Auto Knight

Best Family Sedan

by Heather

A car’s driver is considered to be among the most reliable reviewers in the case of family cars. The testing of vehicles is carried out in every detail, right from the quality of driving to the cargo space, as well as such mundane issues as the car’s fuel economy, because the owner spends so much time driving their family around. Family sedans are engineered to appeal to just such consumers. We take a brief look at family sedans, and see which offering is the best overall value.

The most trusted reviews for family sedars are published by Edmunds.com and Motor Trend. AOL Autos and Interest.com apprise car customers of issues relating to their budget. If one intends to gather information regarding the pricing, features, fuel economy, and specifications of family cars, Consumer Guide is generally the best option. Consumer Reports includes ‘real-world gas mileage’ figured attained during tests. Although this number isn’t 100% accurate, it gives consumers a fair idea of the mileage to be expected in comparison with previous ‘EPA estimates’.

Some popular ‘family sedans’ are praised due to their long-term reliability, despite of being great cars in the areas of performances and quality. The ‘Volkswagen Passat’, whose price range is $22960 to $33110 and the car is well known for their safety.

The Passat also comes with stability control, ABS, and curtain airbags. The Passat has also fared well in the ‘Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s’ crash test. However, Passat does not score well in regards with long-term durability.

The best-selling ‘Toyota Camry’, which is estimated to cost $18720 to $28270 is reported to be inconsistent in the area of dependability.

The well-regarded ‘Chrysler 300’, whose estimate cost is $24495 to $33815, is even more disappointing. Along with dependability, it scores poorly in the areas of power equipment, and engine trouble. These complaints are common concerning the ‘V-8 equipped Chrysler 300C’, in particular.

The ‘V-6 equipped Chrysler 300’ performs at an average mileage of around 19.5 mpg in mixed city/highway driving, according to the ‘real-world fuel economy tests’ of Consumer Guide.

This is considered reasonably nice for large sedan. The result for ‘V-8 equipped Chrysler 300C’ with regards to mixed driving is only 14.4 mpg. It is a bit less than 15 mpg, its EPA estimate. The ‘side-impact crash-test’ ratings without ‘optional side air-bags’ are very poor. Despite of all these shortcomings, the ‘Chrysler 300’ tops the list of recommended cars at both-‘Consumer Guide’ and ‘Kelley Blue Book’.

The conclusion you can reach from all these reports is that a ‘family sedan’, which is a ‘large 4-door’ or ‘mid-size’ car with a price starting at $18000 to $30000, is recommended. If one wishes to have an ‘exceptionally fuel-efficient’ or ‘environment-friendly’ family sedan, then ‘hybrid versions’ of the Saturn Aura, the Toyota Camry, the Chevrolet Malibu, the Nissan Altima, and the ‘Toyota Prius hybrid’ are recommended.

Best ‘mid-size’ sedan

The Toyota Camry does not generate the buzz coming from the Chevy Malibu and the Honda Accord, but it continues to be a strong contender. It is said to be a stronger competitor for the ‘title’ of ‘top mid-sized car’. Its’ size and price are both smaller than that of the ‘Accord’. The Camry has attained a worldwide reputation in terms of quality whereas the latest ‘Chevy Malibu’ has yet to acquire that distinction.

Large family sedan

Though it’s costlier than majority of its counterparts, the Toyota Avalon is said to offer excellent interior space as well as luxurious styling. The car’s safety ratings and long-term reliability are good, and ‘Avalon’s’ fuel economy is reported to be above average. Critics have commented that quality of ride of the Avalon is the best.