Family Sedans

Family Sedans at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show

Americans will buy more than 10 million vehicles this year. The most popular type is the family sedan. As the name implies, the family sedan has four doors and a traditional trunk. Most are front-wheel drive, although a few are rear-wheel drive and/or all-wheel drive. Six-cylinder engines are the norm, but don’t be surprised to see a four-cylinder in a small size sedan or a more powerful V8 option in a larger sedan. 

Family sedans come in four sizes. Subcompact, Compact, Midsize, and Large. Prices generally rise as the car grows larger.

Subcompact Cars. Growing in popularity thanks to rising fuel costs, subcompact cars are the smallest and most fuel-efficient of the family sedans. They generally have small rear seats and modest trunks. Almost all subcompact cars have four-cylinder engines and front-wheel drive.

Compact Car. Extremely popular in Europe, compact cars are finally catching on in the United States. Compacts have adequate-sized rear seats and fairly large trunks. Most come with four-cylinder engines, but a more-powerful V6 is almost always an option. Front-drive is king in this class.

Midsize Cars. The largest and most popular type of family sedan in the U.S. market. Midsize cars have adult-size rear seats and roomy trunks. This class features vehicles like the Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, and Toyota Camry. Almost all come with either four- or six-cylinder engines.

Large Car. Traditionally the biggest car on the road, the large car was once king of the American highway. They have roomy rear seats and huge trunks, perfect for large families or long trips. Rear-wheel drive is more popular in this class, but most are still front-drive. All have V6 power and a few offer V8 engines.

You can find the following family sedans on display at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show or at the Vehicles on Display section of the auto show Web site.