Autobytel 2012 Sedan of the Year

by Michelle Naranjo

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January 1, 2012

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3 min. Reading Time

The competition in the sedan world is heating up and this year's finalists for the Autobytel 2012 Sedan of the Year definitely bring the essence of all that is new and good to the market.

Sedans are no longer expected to be the mid-sized boats that your grandparents chaffeured your parents around in for Sunday drives. Like every other segment, expectations of increased technology, comfort, performance and yes, even fuel economy, are setting the bar for the 4-door class.

Read on to see how the award winner and 2 others come in at the top of the list for the Autobytel 2012 Sedan of the Year.

Autobytel 2012 Sedan of the Year Winner: 2012 Kia Optima

The choice for the Autobytel Sedan of the Year is none other than the 2012 Kia Optima. Topping both the sales charts and the upper end of the battle of the MPGs in the mid-size sedan category is no easy feat but the 2012 Kia Optima is posed to continue it’s year-over-year successes in both.

As one of the sportier lookers in the sedan class, the 2012 Kia Optima has a coupe-like elegance that just happens to have 4 doors. Standard features include full power accessories, Bluetooth, satellite radio, USB connectivity, auxiliary input, dual exhaust and side-mirror integrated turn signals while options include upgraded wheels and even a thrill inducing turbo package. It is no wonder that the 2012 Kia Optima is topping the list as Autobytel’s 2012 Sedan of the Year.

2012 Volkswagen Passat

Qualifying as a contender for Autobytel 2012 Sedan of the Year is the 2012 Volkswagen Passat. Bringing “great for the price of good”, the re-designed Passat features angles to that sharpen the long-gone, softer Passat of yesteryear and with that, brings increased fuel-efficiency and styling to powerplant options that offer choices between value, performance or fuel economy.

The 2012 Volkswagen Passat is also a crowd pleaser with the first two months of sales of the 2012 surpassing all 2010 Passat sales. The TDI version of the Passat also has appeals to the underground faction of diesel-preferring folk.

2012 Buick Regal GS

Because it brought the turbo back to Buick, the 2012 Buick Regal GS deserves consideration as a finalist for Autobytel 2012 Sedan of the Year. Inching back into the luxury market, this fun to drive sedan has performance with all of the creature comforts meaning the Regal GS is truly a sport sedan in the truest sense.

Coming in under $40,000.00, the 2012 Buick Regal GS garners recognition for bringing its performance and technology to a new generation of Buick loyalists and for tightly aiming at the German competition. With two different suspension modes from which to choose, GS or Sport, driving the 2012 Regal GS can be as comfortable as you like or as tight and performance driven as a Barvarian switchback killer. The Ecotec 2.0L I-4 270hp engine comes in a manual 6-speed and features high performance brakes. This isn't your grandfather's Buick.

All Category Winners

The editorial staff of Autobytel has chosen the previous three sedans as the best of what we have seen for 2012, and while there are many others in this class that probably deserve some kudos as well, we'd love to hear which one of the previous three you would choose for yourself.

See the Autobytel 2012 Car of the Year and the Autobytel 2012 Truck of the Year.