What to Look for in a Sedan

The best of all worlds

Sedans provide maneuverability, protective structure, and safety equipment. With so many models to choose from, finding a sedan is easy; however, choosing the best sedan is challenging given all of today’s options. But, once you know what to look for in a sedan, you’ll be halfway there!

Choices, choices

There are many different vehicle categories, one of the most popular ones being the sedan. Sedans are cars with four doors and a trunk—not a hatch or liftgate.

There are a few categories of sedans, which can help narrow things down when choosing the best sedan.

Sedan types include:

• Subcompact
• Compact
• Mid-sized
• Large
• Luxury

Then there’s the car manufacturer to consider when choosing the best sedan.

One of our favorites is the Kia!

However, even among the Kia family there are more options! Kia makes include:

• Kia Rio
• Kia Forte
• Kia Optima
• Kia Stinger
• Kia Cadenza

Check out Consumer Reports for ratings on individual vehicle makes!

Be a smart sedan shopper

Once you’ve settled on a category, what should you look for?

Sedans are the quintessential vehicle. But with so many options, choosing the best sedan can feel daunting. Where do you start?

Make sure to consider:

• Safety
• Rear seat legroom
• Gas mileage
• Technology

Safety

Choosing the best sedan should entail looking at safety first.

Sedans, especially midsized and larger, have some of the lowest death and injury rates on the road. Since you are in a relatively small vehicle, you have the advantage of full curtain airbags and lane keeping assist features.

In fact, there are numerous safety features in sedans!

All-new sedans come standard with frontal and side-curtain air bags, lap-and-shoulder belts for four passengers, child-seat top-tether and lower LATCH attachments in the rear seats, and electronic stability control. Electronic stability control applies brakes to pull a car out of a sideways slide. Traction control helps you get going on slippery roads.

Advanced technology

Forward-collision warning (FCW) and automatic emergency braking (AEB) are fortunately becoming standard on many vehicles.

Forward-collision warning alerts drivers of an impending collision with an object in its path (i.e. another car). If the car has automatic emergency braking and senses a potential collision and you don’t react in time, the car starts braking for you.

According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) data, rear-end collisions are 50 percent lower on vehicles with AEB and FCW.

Telematics systems alert emergency personnel if an airbag deploys.

Lane-departure warning systems sound an alert if you change lanes without signaling.

Lane-keeping assist centers your vehicle in your lane if you start to drift.

Blind-spot warning clues drivers into their blind spot on their side rear.

Tested

Check out Consumer Reports’ Safety Ratings for detailed breakdowns of safety test results.

Sedan safety features include:

• Frontal and side-curtain air bags
• Lap-and-shoulder belts
• Child-seat top-tether and lower LATCH attachments
• Electronic stability control
• Traction control
• Forward-collision warning (FCW)
• Automatic emergency braking (AEB)
• Telematics systems
• Lane-departure warning systems
• Lane-keeping assist
• Blind-spot warning

Rear seat legroom

Don’t just sit in the driver’s seat during your test drive. Also get in the backseat! Make sure it’s comfortable for you or whoever is going to be frequently sitting there.

Consider how many passengers there will usually be. Most sedans are comfortable for four, but adding a fifth person in a small vehicle might “cramp” your style. Weigh what’s most important to you and try to find a balance.

You want to get good gas mileage, but you also want to be comfortable!

Test out child car seats in your prospective vehicle before purchasing your sedan. A “Baby on Board” bumper sticker simply isn’t going to cut it for safety! Make sure: the car seat fits, you know how to strap it in, and you’re satisfied with the user-friendliness of the latches.

Gas mileage

When choosing the best sedan for you, consider gas mileage. Do you have a long commute? Do you want to do what you can to save the planet? A sedan can accomplish both.

Four-cylinder engines are generally more fuel efficient than V6s, though this is not always the case. Today four-cylinder sedans have made strides in balancing fuel efficiency with power. Many engines now have direct-injection technology and turbocharging to maintain power and save fuel. However, note that many of these engines require premium fuel.

Today, many automatic models are more efficient than their manual counterparts. Automatics now range from six to nine forward gears. Gears allow cars to cruise at lower revs. Continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) also save on fuel.

Cylinder deactivation shuts off half of the cylinders when they’re not needed, increasing mpg in highway driving.

Gasoline/electric hybrid technology saves fuel and today’s diesel models offer fuel-economy benefits as well.

Technology

Technology improves safety, music quality and options, and conveniences such as hands-free operation and navigation.

Apple Carplay or Android Auto stream your favorite songs or podcasts. Voice-activated controls for audio, phone, and navigation make driving safer. Redundant audio controls on the steering wheel let you keep your hands on the wheel, rather than fumbling with switches on the dashboard.

Technology highlights include:

• Audio systems
• USB ports
• Satellite radio
• HD radio
• Turn-by-turn navigation
• Bluetooth
• And more!

Let’s “brake” it down:

Audio systems

Standard audio packages typically include a stereo/radio tuner with left, right, front, and rear speakers. Satellite radio and inputs for external devices are replacing CD players.

Upgraded systems offer a more powerful amplifier, better-quality speakers, noise canceling, and surround sound.

USB ports

Cars have a USB port for connecting smartphones, iPods, and mobile devices. Great for recharging your batteries! Some models require a dealer-supplied plug.

Satellite radio

Subscription-based satellite radio (SiriusXM) offers channels with uninterrupted service across the U.S.

HD radio

HD Radio allows conventional AM and FM stations to broadcast content over digital signals.

Navigation systems

In-car navigation systems are great for trips in unfamiliar territory (or if you have a propensity to get lost!). Screens in the center of the dashboard mostly use touch-screen displays to make it easy. Most now also respond to voice commands so you can keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth connectivity allows devices to wirelessly communicate with the car’s audio system. Play music from your smartphone or stream it using your app of choice.

There’s a lot to love

Whether you’re looking for fuel efficiency, safety, the latest technology, or just some legroom, a sedan is a superb choice.

Contact us

Choosing the best sedan takes some research. Think a Kia is right for you? Visit us at Thelen and take one for a spin! We look forward to helping you.

 

 

 

Links:

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/sedans/buying-guide/index.htm

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/types/new/sedans/ratings

https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-choose-a-sedan-by-jason-unrau

https://www.kia.com/us/en/vehicle/sedan-cars

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