than 28,000 units to the personal disappointment of Walter Chrysler. Quality issues did not help sales. In 2026, though, we can look back on this sedan as the genesis of modern efficiency-first car design.
1961-1969 Lincoln Continental
1961 Lincoln Continental three quarter front in whiteBringATrailer
With the 1950s US car market focused on excess, the 1960s was a time of elegance. No sedan showed that better than the 1961 Lincoln Continental, which is known as one of the pillars of American car design. The flowing yet simple, unbroken lines and the choice of convertible, coupe, or sedan with backward-hinged doors made it a hit. Especially when paired with the two-year warranty, which was good for the time.
You’d be hard-pressed to know that this is a sedan from a distance thanks to the small doors in relation to the land yacht characteristics. Small changes throughout the fourth-generation’s life (which lasted until 1969) were added, such as a more upright grille and larger turn signal, but nothing could match the smoothness of the 1961 debut. All four passengers adored the luxury too, which included air conditioning, FM radio, and leather seating. Lincoln even brought back the coach doors with the last Continental.
1998-2012 Ford Crown Victoria
2003 Ford Crown VictoriaFord
Is there a more famous American sedan than the Ford Crown Victoria? Produced for 14 years, the police and taxis used this staple of US roads, and any family who wanted a reliable and spacious performer. The 4.6-liter Modular V8 was understressed, so while it didn’t blow anyone away with speed, it did benefit customers thanks to its bulletproof reliability. With how many were made, with some sources putting it at 1.5 million, parts are cheap as they are plentiful.
Some police departments haven’t retired these vehicles from service, even in 2026, because of familiarity and the ease of operation. The legend continued in 2008 and remained in service as a fleet vehicle until 2011, when the final one was shipped to Saudi Arabia. The rise of the SUV is what Ford says killed interest in the car. A decent example can be had for $10,000, which is why so many people still buy them to use as daily drivers.
2012-2026 Tesla Model S
The first-generation Tesla Model S P85 could sprint from 0-60 mph in less than five seconds, and had a range of around 260 miles.Tesla
The Tesla Model S might be the most important electric car ever produced, and the one that showed that when done properly, electric cars can fit into most people’s lives. Tesla has turned into something of a powerhouse thanks to this sedan, which debuted in 2012 and bowed out with a 1,000-horsepower Plaid model capable of beating most supercars. If you love huge screens in cars, you have the Tesla to thank.
Yes, the early reliability record left something to be desired, but you can’t throw your fists in the air at such an early stage of the concept. Now that it’s discontinued, Tesla focuses on SUVs like every other brand, but it was this car that made that possible. It feels like Tesla never really stopped improving the Model S, either, with over 400 miles of range, lots of luxury, and fixing the early quality-control issues by the end of production.
2014-2017 Chevrolet SS
2014 Chevrolet SS Red Front Angled ViewChevrolet
It’s hard to choose a Chevrolet sedan, but we’re going for the SS thanks to its small-block V8 and slick six-speed manual transmission. It might have all the bells and whistles of performance, but the understated looks are also a real highlight. Sedans shouldn’t pretend to be supercars, but this SS still has the aura of racing business about it, with four subtle exhaust tips and a small rear lip spoiler.
While this car has Aussie roots with GM’s Holden brand, we like to think that if Chevy went back to the sedan game, they’d go for something with the legendary V8 like this. Ultimately, sales didn’t quite add up for the company to justify continuing production, and we’re unlikely to see another performance sedan from Chevy soon. A shame, as while the CT4-V from Cadillac takes the fight to the Germans, a lower-cost Chevy would easily undercut them.
2015-2023 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye front 3/4Stellantis
If this European writer were to describe a car that’s uniquely American, it’d probably look something like the all-powerful Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. A thumping V8 with over 700 horsepower, huge wide arches, and driving dynamics that are more tuned to the drag strip than an Alpine pass. In Redeye variants, the Hemi engine made 800 hp.
The extra 3.5 inches of fender width in the widebody format made it even scarier in the rear-view mirror. The classic Charger was a coupe in the muscle car golden age, so some feathers were ruffled when the modern interpretation was released, but it’s certainly made its mark on the sedan game since its release. There’s a rumor a new one could come in 2028 — and we welcome it with open arms.
2018-2020 Buick Regal GS
The front of the 2020 Buick Regal GS in redBuick
It’s hard to choose a Buick sedan, as there are so many options, but we’re going for the Regal GS for taking the fight to the European options on the market. With 310 hp coming from a 3.6-liter V6, it’s the most powerful Regal ever produced, and wide tires and sports suspension make it compliant through the bends.
Being a Buick, it’s comfortable, as any sedan should be, and the seats come standard with heating, ventilation, and even massaging. The nine-speed transmission is decent when you’re on the ball, and it tries to toe the line between luxury and sport by including 19-inch wheels, bright red Brembo brakes, and larger front intakes. We’d love a modern interpretation.
2022-2026 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
The 2025 Cadillac CTS-V Black Wing is not only spiffy, but fast too.Cadillac
The last V8 RWD manual sedan left in America is a special one. Sure, V-badged Cadillacs have a long history of creating driver-focused yet comfortable daily drivers, but the CT5-V Blackwing is even more special as it shows that you don’t need a hybrid engine in 2026 to extract huge thrills. Especially when the result looks this good.
The German competitors may boast quicker 0-60 times thanks to their all-wheel-drive systems and hybridization, but those features cause them to feel heavy compared to the Blackwing. Hopping into the Cadillac feels like a time capsule, a reminder of a time when weight and complexity were the enemies of performance.
A 670-hp engine and six-speed manual are where the fun is at. Equipped with Cadillac’s Magnetic Ride Control, performance analyzer, and huge Brembo six-piston brakes, it’s at home on the racetrack as well as country lanes. We especially loved that the suspension is compliant when you want it to be during daily driving, but stiffens up when you drive hard.
2023-Present Lucid Air Sapphire
2023 – 2026 Lucid Air Sapphire exterior frontLucid
The Lucid Air Sapphire might look like a luxury sedan, but it’s one of the fastest vehicles on the road today and one of the most impressive electric vehicles ever. The 1,234-hp output comes from three motors, delivering a sub-two-second 0-60 mph time, and the car stops accelerating only at 204 miles per hour. It performs so well despite looking like something that isn’t out of place at a black-tie event.
Does all that power lower the range? No! It can still achieve over 400 miles from a single charge thanks to an 118 kWh battery and aero plates on the wheels. The quarter mile is eclipsed in only nine seconds. Nine seconds. This is one of the most impressive sedans on sale today, and certainly one of the best electric cars money can buy. The only catch is that the machine costs $249k.
Sources: Cadillac, Lucid,
