Ask the Car People.SM


Midsize Sedans 2.0

18184 messages,  Last post on May 20, 2013 at 8:23 PM

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 1685 of 1819

#16841 of 18184 Accord vs Camry, round 1 by benjaminh

Sep 12, 2012 (2:08 pm)

from Inside Line (at the link at the top) of Edmunds.com:
  
http://www.insideline.com/honda/accord/2013/2013-honda-accord-vs-2012-toyota-cam- - ry-comparison-test.html
  
"....Now the Honda Accord is back at the beginning, and it wins this test easily. As usual, it's the total package that makes this car special. The new four-cylinder engine and CVT work incredibly well together, providing usable performance and a real-world improvement in fuel consumption. Honda also improved the look and feel of the cabin, while adding the tech features that have become important in this class. In the midst of checking all those boxes, company executives didn't lose sight of details like handling and steering feel — key ingredients in the character of Accords past and present.
  
Next to the Accord, the 2012 Toyota Camry LE is down on flavor. It's every bit as useful as the Honda on the inside, but on the road, it's slower and wholly uninterested in doing anything other than taking you to work in comfort. For some, that's enough, especially given this LE model's competitive price tag.
  
But we'll pay a bit more for the 2013 Honda Accord's tastier brew. For the moment, it's the car to have in the four-cylinder midsize sedan class.
 
Speed Read
 
1st Place: 2013 Honda Accord EX
The Accord is once again the epitome of good taste in the four-cylinder midsize sedan class. It's quicker, more fuel-efficient and overall more enjoyable to drive than the Toyota, and it has a nicer cabin to boot.
 
2nd Place: 2012 Toyota Camry LE
We won't stop you from buying a Camry, especially if you like a compliant ride. But its automatic transmission isn't as responsive as Honda's CVT, and its interior belongs to a lower income bracket."
  
in other words (cue music)
  
CAR WARS
  
Episode IV
  
A NEW HOPE
  
It is a period of midsize car wars.
Rebel Accords, striking from an Ohio
base, have won their first victory
against the Toyota Empire....

#16842 of 18184 Re: Accord vs Camry, round 1 [benjaminh] by backy

Sep 12, 2012 (2:24 pm)

Replying to: benjaminh (Sep 12, 2012 2:08 pm)
Oh-oh, neither car hit even its EPA city FE number in the tests. I can see all the irate posts on the Accord and Camry Fuel Economy discussions now. Let the lawsuits begin!
 
P.S. The Accord EX comes with a 6MT standard, $800 less than the CVT, and Edmunds chose... the CVT?!?!? What is the world coming to? CVTs, I guess.

#16843 of 18184 Accord vs. Nissan next? by benjaminh

Sep 12, 2012 (4:09 pm)

Some are saying that the Accord's new "Earth Dreams" CVT with "G-shift" performs and feels better than Nissan's CVT for the Altima—athough right now it looks like the Altima edges out the Accord when it comes to hwy mpg. Some Honda engineers seem to be wondering if an EPA *retest* of that 38 hwy number that Nissan submitted to the EPA might be in order. Honda's internal testing seems to show that the Accord and Altima get nearly identical mpg when run with a CVT. But the EPA hwy ratings right now stand at 36 for Accord and 38 for Altima. Some are recalling that BMW had to lower its hwy number on its new 3 series by 2 mpg last year when the EPA did its own test.
 
Anyway, interesting stuff in this segment. The competition is white hot, but it seems maybe Honda is taking the lead in terms of all around performance, quality, and features....
 
"2013 Honda Accord: Attention To G-Forces Yields A Better CVT"
 
http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1079054_2013-honda-accord-attention-to-g-fo- - - - - - rces-yields-a-better-cvt
 
"....While that itself impressed us, what's the most noteworthy in the Accord's CVT is how quickly it can respond and bring revs up when needed. For instance, a number of CVTs (including the one in the 2013 Nissan Altima, surprisingly) will feel completely flat-footed and off their game if you roll around a corner at 15 mph with your foot off the gas and then accelerate at full throttle. The time to tap into full thrust is delayed for a surprising time. But in the Accord, it very quickly raises revs all the way up to the Accord's 6,600-rpm redline. Pull off the same test, dipping into half throttle out of the corner, and it very quickly finds the right ratio for the throttle opening—feeling a lot like downshifting and with no slow, muddled ramp-up.
 
How did Honda achieve this far better (we think) CVT calibration when rivals like Nissan have been working at it for so long? According to the project leader, Honda's CVT isn't much different in the mechanical design, but Honda put a lot of time into oil pressure control and electrical systems, along with the control software...."

