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Midsize Sedans 2.0

18204 messages,  Last post on May 22, 2013 at 9:36 AM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Volkswagen Passat, Mazda MAZDA6, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu, Kia Optima, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 1601 of 1821

#15994 of 18204 Accord or Altima or Camry? by marysh

Jan 01, 2011 (12:33 pm)

I am trying to help my sister to buy a new family sedan and have had a really hard time to decide which one to buy. What she needs is a reliable car with good gas mileage and rides smoothly and can accommodate 2 adults and 2 little kids (with two car seats). She does not care about top performance or luxury accessories.
We have been buying Toyota Camry for years. However, recent Camry owner experiences have not been very satisfactory. Both 2007 Camry LE I have and 2010 Camry LE she has was having this hesitation problem. The problem was more pronounced when the car was new and seems getting better with aging. So we are reluctant to buy another Camry. I read through the consumer report and Edmonds reviews. It seems to me that the top rated family sedans with good reliability are Nissan Altima and Honda Accord. However, Owner of these two cars also seem having various problem from reading the poster here. So I am not sure what the best car is for our intended purpose. Since we have never own these two cars before and don’t know how they compared to Camry in terms of driving experience and reliability. Any of your input on these two cars would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much for your help!

#15995 of 18204 Re: Accord or Altima or Camry? [marysh] by aqua33v6

Jan 01, 2011 (3:46 pm)

Replying to: marysh (Jan 01, 2011 12:33 pm)
You should also have her look at the Fusion, Sonata, Optima, and Malibu.

#15996 of 18204 Re: Accord or Altima or Camry? [aqua33v6] by stephen987

Jan 01, 2011 (4:31 pm)

Replying to: aqua33v6 (Jan 01, 2011 3:46 pm)
I second that suggestion. As recently as five years ago it would have made sense to narrow it down to the Accord, Altima, and Camry based on the reputations of their manufacturers alone. But Ford, GM, and Hyundai/Kia have made enormous improvements in both the reliability and the assembly quality of their midsize sedans.
 
Some folks here would go so far as to say that none of the three you have listed belong in the "top three" today. Honda, Toyota and Nissan have stood still while the rest of the major manufacturers have not.

#15997 of 18204 Re: Accord or Altima or Camry? [stephen987] by stickguy

Jan 01, 2011 (4:36 pm)

Replying to: stephen987 (Jan 01, 2011 4:31 pm)
sounds like you were talking about me. I would not consider the Accord at all (and I have a 2005), don't like the Altima with the CVT, and would only give the Camry SE a look.
 
Fusion, Sonata and potentially the Optima (have not seen it yet) are the new top IMO. Malibu is OK if cheap overrides all else.

#15998 of 18204 Re: Accord or Altima or Camry? [stickguy] by tlong

Jan 01, 2011 (7:58 pm)

Replying to: stickguy (Jan 01, 2011 4:36 pm)
Fusion, Sonata and potentially the Optima (have not seen it yet) are the new top IMO. Malibu is OK if cheap overrides all else.
 
I agree - also as a previous Accord owner - amazing how Honda has gotten big and flabby and Toyota has slipped badly, while Hyundai and Ford are coming on really strong.

#15999 of 18204 Re: Accord or Altima or Camry? [marysh] by backy

Jan 01, 2011 (8:38 pm)

Replying to: marysh (Jan 01, 2011 12:33 pm)
Since "rides smoothly" is one of the top criteria, I think the Camry is a good bet--perhaps the smoothest ride in the class. Also reliable with good fuel economy (with the I4). But also be sure to check out the Ford Fusion, which also has a smooth ride but better handling than the Camry, and it is also reliable and has good fuel economy.
 
The other sedans mentioned by others are good as well, but IMO do not have as smooth a ride as the Camry, or Fusion. The Legacy also has a smooth ride, and the advantage of all wheel drive--rare in this class.
 
P.S. The Mercury Milan is a twin of the Fusion, and you may be able to find a good deal on one since it has been discontinued.

