Honda Accord vs. Camry, Sonata, Legacy: Mid-Size Sedans Compared

From the September 2023 problem of Automobile and Driver.

It is no secret that new autos, particularly pickups and SUVs, are affected by ballooning costs, enlarged footprints, and swelling tools lists. However the humble mid-size sedan troopers on, a lot the identical because it ever was. You in all probability hardly even discover these four-doors anymore. However they’re nonetheless right here, serving as trusty steeds for commuters, dad and mom, youngsters, and—maybe most of all—the ride-share drivers and DoorDashers of America.

With a brand new Honda Accord having hit the scene for 2023, it was time to pit our perennial favourite in opposition to its present cohort. Everybody likes to speak in regards to the demise of passenger automobiles, however regardless that the family-sedan segment dwindled considerably a number of years in the past, there’s nonetheless a wholesome set of mainstays which have caught round. For this take a look at, we focused a worth level within the low $30,000s and averted hybrid powertrains and flashy possibility packages seeking reasonably priced sedans that ship passenger-friendly practicality and the very best driving expertise.

These plebeian sedans do not exhibit the manic worth inflation seen in a lot of the automotive market. The common as-tested worth on this group is $32,550—far beneath the common transaction worth of all new automobiles, which is sky-rocketing towards $50,000, making the four-door automobile appear to be a relative discount.

The Eleventh-generation Accord, already the recipient of a 10Best award for 2023, is right here in EX kind. With the highest trims now accessible solely as hybrids, that is the highest-spec model of the Accord you will get with the bottom turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four. It stickers for $30,705, the bottom worth within the take a look at.

Hyundai has already revealed a much less piscatorial model of the Sonata for 2024, but it surely wasn’t accessible but, so we examined a $33,600 2023 Sonata SEL Plus mannequin with a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four.

The Subaru Legacy, regardless of ending final in our most recent comparison of this group, returns with a 2023 refresh that brings the turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four to the Sport trim degree. This time round, the Legacy is probably the most highly effective however, at $34,915, additionally the most costly.

And naturally, we could not miss the bestselling Toyota Camry. It reveals up as a sparsely geared up $30,981 SE mannequin, with all-wheel drive as nearly the one manufacturing facility possibility.

We invited some others, together with the Chevrolet Malibu (the one American participant remaining on this house), the Kia K5, and the Nissan Altima, however the automakers declined to take part, leaving us to resolve a ending order for this quartet. Unassuming as they’re, the 4 sedans present prospects with an attractive mixture of affordability and effectivity—some greater than others, after all—that is more and more elusive amongst new automobiles lately.

4th Place: Subaru Legacy

In case you purchase a Subaru with out black plastic cladding on the perimeters, can you continue to go tenting in it? The Legacy sedan does not look notably rugged, but it surely does characteristic traditional model tenets, together with commonplace all-wheel drive and cleverly built-in roof-rack mounts.

HIGHS: Potent engine, roomy rear seat, a number of options.
LOWS: Loosey-goosey dealing with, dated display graphics, excessive worth.
VERDICT: Subaru’s sedan acts an excessive amount of like its high-riding Outback kin.

The Legacy gained factors for its comfy rear seat, beneficiant listing of options, and fast acceleration courtesy of the Sport’s 260-hp turbo 4. However that was about it.

Whereas its sub-six-second dash to 60 mph may seem to lend some credence to its Sport badge, one flip of the steering wheel places the kibosh on that notion. With this a lot physique roll, brake dive, and squat in play, possibly Subaru ought to simply elevate the Legacy and slap on a Wilderness badge prefer it has completed with a number of different fashions. Bear in mind the Sport Utility Sedan? Its spirit lives on right here.

The Legacy unsurprisingly was the thirstiest of the group, and the CVT computerized does not do a very good job of managing the engine’s torque curve, exaggerating the feeling of turbo lag. Plus, the Subaru’s highest-in-test worth felt egregious given its unsatisfying combination of inside supplies and its dated and cartoonish infotainment graphics. The 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen is the biggest right here, however the design does not use that actual property successfully, and the onscreen buttons and menus aren’t organized logically.

The Legacy finally ends up being far lower than the sum of its elements. All the suitable parts seem like current, however the mismatch between the engine energy and the relaxed dealing with and chassis leads to a sedan at odds with itself.

third Place: Toyota Camry

When somebody says “household sedan,” most individuals consider the Camry. And for good motive. It goes down the highway purposefully, because the well-tuned damping and properly weighted steering mix for a satisfying ride-and-handling stability.

HIGHS: Composed chassis, good gas financial system, easy-to-use controls.
LOWS: Sluggish, noisy cabin, sparsely geared up.
VERDICT: An growing older participant that is nonetheless within the sport however not headed for the corridor of fame.

