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2021 Kia K5
There's a reason the terms "midsize sedan" and "family sedan" are interchangeable. Once upon a time, before crossovers and SUVs took over the psyche of the American car buyer, these right-sized four-doors were all that most families needed. They still are, only now, with their functional roles having been stolen by compact and midsize SUVs, midsize sedans are pivoting toward style and driving fun as a means to attract attention. If practical-minded buyers are flocking to SUVs, the thinking goes, to hell with practicality-bring on a sedan with a turbocharged engine, an athletic chassis, and eye-catching flair.
This isn't to say the affordable midsize four-door sedans on this list aren't practical. After generations of size increases, most of the family sedans in this segment are huge inside, with commodious trunks, too. Most are FWD, but AWD is often available-offering up further enticement for would-be SUV shoppers. Many are also surprisingly fuel efficient, and several have hybrid powertrains available. We've reviewed them all and ranked them through our MotorTrend Ultimate Car Rankings, so read on for MotorTrend's picks for the best mainstream midsize sedans you can buy for 2021.