The $25,000 Family Sedan Shootout
By Patrick Olsen, Cars.com
We took eight popular sedans, six automotive journalists, a family of four and three days to determine: What's the best family sedan you can buy for $25,000 or less?
We asked automakers for cars that stickered out at $25,000 or less (not including destination charges). Eight chose to participate. We put their cars through a Mileage Challenge and two days of real-life road tests to choose a winner.
Our experts in the Shootout were: David Thomas, Jennifer Newman and Kelsey Mays of Cars.com; James R. Healey and Chris Woodyard of USA Today; and Brian Robinson of "MotorWeek."
On the family front, Jill and Ben Tiernan and their two daughters were good enough to put these cars through their paces for us.
How did we score the Shootout? Each car was scored from 1-10 in 10 categories, with a maximum score of 1,000 points. Reviewers accounted for 60 percent of the total; the parents accounted for the remaining 40 percent.
See the video above that sets up the competition, check out how much you can get for $25,000 or keep reading to see which sedan came out on top.
No. 8 2010 Ford Fusion; 669 points
It's clear that reviewers got a great first vibe from the Fusion, but the more time they spent in the car, the less they came to enjoy it.
Pros: The Fusion's exterior got an "I think it's sexy" from mom Jill Tiernan, a point of view echoed by several of the journalists. Healey liked its combination of ride and handling; Robinson said its "interior fit and finish is one of the best," while Thomas enthused: "Looks, leather and Sync for under $25K?! I'll take it."
Cons: "It's great that the Fusion has leather for under $25K," Robinson noted, "but it's not very nice leather." That seems to capture the overall tone: As Woodyard noted, the "Fusion did everything fine but didn't seem to stand out in any particular category." It means well and it looks good, but the devil is in the details.
No. 7 2010 Chevrolet Malibu; 697 points
The family and the reviewers found the Malibu attractive but lacking in the power department. "Looks better than it drives," was how Healey dryly described it.
Pros: Room, and lots of it. Mays noted: "The backseat is wide enough to fit three small child seats, and the Malibu is our only contender with an additional set of Latch anchors for the center seat." Mom Jill loved the seatback storage pouches, while Healey said the easy-to-read gauges were a plus.
Cons: The word "plasticky" was tossed around by more than a couple of reviewers (and dad Ben) when describing the interior. Although the Malibu won raves when it was last redesigned, "it is in dire need of an update," Thomas said.
Editor's note: A group of cars, starting with the sixth-place Altima through the third-place Kizashi, was neck-and-neck; only 20-odd points separate third and sixth place. That shows both how competitive the class is and why shoppers should focus on how well each car handles its most important task, whether that's driving, roominess, fuel economy or trunk space.
No. 6 2010 Nissan Altima; 711 points
Nissan's entry also suffered from a lack of enthusiasm, although dad Ben did note that the competitors were evenly matched: "They're all pretty much the same car."
Pros: Simplicity worked for Newman: "There aren't a lot of bells and whistles in the Altima, but its center stack looks good and has an easy-to-use layout." Others raved about its comfortable seats and how roomy it was, and Healey enjoyed the Altima's ride and handling: "Fun to fling," he said, "yet never a harsh moment."
Cons: For all the praise of its interior's simplicity, almost no one liked its looks. "The model seems like it's getting a little long in the tooth," Woodyard said, "at least on the outside." Mays noted that its strong engine couldn't "make up for its unrefined suspension." Robinson was likewise down on it: "It's the only one that feels cheap."
No. 5 2010 Honda Accord; 723 points
The Accord is very familiar to buyers in this segment: It has long been the No. 2 seller. It's that benchmark status that our reviewers and family split over.
Pros: It definitely seemed like a driver's car, especially a driver looking for room for passengers. While Newman praised the Accord for having "plenty of power for quickly getting up to speed," Robinson raved: "BIG!" Mays concurred: "Kids and adults alike will find it commodious." Whatever that means.
Cons: "A benchmark just a few years ago," Healey noted, "it now seems among the bottom feeders in the segment." What's changed? Poor seating, poor interior quality and road noise were the top complaints. Mom Jill also was put off because "it's not as good looking as the others, and everyone has one." Woodyard found it "just OK."
No. 4 2010 Mazda6; 724 points
The Mazda6 won a lot of praise for its looks, both inside and out, as well as for its ginormous trunk. However, it was dinged for not living up to its Zoom-Zoom vow.
Pros: The Mazda6 has a good set of features "with few sacrifices," Thomas said. It has a "blind spot monitoring (system) for under $25K!" Robinson noted. In addition, Newman appreciated its styling: "It shows that midsize sedans don't have to be boring." Healey liked its "crisp turn-in and excellent rotation of the car through tight corners."
Cons: Several reviewers felt the Mazda6's acceleration and handling weren't as good as the Accord, which it beat by a single point. The seats drew fire from Healey, who labeled them "lumpy," and Robinson, who called the fabric "awkward." Newman thought it'd be difficult for a child in a booster seat to buckle himself independently.
No. 3 2010 Suzuki Kizashi; 731 points
The newest entrant was also the smallest. Despite its size, the Kizashi won fans for its "zippy" handling and peppy drive. And it was the only one with all-wheel drive.
Pros: Healey called it the "let's rock" car in the test, a motion that was seconded by several reviewers and the family. Dad Ben called it "the driver's car" while mom Jill called it "the youngest car" of the bunch. Mays noted: "Sorry, GM, the Kizashi outplays the Malibu at its own game." Robinson said it had the "best-looking wheels."
Cons: Being small can be a hassle for a family with kids. Newman noted that, with the passenger seat set for her 5-foot-8-inch frame, she couldn't get a rear-facing infant-safety seat to fit correctly, so "the front passenger will have to compromise on legroom" to make the car seat fit. Several also commented that the backseat was small and narrow.
No. 2 2010 Toyota Camry; 752 points
Here, the leaders start pulling away from the pack. The Camry has been one of the best-selling vehicles (recall issues aside). Despite its troubles, it still won everyone over.
Pros: Thomas said it was the complete package: "Acceleration, handling and ride were in perfect balance." Dad Ben said it had a "dignified interior." Woodyard said, "Even though it's the car your grandma might drive, it was very comfortable on the road. Quiet. Sure-footed." Healey liked its "roomy, useful trunk."
Cons: Bland styling was an issue for several people, and the seatback pockets are "made out of a hard plastic that would make it difficult to store sippy cups," Newman said. Finally, the brake response was poor for a couple of our drivers, or as Mays put it, "a brake pedal that feels about as responsive as Congress." Ouch.
And the winner is...
No. 1 2011 Hyundai Sonata; 794 points
Hyundai got a leg up by having the redesigned Sonata ready for the Shootout. Its striking design won over most, but it was the whole package that grabbed the title.
Pros: "Standout" styling moved Newman, while Robinson liked its "very modern styling" and Healey enjoyed its "upscale look and feel." But it's more than just a pretty face, as Thomas said: "Value, value, value. $22,745 for navigation and all the other goodies in such an attractive wrapper. None of the competitors came close."
Cons: While the value proposition was good, the handling faltered. "On curvy roads, even the Camry out-handles it," Mays said. For dad Ben, the sporty look "didn't pay off." For Healey, the looks didn't offer enough: "I was expecting to be impressed with this car, and I was, but maybe not as much as I was expecting."