Cars.comparison: Family Sedans
Midsize family sedans are among the most popular cars in the U.S. It's easy to see why, as the better ones offer good performance, spacious interiors and plenty of safety features. That's what the Honda Accord, redesigned Mazda6 and Toyota Camry provide, but we wanted to take a closer look at them in order to crown a champ.
= Category winner| The Contenders | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Honda Accord EX-L V-6 | 2009 Mazda6 Grand Touring V-6 | 2008 Toyota Camry XLE V-6 |
| Zoom | Zoom | Zoom |
| Base MSRP | ||
| $28,705 | $28,465 | $28,120 |
| Price as tested | ||
| $31,425 | $32,690 | $31,719 |
| Most stylish | ||
| Conservatively styled, the Accord doesn't evoke much of an emotional response. | Anyone who thinks a family sedan can't also be a real looker needs to see the new Mazda6 in person. It's a winner. | The Camry's design has aged well since its debut for 2007, but the new 6 makes both the Camry and the Accord seem ho-hum. |
| Driving fun | ||
| Falling somewhere between the Camry's laid-back demeanor and the Mazda6's high-strung personality, the Accord balances comfort and driver engagement, but it can't match the 6's handling precision. | The Mazda6's sporty moves and robust V-6 engine reward the driver, but be prepared for a firm ride. When the road gets bumpy, the car doesn't feel as planted as the Accord, and its automatic sometimes hunts for gears. | Smooth and strong, the Camry's V-6 is a nice engine, but most people won't associate "fun" with the Toyota's numb steering and its propensity for body roll. The same goes for its smooth but unresponsive automatic. |
| Gas mileage (mpg, city/highway) | ||
| 19/29 The Accord's V-6 is the only one in this test that features cylinder-deactivation technology to save fuel. It gets the best mileage, but just barely. | 17/25 The Mazda6's V-6 is slightly larger than the Accord's or Camry's, but that doesn't explain the poor fuel economy. | 19/28 The Camry's gas mileage estimates come in a close second to the Accord's. |
| Commuting comfort | ||
| The Accord feels the most poised on the highway. Commuters should note, however, that its leather seats have the hardest cushioning of the three. | Our Mazda6's 18-inch tires yielded significant road noise, and ride quality gets choppy over bumpy pavement. Though softer than the Accord's, the seats can't match Toyota's for overall comfort. | Ah, yes, this is where we want the Camry's comfortable ride and well-cushioned seats. If you need a car that's easy on you when fighting the morning and evening rush, this one's for you. |
| Interior quality | ||
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The Accord's high-quality materials wouldn't be out of place in an Acura, Honda's luxury brand. However, the armada of dashboard buttons can be a bit imposing at first. |
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Mazda's strategic use of upscale materials, like the soft-touch dashboard, leaves a good first impression, but you begin to see lower-quality trim pieces the longer you're in the 6. |
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"Toyota Quality" means less and less these days. Dash materials rank about even with Mazda, but many controls feel chintzy — especially for a $31,000 car. |
| Most baby-seat friendly | ||
| All three sedans feature the same number of Latch anchors, and none have ones specifically for the center seat. The Accord's lower seat height and stable cushions make it slightly superior on a day-to-day basis. | The rear doors of the Mazda6 open nice and wide for easy ins and outs. Otherwise, there's nothing that distinguishes it. | While the backseat is spacious for passengers, placing the baby seat in the middle position facing rearward leaves the seat protruding into the front of the car. Our tester's sunroof also cut into headroom; you'll bang your head if you're not careful. |
| Most in-law friendly | ||
| The Accord's backseat affords excellent headroom and legroom, but there's a significant floor hump crowding foot space. The center armrest is large enough for two elbows. | The Mazda6's rear confines feel the least accommodating of the three — though not by much — and there's a modest floor hump. The center armrest could be a bit wider, too. | The Camry XLE has Lexus-like environs, with dedicated A/C vents, reading lights, reclining backrests and a rear sunshade — all features the Accord and Mazda6 lack. There's also a generous armrest and virtually no floor hump. |
| Safety features | ||
| Important features like antilock brakes, side curtain airbags, a stability system and active front head restraints are standard. | The Mazda6 comes with the Accord safety features mentioned here, and can also have a blind-spot warning system. It lacks a fifth head restraint for the center backseat passenger, however. | The Camry's airbag count is higher than the other two's thanks to a driver's knee bag. Unlike the Accord and Mazda6, a stability system is optional and active head restraints aren't offered. |
| Luggage room | ||
| At 14 cubic feet, the Accord's trunk is the smallest of the three. The rear backrest folds down and includes a pass-thru, but it's not split. The cargo floor also has a number of ledges; the others have flat floors. | The Mazda's 16.6-cubic-foot trunk is easily the largest one here, and its standard 60/40-split backseat folds flat with the cargo floor. It also has the lowest lift-in height, and its strut hinges don't impinge on cargo room when shut (both competitors have arm-style hinges that do). | The Camry XLE's 14.5-cubic-foot trunk is slightly smaller than the base sedan's, and in place of a split-folding backseat it has a pass-thru to the trunk to accommodate the reclining outboard backseats. It has the widest trunk opening of the three cars, though. |
| Warranty | ||
| Bumper to bumper: | ||
| Three years/36,000 miles | Three years/36,000 miles | Three years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain: | ||
| Five years /60,000 miles | Five years/60,000 miles | Five years/60,000 miles |
| Roadside assistance: | ||
| — | Three years/36,000 miles | — |
| Overall value | ||
| The Accord has the highest starting price of this trio, but the EX-L's price includes a moonroof and a six-CD premium stereo — things that cost extra in the Mazda but are included in the Camry XLE. Solid reliability and the lowest as-tested price are pluses. | Loaded to the gills, the Mazda6 is the priciest in this group. Factor in gas mileage, and its value equation doesn't add up to Honda levels. | Though the Camry has a low starting price, our XLE tester lacked a lot of the conveniences found in the other two: Only the driver's window has express operation, for example, and the seat heaters lack high/low settings. Worst of all, stability control remains optional — on a $28,120 car. |
| Editors' choice | ||
| Families have a lot of competing needs when shopping for a car, and the Accord is the best of these three at balancing them all. | Buyers looking for something a little sportier in this class should check out the Mazda6, but its sub-par gas mileage diminishes its overall appeal. | The Camry is still a sales juggernaut, but its reliability isn't bulletproof, like it was a short time ago, and the driving experience falls short of the others. |
Posted on 1/2/09
Next Step?
- 2009 Honda Accord
- 2009 Mazda Mazda6
- 2008 Toyota Camry
