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Comparison review: eight midsize sedans (Introduction)
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How does the Mazda 6 compare to seven competing
midsize sedans? Find out over the next week.
The midsize sedan is the bread and butter of the auto industry. The best-selling car in the country is a midsize sedan, and the best-selling cars of most major automakers are as well. The midsize sedan offers a very popular compromise: the comfort, space, refinement and safety of a big car without the price, gas mileage, and bulk associated with larger vehicles.
In theory, anyway.
Because they’re so popular (the Toyota Camry’s annual American sales alone typically exceed the total annual new car sales in the average European country) consumers demand many different things of them.
Some buy them as family cars, choosing a midsize car for its extra space of a compact economy car (see comparison of seven economical sedans) while still desiring as much of the same maneuverability and fuel economy.
Others who don’t need that interior volume want a car that feels more substantial than a Toyota Corolla. They may be looking for extra safety, or extra sportiness, or extra style, or extra luxury, or a mix of all of those factors.
The best midsize sedan would work for everyone. It would be spacious and quiet for the family buyer, yet sporty, expensive-feeling, and stylish for the other. And it would be inexpensive, fuel-efficient, and safe for everyone’s benefit.
Your D.C. Car Examiner went searching for this amalgam of virtues, driving the best-selling Toyota Camry and Honda Accord and six of their top competitors.
Over the next week, you’ll find reviews of each of them in this space describing what each has offered for the money. You’ll see those eight cars ranked from worst to best, based on comfort, refinement, and driving dynamics; based on safety ratings; and based on the cost to buy and the cost to operate. You'll also see local real-world pricing, not just sticker prices. [See note on pricing*]
Check back each day to see the ranking emerge, and next Monday you’ll see which of the eight midsize sedans deserves the highest spot on your shopping list. Also have a look at some introductory information on the eight cars below in today's slideshow.
Coming up tomorrow: Eighth Place
Friday, Feb. 13:
Fourth Place
Saturday, Feb. 14: Third Place
Sunday, Feb. 15:
Second Place
Monday, Feb. 16:
First Place
Tuesday, Feb 17:
Conclusion
You might also enjoy these:
- Comparison review: Seven economical sedans
- Review: 2009 Toyota Venza
- Review: 2008 Kia Rondo
- Review: 2009 Ford Flex
*Note on pricing: when possible, the cars tested for this review were comparably equipped. It wasn't always possible. All are 4-cylinder sedans with automatic transmissions, but some have more options than others, which inflate the price tag.
The target for these eight was to have a power driver's seat and a sunroof. Four of them hit this accurately, one had more accessories, and three had fewer. Any discrepancies will be noted as they appear to ease comparison of the vehicles.
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