Your Full Information to Shopping for a Sedan

Sedans typically come to thoughts once we envision a passenger automobile, however not all passenger vehicles are sedans. The normal definition of a sedan is a car that has three separate compartments for the engine, passengers and cargo — or a three-box configuration — in addition to 4 doorways.

The earliest U.S. sedans got here into existence within the early 1900s, and for many years they dominated car gross sales. However prior to now decade sedans have declined in recognition, primarily as a result of extra drivers selecting car-like crossover SUVs. Nonetheless, for sure varieties of drivers — households wanting reliability, first-time automobile patrons, commuters wanting gasoline effectivity — sedans proceed to be a sensible and well-liked selection.

For those who’re contemplating shopping for a sedan, this information will help you navigate all it’s essential to know, from the kinds out there to key concerns when selecting one.

Sedans are available a variety of sizes and costs, from budget-friendly to costlier luxurious fashions. You could find some sedans with an MSRP under $25,000, and one 2025 mannequin — the subcompact Nissan Versa — is priced under $20,000. On the best finish of the vary are luxurious sedans, with sticker costs properly above $100,000. In 2025, the most costly luxurious sedan would be the Rolls Royce Phantom, with an anticipated worth of merely $510,000.

Usually, sedans are damaged into 4 classes by dimension: subcompact, compact, midsize and full-size. These classes will help you slim your selections to search out the sedan finest suited in your wants.

You’ll discover completely different approaches to figuring out which sedans fall into every class, with one of the crucial widespread being classifications outlined by the Environmental Safety Company for its gasoline financial system reporting. The EPA categorizes a sedan primarily based on its mixed passenger and cargo inside quantity, which we clarify on this breakdown of sedan varieties.

The EPA defines subcompact sedans as having 85 to 99.9 cubic-feet of inside house, however you received’t discover a lot of them. As drivers flip to bigger vehicles and SUVs, subcompact sedans are disappearing from the market. The Mitsubishi Mirage G4, identified for its gasoline effectivity and low beginning worth, is being discontinued after the 2024 mannequin 12 months. The one remaining selection for a real subcompact sedan that’s fairly priced is the Nissan Versa, with a beginning MSRP of $17,190.

The compact class consists of sedans which have 100 to 109.9 cubic-feet of inside house. They’re additionally known as small vehicles. Lately, compact sedans have seen a slight resurgence in recognition, as automobile patrons search economical choices amid excessive car costs and auto mortgage charges. In accordance with the 2024 AAA Your Driving Prices research, small sedans even have the bottom possession prices of all car classes at $5,786 a 12 months. (Their research takes under consideration bills for gasoline, upkeep, insurance coverage, license, registration, taxes and depreciation for a brand new car pushed 15,000 miles yearly over 5 years.)

Sedans with 110 to 119.9 cubic-feet of house fall into the midsize phase. Whereas carmakers are additionally turning their consideration from this phase to extra well-liked SUVs, some midsize sedan fashions preserve their recognition 12 months after 12 months. They provide a mix of effectivity, affordability, house and luxury. In accordance with AAA, medium sedan possession prices are round $7,042 yearly, putting them behind the price of subcompact SUVs and barely higher than compact SUVs.

Sedans with greater than 120 cubic-feet of house fall into the full-size class, additionally referred to as giant vehicles. You received’t discover a lengthy record of full-size sedans, as automobile producers are additionally changing their manufacturing with extra well-liked SUVs. Full-size sedans nonetheless in the marketplace are primarily costly luxurious fashions, with most lower-cost fashions discontinued.

In the present day’s sedans incorporate superior security options, improved gasoline effectivity and progressive expertise. Proudly owning and driving a sedan consists of these advantages:

Affordability: Sedans can be found with decrease beginning costs and possession prices when in comparison with SUVs or vehicles. This makes them particularly enticing to first-time automobile patrons or anybody on a good finances.

Gas effectivity: Their lighter weight and smooth design make many sedans extra fuel-efficient than different car physique kinds. Hybrid and electrical fashions are additionally out there.

Easy trip: Due to their decrease middle of gravity, sedans present a secure and comfy trip. They’re additionally sometimes simpler to deal with when driving.

Know-how: Many trendy sedans come outfitted with superior infotainment programs and driver-assistance options.

Security: Whereas sedans do have some disadvantages — like smaller dimension — relating to a collision, in addition they have benefits. Their decrease middle of gravity makes them much less more likely to roll over than an SUV. Additionally, their ease of dealing with will be useful when attempting to keep away from a crash.

Though sedans have declined in recognition, there’s nonetheless an array to select from. You’ll discover a variety of costs, sizes, kinds and options, with choices for practically each sort of driver. To determine on the sedan make and mannequin that’s best for you, listed here are some issues to contemplate:

Measurement: When deciding between a compact, midsize or full-size sedan, weigh your choice for maneuverability versus spaciousness. A compact sedan goes to be simpler to drive in visitors or manuever by way of tight areas, but it surely might not be the best choice you probably have a household of 5.

