10 Best Sedans for 2020

2020 Hyundai Sonata driving ・ Photo by Hyundai

With car companies slicing sedans from their lineups in order to focus on SUVs, consumers might wonder if there are any good family-sized four-door cars left. Don’t worry. In this segment, there are plenty of top-rated cars from which to choose. But what are the very best sedans for 2020? 

Before we dive into the details, know that we wanted to determine the best new sedans for families in particular. That means our list includes affordable mid-size and full-size cars instead of compact and subcompact models or pricey luxury cars. We also looked at crash-test ratings to find sedans that are safe, and we took into account rear-seat room, trunk space, availability of all-wheel drive, and other factors that are important in good family cars. You’re the beneficiary of our research, and on the following pages, listed in alphabetical order, you’ll learn more about the best sedans right now.

2020 Honda Accord

Equipped with a sleek design, a huge and comfortable back seat, and a giant trunk, the 2020 Honda Accord is a great choice in a family sedan.

Accord buyers can choose among LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring trim levels. Plus, in addition to two different turbocharged four-cylinder engines, a hybrid version is available that gets 48 mpg in combined driving. That makes the Accord one of the best sedans for gas mileage, too. Safety is another Accord hallmark. In crash testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety assigned the car a Top Safety Pick rating. The only thing missing is an available all-wheel drive system.

Photo by Honda

2020 Hyundai Sonata

Traditionally one of the best sedans for the money, the 2020 Hyundai Sonata is completely redesigned, gaining a sense of style and sophistication that could make it more than just a terrific value proposition.

Initially, two engines will available, each making competitive power in the mid-size segment. Next-generation hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions are sure to arrive for the 2021 model year. Highlights of the new Sonata include Digital Key technology that turns your smartphone into the vehicle key, an autonomous Remote Smart Parking Assist function that drivers can use to park the car while standing outside of it, new Highway Driving Assist technology, and improved remote access to the Sonata through Blue Link subscription services.

Photo by Hyundai

2020 Kia Optima

Low prices make the 2020 Kia Optima one of the best affordable mid-size sedans of 2020, while a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS means it is also one of the safest. Now add a choice among standard, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and turbocharged powertrains, and it’s clear that the Optima is one of the best sedans to buy. And we didn’t even mention the industry-leading warranty and roadside assistance plan.

Not only is the Optima a great value, but it’s also a great looking mid-size car that easily appeals to "Point A to Point B" types, environmentally aware consumers, and people seeking something fun to drive when the mood strikes. Indeed, it is hard to go wrong with a 2020 Kia Optima.

Photo by Kia

2020 Kia Stinger

Priced from less than $35,000, the Kia Stinger isn’t among the more affordable cars on this list, but it’s definitely one of the best sport sedans. Sitting on a rear-wheel drive platform and offered with optional AWD, the Stinger provides a choice between a 255-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a 365-hp twin-turbo V6.

The interior is somewhat intimate, as is expected in a sporty car like this one, but the trunk is huge thanks to the Stinger’s five-door liftback body style. Kia says it measures 23.3 cubic feet, and Stinger cargo space with the seats down amounts to 40.9 cubic feet. As great as the Stinger looks, and as much fun to drive as it is, you can safely carry your family in this car because it gets a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

Photo by Kia

2020 Mazda Mazda6

People who want a luxury car but can only afford a mainstream model will adore the Mazda Mazda6. It looks sensational inside and out, the interior feels and smells like you spent far more than you did, and when equipped with its available 250-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine, this Mazda is one of the best relatively affordable sedans to drive.

Sophistication permeates every design, engineering, and quality detail. And while it’s one of the smaller vehicles on this list in terms of interior room and trunk space, it earns a Top Safety Pick+ safety rating from the IIHS.

Photo by Mazda

2020 Nissan Altima

Appealing design, comfortable seats, and remarkably enjoyable driving dynamics characterize the 2020 Nissan Altima, making it one of the best new sedans to buy. Plus, this simple yet satisfying car offers both a turbocharged engine option and an available AWD system, catering to buyers with specific needs and preferences.

Rated a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, the Altima includes a rear door alert system designed to remind drivers that a child or a pet might be asleep in the back seat, so don’t forget about your precious cargo. Parents of teenage drivers, meanwhile, will appreciate the Altima’s available alerts related to vehicle speed, curfew time, and geographic boundary passing.

Photo by Nissan

2020 Subaru Legacy

Redesigned for 2020, the Subaru Legacy is one of the best sedans for snow. It comes standard with AWD, and when equipped with its newly available 260-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine, it battles blizzards at elevation like few other cars on this list.

While it looks similar to the previous version of the car, the new 2020 Legacy sits on a robust new architecture. Subaru says it does a 40% better job of absorbing and deflecting crash energy in a collision — and the old Legacy was already an IIHS Top Safety Pick+.

Photo by Subaru

2020 Toyota Avalon

Huge inside, equipped with a big trunk, long known to be reliable, and the recipient of a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, the 2020 Toyota Avalon is one of the best big sedans you can buy. Heck, it’s one of the only big sedans left.

If you like this car’s funky grille, you’ll probably like everything else about it. A 301-hp V6 engine is standard, and for just a little bit extra you can get the Avalon Hybrid, which returns up to 44 mpg in combined driving. If you want to maximize performance instead of fuel economy, for 2020, Toyota debuts the Avalon TRD, which stands for Toyota Racing Development. It has the same powertrain as the standard Avalon but gets a full dynamic re-tuning that makes the car feel more athletic.

Photo by Toyota

2020 Toyota Camry

One of the best-selling cars in America, the Toyota Camry blends reliability, safety, and affordability in a way that people find compelling.

Easily one of the best hybrid sedans you can buy, the Camry Hybrid gets up to 52 mpg in combined driving yet supplies more than 200 horsepower and costs less than $30,000. At the other end of the spectrum, the new-for-2020 Camry TRD gets a full hardware massage to improve handling. This model’s 301-hp V6 already delivers powerful acceleration. No matter which Camry you choose, rest assured that it is safe. The IIHS gives this car a Top Safety Pick+ rating.

Photo by Toyota

2020 Volkswagen Arteon

Like the Kia Stinger, the Volkswagen Arteon is a five-door sportback with a huge trunk, folding rear seats, available AWD, and a higher price tag. Here, however, the concept is packaged in cohesive and conservative German design that will age like a fine wine over time.

The only engine is a turbocharged four-cylinder good for 268 hp. The trunk is about the same size as the Stinger’s, but the Arteon offers far more cargo space when the rear seat is folded down. That’s because the interior is huge. Even adults who are riding in the rear seat can cross their legs in comfort. Combine comfortable seating, a big trunk, an efficient engine, and AWD, and the Arteon is clearly one of the best sedans for road trips. In fact, it might be the best sedan on this entire list.

Photo by Volkswagen