A four-door car body style with a separate trunk and seating for 4-5 passengers. The most common car body style globally.
Sedan (also called saloon in British English) is a four-door car body style with a separate trunk and seating for 4-5 passengers. The body has a distinctive three-box shape: front compartment (engine), middle compartment (passengers), and rear compartment (cargo). The configuration is one of the most successful body styles in automotive history.
Sedans cover the entire automotive market from economy (Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic Sedan, Hyundai Elantra) through compact (BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class) to luxury (Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7-Series, Lexus LS) and sport-luxury (BMW M5, Mercedes-AMG E63). Different markets emphasize different sedan segments. Some markets have shifted toward SUVs and crossovers; others (China, Japan) continue with strong sedan demand.
The sedan format provides a balance of passenger space, cargo capacity, and aerodynamic efficiency. The separate trunk provides theft protection (vs hatchback exposed cargo), the four doors provide rear passenger access, and the typical proportions allow rear-seat passenger space. The format is generally less space-efficient than a hatchback or wagon of similar exterior dimensions but offers other advantages.