Top-rated used sedans
Best sedans overall
Check out CarMax's 20 top-rated used sedans, including how we determine this list.
1. Toyota Avalon
CarMax owner rating
Pros
Lots of standard advanced driver aids Comfortable ride Quiet, roomy cabin
Cons
Limited headroom AWD is no longer available
2. Honda Accord
CarMax owner rating
3. Hyundai Elantra
CarMax owner rating
Compact sedans
Explore CarMax's 10 top-rated compact sedans and our approach to rating this list.
1. Hyundai Elantra
CarMax owner rating
2. Toyota Corolla
CarMax owner rating
3. Honda Civic
CarMax owner rating
Pros
Appealing exterior design Multiple engine options to choose from Balanced handling
Cons
Noticeable road noise at higher speeds Somewhat unintuitive infotainment system Lackluster base engine
Midsize sedans
Check out the 10 top-rated midsize sedans from CarMax and how we rate them.
1. Honda Accord
CarMax owner rating
2. Toyota Camry
CarMax owner rating
Pros
Comfortable and spacious interior Smooth ride and quiet cabin User-friendly tech features
Cons
The base engine lacks excitement A plain, uninspiring interior Smaller cargo capacity than rivals
3. Hyundai Sonata
CarMax owner rating
Full-size sedans
Explore CarMax's 8 top-rated full-size sedans, and see how we determine their rank.
1. Toyota Avalon
CarMax owner rating
Pros
Lots of standard advanced driver aids Comfortable ride Quiet, roomy cabin
Cons
Limited headroom AWD is no longer available
2. Hyundai Azera
CarMax owner rating
Pros
Smooth, refined ride Upscale interior Equipped with convenience and technology features
Cons
Limited engine options No all-wheel drive option Exterior is not as stylish as other vehicles in its class
3. Kia Cadenza
CarMax owner rating
Pros
Generously equipped Copious legroom Plenty of available driver aids
Cons
Ride lacks composure Small trunk compared to class rivals Uninspiring driver experience
Hybrid sedans
See the CarMax's 10 top-rated hybrid sedans and our approach to rating them.
1. Toyota Corolla Hybrid
CarMax owner rating
2. Toyota Camry Hybrid
CarMax owner rating
Pros
Good fuel economy on the base trim Comfortable around town or on the highway Lots of driver aids come standard
Cons
Below-average cargo space Some competitors are more fun to drive
3. Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
CarMax owner rating
Research sedan models
Ready to find your next sedan?
FAQs about sedans
These days, a sedan is any car with four doors, a fixed roof, and a separate trunk area. They come in a wide variety of sizes, from subcompacts like the Kia Rio to ultra-luxury four-doors like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. In the earliest days of the automobile, “sedan” began to be used in the United States to describe a hard-top four-door car as early as 1912, when Studebaker used it to market the Studebaker Four and Studebaker Six. Overseas, the same type of vehicle has different names, for example, in England they’re known as a “saloon.”
One reason sedans have remained popular is because they run the gamut, and are available at nearly every size and price point. On a budget? A variety of compact and subcompact sedans are available, such as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Hyundai Accent. If you’re looking for something bigger, midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry remain wildly popular, and full-size sedans like the Toyota Avalon and Dodge Charger are also still commonplace. If you’re interested in luxury, most brands still offer a variety of sizes there, too, such as the Lexus IS, BMW 3 Series, and Audi A3, ranging all the way up to the Cadillac CT6, Lexus LS, and BMW 7 Series.
The biggest difference is body shape. A proper sedan has a distinct trunk, separate from the passenger compartment. SUVs by contrast are more similar to wagons, with a large cargo area that shares space with the rest of the passenger compartment. The big cargo area of an SUV means it can carry more stuff, but generally speaking a sedan will be quieter on the road thanks to its fully enclosed passenger compartment.
In the mainstream midsize sedan market, there are two clear leaders: the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Both offer a compelling mix of features and modern technology, and the higher trim levels have enough luxury touches to give them a class-above driving experience. But they’re not the only games in town. The Nissan Altima is a strong contender, and the Mazda 6 is an alternative that trades a bit of rear seat room for a more dynamic driving experience. The Kia Optima and K5 are equally impressive, and the most recent Hyundai Sonata brings eye-catching styling to the mix. Other options include the Subaru Legacy, with its standard all-wheel drive, and the Chevy Malibu.
More and more sedans offer all-wheel drive, either as an option or as standard equipment. The Subaru Legacy is well known for its all-wheel drive system, and more recently the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry have begun offering all-wheel drive. Compact sedans offering all-wheel drive aren’t quite as common, with Subaru again being the most popular with its Impreza line. If you’re shopping for luxury brands, Audi has built its reputation on its Quattro all-wheel drive system, and it’s available or standard on nearly everything it makes, including the A3, A4, A6 and A8 sedans. However, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus also offer all-wheel drive variants of most of their sedans.
How we rated these vehicles
CarMax creates our ‘top-rated’ used car lists based upon make-models' rating in five criteria:
RepairPal Reliability Rating
Relative pricing against competitors
CarMax owner rating
EPA-estimated fuel economy (for 2021 or last available year sold)
NHTSA Overall safety rating (for 2021 or last available year sold)
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2006-2020 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features. RepairPal Reliability Ratings are provided by RepairPal and CarMax is not responsible for their accuracy. Learn more about RepairPal reliability ratings.
Pricing details are based on available CarMax retail inventory as of October 16, 2024.
Fuel economy figures are based on EPA estimates for when vehicle sold as new. Fuel economy may vary for reasons like driving conditions and vehicle history. Unless specified, figures are for vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission. See fueleconomy.gov.
Learn more about the NHTSA Overall Safety score and how NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings program evaluates the crash protection and rollover safety of new vehicles. Keep in mind that certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Click here to look up a specific vehicle.
Learn more about sedans
We hope you found this information helpful. This content is intended to inform and is not meant to provide legal, financial or investment advice. We make every effort to provide accurate information, but please verify before transacting and consider talking to a qualified professional about your unique circumstances.
Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
Unless otherwise noted, information related to featured vehicles comes from third-party sources, including manufacturer information. Product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of third-party entities. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by these entities.