Best sedans arriving in 2021

Kia launched a facelifted Cerato in June, with it bringing a sleeker headlight treatment as per the recently revealed Stinger sports sedan, a revised ‘tiger nose’ grille, reprofiled bumpers (featuring reshaped air intakes up front), restyled alloys and changed tail-light graphics.

Inside, there’s a larger, 10.25-inch touchscreen; updated multimedia and altered cabin trim, while improved driver-assist safety also arrived.

Australia sticks with the trusty old 2.0-litre naturally aspirated and 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engines for now.

Lexus’ Mercedes-Benz S-Class-rivalling LS facelift arrived in February with restyled headlights featuring a trick auto high-beam system, a different grille and bumpers, new side vents and some minor tail-light alterations.

The central screen gained touch-input functionality and Apple CarPlay Android Auto support (at last), and there’s a new camera-based rearview mirror and Active Noise Control and Engine Sound Enhancement tuning for quieter progress, among other upgrades.

Meanwhile, the adaptive suspension has been retuned for better comfort, the hybrid LS500h’s 3.5-litre V6 receives more electric motor assistance, and the same engine but with twin turbos in the LS500 now has greater low-end torque and revised transmission ratios for stronger throttle responses.

Finally, an upgrade to the driver-assist safety tech saw adaptive cruise control and full park assist improvements.

After more than a year’s hiatus, the Passat-based Volkswagen Arteon returns in October 2021 with a host of changes.

Along with a fresh face (new headlights, a full-length LED bar and reshaped bumpers), it also brings redesigned alloys and tail-lights, while a restyled upper dash, centre stack, instrumentation, steering wheel and climate controls complete the updates inside. Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto arrives, too, as well as improved driver-assist safety.

A high-performance R with 235kW is also on the horizon, while an all-new Shooting Brake wagon will be available from launch.

With nearly 70 per cent of the sub-$60K medium-sized sedan market, the Camry is king, but that didn't stop Toyota releasing a revamped version in April.

Restyled headlights, grille, bumpers and alloy wheels are the main visual giveaways, with a choice of two looks for the refreshed front end, depending on whether you prefer ‘classy’ or ‘sporty’ spice.

Similarly subtle changes mark the facelifted Camry’s cabin, with a new ‘floating’ touchscreen in either 7.0 or 9.0 inch sizes, repositioned air vents and updated trim. Expanded safety includes autonomous emergency braking now supporting night-time pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection as well as intersection assist, improved road-sign recognition functionality and a child-in-car reminder.

While the recently updated hybrid versions (with the old 245V nickel metal hydride battery replaced by a 259V lithium-ion unit last July) carries over, the 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine is actually new, while the 3.5-litre V6 has been axed.

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class will arrive in local showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2021, with all engines now featuring 48-volt mild-hybrid technology for improved fuel efficiency.

The Australian line-up is still yet to be finalised, but the fifth-generation C-Class is offered with petrol and diesel engines ranging in power from 125-195kW overseas.

A plug-in hybrid version will also be made available at some point, doubling its all-electric driving range to around 100km compared to its predecessor.

Need the practicality of a sedan but want the style of a coupe? Mercedes-Benz has your answer with its updated CLS due to hit local showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2021.

A fresh face and wheels highlight the changes to the updated CLS, while inside a redesigned touchpad and steering wheel also feature.

Exactly which engines will be offered in Australia is still to be confirmed, but the current line-up is offered in CLS450 and AMG CLS53 flavours.