Family Sedan Reviews and Buying Guide:

The average family size in America is slowly declining to less than 2 kids per couple and with rising gasoline prices, who needs an oversized SUV. Even minivans are quite large compared to the typical sedan from Toyota or Honda. In customer surveys, consumers want a family sedan that gets good gas mileage, is reliable, has excellent crash test ratings, and a price tag that won't require a 2nd mortgage to afford it. The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord has been the leaders in this car category for years and it doesn't appear they are going to relinquish control of the top spots anytime soon. With the newer Accord hybrid and Camry hybrids that get exceptional miles per gallon ratings, Toyota and Honda will surely remain a popular bet when it comes to family sedans. Not surprisingly, these 2 Japanese built cars rate very high in terms of customer satisfaction, reliability, and crash test findings. Luxury sedans include makes from BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and Infiniti while Acura and Lexus fit into upscale and luxury categories.

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Consumer Reports recently released their 2007 Buying Guide for all types of cars and we were interested in their ratings for sedans and family cars. I don't think anyone was shocked to see mostly foreign made cars top the list with very few American made automobiles in the mix. In the news we constantly hear about the sales wows of the Big 3 Auto Makers (GM, Ford, Chrysler) and how Toyota is rapidly stealing market share from them. Consumer Reports may not have the most thorough car reviews, but their long term reliability records and crash test rankings are what consumers really want. Car and Driver and online sites like Edmunds.com offer more in depth reviews of specific models of cars and there are plenty of car "forums" online where you can read actual consumer feedback and comments on cars they've purchased. Most family sedans come in under $30000 and even the upscale models are in the low $30K's. As a buyer you need to determine just which features you absolutely need in a new family sedan. Is gas mileage important to you? Don't forget about that the all important power and handling aspect which can be crucial in helping to avoid accidents? Reliability is a key component of any car and all you have to do is look at a company like Mercedes to see how devastating low reliability ratings can be. Mercedes was once the prized possession of car owners but in the early 2000 to 2005 period the cars produced by Mercedes lost their "reliability" edge over the competition and they were no longer desired as much. Honda and Toyota has emphasized reliability in their sedans which makes them a "good value" for the money. We have tried to break down the sedans into categories that make sense and separate them info family sedans, luxury sedans, sport sedans, and upscale sedans. For more thorough reviews and specs we recommend visiting Edmunds.com or the manufacturers sites like Honda.com, Toyota.com, or Acura.com. As for pricing and negotiating with a dealer on the car you want, Consumer Reports says you should get the "cost that the dealer paid for the car" in order to be able to bargain the best. Don't look a the MSRP or retail price as a legitimate # since those are inflated and not close to the actual price the dealer paid.

Best Family Sedan:

No one can argue that Toyota is the leading family sedan maker and their Camry is the main reason. The Toyota Camry has so many standard features and the XLE V6 is our model of choice at close to $29,000. You get informative displays of outside temperature, average fuel economy, driving range, remote keyless entry, driver's knee airbag (plus six others), anti-lock brake system, and a new design (although we prefer the older look). Mileage is rated at 22 city/31 highway. The engine provides plenty of power with 268 HP and 3.5 liters. The 6-Speed electronically controlled automatic overdrive gives you a smooth ride in town and on country roads.

Luxury Sedan:

For sheer luxury we really think that Lexus has the best sedan in the GS300, but for the best value in a luxury sedan the Infiniti M35 V6 AWD (about $50,000) is top rated by Consumer Reports. The Infiniti M35 gets excellent rankings for predicted reliability, accident avoidance, crash protection, and owner satisfaction. With Mercedes having reliability issues, this category of cars has really opened up to brands like Infiniti. The interior is roomy and the V6 275 HP engine supplies the power. The audio system, instrumentation and driver controls are easy to master and the leather, 10-way power driver and passenger seats (w/ lumbar support) will keep you comfortable even on longer rides. The exterior is curved and stylish and the intelligent all-wheel drive provides the control you need in all conditions. Overall mileage ratings are at 18 MPG for the Infiniti.

Large Sedan:

If you prefer a more roomy sedan or have a growing family but want to avoid minivans and SUV's, then consider a larger sedan like Toyota Avalon or Hyundai Azera. The Toyota Avalon XLS has a roomy rear seat and gets a respectable 22 MPG. Priced at around $33,000, the Avalon performs well on handling and a smooth ride. Consumer Reports didn't rate any of the larger sedans as "excellent" in terms of reliability, but we are going with Toyota's past history and think the Avalon will live up to expectations. The Hyundai Azera is a newer model with a V6 and some nice features. At around $30,000 the Azera gets roughly 20 MPG and provides ample room throughout the interior. One drawback is that the Azera side-crash test results were not excellent, just acceptable.

Most Reliable Sedan:

When you buy a sedan for your family you definitely want to know that the car will last for years with minimal repairs needed. That's exactly what you get when you purchase a Honda Accord since this model has been around for years and consistently rates high for owner satisfaction and holds an excellent resale value as well. The EX V6 with automatic transmission starts at about $27,400. The 3.0 liter engine pushes out 244 HP and the plush interior with leather trim, heated seats, and a dual-zone climate control system will make you feel like you are in a luxury sedan. There are side curtain and front side airbags for the ultimate in crash protection and safety. In Consumer Reports reliability guide, the V6 Honda Accord rates excellent for engine, cooling, transmission, drive system, fuel, AC, suspension, electrical, exhaust, power equipment, and ignition. When you put out $25,000 to $30,000 on a car, you want to know that you are buying a solid and reliable product. Honda delivers just that with the Accord.

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