They’ve been a presence on American roads since cars were called horseless carriages. Sedans are the go-to car for everything from basic family transportation to taxis to high-end luxury cars. You name it, and odds are there’s a sedan that can do it.
But with such a wide variety of sedans out there, actually deciding on and buying a sedan can be a confusing process. Here’s what you need to know to get started.
What’s a Sedan?
A sedan is a four-door car with a trunk. In theory, it’s that simple. In practice, however, sedans are cars designed to move people and a limited amount of cargo comfortably. Sedans can vary in price from as little as around $10,000 to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Sedans can have fuel-sipping four-cylinder engines, monster V8s (or V10s and V12s), gas-electric powertrains, diesel engines or electric motors.
When it comes to styling, all sedans have four doors and a trunk, but commonalities end there. Sedans can be sleek and modern, like the Cadillac CTS. They can be sporty, like the Mazda3 or Lexus IS. And, they can be conservative and traditional, like the Hyundai Equis or Ford Taurus. When you get down to it, a sedan is the automotive equivalent of a pair of jeans: they’re as common as rain, but everyone wears them a little differently.
Types of Sedans
It’s a little strange to talk about types of sedans; after all, they’re all sedans. But within the class, there are some definite subcategories.
The easiest way to divide sedans is by price. Affordable sedans are your basic economy car. They have starting prices under $18,000, and they usually have limited interior features and performance. They also tend to be a lot smaller than other sedans. Cars like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla fall into this category.
Midsize sedans typically start at $18,000 to $25,000, though their prices rise when you start adding in options. Midsize sedans usually have standard four-cylinder engines, as well as optional six-cylinder engines. You’ll generally get more standard features on midsize sedans like power windows and a power driver’s seat than you will on an affordable sedan. Passenger space is better too -- while most affordable sedans can seat five people, keeping backseat passengers to two will make everyone more comfortable. On the other hand, midsize sedans can keep three passengers in the backseat happy for short trips.
Upscale sedans tend to cost over $30,000 and can include affordable large cars like the Ford Taurus or Chrysler 300, as well as luxury-oriented midsize cars, like the BMW 3-Series,Audi A4, cadillac CTS and Mercedes-Benz C-class Large cars have roomy and comfortable interiors and plenty of cargo space in their big trunks. Luxury midsize cars have smaller interiors, but they’re built with nicer materials. Plus, the luxury midsize cars tend to be built with an eye toward sporty performance. Large cars tend to be built more with passenger comfort in mind.
Luxury large sedans start at around $50,000 and from there, there’s not much of a limit on price. Cars like the BMW 7-Series, and Lexus LS allow buyers to chose a ride that cradles them in luxury while also offering great performance from powerful engines.
Beyond the differences in size and price, sedans differ by how much of an emphasis they put on performance. Sedans with a sporty bent get great handling from their taut suspensions. However, a tight suspension translates into a ride that can be rough for passengers. Some buyers might not mind, but others may prefer a sedan with a softer ride, like the Buick La Crsse or Lexus ES.
Sedans can also have wildly different fuel-economy ratings. A large performance sedan can get as little as 11 mpg in the city, while a small affordable sedan can get over 30 mpg. Diesel engines are also becoming more common in sedans, where they can achieve over 40 mpg on the highway. While most people think of a wedge-shaped hatchback when they think of hybrids, hybrid sedans are becoming more common. You can even get a luxury hybrid sedan like the Linco Z In MK Hybrid.
Sedans and Safety
Because there is so much variation on the kind of sedan you can buy, there is also a lot of variation in sedan safety. While the vast majority of sedans have key safety features like side-impact airbags, stability and traction control, as well as anti-lock brakes, you do need to pay extra for some of these features on some models. Also, the larger a sedan is, the better it tends to be at protecting the people inside it in the event of a crash.
On the other hand, as a whole, sedans tend to get excellent crash-test ratings. Also, they don’t have many of the safety issues you see in other classes. For example, SUVs are more prone to rolling over and have less visibility than sedans.
Sedans and Families
Though lots of families opt for SUVs and station wagons, smaller families can use a sedan as a family car with no problem. In fact, some kid-friendly entertainment features, like rear-seat DVD players are making their way into sedans, even in some surprisingly affordable ones. And while the sedans only have trunks from cargo, if you pack right, a sedan should have no trouble swallowing your stuff.
Buying a Sedan
With so many different types of sedans to choose from, buying one can be daunting. Our goal with this sedan buying guide is to help you home in on your needs and wants -- then help you find the sedan that meets them. Your sedan is out there. Let’s go find it.
0 comments:
Post a Comment