The Top Five Best Mid-Size Sedans

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Thursday, November 06, 2014

Brad Boyer, GoLocalPDX Auto Expert

In last week's article I listed the 10 worst cars of the 30 years, and by the looks of the new offerings by manufacturers, they have learned their lesson. 

This is likely most obvious when you look at the impressive list of 2014 - 2015 mid-size sedans available to the new car buying public this year. In the largest volume segment in the industry, the choices have never been so abundant or really, so difficult. There are at least 10 new models that have been dramatically changed or upgraded and with one in six vehicles sold being a midsize sedan, the manufactures cannot afford to miss.

The five top choices in this segment range from nameplates very familiar to suppliers that have done some major brand reshaping with impressive products. Typically, this segment ranges in price from the low $20,000’s to low $30,000’s for a fully loaded vehicle.  

Honda Accord

Honda typically is slow to change but in recent years, with more competition, it has had to be much more nimble and willing to enhance a proven winner. In the first six months of 2014, the Accord was the leading mid-size car in new-vehicle registration. As it battles for the top spot with the Toyota Camry, the Accord provides some outstanding safety features including its side mirror cameras. When the driver is traveling down the road and needs to change lanes, a turn signal will trigger the passenger side camera to display through the side mirror and navigation screen. Honda’s rearview camera systems were the first to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Transportation for having met advanced technology feature criteria.     

Honda is known for providing buyers choices…and lots of them. The Accord is no exception. There are 16 different trim levels that range from the base LX that starts at $22,105 and ranges up to the Hybrid Touring which goes for $35,055. The top of the line non hybrid is the EX-L with navigation that retails for $32,500. It comes with the nimble V-6 engine and the six-speed automatic transmission. While the hybrid gets up to 50 MPG, the gas powered car with the CVT generates up to 36 on the highway and a combined 31 MPG. Always a buyer and media favorite, the Accord has received a number of awards this year including being named to Car and Driver’s 10 Best list for the 28th time. Kelly Blue Book also recognized the Accord as the “best resale value” and had the lowest cost of ownership for a mid-size car over a five year period. 

This year’s vehicle stumbles a bit on the interior. While it has a very big back seat for its class, the inside feels of hard plastic and low on amenities compared with others in its category. 

Toyota Camry

The Camry and Accord have, up until now, been in a two-car battle for industry leader in the midsize market and have traded impressive technology and sales blows over the past. The Camry is the best selling car in America over the last 12 years and, for 2015, has undergone a bumper to bumper makeover. Toyota says it changed or re-engineered nearly 2,000 parts and only the roof remains unchanged.  The car company is going after the Gen X crowd with bolder styling than has been the case with Toyota and with a strong media campaign. Titled “One Bold Choice Leads to Another”, it will attempt to tie in the boldness of the design with targeted buyer’s spirt of imagination and zest for life. For the 45 percent of Camry buyers who have been choosing the SE model and are, on average, 12 years younger than other Camry buyers, Toyota is adding a “sportier” XSE model that will have suspension tuning, 18 inch wheels and more luxury. 

The 2015 Camry made its global debut at the New York Auto Show earlier this year. Words not normally associated with the Camry are being tossed out like, athletic, exciting and expressive. It has a sleeker look and is slightly longer with a wider base for more aggressive and better handling. The standard 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine will get an EPA estimated 25 MPG city and 35 MPG highway while the DOHC 3.5-liter V-6 will generate 268 horsepower and get 21/31 MPG. Known for its hybrid technology, Toyota, of course, offers the Camry with its Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain. The 2015 Camry Hybrid LE offers 43 MPG city and 39 highway. An added feature is regenerative braking which coverts the electric motor in to a generator and stores the energy in the battery pack when the brake is applied. 

One of the biggest complaints in the Toyota products in the past has been the difficulty to use Entune Media System. It was harder to use than most, not as intuitive and the voice activated system left most users frustrated. Toyota says it has been upgraded and the this year’s system will offer smart phone users to access their AP’s from a switch on the steering wheel and using the voice commands. Prices for the 2015 Camry start at $22,970 for a base model. The 3.5L V6 starts at $31,370.  Prices for the Hybrid start at $26,790. Over 80 percent of the Camry’s sold are the 4-cylinder and the hybrid 10 percent. 

Chrysler 200

Detroit is heard from in this segment. While the Ford Fusion is a very competitive option, the new 200 is more impressive. Loaded with new tech features, an innovative all wheel dive option and over 60 safety and security features its best feature is on the outside. The beautiful styling is a real head turner and looks like a much more expensive vehicle. The Chrysler 200 is listed as the face of the Chrysler brand. If so, it’s off to a great start. 

“The all-new 2015 Chrysler 200 will be the new benchmark for midsize sedans with an exceptional driving experience, fuel economy of up to 35 mpg highway and exquisite craftsmanship," said Al Gardner, President and CEO/Chrysler Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “The all-new 200 lays the groundwork for the future of the Chrysler brand”. 

