Best 2019 Used Sedans: 9 Models That Top Our List

For this article, we turned back the clock to find some of the most notable sedans from the 2019 model year. Read on for some great 2019 sedan options to consider at a variety of price points. Or shop Canada Drive’s used 2019 sedans currently for sale here – from luxury models to more affordable 4-door options.

2019 Honda Civic

2019 Civic sedan | Photo: Honda 

Why we like it: A compact sedan with the refinement and interior space of a larger, more expensive car

Specifications: 2.0L four-cylinder, 1.5L turbo four-cylinder engines; 158–205 hp; six-speed manual/continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT)

In 2016, the Honda Civic entered its 10th generation with a redesign that marked the car’s first significant update since 2006. In 2019, Honda updated that Civic by refreshing its styling and making the Honda Sensing suite of driver assists standard across the line.

2019 Honda Civic Si sedan puts down plenty of torque

The turbo 1.5L engine is the star of the show, providing generous torque (up to 192 lb-ft in the Si trim level) and terrific fuel economy: The Touring trim, which pairs the 1.5L with a CVT, is rated for 6.2 L/100 km in highway driving. If you find yourself all alone on a twisty backroad, the Civic’s direct steering feel lets you take advantage of the car’s fun handling, which is amped up in the sporty Si.

Inside, you get uncommonly generous cabin space for a sedan marketed as a compact – so much so that Natural Resources Canada calls the Civic a mid-size for its fuel consumption ratings purposes – and most trims have a digital gauge cluster that lends the dash a high-tech feel.

2019 Honda Civic Touring loaded with premium features

The top Touring trim is the poshest way to get a 10th-gen Civic, with its leather upholstery, navigation, LED headlights, and wireless phone charging. But even if you choose the inexpensive LX package, you get useful features like heated front seats, automatic A/C, and an eight-speaker stereo with 7.0-inch infotainment display.

2019 Mazda3

2019 Mazda3 | Photo: Mazda 

Why we like it: The new-for-2019 fourth-gen Mazda3 proved the company was keen to move upscale without pricing itself out of the economy-car market

Specifications: 2.0L and 2.5L four-cylinder engines; 155-186 hp; six-speed manual/automatic transmissions; front- and all-wheel drive

Right from its introduction in 2004, the Mazda3 looked and drove like a more expensive car than its economy-class pricing suggested. In 2019, the company capitalized on that reputation with a fourth-gen Mazda3 whose upscale styling, design, and driving feel all belied the car’s $18,000 base MSRP.

Mazda3 GS and GT trims finally offered all-wheel drive in 2019

This was also the first Mazda3 offered with all-wheel drive, a feature that by 2019 had become a key part of the luxury-car formula. That helps this budget-priced compact appeal to shoppers who might be drawn to upscale models like the Audi A3 and the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe that would debut as a 2020 model.

Mazda’s AWD option was available in GS and GT trims with the 2.5L engine, though that 186-hp motor’s performance really shines in the lighter FWD versions of those trims, even if Mazda only offered it with an automatic transmission in 2019.

Used Mazda3 GX entry-level model still a great buy

But even the entry-level GX trim delivers smooth performance from its 2.0L engine and a balance between handling and ride comfort that’s hard to find in a small car. And from the driver’s seat, you face a nicely trimmed dash that houses a digital gauge display and an 8.8-inch infotainment screen. Among the 2019 Mazda3’s few downsides is a rear seat that’s quite snug compared to most of its compact-car contemporaries.

2019 Genesis G70

2019 G70 | Photo: Genesis 

Why we like it: Strong value and solid sport-sedan performance come together in Genesis’s first compact sedan model

Specifications: 2.0L turbo four-cylinder, 3.3L turbo V6 engines; 252-365 hp; six-speed manual/eight-speed automatic transmissions; rear or all-wheel drive

In 2017, Hyundai made the bold move of establishing Genesis – formerly the Korean brand’s top sedan model – as a standalone luxury brand. Two years later, Genesis rolled out the G70, a compact sport sedan model conceived to steal sales from the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, or Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

2019 Genesis G70 accessories & features to compete with the Germans

As is the Hyundai way, the G70 came to market loaded with features and priced to undercut those established German cars: The $52,000 2.0T Prestige and 3.3T Dynamic trims came with a head-up display, diamond-stitched leather seats, adaptive headlights, auto-dimming side mirrors, and heated/ventilated front seats. 

But the G70 also boasts great acceleration – particularly with the 365-hp V6 – and impressive handling, two characteristics a sport sedan needs to attract shoppers who might be planning to visit a BMW showroom.

