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 ratings of these 10 midsize family sedans for particular sets of attributes below, and click through the slideshow for car-by-car "report card" summaries of those ratings. Unlike the "rankings" article, these ratings isolate individual aspects of a car (except for "overall") -- that is to say, for instance, that a car's rating in the "price" category states simply what it costs, not whether it represents a good value for the money, all things considered.
More from this comparison:
Ranking 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.
Comfort/luxury:
10. Dodge Avenger: C-
The Avenger is far from luxurious, but it has decent interior quality and a smooth ride. A noisy, harsh-sounding engine counts heavily against it, and the interior looks and feels fairly basic.
9. Subaru Legacy: C+
A nicely appointed interior with very nice materials and solid assembly quality is nice, but the Legacy's engine drones loudly, and the ride isn't ideally smooth. Some will find the roomy front seats to be oddly shaped; others will be quite comfortable.
8. Nissan Altima: B-
Comfortable seats and a well-finished interior are Altima high points, but the ride is a bit bumpy and the engine a bit noisy.
7. Toyota Camry: B-
Though it's roomy, smooth and quiet, the Camry falls short of the plushness and substantial feel that would make it feel luxurious, and the interior quality is a mixed bag.
6. Mazda6: B
The Mazda6 has excellent seats and a solidly constructed interior, but some will find the décor drab and ride quality and quietness aren't class standouts.
5. Kia Optima: B+
Kia delivers a high-quality interior and lots of widely available luxury features. A sometimes stiff ride is the main point against it in this category, and several competitors have more comfortable seats.
4. Volkswagen Passat: B+
Spacious, comfortable and quiet, the Passat is a plush sedan whose luxury feel would be boosted by more attention to detail in the cabin – including the use of real leather trim instead of an imitation.
3. Chevrolet Malibu: B+
The Malibu has the class's best ride quality and a fine sense of sophistication going down the road, but the engine could sound better, some interior components are cheap, and the front seats are nothing special.
2. Honda Accord: A
Excellent seats, polished driving dynamics and unblemished interior quality are Accord strong points. Several top competitors, though, have smoother rides.
1. Ford Fusion: A
The Fusion's excellent ride and handling balance gives it an upscale feel, as do its comfortable, supportive seats. Some will want a bit more space, though, and the well-finished interior isn't flashy.
Driving experience:
10. Subaru Legacy: D
The Legacy gets moving with a wheezy moan, and its handling is far from lively. The steering is slow and unnaturally heavy, lending this Subaru a ponderous feel.
9. Dodge Avenger: D+
Sluggish acceleration; vague, slow steering; and reluctant handling define the Avenger's driving experience, but at least the light steering avoids being obnoxious, and the ride is smooth.
8. Volkswagen Passat: C
Vague, slow steering isolates the Passat's driver from the road, and it feels every bit of the large car that it is in cornering. The five-cylinder engine is decently punchy.
7. Nissan Altima: C+
The Altima feels utterly ordinary from behind the wheel – it's pleasantly forgettable when puttering around gently, but gets loud and clumsy when it's asked to accelerate quickly or hustle around a corner.
6. Toyota Camry: B-
Though it's never had a reputation for handling, the current Camry has almost a sporty heft to its steering and decently quick responses compared to a number of its competitors. But it's still less of a sports sedan than several other competitors.
5. Chevrolet Malibu: B
Steering and handling feels quite nice except when it's pushed hard, at which point the Malibu quickly loses its otherwise commendable poise. The car's weight cuts into its acceleration punch.
4. Kia Optima: B
The Optima has an especially peppy engine, and it tracks well in a straight line and gentle turns. But despite a somewhat bumpy ride, a fast turn reveals it's not sporty.
3. Mazda6: A-
Unlike several competitors, the Mazda6 – though billed as a sporty car – shows off its handling skills only when it's really pushed. Light steering doesn't give it a precise, fun-to-drive feel in routine driving.
2. Honda Accord: A
The Accord isn't an outright sports sedan, but it's engaging to drive for this class, with well-weighted, responsive steering; agile handling; and a peppy engine.