House: Take into consideration passenger and cargo house. For those who’ll recurrently have grownup passengers driving within the again, a midsize or bigger mannequin can be your best option. Additionally, take into consideration trunk capability in case you plan to hold baggage, groceries or sports activities tools recurrently. It’s additionally price noting that due to their longer physique, sedans are inclined to have extra passenger house than a hatchback or coupe — two different passenger-car kinds. Nevertheless, hatchbacks often have essentially the most cargo house of the three.

Consolation and inside: Take into consideration what consolation options are essential to you — equivalent to sure seat supplies, heated or ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, dual-zone local weather management or reminiscence seats and mirrors. If attainable, take a look at drive any sedans you’re contemplating.

Gas sort and financial system: Evaluate the gasoline financial system score — mpg for gasoline and MPGe for electrical automobiles — of the vehicles you’re eager about. The EPA determines and studies gasoline financial system for 3 varieties of driving: metropolis, freeway and mixed (a mean of metropolis and freeway). You could find this data at fueleconomy.gov, on new car window stickers, producer web sites and on-line automobile retailer websites. Taking a look at these scores also can aid you determine between a gasoline, hybrid or totally electrical sedan.

Use: Take into consideration the primary methods you’ll be driving your sedan. For each day commuting and highway journeys, gasoline effectivity and luxury might be the largest precedence. For professionals, an upscale inside or reliable connectivity might be a figuring out issue. For drivers residing in an space with harsh climate, AWD or a better floor clearance may be essential.

Engine and energy: Sedans provide quite a lot of engine varieties, from four-cylinder to turbocharged. Compact sedans with four- or six- cylinder engines are typically extra fuel-efficient, however ship much less horsepower. Midsize or full-size sedans with six- or eight-cylinder engines present extra horsepower at the price of gasoline effectivity. Turbochargers give an engine additional energy with out sacrificing gasoline effectivity.

Know-how and leisure: Practically all of in the present day’s sedans include some sort of touchscreen system, from easy to elaborate, so decide which can be best so that you can use. Think about the provision of options like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, built-in navigation, wi-fi charging and voice controls. Do they arrive commonplace or at a further value?

Reliability: Analysis the reliability and model fame of the sedans you’re contemplating. Have that they had numerous recollects? What do on-line proprietor critiques point out? You may as well discover reliability scores for numerous makes and fashions by way of Shopper Studies and J.D. Energy. Additionally, evaluate guarantee coverages and analysis resale worth. Particular makes and fashions — such because the Honda Accord, Honda Civic and Toyota Camry —are identified for sustaining a powerful resale worth.

New vs. used: Whether or not you purchase a brand new or used sedan, you’ll discover professionals and cons for every. A brand new sedan is more likely to have the newest security and tech options, and it gives peace of thoughts with full guarantee protection. You may additionally cut back your value with producer incentives. The draw back is a better upfront worth and quicker depreciation. For those who go for a used sedan, the value tag will possible be decrease, and you might pay much less for taxes, registration and insurance coverage. Nevertheless, you received’t have a full guarantee, so getting an expert inspection both before you purchase or inside a return window is essential.

With sedan fashions ranging in worth from lower than $20,000 to greater than $500,000, the month-to-month cost for a 60-month, 7% APR mortgage for a sedan might be from about $400 to $9,900. Whereas it isn’t possible that many individuals can be flocking to that highest cost, you’ll nonetheless wish to decide the place on this vary your finances falls. It’s finest to do that earlier than you begin procuring, so you’ll be able to goal the automobiles which are a match and don’t overspend.

An auto mortgage calculator can present you an estimated cost quantity and complete mortgage value for various car costs, mortgage phrases and rates of interest.

To get an concept of the speed you’ll qualify for, apply for auto mortgage pre-qualification or preapproval. Pre-qualification with a tender credit score examine received’t have an effect on your credit score scores, but it surely isn’t a agency provide of credit score and the speed you are given is extra more likely to change throughout the mortgage course of. Nonetheless, you should use pre-qualified charges for planning.

A preapproved fee carries extra weight and is much less more likely to change, but it surely sometimes requires a tough credit score inquiry which can quickly decrease your credit score scores. You possibly can current a preapproved fee to a automobile seller to see if it might beat the speed, however in case you’re shopping for and financing by way of an internet retailer most don’t negotiate charges.

Along with the MSRP or sticker worth, your sedan prices will embrace ongoing bills like gasoline, insurance coverage and upkeep. A complete value of possession calculator will help with planning and budgeting for the long-term.

Automotive group AAA conducts an annual Your Driving Prices research that breaks down automobiles by class and gives the common prices for 5 top-selling fashions in every class. The abstract under is for the sedan class in 2024 and never a particular make and mannequin.

SUVs have surpassed sedans in recognition, and in recent times automakers have discontinued the manufacturing of many sedan fashions. Nevertheless, sedans stay a dependable and inexpensive selection for many individuals, and you’ll nonetheless discover many makes and fashions to select from, with extra EVs and hybrids within the combine.

For those who’re nonetheless torn between a sedan versus an SUV or a gas-powered sedan versus an electrical one, our SUV shopping for information and EV shopping for information will help you determine. However in case you already know a sedan is the correct selection for you, listed here are some steps to take: