2013-2014 Midsize Sedan Comparison
6th Place (Tie) – Toyota Camry XLE
For the past 11 years, the Toyota Camry has been the best selling car in America. So what is it doing in a sixth place tie in this comparison? Well, it’s sales status, it isn’t the best in the segment. The vehicles in this segment are so closely matched, that just a miss here or there can mean the difference between a spot on the podium, or a back of the pack finish.
A jack of all trades, the Camry is easy to drive and predictable to live with. So what dragged it down so low in the results? Middle of the pack fuel mileage and a complete inability to stand out from the crowd are to blame. For a lot of people, the latter is great news as this segment caters to those looking for a vehicle that is dependable, anonymous and worry free. The issue for the Camry is, other vehicles like the Accord and Passat, do all of these things just as well while delivering a more premium interior, easier to use interface controls and a touch of driver engagement.
See Also: 2012 Toyota Camry Review (Video)
Powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 178 hp and 170 ft-lbs of torque, the Camry matches up well against the rest of the vehicles here, except for the potent Optima. The drivetrain is smooth and refined, but groans under hard acceleration and feels less powerful than it is. Some found the ride in the Camry to be overly choppy while others found it to be one of the better overall suspensions setups.
COMFORTABLE TO DRIVE, COMFORTABLE TO LIVE WITH
Inside, the Camry is swathed in a mismatched array of too many different textures covering the dashboard and center console. The steering wheel is one of the worst in terms of look and feel. The infotainment unit drew some ire as the touchscreen audio is a bit finicky. On the plus side, the front seats are comfortable and the Camry offers the most real-world headroom for back-seat passenger.
The Camry does everything well, but nothing great. It is a good car, simply outmatched here by a few better ones. With a long history of dependability, and the class exclusive no maintenance fee Toyota Care program for two years, the Camry is sure to continue to sell in large numbers. Plus, a mid-cycle refresh is just around the corner, giving Toyota a chance to propel the Camry back to the front of the class.
Fast Facts:
- PRICE AS TESTED: $29,570
- ENGINE: 2.5L 4-cylinder, 178 hp, 170 lb-ft
- TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic
- OBSERVED FUEL ECONOMY: 27.4 MPG
- TRUNK CAPACITY: 15.4 cu-ft
| LOVE IT
| 
| LEAVE IT
|
5th Place – Hyundai Sonata Limited
Just because the current Sonata’s design is older than Hans Moleman, doesn’t mean it isn’t still competitive in this segment. When introduced in 2009, the Sonata forced every other manufacturer to take notice of this new mid-size sedan. It blended style, luxury and refinement at an attractive price. Guess what; it still does.
But it is five years later and the Sonata is beginning to show its age. The interior feels dated and most materials feel nice, but look cheap when compared to recently redesigned competitors; just a by-product of how quickly this segment keeps advancing. Like its cousin the Optima, headroom is lacking for front seat passengers, though the seats are comfortable.
LOADED UP AT A LOW PRICE
Still, the car has some advantages. It’s got the most trunk space of this bunch, and it comes stuffed full of features. Even with a price tag below $30,000, our tester had a panoramic sunroof, navigation, heated rear seats and satellite radio. The gauge cluster is great looking piece of engineering and the stereo is one of the better sounding units.
See Also: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Limited Review
Powering the Sonata is the same 2.4-liter engine as found in the Kia Optima, but making two less horsepower and two less pound feet of torque. Like the Kia, this isn’t the most refined drivetrain and the rest of the mechanics are average, except for the loathe-worthy steering. NHV and ride comfort are mid-pack, but the Sonata proves to be exceptionally quiet to our ears inside.
TRACTION CONTROL IS OUT OF CONTROL
One annoying quirk we noticed with both the Optima and Sonata had to do with an overly aggressive traction control system. Although it took a lot to coax the system to activate during our nice sunny evaluation period, once engaged it’s far too aggressive in cutting power to the front wheels and feels more like the car has actually stalled. In snowy weather this could prove to be infuriating if the system was constantly engaging.
Another close call, in the end it was the unbeatable warranty and great value for the money that placed the Hyundai ahead of the three vehicles below it. Think of the Sonata as a more stylish (for better or worse), better equipped Toyota Camry. A complete redesign is just around the corner for this car and it will be interesting to see what tricks Hyundai has in store for us this time.
Fast Facts:
- PRICE AS TESTED: $29,540
- ENGINE: 2.5L 4-cylinder, 198 hp, 184 lb-ft
- TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic
- OBSERVED FUEL ECONOMY: 27.4 MPG
- TRUNK CAPACITY: 16.4 cu-ft
|
| LOVE IT
|
| LEAVE IT
|