1. Ford Fusion: A
Steering and handling are about as close to brilliant as you can get from a midsize family sedan, and Ford also avoided giving up a comfortable ride. The punch from its small turbocharged engine is decent but not outstanding.
Practicality:
10. Dodge Avenger: C-
The Avenger can squeeze in four adults without much complaint, but competitors offer more passenger space. The trunk is the smallest in the class at 13.4 cubic feet, but it's usefully shaped. The Dodge has poor outward visibility but user-friendly controls.
9. Chevrolet Malibu: C
A tight rear seat with less space than many compact cars hurts the Malibu's people-hauling chops, and outward visibility isn't great. On the plus side, the front seats and trunk are roomy, and the controls are intuitive.
8. Kia Optima: B-
The Optima lacks rear seat head space, rear legroom is only okay, and rear visibility isn't great. But this Kia has a roomy trunk and a more habitable rear seat for all but especially tall adults than the Dodge or Chevrolet, including for three-abreast seating.
7. Nissan Altima: B
Although rear seat room isn't generous, adults should fit fuss-free, and the Altima is otherwise qutie practical and user-friendly.
6. Mazda6: B
Despite the sporty looks and marketing, Mazda gave its midsize sedan a roomy interior and straightforward controls. It's still not stretch-out spacious, though, and the trunk is a little tight.
5. Ford Fusion: B+
The Fusion fits four adults comfortably thanks more to well-sculpted seats than expansive space, but even a fifth won't be too squished. Avoid the frustrating touch-sensitive controls that come with the MyFord Touch system – they brighten up the dashboard but are messy to operate while moving, and are sometimes slow to respond.
4. Subaru Legacy: B+
Its high roof gives the Legacy outstanding visibility and excellent headroom, and its standard all-wheel-drive gives it rare all-weather usability. But the center-rear position is a bit skimpy, some controls are fussy to use, and the trunk isn't very roomy.
3. Honda Accord: A-
The Accord has a spacious interior, user-friendly controls, and excellent visibility. The decently roomy trunk is oddly shaped, though, and the rear seat folds only in one piece rather than in a 60-40 split to accommodate larger items.
2. Toyota Camry: A-
A spacious interior, decently roomy trunk, good visibility, and simple controls make the Camry a practical family sedan. It doesn't lead the class in any one of those areas, though.
1. Volkswagen Passat: A
The Passat has unbeatable interior volume, with one of the roomiest rear seats – for two – that you'll find in anything short of a limousine. It's also easier to get in and out of than lower-slung competitors. A third adult will also fit without much squeezing, despite a large floor hump. The roomy trunk is shallow, though.
Safety:
8. Toyota Camry: C-
The Camry did very well in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration testing, and in most tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. However, it earned the lowest rating of Poor in the IIHS small-overlap frontal offset crash test, which sees how well a small part of the car's structure can absorb the full force of an impact. Though the test is challenging, the Camry is the only car in its class to fail it.
7. Dodge Avenger: C+
The Avenger earned solid IIHS scores, including an Acceptable rating in the small-overlap test – the second-highest of four ratings – but its scores in NHTSA side-impact testing are mediocre.
6. Chevrolet Malibu: B-
The Malibu earned excellent scores in most NHTSA and IIHS crash tests, but was just Marginal in the IIHS small-overlap test – the second-lowest of four ratings.
5. Ford Fusion: B+
The Fusion earned excellent scores in most NHTSA and IIHS crash tests. It was rated Acceptable in the IIHS small-overlap test and four out of five stars for side-impact performance in NHTSA evaluations, though.
4. Kia Optima: A-
The Optima earned excellent scores in most NHTSA and IIHS crash tests, and was rated Acceptable in the IIHS small-overlap test. (The mechanically identical Hyundai Sonata is Marginal in the latter evaluation.)
3. Nissan Altima: A-
The Altima earned excellent scores in most NHTSA and IIHS crash tests, and was rated Acceptable in the IIHS small-overlap test.
2. Volkswagen Passat: A-
The Passat earned excellent scores in most NHTSA and IIHS crash tests, and was rated Acceptable in the IIHS small-overlap test.