The 200 is built from the ground up and features the industry’s first standard nine-speed automatic transmission in this segment. It features state-of-the-art electronic shifting with a rotary dial. The clever design of the dial allows for pass though storage that is accessible by both driver and passenger. It also features innovative sliding cup holders and hidden power sources. There are some fun interior “Easter Eggs” including a Detroit skyline on the mat in the storage area. The rear seat is a bit lacking for bigger adults and certainly not up to the rear area of the Accord. The interior of the all-new 2015 Chrysler 200 sedan provides the "wow" factor. Exquisitely crafted with high-quality materials and attention to detail, the 2015 200 sedan's interior is inviting and comfortable and rewards drivers and passengers on commutes as well as longer journeys. The signature light pipe or available full-LED daytime running lamps (DRL), LED fog lamps and standard LED tail lamps give the all-new Chrysler 200 a distinctive, recognizable look coming and going. It comes with the choice of two world-class engines, an innovative all-wheel-drive system, and an available sport mode and paddle shifters giving the driver a more engaged, fun drive. 

The 200 is starting to gain some sales steam. In October, sales for Chrysler’s midsize sedan rose 40 percent. Other automakers also saw some gains last month and some of those were due to new incentives. The Camry was up 13 percent and Accord was up five percent. Chrysler is also racking up the awards with the new 200. In Consumers Digest the 2015 Chrysler 200 earned the top spot in the Family Car segment and was called a “Best Buy”. It also earned a five-star overall safety rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Five stars is the highest possible safety rating given by NHTSA.

KIA Optima

When you suggest someone check out the Kia, it is met with two responses. One is from a long held and well-deserved reputation from years past and that is typically “no way, they are ugly and break down”. The other is from someone that has driven a Kia product over the past few years or knows someone who has. The Korean based automaker has been making great strides to overcome its history. With the Soul, Sedona and other quality products, Kia was definitely heading in the right direction but with the Optima, they hit it out of the park. The 2015 Optima has beautiful lines, a luxurious interior with a host of standard features and its 10 year, 100,000 mile warranty. It has made it full circle as Kia, along with its sister car, Hyundai, top a number of the consumer satisfaction lists. 

The Optima is built in the U.S. at Kia’s West Point, Georgia facility. It is available in 5 different trim levels with two powerplants. The 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder produces 192 horsepower or 2.0 liter turbo engine generating 274 horsepower. It is refreshed from last year’s overhaul. For 2015, the Kia Optima gets some updates to its optional Uvo telematics system and a few minor changes to the trim levels. The SX Limited trim level is now called the SXL. All Optimas are front wheel drive. MPG estimates are 23/34 for the 2.4-liter and 20/31 for the turbocharged engine. 

Standard features on every 2015 Kia Optima include Bluetooth phone connectivity, iPod/USB audio connectivity, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, heated side mirrors, fog lights, tilt/telescopic steering column, 6-way power driver's seat and a cooling glove box that keeps drinks chilled.  It also offer a number of safety features including six airbags and electronic stability control. Pricing ranges from $21,650 for the well-equipped base LX model to the top-of-the-line SXL Turbo which retails for $35,500. 

Mazda6 

While the 2015 Mazda6 is primarily a carry over from the multiple award winning 2014 model, it deserves to be on any list of mid-size vehicles to consider. The Mazda6 which is equipped with the very satisfying SKDYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline powered engine has minor changes for this year. It was heaped with praise in the industry including being named by Popular Mechanics as “Car of the Year and 10 Best by Car and Driver. The Mazda6 combines great looks with the fun to drive factor that is so often missing in this segment. It satisfies all the needs a buyer has. It gets excellent fuel economy, is comfortable and quiet inside, handles impressively and just looks so damn good on the road or just sitting at Starbucks. 

The fuel economy on the Mazda6 is excellent for this class. When equipped with the i-Eloop system on the Grand Touring trim, it earns an EPA-estimated 32 mpg in combined which is number one in class with a gasoline engine. Without i-Eloop, it is still 30 mpg. The2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generates 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. The entry level Sport comes equipped with the manual transmission as well as a host of standard features, a number of which are considered premium by some automakers. These include push button start, AC with pollen filter, tilt and telescoping steering column, multi-information display with a trip computer, USB connections and more. Base price for the nicely equipped base model is just $21,190. MSRP for the top of the line I Grand Touring is $32,895. 

As with a number of the new vehicles in this class, the safety options are impressive and that’s the case with the 6 as well. Some of the features available included back up cameras, blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alert, all of which are standard on the Touring models. Radar cruise, forward obstruction warning, lane departure warning and smart city braking support all help make the drive in the Mazda6 safe as well as fun. 

The interior isn’t quite up to the levels of some of its competitors it is still more than adequate. The interior space, trunk and seats that flip forward were a pleasant surprise. Similar to the Chrysler 200, the rear seat and headroom was a lacking but the driver seats, were very comfortable for long drives or quick trips around town. 

A few other midsize sedans that were close but not quite in the top five included the Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima (although it did have the best NASA inspired driver’s seat) and Chevrolet Malibu.

You really can't go wrong with any of these vehicles and none will ever end up on a Bottom Ten list. Often times it really comes down to just how well your bucket fits in their bucket seats. 

Brad Boyer is owner of Carcierge, a car concierge company providing expert assistance on anything car-related. He also co-hosts Test Miles on 101.1 FM KXL on Sundays, and is a founding member of the Northwest Auto Press Association. You can email him your car-related questions at [email protected]. 

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