Picking the right sedan

THE MOST popular car type, sedan, comes in so numerous forms that the process of choosing which one to buy can become difficult. And even though it’s convenient, it may not always be wise to pick the cheapest or the most expensive option.

An aspiring sedan owner would do well to consider his or her options carefully, examining their features and determining which ones are necessary and which ones are not.

According to Consumer Reports, a nonprofit organization providing product reviews, some of the key considerations when buying sedans are size, price, fuel economy, comfort, performance, stability, safety and reliability, all of which are often related.

“Determining the sedan type that you need will help narrow the field. Each type (Small, Family, Upscale, and Luxury) has a spectrum of models to choose from, so this is a useful step toward creating your shopping list,” the organization says.

In the past, after deciding on the type, car buyers might have to settle for a vehicle that either was powerful or had great fuel economy, because an automobile that possessed both qualities was hard to come by. It’s no longer the case today.

“Now, automakers are exploring a host of technologies to make engines more efficient, delivering the power that drivers desire and the fuel economy they demand,” says CNET, a technology website. “A typical strategy involves reducing engine size and adding forced induction, either a turbo- or supercharger, creating more power only when needed,” it adds.

Consumer Reports says that four-cylinder engines are more fuel efficient than V6s and that some of these engines can balance fuel efficiency and power quite well. However, some V6s are thriftier than some Fours.

“Many modern engines have adopted direct-injection technology and turbocharging to maintain power while saving fuel, although real-world fuel economy can vary based on driving conditions and style. Some of these turbocharged cars and many upscale sedans require premium fuel,” the organization says.

Car and Driver, an American automotive magazine, is not too keen on the idea of having a bigger engine and not making full use of it. “The buying practice of getting the bigger engine but never using more than half-throttle is like building a four-story house but leaving the top two floors vacant,” it says. “All else being equal, larger engines use more fuel.”

With technologies like cylinder activation, which works by stopping the cylinders that are not needed for better fuel economy, one can get more mileage out of one’s sedan, but, as Consumer Reports points out, sedans are still better judged where the rubber meets the road.

Majority of sedans have a frontwheel drive transmission system. “The space efficiency from a front- drive design allows a car to have a smaller engine compartment and a flatter floor, leaving more room inside for passengers and cargo,” Consumer Reports says. “It’s also effective at getting going in slippery conditions because there’s more weight on the front wheels for extra traction.”

Though all- wheel drive certainly has its advantages, one may not need it. “All-wheel drive doesn’t increase a vehicle’s ability to stop or turn,” Car and Driver says.

Bluetooth hands- free phone systems and USB ports for digital music are now ubiquitous in today’s sedans. “These features comprise the base level of marrying personal digital technology with the dashboard, but there is so much more,” CNET says. Meanwhile, Consumer Reports notes that there are many infotainment systems that can stream Internet-sourced audio to the car using apps like Pandora.

The navigation systems that help drivers find their way around are now standard in luxury sedans but remain an option in other models. “Built-in systems have large, clear screens mounted in the center of the dashboard and generally have intuitive controls. They are integrated nicely into the car, and most systems use touch- screen displays that make it easy to enter destinations and scroll through menus,” Consumer Reports says.

“For those who prefer their smartphone apps,” CNET says, “automakers are rapidly adopting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, both of which mirror the phone’s interface on the car’s LCD in a manner conducive to safe driving.”

When it comes to safety, Consumer Reports notes that sedans, particularly the ones that are average or large in size, have among the lowest death and injury rates on the road. “They provide a good balance of maneuverability, protective structure, and available safety equipment,” the organization says.

“Not all models afford the same protection, so it’s important to check the safety ratings,” it adds.

The organization mentions that safety features like the frontal and side-curtain air bags, lap-and-shoulder belts in all outboard seating positions, child-seat top-tether and lower LATCH attachments in rear seats are standard in all new sedans.

The other safety features that are not yet standard in all sedans but are available as options, CNET notes, are pedestrian detection and collision prevent systems that alert drivers to an impending collision, and even apply the brakes, with help of a camera and a radar; blind-spot monitor systems, which also prevent collision by telling the driver if there’s a car in an adjacent lane; and lane-keeping systems that prevent drowsy drivers from driving over a lane line.