#16000 of 18204 Re: Accord or Altima or Camry? [marysh] by dash5

Jan 02, 2011 (7:31 am)

Replying to: marysh (Jan 01, 2011 12:33 pm)
The Camry seems to be almost in it's own class in terms of how it drives. Personally, I'd suggest your sister try at a minimum the Ford Fusion and the Hyundai Sonata in addition to the Camry. Personally, I still think the Honda Accord is a very good car and should be on your list as well. It's just not as good as it once was due to a combination of the competition getting better and the Accord being a bit complacent and making odd styling choices.
 
For my money, the Honda interior is miles ahead of the Camry, but the ride is not as floaty or isolating and your sister might put more of a premium there.
 
So: Camry - Ford Fusion - Hyundai Sonata - Honda Accord
 
Try them and see what she prefers.

#16001 of 18204 Re: Accord or Altima or Camry? [dash5] by plekto

Jan 02, 2011 (9:09 am)

Replying to: dash5 (Jan 02, 2011 7:31 am)
My sister faced a similar problem a couple of years ago. She chose a Honda, which is fine, but the fact is that all of these basic sedans are pretty much interchangeable at this point. It leads to the following list:
 
Accord/Camry/Altima/Mazda 5/Fusion/Sonata/Malibu
 
All work very well but all are pretty much bland, soulless jellybeans. I'd really recommend something else that is designed for four people and is a bit sportier. Or perhaps a small mini-SUV like a RAV4.(trade a bit of comfort for bad weather performance)
 
I was going to recommend a CPO LaCrosse CXS because it's about $15K, reliable, and is far better than a basic 4 cylinder car(any of the above on that list), but there's an even better option, IMO. A 2009 Pontiac G8. It is quite honestly the 2nd best car that GM makes worldwide(it's still made in Australia, where it out-sells everything else including imports) after the CTS. Great handling, good styling that doesn't look like every other car out there, and very nice inside - it's designed for four adults, pretty much. It's a real shame that GM decided to stop importing it, because it gave us a taste of what the rest of the world drives. But that means the used prices are really absurdly low as most people think that it' a "Pontiac" instead of a re-badged Holden (ie - truly dead vs still made today)
 
Note - they are getting hard to find lately, as people are buying them up and not reselling them. I'd rather drive one of these 1-2 years old vs a new Accord. No contest.

#16002 of 18204 Re: Accord or Altima or Camry? [plekto] by tlong

Jan 02, 2011 (11:38 am)

Replying to: plekto (Jan 02, 2011 9:09 am)
My sister faced a similar problem a couple of years ago. She chose a Honda, which is fine, but the fact is that all of these basic sedans are pretty much interchangeable at this point. It leads to the following list:
  
Accord/Camry/Altima/Mazda 5/Fusion/Sonata/Malibu
 
I think you mean the Mazda 6, not the Mazda 5, which is a micro-minivan.

#16003 of 18204 Re: Accord or Altima or Camry? [tlong] by plekto

Jan 02, 2011 (2:17 pm)

Replying to: tlong (Jan 02, 2011 11:38 am)
Yeah - my bad. Basically everyone makes a midsize sedan. And they all are like flavors of grocery store generic ice cream. Decent enough, but bland and unsatisfying compared to the real name brands.
 
Nobody that I have ever run across has regretted buying a CPO upscale sedan over a budget new one. Why *not* get leather, a better engine, maybe a sunroof, and so on for the price of a base model car?
 
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=c&car_id=290626271
This is typical - and a good deal. It even has the bench seat, which makes the interior feel much larger up front (and seats 6 in a pinch)
 
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=c&car_id=292126446
Another example. Mid-trim model.
 
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=c&car_id=290692960
Or get this - $20K for a fully loaded TSX. It's technically a "midsize sedan"(though a very very nice one ) It's got a few miles on it, but that's no issue, really. 50K isn't much for a Honda.

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