Comparison Test: Midsize Sedan Shootout
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- Whether you're looking for style, comfort, or lots of features, any of today's mainstream mid-size four-doors will probably fit the bill. But which one does it best? Well, that's exactly what we're about to find out as MotorWeek teams up with Cars.com and USA TODAY for the Midsize Sedan Shootout.
I agree. I find it very functional, very intuitive, easy to use. Dials are large and easy to read and feel good to the touch. When driving, it's not distracting and the dials are easy to locate by feel so that I dont have to look away from the road ahead.
There is no comparison, the Ford Fusion is the clear winner.
So what about Altima and Sonata?
The Passat TDI starts at $26,000. That's not expensive by midsize sedan standards these days. It's fine if you don't like Volkswagens, but I would have personally liked to have seen it in this comparison....especially since it won Motor Trend Car of the Year in 2012. I'm a consumer shopping in this segment and I'm certainly comparing it against the others they tested.
Best person to judge the car is the intended buyer. Good job Motorweek.
Not one of MW's better reviews. MW kept harping on price despite it meeting their entry requirement. MW needed to talk about what each vehicle did best, and they failed, miserably.
Mondeos and Falcons are a lot better :) shame you guys don't get em up there.
I don't understand why reviewers would call a logically laid out dash 'dull' or 'boring'.
Does this mean the Altima didn't place?! lol
The interior of the Camry looks amazing! Not too much, not too little. I don't know why car reviewers always say it looks bland...
It is bland; it has no substance.
Umm you forgot some cars featured in the beginning...
I just purchased the 2013 Kia Optima. Mine is the base model but man do I love it. The steering is the only odd mark for the whole experience, but I wonder if it’s an alignment issue (but most reviews mentioned steering as a low mark). But it’s nothing that makes the experience bad.
Yes, if the dials are too small or require that you look at them to use them (ahem, touch screens), they could increase accidents.
I've read this new model has soften the ride. Funny, Camry got stiffer and Accord got softer. ;). Eventually almost all cars will have DIAL A COMFORT ECO OR SPORT ride
why not wait till the mazda6 comes out? it seems like it will play a very significant role
MSRP for Passat TDI with a 6 speed manual starts at 26,225. That is $225 over the price cutoff for the test before upgrading it with an automatic.
my town don't offer much diesel gas station so I would just said that "keep making better efficient vehicles without sacrificing power or ride comfort".
how are the cvt transmissions holding up at 100,000 miles now?
My list:
Accord
Optima
Altima
Fusion
Sonata
Camry
Malibu
I hate to admit it, but the Fusion and Accord would be a tie for me. The high output K24 with the 6-speed manual in the Accord Sport is as athletic as you can get for an average family sedan. If Ford devoloped thier already good (but not powerful enough) Duratec 2.5 with a 6-speed manual option, I'de consider buying one in the future.
The Fusion would be my first choice, in S trim and 2.5L engine. It gets the best fuel mileage. The Camry and Altima are bland to me, and the Optima and Sonata are better looking. The Sonata drives better than Camry for less. Accord is a proven car, but it’s too expensive for what it is. The Malibu is a great car as well, for it’s proven, too.
So I assume the Altima and Malibu scored last? what happened to them?
Nope, when I am driving, I never look at the dials but thanx for playin
John,
With all due respect, virtually all media comparisons seem to set requirements that preclude VWs or they simply choose to ignore them. Is $225 dollars, 0.87% over an arbitrary limit, a legitimate reason to exclude the 2012 Motor Trend COTY? Why focus on average transactions and below? Shouldn't average be in the middle? The Passat TDI would have at the very least blown all of your competitors out of the water on fuel economy. 40 mpg combined and 48+ highway in the real world doesn't hurt.
Sedan? What's that? I hate the modern World, everything is an SUV or CUV. You have to go to China or the Middle East if you want a Ford sedan these days.
I agree. We dont know how they came about with the numbers to determine the winner.I think they should have left styling out of it, bc beauty is subjective and frankly I forget what the outside looks like while I am behind the wheel.
Spot on! Accord is the best car all around. Also you buy a honda accord ex-l with msrp of 28k for 26,000.
