These are the 3 best midsize sedans on the market today

Article content

While the midsize sedan market has been shrinking lately, there are still some solid rides up for grabs, each of which representing a viable alternative to the ubiquitous crossover. Here are our top three picks in the segment, each of which available with gasoline and hybrid powertrains.

Article content

Honda Accord

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

These are the 3 best midsize sedans on the market today Back to video

Having entered its 10th generation in 2018, the Honda Accord carries on into 2020 unchanged. It has grown from something smaller than the current Civic, to a midsize sedan with room for a family of five. The Accord also includes most of today’s desirable safety equipment, though a true blind-spot monitoring system — an upgrade from the camera-based LaneWatch in the previous-generation model — is only available on the top-line Touring, which is a myopic move.

The good news is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are standard fare, along with a solid, 452-watt sound system on all but the base model. Size-wise, the Accord accommodates three six-footers in the rear seat with ease, and it has the largest trunk of this trio, at 473 litres.

Article content

Power comes from one of two potent turbocharged engines. The base unit is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder making 192 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm. It works with a CVT to drive the front wheels. However, the better choice is the up-level 2.0L turbo-four, with 252 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,500 rpm. It works better with a 10-speed automatic. [ It’s also worth noting the Accord is the only car in the segment to offer a six-speed manual. It’s available with both engines on the Sport trim. — Ed. ]

The Accord Hybrid uses a normally aspirated 2.0L four-cylinder engine and an electric motor to produce 212 net horsepower. No net torque number is given, but with the electric motor twisting out 232 lb.-ft. from Rev One, it has some real spring off the line.

Article content

The 10th-generation Accord’s platform is stiffer and lighter, and now has less mass over the front wheels, particularly with the 2.0L turbo-four replacing the previous V6. The combination means it has a nimble feel to its drive, in spite of its size. There is little body roll and understeer is far enough out that it’s a non-issue. The nicely weighted steering set-up completes a pretty picture.

Compare our top midsize sedan picks side-by-side right here

Hyundai Sonata

Article content

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata has been reworked with a much sharper look inside and out, and now comes with the latest technologies. Key is the available 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, along with the range-topping 10.25-inch infotainment screen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It has a longer wheelbase than the outgoing Sonata, which shifts rear-seat accommodations from cozy to roomy; while it’s the tightest of the trio in terms of rear-seat legroom, it still supports six-footers. The trunk measures 453 litres. All in all, it’s an attractive package that effectively silences past criticisms about the Sonata’s cabin lagging behind its peers.

All Sonatas now come with a full suite of safety equipment ranging from forward collision assist with automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, to lane-keep assist and automatic high beams. On the top-level Ultimate, the Sonata also includes a kind of hokey Blind View Monitor — activate the turn signal and an image of the corresponding side is displayed in the digital gauge cluster — and a parking collision-avoidance assistant with automatic braking, which if the driver ignores the warning of a passing vehicle and doesn’t brake, the Sonata will.

Article content

While the base Sonata arrives with a 2.5L inline-four that pushes 191 horsepower, the 1.6L turbo-four in the other models is the smarter choice. It may be less powerful at 180 horsepower, but torque jumps to 195 lb.-ft. at 1,500 rpm. This puts more spring in the Sonata’s step. Both engines drive the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Sonata Hybrid uses a 2.0L four-cylinder and an electric motor to produce 192 horsepower and 271 lb.-ft. of torque. It works with a six-speed automatic with paddle-shifters, just like the sporty turbo model. The Sonata’s ride and handling also takes a big step forward — it’s firm without being uncomfortable. As such, it balances comfort with the ability to carve a corner with some of the best in segment. [ For those seeking more performance, Hyundai also confirmed a Sonata N-Line with 295 horsepower is coming next year. — Ed. ]

Article content

Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry , now in its eight generation, is offered in no less than 13 different models into two lines. The L line (LE and XLE) keys on luxury and is aimed at the traditional, more conservative buyer. The S range (SE and XSE) shoots for a younger clientele with sport-tuned suspension, bucket seats, and paddle-shifters for the transmission. Regardless of the line, the Camry is roomy with ample rear seat space for three adults and a 428-litre trunk.

New for 2020 is the addition of the sportier TRD trim, as optional all-wheel-drive on four-cylinder models . The Dynamic Torque Control system, in Toyota-speak, is essentially the same as the system found in the RAV4. It uses an electromagnetic coupling to send up to 50 per cent of power to the rear wheels when needed. When AWD isn’t needed, it reverts to a front-driver to improve fuel economy.

Article content

Toyota’s Safety Sense suite is standard fare, as is blind-spot monitoring on all but the base models. Perhaps the bigger news is that the Camry now comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity — it’s about time!

The Camry’s 2.5L four-cylinder makes 203 horsepower, give or take a few depending on model, and is now offered with the aforementioned AWD system. However, the better engine choice is the V6. It pushes a rewarding 301 horsepower and 267 lb.-ft. of torque through an eight-speed automatic and the front wheels. The Camry Hybrid uses a 2.5L four-cylinder that works with two motor/generators and an electronically controlled CVT. Net system output is rated at 208 horsepower and 163 lb.-ft. of torque. For those after fuel economy, this is the right choice.

Article content

Unlike its predecessor, the current Camry has a stiffer chassis and lower centre of gravity. The L line has excellent ride quality and steering feel; shift to the sporty side and the larger anti-roll bars and firmer damping deliver a crisper drive. In the end, the Camry both appeals to those who like to be pampered and those who like to drive.

Honourable mentions: Mazda6 and Subaru Legacy

Article content

Before getting to our final verdict, there are two other sedans worthy of note. The first is the Mazda6 ; available with a 2.5L turbo-four, it twists out 250 horsepower and, more importantly, 310 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,000 rpm. Apply this to a sorted chassis, and the Mazda6 doubles as both a family sedan and a drivers’ car. The second is the reworked 2020 Subaru Legacy ; from its swanky cabin and available 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, to the lengthy list of safety aids, the Legacy just works well. Key among its assets is Subaru’s token all-wheel-drive system — it’s one of the best on the market.

Final verdict

So, which of our top three mid-sized sedans should you pick? All have comfortable, spacious, and well-equipped cabins, plus plenty of trunk space and the right ride/handling balance. All also earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick, but the Camry edges slightly ahead by garnering the Top Safety Pick+ designation. In the end, though, choice boils down to a matter of personal preference.