Sedan features

Below we highlight important features for you to consider when purchasing a sedan.

Engines and fuel economy

Four-cylinder engines are generally more fuel efficient than V6s, and some of the latest four-cylinder sedans balance fuel efficiency and power quite well. But not all engines perform equally. There are some V6s that are thriftier than some Fours. Manual transmissions can also aid fuel efficiency, although improving automatic transmission technology has made them more efficient than manuals in some models. Modern automatics with five, six, or even seven speeds can help fuel economy by letting a car cruise at lower revs while also contributing to performance. Continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) also aim to save fuel. If you're budget-conscious, avoiding cars that require premium fuel can save you a couple of hundred dollars a year or more at the pump.

Gasoline/electric hybrid technology can save significant amounts of fuel, although their higher initial cost on some models might take years to recoup, depending on driving style, terrain, miles drive, and fuel prices. Today's diesel models also offer significant fuel economy improvements, though there is a price premium for the powertrain and diesel fuel prices can be volatile. Newer technologies such as cylinder deactivation, where half the cylinders shut off when they're not needed, can squeeze out slightly better mileage in highway driving. Regardless of technology, sedans are judged where the rubber hits the road. That's where our testing of more than 50 performance, livability, and fuel economy factors can help. (Check our fuel-economy Ratings.)

Drive wheels

The vast majority of sedans today use front-wheel drive. The space efficiency from a front-drive design allows a car to have a smaller engine compartment, leaving more room inside for passengers and cargo. It's also effective in slippery conditions because there's more weight on the front wheels for extra traction. Rear-wheel drive is used on high-performance and luxury sedans for its handling benefits. The number of models available with all-wheel drive is increasing, providing improved foul-weather traction and extreme, track-ready grip on enthusiast-targeted models. Our tests have shown that an all-wheel-drive car with all-season tires has better traction than a front- or rear-drive car with winter tires. But AWD does little or nothing to aid stopping, it adds cost and weight, and in most cases, it imposes a small fuel-economy penalty.

Towing

Most sedans aren't designed for towing, especially heavy towing. Those that have a tow rating are usually limited to about 1,000 pounds. A few larger sedans can tow more than 3,000 pounds. Tow packages are typically available as a factory option or as aftermarket add-ons.

Access

When comparing sedans, try entering and exiting from all four doors. A well-designed sedan should provide wide doors and enough headroom so that front and rear passengers can enter and exit easily without bumping their heads. Some sedans are styled with low, sloping rear roof lines that concede practical considerations for appearance. Such coupe-like designs can degrade rear-seat accessibility, headroom, and the driver's view aft.

Cargo

If you ever expect to carry long or bulky cargo, look for a fold-down rear seat with a tall, wide opening to the trunk behind. Even a small pass-through port can be handy for long, slender items such as skis.

Safety features

Sedans, especially midsized and larger ones, have among the lowest death and injury rates on the road. They provide a good balance of maneuverability, protective structure, and available safety equipment. Not all models afford the same protection, so it's important to check the overall safety rating. Consumer Reports'safety Ratings include assessments of crash-avoidance capabilities and crash-test results, based on tests performed by the federal government and insurance industry. Further, our road tests detail issues regarding child-seat installation and the adequacy of front and rear head restraints.

All new sedans have standard left and right front air bags, lap-and-shoulder belts in all outboard seating positions, and top-tether and lower LATCH attachments in the rear seats. Side and side-curtain air bags are common, and we recommend them. Electronic stability control (ESC) is a computer-controlled feature that automatically and selectively applies brakes to pull a car out of a sideways slide. Already widespread, ESC is standard on all new cars going forward, starting with the 2012 model year. We recommend this life-saving feature in any car, new or used. Another common feature, traction control, can help you to get going on a slippery road but doesn't aid in a sideways skid. (Learn more about car safety.)

Emerging safety technologies

The latest automotive safety advances include telematics systems that alert emergency personnel if an air bag deploys, lane-departure warning systems that sound an alert if you change lanes without signaling, rear-view cameras to prevent back-over accidents, and blind-spot warning systems that indicate vehicles driving in the blind spots to the side and rear of you. Automatic-braking systems are also spreading. These apply the brakes if you're approaching the car ahead too quickly and ignore an audible warning that sounds to alert you to the situation.

Entertainment and convenience

The latest mobile electronics enable cars to deliver the fidelity of home theater, along with cell-phone connectivity and navigation guidance. There is a wide range of information and entertainment features available from the factory, and more available through the aftermarket. (See our Guide to mobile electronics.)

Audio system

The standard car-audio package is a stereo radio tuner and in-dash CD player with speakers left and right and fore and aft. An upgraded system typically has a higher-watt amplifier”so you can play music loud with minimum distortion”and more and better-quality speakers to enhance clarity and sound separation. Top-level systems add digital sound fields, noise-canceling, surround sound, and DVD-Audio playback.

Depending on the package, an audio upgrade can add many hundreds of dollars to a car's sticker price. Cars at every price level now feature a jack for plugging in an MP3 device for playback through the car's audio system. Only stereos with a specific iPod connector, rather than a micro plug port, will be able to control and recharge an iPod.

Satellite and HD radio

Subscription-only satellite radio offers broad channel selection, catering to a variety of musical and information interests, much like cable TV. Most vehicles offer satellite radio readiness in some audio systems.

HD Radio allows conventional (or terrestrial) AM and FM stations to broadcast their content over digital signals with higher fidelity. It also allows stations to add more programming over several additional channels that can be broadcast œalongside" a station's main frequency. This function can be used for delivering traffic or weather information, or more diverse music content.

Navigation systems and connectivity

In-car navigation systems can be a valued featured if you often drive in unfamiliar territory. They typically retail for $1,500 to $2,000 when offered alone, but nav systems are often bundled with other features, such as a backup camera or a high-end audio system that can add another $1,000 or more. Built-in systems have large, clear screens that are in the center of the dashboard and have generally intuitive controls. They are integrated nicely into the car, and most use touch-screen displays that make it easy to put in destinations and navigate through menus.

Some can also respond to voice commands, giving you the added safety of keeping your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. For a fee, many systems can provide real-time traffic reports, which can alert you to congested traffic, accidents, or road construction. But portable GPS units can offer most of the same abilities for much less money. (See Ratings and learn more about portable GPS navigation systems.)

Bluetooth connectivity is becoming more readily available, enabling wireless devices such as a cell phone to wirelessly communicate with the car's audio system. This allows convenient, hands-free phone operation. Popularized by GM's OnStar, telematics systems use a combination of cellular telephone and Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to connect drivers with a call center staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at the touch of a button. For a monthly or annual fee, such concierge services can provide directions or summon emergency aid based on your vehicle's location.

See also:

GPS

Car batteries

Tires

Car seats