IT'S NO SECRET that new vehicles, especially pickups and SUVs, are suffering from ballooning prices, enlarged footprints, and swelling equipment lists. But the humble mid-size sedan soldiers on, much the same as it ever was. You probably hardly even notice these four-doors anymore. But they're still here, serving as trusty steeds for commuters, parents, teenagers, and perhaps most of all the ride-share drivers and DoorDashers of America.
With a new Honda Accord having hit the scene for 2023, it was time to pit our perennial favorite against its current cohort. Everyone likes to talk about the demise of passenger cars, but even though the family-sedan segment dwindled significantly several years ago, there's still a healthy set of mainstays that have stuck around. For this test, we targeted a price point in the low $30,000s and avoided hybrid powertrains and flashy option packages in search of affordable sedans that deliver passenger-friendly practicality and the best driving experience.
These plebeian sedans don't exhibit the manic price inflation seen in much of the automotive market. The average as-tested price in this group is $32,550-far below the average transaction price of all new cars, which is skyrocketing toward $50,000, making the four-door car look like a relative bargain.
The 11th-generation Accord, already the recipient of a 10Best award for 2023, is here in EX form. With the top trims now available only as hybrids, this is the highestspec version of the Accord you can get with the base turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four. It stickers for $30,705, the lowest price in the test.
Hyundai has already revealed a less piscatorial version of the Sonata for 2024, but it wasn't available yet, so we tested a $33,600 2023 Sonata SEL Plus model with a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four.
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Esta historia es de la edición September 2023 de Car and Driver.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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Drivelines - Refreshed but Not Revitalized. The Forester has long begged for more driver interaction, anything to differentiate it.
Refreshed but Not Revitalized. The Forester has long begged for more driver interaction, anything to differentiate it. But its innate funkiness has been discarded in a roadside ditch. Sure, it’s practical. But if that’s what you’re after, go hug your dishwasher. This redo feels half-hearted when what the Forester really wanted was a whole new hear
Selective Evolution
Now hybrid only, the Toyota Camry features careful tweaks for its ninth generation.
Stress Reliever
IN THE LINCOLN NAUTILUS, the loudest sound you hear at highway speeds is the rhythmic respiration of the massaging seats. With just 66 decibels of interior noise at 70 mph, this slick-looking new Lincoln is on a mission of zen.
Mega Bus
A three-row mid-size SUV trying to look and feel bigger, the latest has size on its side but still lacks charisma.
Going to Extremes
The Porsche Taycan Turbo GT pulls out all the stops in its quest for EV supremacy.
What the Tech?
IT’S NO COMPLAINT TO SAY that given the slow visual evolution of the Mercedes-Benz E-class, many wouldn’t notice that the stately three-box sedan has entered a new generation this year.
The Full Monty Carlo
EVERYONE IS NAKED. Just putting that out in the open.
THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
THE MAZDA MX-5 MIATA RF CLUB AND THE SUBARU BRZ IS MAY BE SMALL IN STATURE, BUT THEIR PERSONALITIES ARE LARGER THAN MOST.
Sterrato > Dirt Road
Nothing lost in translation here. Might as well call it what it is: the best Lamborghini Huracán ever.
DEAD OR ALIVE?
Is the new 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser the real deal? We venture into the wilds of Utah to find out.
