The super saloon is, arguably, the most complete performance car you can buy. Four doors, a proper boot and room for the family, wrapped around an engine and chassis that'll embarrass cars from a class above. It's the car that does the school run on Monday and demolishes a track day on Sunday.

We're spoilt for choice right now, so we've picked our five favourites. Some are obvious. One is a clever underdog that delivers most of the thrills for a fraction of the cost. And every single one rewards the right modifications which, naturally, is where we come in.

The line-up at a glance

1. BMW G80 M3 (The benchmark)

There's a reason every super saloon comparison comes back to the M3. The G80 took the formula and sharpened it: a 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six (the S58) producing 503bhp in Competition trim, a 0-62 time of 3.9 seconds (or just 3.5 with xDrive), and a chassis that flatters expert and novice alike. Love or hate the grille, this is the car the others are measured against.

It's also one of the few here you can still buy with a manual gearbox, in rear-drive form a proper enthusiast's choice in an increasingly automatic world.

Why we love modifying it: the S58 engine is a powerhouse with serious headroom, responding superbly to remaps and bolt-ons. And the styling scene is enormous carbon splitters, diffusers, spoilers and more for the BMW M3 G80 let you make a statement to match the performance.

2. Audi RS5 (The understated all-weather weapon)

If the M3 shouts, the RS5 whispers. Audi's 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 makes 444bhp, and with quattro all-wheel drive putting it all down, it'll fire to 62mph in 3.9 seconds regardless of the weather making it the ultimate year-round super saloon for British roads. The RS5 Sportback's five-door practicality only adds to the appeal.

It's the sleeper of the group: devastatingly quick, beautifully built, and happy to fly completely under the radar.

Why we love modifying it: that 2.9 TFSI V6 hides plenty of locked-away performance, and a remap transforms it. Subtle carbon styling and exhaust upgrades for the RS5 sharpen the look without ruining its Q-car charm — the perfect recipe for a stealth build.

3. Mercedes AMG E63 S (The V8 monster)

For sheer drama, nothing here touches the E63 S. Its hand-built 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 thunders out 612bhp and 627 lb ft, hurling this big executive saloon to 62mph in a faintly ridiculous 3.4 seconds with a soundtrack to match. It even has a Drift Mode that decouples the front axle for full rear-drive hooliganism.

With the wider industry moving away from big V8s towards downsized hybrids, the E63 S in this form is fast becoming a future classic. Get one while you still can.

Why we love modifying it: that V8 is a tuning legend, and even modest work unlocks frankly silly numbers. A performance exhaust is almost mandatory letting that AMG V8 truly sing is one of motoring's great pleasures. Explore parts for the Mercedes E63 W213 to build the ultimate Q-ship.

4. Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio (The heart's choice)

The thinking enthusiast's super saloon. The Giulia Quadrifoglio's 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 has genuine Ferrari engineering in its DNA, producing 503bhp sent purely to the rear wheels. But it's the chassis, developed by the same engineer behind the Ferrari 458 Speciale that makes it special. Few four-door cars feel this alive, this communicative, this joyful through a series of bends.

It's not as clinically perfect as the Germans. That's exactly the point. The Giulia has soul, and it'll top 191mph trying to prove it.

Why we love modifying it: the Quadrifoglio is all about character, and the right upgrades amplify it. An exhaust to liberate that Ferrari-derived V6, lightweight styling and a subtle drop on coilovers or springs take an already-special car to another level. Browse the Alfa Romeo range to get started.

5. BMW G20 M340i (The value and tuning champion)

Here's our wildcard, and pound-for-pound it might be the smartest buy on this list. The M340i isn't a full fat M car but with 374bhp from BMW's celebrated B58 straight-six, a 0-62 time of 4.4 seconds and that classic rear-biased xDrive balance, it gets remarkably close for thousands less than an M3.

But the real magic is what lies beneath. The B58 is widely regarded as one of the best tuning engines on the market today and that's where the M340i goes from "almost M3" to genuine M3-slayer.

Why we love modifying it: a simple Stage 1 remap reliably lifts the B58 to around 440bhp comfortably more than a standard M3 and the engine has the strength to take far more with supporting mods. Factor in the vast parts catalogue for the BMW G20 3 Series and you have the best value performance-per-pound on this entire list. Buy the M340i, spend the M3 savings on mods, and out-accelerate the lot.

The verdict

If you want the all-round benchmark, it's the M3. For all-weather stealth, the RS5. For pure drama and a slice of V8 history, the E63 S. For driving feel and character, the Giulia Quadrifoglio. And for the cleverest blend of value and tuning potential, the M340i is impossible to ignore.

The truth is, there's no wrong answer here, it's only the question of which character suits you best. And whichever you choose, the journey doesn't end at the dealership. It starts there.

Browse our full ranges for BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Alfa Romeo, then find a trusted specialist near you through our UK service finder to fit it all properly. Buy it, build it, and get it fitted, all in one place.