A weeklong test of a 2013 Honda Accord and test drives of nine of its competitors has produced an overall ranking order ranging from the sporty yet comfortable and affordable Ford Fusion to the generally mediocre Toyota Camry.
But that overall ranking doesn't capture the nuances of different automobiles and different buyers' tastes. See the summaries and rankings of these 10 midsize family sedans based on particular buyers' tastes, and click through the slideshow for car-by-car "report card" summaries of those rankings. Unlike the "ratings" article, these rankings factor in all aspects of a car, simply changing how different attributes are weighted in determining a car's score -- that is to say, driving dynamics aren't the top priority in the "bargain hunter" category, but aren't ignored.
More from this comparison:
Rating the midsize sedans: How do the cars stack up for different types of buyers, such as those who prefer performance or who prefer value?
Quick take: Short summary reviews of the 10 cars.
Introduction to this comparison
Coming soon: Full reviews and photo galleries of each of the 10 cars.
Rankings, on the basis of luxurious but attainable:
As good as today's midsize sedans are, many buyers can easily find the premium qualities they'd otherwise turn to a luxury brand for. This ranking assumes more of a focus on polished driving dynamics and a plush interior than on people-hauling utility and screaming deals.
10. Dodge Avenger: D-
The utterly ordinary Avenger holds little appeal by these criteria. Even in its best points, it offers basic competence more than any sort of luxury, and its weak points place it firmly in the size-for-the-dollar category. Anyone can be drawn to its very low price, at least. (The mechanically identical Chrysler 200 has slightly dressier looks inside and out but has fewer luxury features available with a four-cylinder engine.)
9. Subaru Legacy: D+
The Legacy has a nice interior, but this all-wheel-drive sedan otherwise looks and feels far more utilitarian than luxurious. Competitors have far superior driving dynamics and smoother, quieter engines.
8. Nissan Altima: C
The Altima is a generally comfortable but ho-hum family sedan designed around the promise of outstanding fuel economy. It has comfortable seats and solid interior quality, but little of its mission is to feel premium. A droning engine and bumpy ride count against it, and its styling isn't very dressy inside or out.
7. Toyota Camry: C
Although its biggest strength is its spacious interior, the Camry's reasonably smooth and quiet ride and decent interior quality make it a plausible choice under these criteria. But it still feels more basic than plush in many ways, and no buyer will be impressed by its Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash test performance.
6. Mazda6: B-
Svelte and sporty, the Mazda6 is bound to win some hearts. But it's much more expensive than any of the others in this comparison, and its straightforward interior doesn't look like a luxury car's.
5. Volkswagen Passat: B
The Passat's main strength is a cavernous interior volume, but it has a quietly classy appearance inside and out; a smooth, quiet ride; and comfortable seats. Its interior quality is short of luxury-grade, though, including its lack of true leather seats.
4. Chevrolet Malibu: B
The Malibu's driving dynamics have a more solid, substantial feel than the competition, appropriately justifying its above-average price. Its interior materials and fit and finish could be better, though, as could its IIHS safety ratings and handling poise.
3. Kia Optima: B
Its ride and handling composure could stand to be improved, but the stylish Optima has a nice interior, particularly punchy engine, and lots of rare high-end features.
2. Honda Accord: A-
With a cabin that looks and feels nice, and offers supportive and comfortable front seats, along with a quiet ride and agile handling, the Accord's main issue is a sometimes bumpy ride. It's more expensive than the class norm, but anyone to whom isolation isn't a priority will likely see why Honda is comfortable charging more.
1. Ford Fusion: A
With Aston Martin exterior styling and an outstanding ride/handling balance, the Fusion is the most upscale all-around midsize family sedan. The well-finished interior isn't very dressy, though, and more effortless power wouldn't be remiss.
Rankings, on the basis of family-car utility:
The “family sedan” term exists for a reason: Midsize four-doors can offer sensible transportation and more utility than a smaller vehicle. If you're looking for something spacious, safe and comfortable, and aren't focusing mainly on its price tag, this ranking is for you.
10. Chevrolet Malibu: D
The Malibu excels for its refined driving dynamics, but rear seat room is skimpy for this class and its IIHS crash test scores aren't great. This Chevrolet has its strengths, but they don't make it a very strong family car.
9. Dodge Avenger: D+
Price is the Avenger's main strength – it far undercuts any comparably equipped competitor. But it's merely adequate for its interior volume, and its trunk isn't huge. Furthermore, no one will love the car's refinement or fuel economy.
8. Mazda6: C
Mazda charges a hefty price premium for the 6's style, handling and luxury features, but its family-friendliness is more okay that outstanding. Its interior space and refinement levels make it a perfectly nice family sedan, but not one that stands out in a crowded field.
7. Kia Optima: C
Tight rear seat head room counts heavily against the Optima's practicality as a people hauler, and it doesn't have the class's smoothest ride. But it's still roomier than a Chevrolet Malibu, and anyone can appreciate the luxury features Kia has crammed into the car at affordable prices.