However the automobile constructed round this prepared chassis is beginning to present its age. We had been shocked to search out that our automobile nonetheless had a bodily key that you just insert into the ignition change. The dashboard structure can be a throwback, with old-school analog gauges and a small 7.0-inch touchscreen which might be straight out of 2012. At the very least the ergonomics are sound, because of loads of arduous buttons and knobs. And regardless that the Camry’s sheer ubiquity permits it to mix in with nearly any panorama, the overly complicated exterior design—particularly the entrance finish—hasn’t grown on us.

With the one naturally aspirated engine right here, the Camry’s powertrain all the time feels a step behind. The buzzy and peaky four-cylinder is not a very good match for the eight-speed computerized transmission, which is reluctant to downshift. This, plus the additional weight of the all-wheel-drive system, means the Toyota struggles to maintain up. Nonetheless, it did handle to tie the front-wheel-drive Accord in noticed gas financial system.

This era of the Camry has soldiered on for six lengthy years, and it nonetheless behaves like a mid-size sedan ought to. We’re desperate to see what the upcoming next-gen model has in retailer.

2nd Place: Hyundai Sonata

With a crisp design and spectacular consideration to element in and out, the Hyundai is the one sedan right here that appears dearer than it’s. Your ride-share passenger may suppose they by accident booked an Uber Black. Not like the Accord and the Camry, the Sonata gives rear-seat occupants with air vents and a USB port. Sure, even this higher-trim instance has clean buttons and some hard-plastic trim items, but it surely makes up for these deficiencies with an easy-to-use touchscreen, HVAC controls with an upscale feel and look, and a well-integrated digital gauge cluster. We additionally appreciated small, considerate touches such because the show within the gauge cluster that pops up while you activate the windshield-wiper change or lets you realize that the automobile in entrance has pulled away.

HIGHS: Nice to have a look at, upscale inside, sturdy efficiency.
LOWS: Engine lacks refinement, chassis lacks composure, brake pedal lacks really feel.
VERDICT: The spiffiest sedan right here comes up a tad brief dynamically.

However the Sonata’s pizazz goes solely thus far. Most notably, it does not prolong to the driving expertise. The 180-hp turbo 4 hits its marks on paper, attaining the second-quickest acceleration to 60 mph regardless of having the least horsepower within the group. But it surely’s not as refined because the Accord’s engine, emitting an agricultural growl below arduous acceleration and sending vibrations into the cabin. The Hyundai additionally finishes considerably behind the Toyota and the Honda in noticed gas financial system.

Though the Sonata has the very best skidpad and braking efficiency numbers of the group on the take a look at monitor, we by no means bought right into a groove with it on our dealing with loop. Its construction feels much less stiff than the others, and it lacks the quiet composure of the Accord and the Camry on bumpy roads. Plus, the brake pedal feels wood, and the steering lacks suggestions, which means the Sonata is competent however not partaking.

Whereas these are hardly deadly flaws in a mainstream sedan, they forestall the Hyundai from feeling solely coherent. As good as it’s, it isn’t the sedan we might select.

1st Place: Honda Accord

The brand new Accord remains to be on high, however not with out caveats. Apparent price reducing has come to this newest era, particularly within the nonhybrid fashions. The hybrid Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring trim ranges seem like Honda’s precedence now, as the corporate is aiming to promote half of all Accords with the pricier hybrid setup. However the gas-only LX and EX by comparability appear to have gotten brief shrift. The dearth of a leather-wrapped steering wheel is the obvious instance of cheapness on this EX, however the abundance of arduous plastics, the small 7.0-inch touchscreen, and the barren rear seat additionally give off rental-car vibes. Plus, regardless that we like the brand new Accord’s easy form and athletic proportions, its comparatively small 17-inch wheels give away that you just purchased the poverty spec.

HIGHS: Balanced trip and dealing with, easy drivetrain.
LOWS: Some rental-grade inside supplies, brief on options.
VERDICT: Regardless of some decontenting, the Accord nonetheless does what the Accord does greatest.

Happily, there’s actual substance right here to offset the low-budget touches. Whereas the Sonata provides off just a few luxury-car vibes, the Accord truly drives prefer it belongs within the subsequent class up—and that is what we care about extra anyway. It merely does what it is instructed and adapts to each scenario superbly: The freeway trip is classy, the steering weights up properly in corners, and the repeatedly variable computerized transmission is a easy operator, successfully profiting from the low-end torque from the near-silent turbo 4.

The Honda not solely wins on its refined really feel and manners but in addition achieves the very best freeway gas financial system and has probably the most spacious trunk within the take a look at. Plus, it prices lower than the remainder, which partially excuses its lack of options and facilities. Whereas $30,000 may purchase you lower than it used to, the Accord nonetheless manages to offer extra automobile for the cash than any of its rivals.