1. Honda Accord: A
The Accord is the only car in its class with a top score of Good in the IIHS small-overlap test, and it earned mostly excellent NHTSA scores as well. It was marked down to four out of five stars, though, in the NHTSA frontal test.
The 2013 Subaru Legacy and 2014 Mazda6 have not yet been fully crash-tested as of this writing.
Fuel economy:
10. Dodge Avenger: C-
The Avenger returns 23 miles per gallon in mixed driving (20 city/31 highway), which would have been acceptable for a midsize sedan just a few years ago, but the class has moved on.
9. Volkswagen Passat: C+
The Passat has a five-cylinder base engine instead of a four-cylinder, which likely contributes to its below average fuel economy: 22 miles per gallon in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg overall.
8. Chevrolet Malibu: B-
The Malibu is rated for 22 miles per gallon in the city, 34 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg overall, losing some fuel efficiency to its heavy weight.
7. Subaru Legacy: B
Despite its standard all-wheel-drive, the Legacy has class-competitive fuel economy estimates of 24 miles per gallon in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg overall.
6. Ford Fusion: B+
The Fusion has a small turbocharged engine that's rated for 23 miles per gallon in the city, 36 mpg on the highway and 28 mpg overall.
5. Kia Optima: B+
The Optima has a particularly powerful engine but is still rated for 24 miles per gallon in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg overall.
4. Toyota Camry: B+
The Camry is rated for 25 miles per gallon in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, and 28 mpg overall.
3. Honda Accord: A
The Accord is rated for 27 miles per gallon in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg overall – better than many compact cars.
2. Mazda6: A
The Mazda6 is rated for 26 miles per gallon in the city, 38 mpg on the highway and 30 mpg overall.
1. Nissan Altima: A+
The Altima is rated for a phenomenal 27 miles per gallon in the city, 38 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg overall.
Price:
10. Mazda6: D
Depending on the options you're interested in, the Mazda6 can be an okay deal, but heated leather seats and a sunroof – the main features selected to determine comparable pricing in this comparison – are offered only on the top-of-the-line trim. The car's newness also means discounts are low. Expect to spend more than $29,000, which is some $2,700 more than the next-priciest competitor. Some extra features help offset this premium.
9. Chevrolet Malibu: C
A high sticker price and perhaps surprisingly ungenerous discounting make the Malibu one of the more expensive midsize family sedans, at an estimated $26,486 out the door.
8. Honda Accord: C
The Accord is slightly more expensive than a comparable Malibu, with an estimated transaction price of $26,521, but the Honda has generally demonstrated better resale value. Honda groups all features together as standard on a particular trim rather than letting you easily customize, and doesn't let the extra goodies go cheap.
7. Toyota Camry: C+
Choosing leather seats requires nearly $3,000 in options that cost less on most competitors (Honda Accord excepted), bloating the Camry's projected out the door price to $25,817. The price does include two years of free scheduled maintenance, though.
6. Volkswagen Passat: B-
The Passat stacks up decently when comparing sticker prices, but Volkswagen dealers appeal less willing to deal than competitors'. Expect to spend $25,092, a discount of less than $2,000 off the MSRP. Note that unlike the competition, most Passats have imitation leather; the genuine article is available only on a top-of-the-line model costing some $4,500 more. The price does include three years of free scheduled maintenance, though.
5. Nissan Altima: B-
The Altima's price is competitive but not outstanding at an estimated $25,544 out the door.
4. Subaru Legacy: B-
The Legacy has a class-competitive price of $25,417 and is the only car in its class with standard all-wheel-drive.
3. Ford Fusion: B+
Competitive sticker prices and better than average discounts give the Fusion a compelling value quotient; expect to spend $24,252.
2. Kia Optima: B+
Though it costs a bit more than the Fusion, at an estimated $24,457 out the door, the Optima includes such extra features as cooled front seats, heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel that are not often found in this price range.
1. Dodge Avenger: A+
The Avenger attempts to upend any grading system for price. With a sticker price that's less than most competitors' out the door prices and the largest available rebates, it's nearly $4,000 less than the next-cheapest Fusion and a downright absurd $8,500 less than the Mazda6. Low resale values do cut into the savings somewhat, though.
Overall:
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 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.
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