2019 G70 2.0T Sport comes with 6-speed manual transmission & rear-wheel drive

If comfort and convenience top your list of wants, the 2019 Genesis G70 came standard with adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation, and lane keeping assist.

The G70’s most enthusiast-friendly package is the 2.0T Sport configuration, which matches a six-speed manual transmission with rear-wheel drive, big Brembo brakes, and a limited-slip differential. 

2019 Lexus ES

2019 ES | Photo: Lexus 

Why we like it: A spacious, affordable luxury sedan with good driving dynamics and excellent comfort

Specifications: 3.5L V6, 2.5L four-cylinder hybrid engines; 215-302 hp; eight-speed automatic transmission (ES 350) or continuously variable automatic (ES 300h)

In 2019, Lexus redesigned its roomy mid-size ES sedan into its seventh generation, which promised a level of driver engagement well beyond what this popular luxury sedan had offered before.

A used luxury sedan that delivers on handling

And the 2019 Lexus ES delivered, thanks to a new platform and performance-oriented options previously limited to the GS sedan. Among those was an adaptive suspension that adjusts the car’s ride depending on the drive mode selected. And while that doesn’t turn the ES into an all-out sport sedan, it does provide more competent handling than the old car’s mushy chassis could deliver.

2019 Lexus ES 350 makes over 300 horsepower

The 3.5L V6 in the entry-grade ES 350 provides 302 hp (34 more than the previous generation) and powers the front wheels through a new eight-speed transmission. Acceleration is quick, the engine is smooth, and the car’s impressive sound deadening allows for serene high-speed cruising. If fuel economy is your priority, the ES 300h is the one to get for its 5.3L/100 km combined fuel consumption estimate.

Among the 2019 Lexus ES’s standard features is a digital gauge cluster. Combine it with the optional 12.3-inch infotainment display and you end up with a high-tech sedan at an accessible price point.

2019 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

2019 Jetta GLI | Photo: Volkswagen

Why we like it: German sport sedan performance in an affordable package

Specifications: 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine; 228 hp; six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission

Volkswagen redesigned its Jetta compact sedan in 2019 with the admirable goal of making mainstream versions roomier and more efficient than before. But for buyers seeking the kind of driver engagement that German cars are known for, the sporty Jetta GLI remained the one to get.

2019 Jetta GLI 35th Anniversary option package adds sportier handling

Like its predecessor, the 2019 Jetta GLI is effectively a Golf GTI with a trunk. It uses the same 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine that feels more powerful than its 228-hp rating suggests, and boasts nimble handling thanks to a nicely tuned chassis. VW also offered a 35th Anniversary option package that added an adjustable suspension to further sharpen the GLI’s responsiveness.

Serious driving enthusiasts may find themselves torn between the GLI’s two transmission options: The six-speed manual is great to use, but the gear ratios in the optional dual-clutch seven-speed are better suited to the engine’s power delivery. Handling is aided by a limited-slip differential, which helps eliminate wheelspin, especially when accelerating through a corner.

In 2019, VW positioned the GLI as an extension of the Execline trim that topped the regular Jetta range that year, so it comes well-equipped with a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, navigation, eight-speaker audio, digital gauges, and leather upholstery with red stitching.

2019 Audi A6

2019 A6 | Photo: Audi

Why we like it: Strong, efficient performance and great comfort wrapped in the brand’s typical understated styling

Specifications: 3.0L mild hybrid/turbo V6; 335 hp; seven-speed automatic transmission; AWD

The Audi A6 first came to Canada in the late 1990s, replacing the brand’s previous mid-size sedan, the Audi 100. Since then, the A6 has evolved through five generations, with the fifth-gen model coming to Canada for 2019. Like all A6s before it, the 2019 model’s styling was an evolution of the one that came before, but underneath the sheet metal was a bunch of cool new tech.

An Audi sedan with mild hybrid assis

For that first year, every A6 was powered by a 3.0L turbo V6 with mild hybrid assist. Rather than being able to drive the car on its own, the electric motor boosts the car’s acceleration with a maximum of 44 lb-ft of torque, for a total of 369 lb-ft. 

A key benefit is that with electricity providing some of the thrust, the engine doesn’t have to work as hard, so acceleration is a little quieter, if no less intense. The mild hybrid drive system also cuts fuel consumption, making the 2019’s V6 nearly as efficient as the outgoing four-cylinder.

