Sedan Buying Guide
Sedans are the heart of the car market, providing transportation for commuters and families. Sedans come in all sizes, from
small subcompacts to larger, high-performance models. This sedan buyer's guide will prepare you to choose the models that
best fit your needs and budget.
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Getting started
This classic body style covers a broad range of comfort, fuel economy, overall quality, performance, and reliability. Because of the diversity of size and price, the four-door, five-passenger sedan remains among the most-popular car types, but a shift to SUVs in recent years eroded its long-held marketplace dominance. Common midsized sedans priced from $20,000 to $30,000 have the potential to offer a good balance of cost, function, and safety, addressing the needs of many drivers. Midsized models such as the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, and Toyota Camry are among the biggest sellers, and they all excel at the segment's virtues.
Key things to consider
With more than 100 foreign and domestic sedans to choose from, it can be hard to winnow the choices. Key considerations include size, price, fuel economy, comfort, performance, safety, and reliability. Those factors tend to be interlinked. For example, fuel economy goes hand in hand with light weight, small size, and modest power. Agile handling is the province of small and midsized cars. Comfort, power, and quietness are most common in mid- to large-sized cars.Determining the sedan type that you need will narrow the field. Each type (Small, Family, Upscale, and Luxury) has a spectrum of models to choose from, so this is a useful step toward creating your shopping list.
Find out how Consumer Reports can help you to choose the best sedan for your needs.
