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Like music and fashion, the types of cars we drive tend to evolve with each generation. We are currently living in the age of the SUV, but for much of the 20th century, Australians loved the sedan.
For those unfamiliar with the different styles of vehicles who might be asking, ‘what is a sedan car?’, I’ll explain in this article and tell you why sedans are popular on the used-car market and give you tips on the best used sedans to buy.
Sedans, sometimes called saloons, are the prototypical type of family car. They are characterised by having four doors and the so-called ‘three-box design’ - three separate sections for the engine, cabin and boot. A wagon is often based on a sedan but replaces the conventional boot with a larger rear cargo area accessed by a tailgate.
Sedans were popular cars in Australia for more than 50 years thanks to the likes of the Holden Commodore and Kingswood, the Ford Falcon and the Toyota Camry. These were historically the best-selling cars in Australia through the 1970s, ‘80’, ‘90s and into the 2000s. However, by the late 2000s, smaller hatchbacks and an increasingly diverse array of SUVs began to chip away at the popularity of sedans.
However, due to the long-running popularity, there are plenty of sedans to choose from on the used market, but you need to know what to look for. Obviously there will be a lot of Camrys, Commodores and Falcons to choose from, because so many were made originally and they have now ended up on the used market.
Firstly, check the age and mileage of any car you’re looking at to see if it’s within a reasonable range. Sedans are popular for taxis, ride-share drivers and other business fleets, so a car with big kays may have had a lifetime of hard work underneath it already. So check the car’s history with the current owner and, if possible, arrange for an inspection with a reliable mechanic to get an honest appraisal of the car’s condition.
Other than that, buying a used sedan is just like buying any used car. Set your budget, look at the best options available within the price range and make sure you take it for a proper test drive as well as getting the mechanical inspection. And, of course, ask as many questions as you need to in order to be comfortable with your purchase. If the current owner can’t answer the obvious questions, don’t be afraid to walk away, too.
Best large sedans
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The German limousine is an expensive option, but given the popularity of SUVs in the luxury market, they tend to shed value faster than your average new car, so there are some great deals to be had.
Naturally, as the brand’s flagship sedan it offers plenty of space and luxury and if you’re lucky, you can find relatively new (2020 models) available with less than 50,000km for well under $100k - which is less than half what someone paid new.
The obvious catch is that if something does go wrong, then you could be facing a very expensive repair bill. So any money you save on the front end could be needed later on.
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This alternative to the 7 Series is available for a similar price for similar kays and similar age. So why buy a relatively unknown South Korean luxury car instead of a well-known German option? Well, Genesis is part of the Hyundai Group, so it has a good reputation for reliability and comes with a five-year warranty. So if you can find a 2021 or newer used example, you’ll still have factory coverage in case anything goes wrong.
Of course, you can also find cheaper examples than the BMW, and the Genesis offers up good space inside and a level of luxury that will surprise anyone unfamiliar with the brand.
Best luxury sedans
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The 7 Series' smaller brother is one of the most popular luxury sedans, and that means there’s more choice on the used car market. Looking at the CarsGuide classifieds at the time of publication, less than $70k will get you a relatively new example (2022-2023) with well under 100,000km on the odometer. For that money you’ll get a polished, modern luxury sedan that drives with precision.
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The C-Class is the 3 Series’ arch-rival and as both are amongst the best-selling sedans in the country, there are plenty of examples on the second-hand market. However, looking at the CarsGuide classified ads at the time of publication, there were several C200 and C300 options available for similar money but with less mileage than the equivalent BMW.
So, if you take a good look at what’s available in your price range and area, you might find a bargain buy (in relative terms) with some examples we found with less than 20,000km on the clock, which is relatively new in modern car terms.
Best small sedans
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If you’re looking for a cheap sedan that’s reliable, frugal and still fresh, there are plenty of near-new 2023 and ‘24 Corolla sedans currently on the market. These are generally dealer used cars, so are likely ex-fleet or demonstrator models, but for a MY24 Corolla with less than 15K mileage you can almost take your pick of colour. That makes it one of the most affordable hybrid sedans on the market today, too.
If you need something even cheaper then a 2017 Corolla is one of the best used sedans under $20,000 you can choose today. Naturally that will mean high kays, likely over 100,000km, but given Toyota’s reliability reputation and affordable maintenance costs, these are a solid, sensible buy.
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Another sub-$20K option is Kia’s Cerato four-door, which we found several examples of for $19,990 or less with less kays on the odo than the similar vintage Corolla. Interestingly, newer 2023-24 examples are generally more expensive than a Toyota, so the sweet spot for the Kia is the slightly older, 2019-20 models.
The Cerato is a spacious car for a small sedan, with good rear leg room, and in typical Kia fashion comes loaded with equipment, even on the entry-level model.
Best sport sedans
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When it comes to great sports sedans, particularly V8 sedans, then it doesn’t come much better than the final locally made VF Commodore. The SS and SS-V were arguably the best Australian-made cars, perfectly suited to our road conditions and the pinnacle of decades of local fine-tuning.
Being the final Australian-made Holden, there are a lot of used examples with relatively low-mileage as collectors have looked after them. At the time of writing, you’re looking at around the $50k mark for an SS with around 50,000km on the clock.
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This is a prime example of the right car at the wrong time, and it shows with the strong value these carry on the used market. The South Korean brand launched the Stinger sedan just as the Commodore and Ford Falcon disappeared, but the market for sports sedans had declined by this point.
Available with either a turbocharged V6 or four-cylinder turbo engine (the former is our pick), the Stinger was a fun and engaging sports sedan, with a tail-happy character. Given it’s a lot newer than the VF Commodore, prices are around the same mark for similar kays. Our advice would be to look for a circa-2021 or ‘22 model with less than 50,000km for $55K or less.
Best family sedans
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Beloved by rental car fleets, taxi drivers and Uber, the Camry is one of the most readily available used sedans on the market. That means there’s plenty of choice, depending on what your budget is, so you can choose from a low-kays, newer option or a bargain priced older generation.
Our advice would be to split the difference and take a look at the 2019 or 2020 examples that are available. As they are so common with fleet owners, be sure to take a good look at how many kilometres it’s already covered and what its service history is. But we found plenty of examples for less than $30,000 with reasonable mileage on the CarsGuide classifieds.
Importantly, it’s a popular taxi/ride-share car for a reason, namely its very spacious cabin that has generous rear seat room and its frugal hybrid powertrain and Toyota’s reputation for reliability.
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Similar in size to a Camry, the Mazda6 is a more stylish alternative. While sales have declined in recent years, the 6 was a popular sedan for a long time, so there are plenty of options to choose from on the used market.
The 2021 vintage appear to have reached the sweet spot on the second-hand market, with many available for under $30K with reasonable mileage. We’d recommend the 6 for its sleek style and polished driving manners, as well as its good space in the back that makes it a good family option.
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