6. Toyota Camry: B-
The Camry has a spacious interior, decently roomy trunk, and smooth and quiet ride – the basic qualities that make an excellent family sedan. But its poor IIHS crash test score counts heavily against it as a family hauler.
5. Ford Fusion: B
It's not stretch-out spacious, but the Fusion has comfortable front and rear seating for adults, a roomy trunk, and good safety scores. It gives interior space and visibility for style, though – several competitors skew more toward practicality.
4. Nissan Altima: B
The Altima could have more rear seat room and a smoother ride, but it's a pleasant and practical car for everyday use that offers few deal-breaking flaws and outstanding gas mileage.
3. Subaru Legacy: B+
Roomy, safe and practical for four people, the Legacy is at its best for someone who's all about utility. Its sloppy handling and droning engine won't win fans of anyone who's looking for much more than basic, though, and its fairly small trunk costs it points as a people hauler.
2. Volkswagen Passat: A
With a huge cabin and comfortable, quiet ride, the Passat is easily the pick of the class simply for ferrying people. But mediocre fuel economy and a lack of sporting pretensions keep it short of best-in-class.
1. Honda Accord: A
It's not quite as roomy as the Volkswagen Passat, or quite as smooth-riding, but the Accord comes close in both counts while offering far more engaging driving dynamics, far superior fuel economy, better crash-test performance, easier outward visibility, and a more solidly assembled interior. It's more expensive, but many will find it to be worth it.
Rankings, on the basis of fun yet useful:
Just because someone needs a roomy car doesn't mean they aren't also looking for driving pleasure. This ranking puts a priority on handling and acceleration, without ignoring the factors that draw someone to this size class to begin with.
10. Dodge Avenger: F
The Avenger was designed to be affordable; driving pleasure is not on the menu. It's neither peppy in a straight line nor agile around a corner, leaving a driving enthusiast with no reason to place it on the shopping list despite its world-beating price tag. (Possible exception: if you use part of your savings over a competitor to spring for this car's optional powerful V6.)
9. Subaru Legacy: F
It's slightly quicker than the Dodge Avenger, but the tested Legacy will similarly win few hearts from someone seeking a sporty driving experience. If you want all-wheel-drive, it's a rare choice for a passenger sedan, but it's a car you'd have to settle for rather than seek out if you prioritize fun.
8. Volkswagen Passat: D
The Passat feels like a nice car – just not a sporty one. It's big and feels it, and the light, disconnected steering brings little joy to the driving experience.
7. Nissan Altima: D+
Thoroughly dull in its driving experience, the Altima offers little to thrill seekers. But it will deliver decent pep and competent handling if you fight the car's urges against pushing it hard – the droning engine and numb steering.
6. Toyota Camry: C
The Camry is unexpectedly okay to drive even to an enthusiast's sensibilities, with heftier, more responsive steering than in a number of competitors, and a decently peppy engine that doesn't seem to actively resist being flogged. But it's still not going to make the short list for driving pleasure, and its IIHS crash test scores count against it for any type of buyer.
5. Chevrolet Malibu: B-
Drivers looking for a true sports sedan won't be wowed by the Malibu, which is not agile as it approaches its limits. But well-weighted, responsive steering helps make it quite nice to drive fairly gently. However, it's not much roomier – especially for rear passengers – than smaller, zippier compact cars, and it's one of the more expensive family sedans.
4. Kia Optima: B
A powerful engine is the highlight of the Optima's driving experience, and some drivers will appreciate the extra heft to the car's steering. Push it hard around a corner, though, and it quickly loses its composure. Its core strength of a high-quality, feature-laden interior at a low price still earns it attention, though, but some will be turned off by the lack of rear-seat headroom.
3. Mazda6: B+
With its promise of building driver's cars, Mazda should have run away with this category. It does not. The Mazda6 is fun to drive for a car of this size, with agile handling and a peppy engine, but it's not blowing away the competition. Two key competitors are just as fun to drive – more so, in fact, in routine conditions – while offering more practicality and lower prices.
2. Honda Accord: A-
It's a bit short of brilliant to drive, but the Accord is still peppy and commendably agile while still offering outstanding everyday utility and comfort.
1. Ford Fusion: A
The Fusion's driving dynamics come closer to brilliance than the Honda Accord's, with sharper steering and handling than the Honda. Its lower price is another plus anyone can appreciate. The Honda is more useful, but the Ford still offers the roominess expected of a family sedan while offering a better driving experience than the competition.
Rankings, on the basis of the bargain hunter's choice:
Price isn't everything, but it can be a significant factor. This ranking favors cars that offer the most bang for the buck rather than simply the most bang.
10. Chevrolet Malibu: D-
Chevrolet charges extra for a premium driving experience – $26,486 out the door – setting it up as a weak budget choice from the start. Its tight rear seating, mediocre fuel economy and spotty build quality further detract from the package.
9. Mazda6: D
At more than $29,000 out the door, the Mazda6 is anything but a budget car. Its sporty driving dynamics and excellent 30-mpg fuel economy rating don't revive it as a good choice for someone focused on the best deal.
