2018 Mid-Size Sedan Challenge Video: It's a Family-Car Affair
SUV sales may be booming, but Americans still buy a lot of mid-size sedans, and the three we tested for Cars.com’s 2018 Mid-Size Sedan Challenge are among the most popular — they’re also all recently redesigned. We tested the 2018 Honda Accord 1.5T EX-L, 2019 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV and 2018 Toyota Camry XLE. Evaluating these family sedans were Car.com reviewers Aaron Bragman, Jennifer Geiger and Kelsey Mays.
2018 Mid-Size Sedan Challenge
Results | How We Tested | Photo Gallery | Video
The Accord came out on top, scoring 729 points out of a possible 1,000. Bragman said the Accord was his favorite in large part due to its smoothness and refinement.
“I really like the smoothness of the Accord,” he said. “I mean, of all the cars here, it feels the most substantial to me, the most refined — almost like it’s participating in a class above the mid-size category. It feels just a little bit more luxurious, a little bit quieter. Driving it around the streets of Chicago, it’s just got this heft to it. It does feel a little bit heavier, but I kind of like that in a car like this. It doesn’t feel frenetic, it doesn’t feel jumpy, it doesn’t feel cheap — and I think that really does count in its favor.”
- ${price_badge()}
- ${battery_badge()}${ev_report_link()}
- ${hot_car_badge()}
- ${award_badge()}
- ${cpo_badge()}
${price_badge_description}
The EV Battery Rating is based on this vehicle's current expected range relative to the vehicles expected range when new. ${battery_badge_text}
Certified cars are manufacturer warrantied and typically go through a rigorous multi-point inspection.
This car is likely to sell soon based on the price, features, and condition.
${award_blurb}
${award_two_blurb}
Shop the 2018 Honda Accord near you
Geiger concurred.
“I think it did the best job of blending ride and handling, comfort, interior materials, and the multimedia is by far the easiest to use: It had crisp graphics, really nice knobs, responsive. Overall, the interior was just very comfortable, and I could see myself buying this with my own money,” Geiger said.
And while Bragman was also impressed with the Accord’s legroom, he did have some criticisms of cabin space in other regards.
“The backseat has tons of legroom. It doesn’t have as much headroom, though,” he lamented. “I mean, I was a little bit cramped; my head kept hitting the headliner because that roofline, it’s really low. It feels lower than the other two cars.”
For more on the Accord’s performance in our 2018 Mid-Size Sedan Challenge, as well as showings for the rivals Altima and Camry, watch the video above. And be sure to read our full rundown on this multicar comparison by following the related links above.
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