A6 interior

In the cabin, the A6 presents information via three different digital displays, all of which are slick to look at and use, while the front seats promise six-figure comfort at a five-figure price.

An optional adaptive suspension provides fantastic handling and long-haul ride comfort, which you get to enjoy from the highly adjustable driver’s seat. 

2019 Mercedes-Benz E 53

2019 E 53 | Photo: Mercedes-Benz 

Why we like it: Another mid-size luxury sedan that benefits from mild hybrid powertrain technology

Specifications: 3.0L mild hybrid/turbo six-cylinder engine; 429 hp; nine-speed automatic transmission; AWD

German automakers were clearly into electrification in 2019, as evidenced by Mercedes-Benz joining Audi in the mild-hybrid club with the AMG E 53 sedan.

E 53 gained a 2019 refresh and electric motors for extra torque

Benz introduced the 10th-gen E-Class in 2017, but freshened it up in 2019 with the E 53, whose electric motor provides 29 lb-ft of torque in addition to the turbo six-cylinder engine’s 384 lb-ft. Meanwhile, the car’s sport drive modes seem to anticipate what the driver wants, providing near-instantaneous responses to the accelerator pedal.

Those sport modes also toggle firmer suspension settings to improve handling responsiveness when you want it. Otherwise, the standard setting allows for fatigue-free highway driving, particularly at night, when the high-res digital displays are all easy to read at a glance. Highly bolstered seats provide good support for enthusiastic driving while remaining comfortable for relaxed cruising.

The E 53’s electric assist also helps save fuel compared to the AMG E 43 model it replaced in the Benz lineup.

Like the Audi A6, the E 53 has a screen-intensive dashboard that could be optioned with two large side-by-side displays, but the overall look is more classic luxury car than modern high-tech showcase.

2019 Nissan Maxima

2019 Maxima | Photo: Nissan

Why we like it: A big, comfortable near-luxury sedan that flies under the radar

Specifications: 3.5L V6; 300 hp; continuously variable automatic transmission

By 2019, the Nissan Maxima was four years past its last full redesign, making it the oldest car on this list, but it did get a refresh that year that brought a new grille, standard LED headlights, and some upgraded interior materials.

Those little touches were nice updates for a car that, while not a class leader by any specific measure, is one of our favourite sedans of 2019 as an excellent all-rounder.

Nissan Maxima 3.5L turbo V6 good for 300 horsepower

The Maxima’s 300-hp V6 generates smooth, strong power in hard acceleration while quietly purring away at highway cruising speeds. And not for nothing, that big engine is capable of excellent fuel economy and will beat its 7.9 L/100 km highway rating if you’re easy on the gas.

And if the Maxima is less sporty than Nissan wants you to think, it is fun in backroad driving and, more importantly, its suspension does an excellent job controlling body motions while isolating you from uneven pavement.

The Maxima’s top Platinum trim lives up to the car’s flagship billing with auto-dimming side mirrors, surround-view cameras, a power rear-window sunshade, quilted leather seating, and mahogany wood trim.

2019 Buick LaCrosse

2019 LaCrosse | Photo: Buick 

Why we like it: A spacious near-luxury sedan that performs surprisingly well when properly equipped

Specifications: 2.5L four-cylinder, 3.6L V6 engines; 194-310 hp; six- and nine-speed automatic transmissions; front- or all-wheel drive

Buick is known for cushy luxury vehicles, not sporty cars, but the big LaCrosse sedan makes our list for managing to be a bit of both.

A full-size American car with an unexpectedly sportier ride

The caveat is that the LaCrosse pulls off that feat only when equipped with an optional suspension system Buick calls Continuous Damping Control, or CDC. This electronic setup does a brilliant job of masking the LaCrosse’s mass, improving its handling and ride, and reducing fatigue in long-distance driving.

Combine CDC with the LaCrosse’s available AWD system and 310-hp V6 engine, and you’ve got a big, traditional American sedan that does a plausible imitation of a full-size European luxury car.

More predictably, the LaCrosse has wide, comfortable front seats, plenty of rear-seat stretch-out space for your passengers, and a large trunk.

A Buick sedan ending production after 2019

Following the trend that emerged in the late 2010s, the LaCrosse presents driving information via a configurable digital gauge display, and there’s a big touchscreen infotainment display in the dash.

Buick introduced this final generation of the LaCrosse in 2017, just in time for SUVs and crossovers to kill demand for full-size sedans. 2019 was the final year for this big Buick, which has a lot to offer if you’re willing to look past the brand’s staid reputation.