8. Toyota Camry: C-
Though it's competitive in most ways – if never brilliant – the Camry offers nothing in particular to interest a bargain hunter at its $25,817 out-the-door price, and a poor IIHS crash-test score is another detractor.
7. Subaru Legacy: C+
If you want all-wheel-drive in a roomy, reasonably priced sedan – $25,417 out the door – the Legacy is the pick of the class. If all-wheel-drive isn't a priority, you can find a lower price, better fuel efficiency and better driving dynamics with a competitor.
6. Volkswagen Passat: B-
The Passat offers a huge amount of interior space for the money – $25,092 – and a smooth, quiet ride. But it gets low fuel economy by the class's ever-improving standards – 25 mpg – and isn't remotely sporty to drive.
5. Honda Accord: B-
It's one of the pricier cars in this class, at $26,521, but the Accord makes a decent case that it's worth it. Not only does it get 30 miles per gallon, but it also is a smooth, polished car with excellent driving dynamics, a nice interior and strong safety ratings. A slightly bumpy ride is the main drawback – well, that and the price.
4. Dodge Avenger: B-
Priced nearly $4,000 below the next-cheapest competitor, the Avenger's $20,565 price tag is enticing, even after the savings are offset by a bottom-of-the-class 23 mpg fuel economy rating and less of a reputation for holding its value. To some buyers, the outclassed driving dynamics and trunk space make the competition easily worth its premium; to others, this Dodge offers the basic qualities inherent to a family sedan at the most reasonable price available.
3. Nissan Altima: B
The Altima isn't especially cheap – $25,544 out the door – and it doesn't have a particularly fancy interior or sophisticated driving dynamics. But it's a solid all-around car that will return phenomenal fuel economy – an estimated 31 mpg in mixed driving.
2. Kia Optima: B+
Packed with features at a low $24,457, the Optima has a well-finished interior, a punchy engine and a good 28-mpg fuel economy rating. Rear seat headroom is tight, though, and ride and handling could use more polish.
1. Ford Fusion: A
One of the best cars in the class at any price, the Fusion is also one of its most affordable – undercutting everything but the outlier Dodge Avenger. Excellent driving dynamics, a comfortable and decently roomy interior, and a competitive 28-mpg fuel economy rating are especially compelling at $24,252 out the door. You'll find more interior space and better visibility from some competitors, though.
Overall rankings:
10. Toyota Camry: C-
A car that hits the mark of just-okay in most ways faces trouble if there is a clear compelling reason not to buy it – and for the Camry, that's a Poor crash test rating from the IIHS. It's roomy, but midpack at best for its comfort, refinement and driving dynamics, and key competitors offer a better mix of traits.
9. Dodge Avenger: C
The Avenger gives you little reason to buy it aside from deeply discounted price. But if that reason is compelling enough, it may be enough to overcome the reasons not to buy it: a thorough lack of sophistication compared to modern midsize sedans, and worst-in-class fuel economy.
8. Chevrolet Malibu: C
Polished to drive but pricey to buy, the Malibu also suffers from a tight rear seat and mediocre fuel economy in a class with very high standards.
7. Subaru Legacy: B-
Despite its roomy interior and outstanding visibility, the Legacy is a tough sell if you're not interested in all-wheel-drive. Subaru has minimized the system's inherent impacts on the car's price, acceleration and fuel economy. But mediocre ride, handling and noise suppression count heavily against this practical all-weather sedan.
6. Mazda6: B-
Agile and fun to drive, the Mazda6 is an endearing blend of sportiness and everyday comfort and utility. But it lacks the sheer brilliance it would need to comfortably command its lofty price tag.
5. Nissan Altima: B
Nissan set out to create a family sedan with outstanding fuel economy, and achieved that with the 31-mpg Altima. The same effort wasn't poured into the rest of this otherwise humdrum sedan, but that strength alone – coupled with a lack of deal-breaking flaws – makes it a solid competitor.
4. Kia Optima: B
Powerful and stylish, the Optima also offers a lot of features for the money and a nicely trimmed interior. Tight rear head space and a bumpy ride cost it points as a family car, and its handling doesn't live up to the initial promise of its hefty steering.
3. Volkswagen Passat: B
The Passat packs full-size interior volume and comfort into a midsize body and price point – an appealing combination. But some will seek better fuel economy, a fancier interior and livelier handling.
2. Honda Accord: A
Comfortably above average in nearly every way, the somewhat pricey Accord could have a smoother ride and a better-shaped trunk. But there's little else to fault in the car's agile handling, spacious and well-finished interior, easy visibility, excellent safety ratings and 30-mpg fuel economy rating.
1. Ford Fusion: A
The Fusion combines sporty driving dynamics with a comfortable, quiet interior and affordable pricing to lead the class. Someone focusing on people-hauling won't be wowed by the interior space or outward visibility, but there's a lot to like and little to hate in this Ford.
More from this comparison:
Report card summaries: The information above in car-by-car chart form.
Rating the midsize sedans: How do the cars compare in different ways, such as comfort, safety and fuel economy?
Quick take: Short summary reviews of the 10 cars.
Introduction to this comparison
Coming soon: Full reviews and photo galleries of each of the 10 cars.
Comments