But family sedans still make up the largest segment of new vehicles on the road today.  J.D. Power and Associates says family sedans account for 22 percent of all new vehicles sold in the U.S.  In fact, the two best-selling cars in America are family sedans - the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry. 

To call these cars "family sedans" is a tad misleading, however. Young families aren't buying them much anymore. In fact, families with kids at home make up only 23 percent of Honda Accord buyers; empty nesters make up 50 percent, and the remaining 27 percent are either single or married couples without kids. 

Among young families, the sedan often serves as a second car - the one that Dad (or whoever isn't picking up the kids that day) drives. The sedan also is what the parents drive on "dates" when they leave the little ones with the sitter.   

"While SUV sales are staying strong, I think we're seeing a small up-tick in the popularity of sedans and wagons," says Jack Gillis, author of The/Ultimate Car Book. "Some people are reconsidering their transportation needs and downsizing from SUVs into sedans or wagons. Part of the reason is that sedans cost less to buy and less to insure. Also, some people just want to drive a car, not an SUV or minivan."  

Case in point: Since becoming a mom, my friend Janice has gone from driving a Plymouth Voyager minivan to a Chevy Suburban to a BMW 5-Series sedan. In that order.

"I've never looked back," she says. With two boys in baseball and soccer, Janice officially qualifies as a soccer mom, "but that doesn't mean I have to drive a 'soccer mom' car; a sedan suits us just fine. I like that it's not cumbersome. It's nimble, fun to drive, and I can park it anywhere."

Side by side

When you compare a sedan with an SUV, here is the way things stack up:

Sedan Strengths vs. SUVs:

• Low step-in height
• Security of a lockable trunk
• Looks professional: takes you from business lunch to soccer games with ease.
• Easy to handle like a car, because it is a car!
• Better gas mileage
• Easy to maneuver and park
• Low overall height, so no worries about scraping off your bike rack on the ceiling of parking garage.
• Lower center of gravity makes it feel more secure to drive, less of a rollover risk.
• Doesn't encourage clutter like a big SUV or minivan does
• Good vehicle for families with older kids, who will end up driving it to high school.
• Lower price: You can get a really well-equipped sedan for the same price as a base SUV.

Sedan Weaknesses vs. SUVs:

• Limited carrying capacity for passengers and cargo
• Lacks Constricted visibility (you can't see over other cars)
• Fewer all-wheel-drive models
• Less towing capacity
• Not as intimidating in parking-space standoffs
• Less ground clearance
• Older, more conservative image

Five easy picks

They come in all sizes and price levels, but what sedans have in common are four doors, seating for five or six, and better ride and handling than any SUV or truck. Sedans typically are built in what is called the "three-box" design, meaning one box contains the engine and transmission, the second box holds the passengers, and the third box (aka. trunk) carries the luggage.

Sedans are really just old-fashioned cars. Two parental units go in front and 2.5 kidlums go in back. If you want to buy a new dishwasher, have the store deliver it. 

If you want a practical package (pretty small, pretty nimble, pretty fuel-efficient, and pretty cheap) then get a family sedan like these five easy picks:

Honda Accord (est. $16,000-$25,000):  With a vroomier V-6 engine (up 40 hp to 240 hp) and a sleek new body that conveys "the muscular grace of a cheetah," Honda hopes to pounce on buyers who might otherwise purchase a Volkswagen Passat. Completely redesigned for 2003, Accord features a roomier back seat, a body-hugging driver's seat ("We could sell this car on the seat alone," said Accord's project manager), dual A/C controls, and all sorts of thoughtful touches like (my personal favorite) water-bottle holders in all four doors.  Also available is a sweet-running 160-hp, four-cylinder engine that's stingy with gas. 
2003 Honda Accord EX by John Pearley Huffman (8/5/2002)

Toyota Camry ($19,500-$25,980): America's perennial bestseller got a complete redo for 2002. It got bigger, more powerful and more stylish. While it still looks a bit bland, the Camry is as safe, reliable and dependable as the boy your mom wanted you to date in high school. Available with a 157-hp, four-cylinder engine, or a 192-hp V-6 engine, the Camry is a car that, like the Accord, you'll never have to explain to the neighbors why you bought it.

Volkswagen Passat ($22,300-$38,500):  This is Consumer Reports' favorite family sedan, and it combines Euro-styling, solid German engineering, and a warm, well-crafted interior. Beautifully constructed and enjoyable to drive, the Passat is giving the Camry and Accord a run in for their money. Speaking of which, the Passat costs a bit more than its rivals. But it also matches some near-luxury models in quality, spaciousness and comfort.  Passat can be had with front- or all-wheel drive and a choice of three engines: a 170-hp, four-cylinder; a 190-hp V-6; or the new 275-hp "W8" -- VW's first eight-cylinder engine ever.

Ford Taurus ($19,685-$23,950): The standard reference for family sedans, Ford's best-selling car offers good ride, plenty of elbow room in back, and enough cargo space to stash most everyone's toys.  At one time, the Taurus' jelly-bean shape was considered radical; now it just looks like a Hertz rental car inside and out.  Still, the Taurus is comfortable, affordable, spacious and one of the safest family sedans around. If only it looked better. Available with a 155-hp V-6 or a 200-hp V-6.

Nissan Altima ($17,200-$23,700): New for 2002, the Altima sports the most dramatic exterior of all mid-size competitors. It also has a sporty ride, outstanding powerplants and best-in-class cabin space. The Altima is huge inside, with a limousine-like rear seat. It only loses points on interior style, where the materials feel cheap. Available with a choice of two punchy engines: a 175-hp, four-cylinder and a 240-hp V-6. Don't buy a mid-size family sedan without first test-driving the Altima.