I have actually been shopping for one of these for a month and was leaning towards the Camry but now... Also I was shocked at how expensive the Malibu is. It's off my list because of the price.
Here Are My Favorite midsize cars From Best to Worst
1. Honda Accord
2. Hyundai Sonata
3. Toyota Camry
4. Ford Fusion
5. Nissan Altima
6. Chevy Malibu
7. Kia Optima
I gotta say...I'm pretty impressed with the new '13 Honda Accord. It would be my first choice if I were in the market for buying a new midsize sedan.
I agree....that was a miss. It's a fantastic car and it would have been interesting to see it compared to these others.
0:29 -- The best (accord) and the worst (malibu) . I'd pick the Fusion too though, seems nice. Not sure turbocharging is reliable in the long run though
I want Honda Accord, just the base model + fog lights, manual transmission
I'm shocked to hear sporty and Camry in the same sentence.
The fuel economy of the diesel only partially offsets the higher price of diesel and the diesel engine.You pay more upfront for a diesel engine and more down the road for fuel in exchange for longer range.A TDI saves you about 5% annual fuel costs vs a 4 cylinder Accord.Overall you will lose more money on the TDI with its higher rate of depreciation and overall higher cost to purchase and maintain.I dont see the point of buying more expensive, less reliable car just to save 5% on fuel costs.
I would love the see the "2014" Mazda 6 in the Shootout. Really liked the Accord, but don't love the one-piece flip down rear seats. What?! No 60/40 split?
You just cant beat the Accord!, awesome car.
Whats wrong with Altima?
ACCORD!!!!!!! Love love love!
*flashes to a shot of a sexy exterior*
"The interior styling doesn't quite match up to the exterior"
*flashes to a shot of the sexy interior*
LOL
Nice try
MAzda 6 is the best of all! :)
YAY KELSEY MAYS! Hes one of the best car reviewers on the net.
Yeah, shame that. I really like the current one they've been selling for the last few years. I've had a go at all three before.
Bland? When driving I hate having to look at the dials bc if I do, then the engineers did a poor job designing it.gauges are clear and easy to read,dials are large, intuitively placed so that I can adjust them purely by feel without having to take my eyes off the road. Not everyone wants a fighter jet cockpit loaded with multifunction touch screens that will probably fail long before the powertrain does or flashy chrome/wood/aluminum trim that increases cost and driver distraction
Did you watch the video? They explain that in detail...
love how thers no 200 :P hopfully the next one will b considered competition.
You will always have to look at the dials to read and understand them...
Interesting that the car that won last year, didn't even place this year!!!
I'd have the Camry, then the Altima. The Fusion isn't as high quality as I'd like, the Malibu is too snug, the Sonata is ugly, the Optima's visibility isn't good, and the Accord felt flimsy to me. When I drove the Camry, it just felt solid and comfortable.
Legacy doesnt meet the mpg requirement. Neither does the current 21 city 30 highway Mazda6.
@Nick Zolanski agree
It did not meet the requirements to be in the test.
I'd take the Accord.
So, by your logic, if the car jumps out at you and has different looking dials, they did a poor job designing it? I think that vast majority of people would disagree with you on that.
Why did you guys have the 'bu in the first shot if it wasn't going to be shown? Other then that thanks guys!!
No Vw Passat? No Mazda 6?
no Passat?
The biggest joke in this comparison is letting USA Today show up.
Wow, I'm surprised. I haven't driven the new Altima but I thought it was best in class MPG city and Hwy. and those Space age seats? remarkable that Kia beat out the Altima and Camry for that matter. I'm sure that wont sit well with either manufacture.
I knew the Accord was going to win. They are awesome cars. Ford is still playing catch up...lol
it beat the camry
list Honda Malibu Camry optima sonata altima fusion
Nope. the 5 cyl did not meet the 28 mpg minimum, and the diesel would have been too expensive to fit under the price limit
Subaru was just revised and beside the AWD, the revised one was a bit disappointment. The ride was not as comfortable and the CVT is awful. Nissan and Honda do best at that area.
Weird, I thought the Honda Accord had a very jostling bouncy ride.
Why no VW Passat?