#16844 of 18184 Re: Accord vs Camry, round 1 [benjaminh] by gooddeal2

Sep 12, 2012 (5:21 pm)

Replying to: benjaminh (Sep 12, 2012 2:08 pm)
Wow, that new Accord looks like the 2012 Hyundai Genesis.

#16845 of 18184 Re: Accord vs Camry, round 1 [benjaminh] by ctl

Sep 12, 2012 (5:58 pm)

Replying to: benjaminh (Sep 12, 2012 2:08 pm)
Major issues with last generation (2008) Accord:
 
- Road noises!!!: seems to be addressed, finally (after 10+ years...)
 
- sloppy brakes: brake pads that do NOT last much longer than 20K miles (jury still out on the new one)
 
- slooow and bad real-world MPG: seems to be addressed
 
- VCM: only for V6
 
If the new CVT proves to be durable and without major issues (Honda has probably the worse auto transmission history among all major players), I think Honda can finally be proud after quite some time.

#16846 of 18184 temple of VTEC tests Accord Sport 6MT by benjaminh

Sep 13, 2012 (5:24 am)

Video of a fast drive on country roads near Santa Barbara. Wonder how fast he's going in the straights? Anyway, as he says it's an impressive ride for the price.
 
http://www.vtec.net/articles/view-article?article_id=1094843
 
PS Most fun watched full screen at 720...

#16847 of 18184 Camry should be called Chintzy.... by cski

Sep 13, 2012 (6:49 am)

I personally don't know how Toyota stays in business. They have legendary reliability, but I have a relative at a local Toyota franchise and he see's just as many Camry's with major problems as any other brands midsize sedan.
 
I think the new Camry just looks cheap. From the fake chrome around the fog-lights to the fake aluminum trim and onward towards the tacked-on looking lower body kit it just looks cheap.
The interior is inferior to even the cheaper Hyundai sedans. The fake aluminum trim can be scraped off with a fingernail, and the material is squishy. Squishy fake aluminum. OMG. Then there is the short warranty.....by 50,000 miles! That's a lot of miles unprotected.
 
Finally, they want to sell you a stripper LE for $26k. The Accord in this comparo is clearly the winner here, and honestly I would rate the Camry dead last after all the other competitors. I would buy a '13 Altima over the Camry for example.
 
I do have to admit that I am fully smitten by my 2012 Optima EX. I bought it last December and it just looks and drives beautiful. (the 2013 Accord was not out last year so I only had the older model to compare).
So, in closing, I would drive the Accord, Sonata, Altima, and Optima and choose the best one out of the four.
 
Thats my 2 cents worth.

#16848 of 18184 Re: Camry should be called Chintzy.... [cski] by stickguy

Sep 13, 2012 (7:31 am)

Replying to: cski (Sep 13, 2012 6:49 am)
toyota has been doing that for years (cheapening the cars). Corolla, Rav4, Camry.
 
but, in the business, once you have a reputation cemented, it takes a long time to change perception (that goes for good or bad). Ask Caddy!
 
and plenty of people still buy because they know it will just be gas and go, no involvement at any level, reliable transportation with good gas mileage.

#16849 of 18184 Re: Camry should be called Chintzy.... [cski] by benjaminh

Sep 13, 2012 (10:27 am)

Replying to: cski (Sep 13, 2012 6:49 am)
Yeah, I think the Optima, Sonata, and Altima are impressive. The one problem I have with those cars is that they don't have very good visibility. The Optima is very good when it comes to its engine, features, quality, style, etc., but those very thick rear pillars from what I've read make for poor rear visibility.

#16850 of 18184 Consumer Reports gives early positive review by benjaminh

Sep 13, 2012 (10:29 am)

of the 2013 Accord. This is significant esp. because of how negative they were about the 2012 Civic. Here's the Consumer Reports thumbs up report on the 2013 Accord video:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjVV9YbLBIg
 
"Honda is playing to win when it comes to feature content. All Accords have a USB connection, Bluetooth, and, most impressively, a backup camera. You also only get satellite radio on EX and higher trim levels...
 
Honda is also incorporating a lot of electronic safety features into the latest Accord. Uplevel models come standard with forward-collision warning, as well as a unique feature that uses a camera to show what is in your passenger-side blind spot before you change lanes...
 
This redesigned Accord comes not a minute too soon. Almost every major player in this segment has been redesigned--or soon will be. It will be very interesting to see how all of these sedans stack up. To find out, we'll be buying Accords of our own when they go on sale next week. For now, enjoy our video for other first impressions."

Messages Page 1685 of 1819

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement