Sedans are one of the oldest types of car produced and were developed as the logical progression from the open top 4 door cars that were driving around at the beginning of the 20th century. It is thought that the term Sedan originally comes from the Italian 'Sedia' or chair. The first officially recognized Sedan was the 1911 Speedwell Sedan manufactured in Ohio. It was classified as the first official sedan as it met all of the characteristics that are still hotly debated today for being classified as such.

Despite the keenness for manufacturers to try and name every mainstream car they produce as a Sedan, there are some technical requirements that in theory need to be met in order for a car to officially be labeled a Sedan. The traditional Sedan type has three pillars and should have enough headroom for four adults to sit comfortably, two in the front and two in the back with a segregated trunk in the rear that is accessed from outside of the vehicle although there have been some Sedan models with the engine in the rear and the trunk space under the hood.

There are other variants around such as a Fastback Sedan which is basically a large hatchback, and two door Sedans which are mostly categorized as Coupes nowadays although if the rear seating area is large enough it can also be classified as a two door Sedan. However, it is generally accepted that a Sedan is a four door car with enough room to seat a family of four.

Sedans are the main choice for the bulk of car purchasers as they offer a combination of everything the other types of cars specialize in. Most families like them as there is enough room in the car for the family plus shopping or luggage, they usually offer average to better than average fuel consumption making them fairly inexpensive to run, other costs are lower such as insurance, and most Sedan brands are reliable and don't require specialized maintenance. Sedans are also the most common business vehicle as they portray the right amount of conservatism and are very comfortable and economical for both in town and long distance travel.

Manufacturers have recently adjusted some of their thinking with Sedans and have moved in different directions with some going back to less luxurious and more efficient budget models for families on a lower income. At the other end, luxury model sedans are packed with every feature imaginable in order to command a higher premium. The most recognized Sedan manufacturers are still Ford with the Focus and Fusion, Volkswagen with the Passat, in the USA the Buick Lacrosse and the Chrysler 300, and at the Luxury end Mercedes Benz and BMW still completely dominate with the Mercedes Benz C Class and the BMW 5 and 7 Series most renowned for luxury sedans. Many Japanese manufacturers also have strong Sedan models with the Toyota Corolla and the Nissan Maxima leading the pack.