Guess the altima sales are erelavent in testing
As is yours, mister freeman.
dude, your display pic?????? is that even allowed on youtube?
lol, Toyota can't win with reviewers. They build a car with a soft ride, reviewers say it's too soft. They build a car with a stiffer ride, reviewers say they miss the soft ride.
Personally, I'm glad Ford didn't overdo it with the Fusion's interior like they did with the Focus.
I have a hard time understanding how the Altima did not place....
The 2013 Altima wasn’t necessary the best Nissan ever put out.
Where's the Malibu. The accord looks better then the fusion.
Where is the Passat?
And now almost 10 years later sedans are disappearing
Looks are deceiving, what matters most is reliability. I got 210000 mi on Toyota camry and still running strong, just oil ,brakes, routine maintenance, we love our new 2014.5xle is so smooth and comfortable seats and no cvt,nothing beats Toyota quality!
17 fusion sport....twin turbo v6 awd....nuff said.
YEA
Buddy's dad has a 2 year old Fusion that he just got back from being in the shop for just shy of 60 days straight and died on him twice. Buy Ford at your own risk. They have not even reimbursed him for his payments in the time he did not have his car. Ford is awful, buy an Accord or Camry and be stress free. The new Accord is pretty fantastic for the money.
where's the passat?
what no Subaru?
You weren't listening. 1:14 The passat could not meet the 26K price point AND still get the required 28 mpg. VW fucked themselves. The 5cyl lowers prices but also lowers the fuel economy compared to the 2.0 turbo or diesel. The passat deserves a better engine than the 5 cylinder.
Passat is not unreliable. It will last you a lifetime if you take good care of it. I have seen plenty of Passats, most of them TDI, driving as much as 700,000 miles without major problems. they are used as taxis in parts of China, where there's loads of idling, stop and go, etc that put hard miles on them. taxi companies have alternatives but they choose the passat for this reason. Problems arise when people use their idiotic mindset and neglect maintenance.
How was it a miss? It didn't the meet the requirements for the test. The cheaper Passat (5cylinder) is not fuel efficient and the fuel efficient Passat (TDI) is not cheap. If they had made the 4 cylinder turbo the default engine instead of that lame 2.5L 5 cylinder they may have made the cut. The miss is with VW. An entry level Passat needs a better engine than that coarse 5 cylinder.
About be Subaru is way more better that all that sedan, but I think they doesn't included it because its more expensive and Symetrical AWD.
As of now, Mondeo=Fusion
6 Car shootout, but only 4 cars reviewed. What happened to the Altima and Sonata?
You guys have Alzheimers ,or what?
The Altima has the best fuel economy out of all six by a significant margin, has the best acceleration, and the best power to weight ratio.
The Sonata definitely has the most standard features for the price.
Clearly these cars should have ranked higher.
K Danagger the Altima and Sonata apparently wasn’t top four.
Three words: NEED MORE DIESELS
They focused too much on styling. The Optima and Sonata are pretty much the same car except for style.
Didn't the meet the requirements for the test. The cheaper Passat (5cylinder) is not fuel efficient and the fuel efficient Passat (TDI) is not cheap. If they had made the 4 cylinder turbo the default engine instead of that lame 2.5L 5 cylinder they may have made the cut.
BS why the malibu is missing. You can certainly get one for under $26,000!!!
It didnt meet the mpg requirements.
@KingCarl77 I'll keep my 2010 Camry XLE V6
First time I ever heard Accord and flimsy in the same sentence. What are you smoking.
accord rules
No mazda 6 =(
I would pefer the 2013 Ford Fusion.
nice profile pic :p
funny the new fusion is the mondeo acually the brits get the same car this year
mazda 6!
Can you all put the Malibu in the crash chamber because it is horrible
Nobody sees the irony of a bland middle class couple is complaining of the Camry lacking excitement? The only thing interesting about them is that they are mixed raced couple.
ford fusion drive revue goes something like this ...... OK we are ready to test the new fusion. where is it? OH ITS OVER THERE ITS THE OLD ASTIN MARTIN DESIGN! OK! LETS START IT UP ! OH NOOOOOO ITS ON FIRE! HURRY UP GET THE KIDS UNSTRAPPED !! KA! BOOOOOM!!!!