MT: 2012-2013 Family sedan showdown

[Shomegrown]

Anyways - My own take is Nissan deserves the crown. After starting this article talking about how bread & butter family sedans are so important and deserve notice MT tosses out all of the important metrics and puts focus on simple German interiors and driving dynamics.

CVT's are polarizing. Honestly, I don't care if the Nissan went 0-60 in 5 seconds flat while getting 40 mpg, I've never driven a CVT in a car that I was interested in living with.

Strange I know, especially since I actually like single speed fixed ratio drivelines in electric cars. Maybe it's the indirect disconnected feeling, I don't know - but I'm not the only one who feels that way.

And here is a pic of the Passat's rear seat



You could drive a tank right through there. It's enormous. That's a huge selling point right there.

That front seat setting is about where it'd be for a full size adult male too. When my wife drove the Passat, there was even substantially more room than that. Ridiculous really. Useful? I dunno, but I guess it's good for bragging rights.

Motor Trend has a hard-on for the Passat that borders on the unhealthy;

As is the glee you take in the opposite.

[VarianceVQ]

^Got rid of the Passat already?

[Shomegrown]

^Got rid of the Passat already?

Automotive ADD. And no AWD.

[caj1]

Motor Trend has a hard-on for the Passat that borders on the unhealthy; usually, when something lasts that long, you should consult your physician.

I guess only rants against VWs get the clean bill of health..

[caj1]

Automotive ADD. And no AWD.

New A3?

[1985Jetta]

My picks:
Malibu
Accord
Passat
Camry
Altima
Optima
6
Fusion

[eweu]

That front seat setting is about where it'd be for a full size adult male too. When my wife drove the Passat, there was even substantially more room than that. Ridiculous really. Useful? I dunno, but I guess it's good for bragging rights.

If you're jockeying 3 kids in the back of a family sedan, that amount of room is very welcome. It is useful.

[2.0T_Convert]

Oh well, can't argue with the results although the Passat is much better with the 2.0T.

Que?

[2.0_Mazda]

I wonder how the 6 would have held up

Too bad GM isn't able to get the recipe right.

[Swallow Doretti]

I guess only rants against VWs get the clean bill of health..

I guess only rants against VWs get the clean bill of health..

Good to see the usual suspects already riled up. You gals must go through Monistat 7 by the caseload considering how often you get your panties in a twist over this.

[Shomegrown]

If you're jockeying 3 kids in the back of a family sedan, that amount of room is very welcome. It is useful.

No doubt, I only have one little rugrat so I was speaking more from my perspective.

New A3?

Yep, just picked it up last week. We love the sportback so I figured I'd pick one up while it's still around. I wish I could get quattro with the 6-speed manual, but the DSG will have to work.

[clutchrider]

Que?

Didn't even notice the new Passat is not available with the 2.0T Seems a little dumb though that they only offer the 2.5, 3.6, and TDI. But I'm not a VW exec so what do I know.

[2.0T_Convert]

Yep, just picked it up last week. We love the sportback so I figured I'd pick one up while it's still around. I wish I could get quattro with the 6-speed manual, but the DSG will have to work.

But now you won't be able to drive 700 miles before a piss break

[MonsterM]

CVT's are polarizing. Honestly, I don't care if the Nissan went 0-60 in 5 seconds flat while getting 40 mpg, I've never driven a CVT in a car that I was interested in living with.

Strange I know, especially since I actually like single speed fixed ratio drivelines in electric cars. Maybe it's the indirect disconnected feeling, I don't know - but I'm not the only one who feels that way.



That front seat setting is about where it'd be for a full size adult male too. When my wife drove the Passat, there was even substantially more room than that. Ridiculous really. Useful? I dunno, but I guess it's good for bragging rights.



As is the glee you take in the opposite.

I agree. I rented the 2011 Altima earlier this year and it was brutal. The suspension was very wobbly and the CVT 4 cyl combination made it one of the worst "new" cars I have driven to date.

[Shomegrown]

Good to see the usual suspects already riled up. You gals must go through Monistat 7 by the caseload considering how often you get your panties in a twist over this.

That's all you got? You could at least try to entertain us here as the number of ****s given is still = 0.

[Shomegrown]

But now you won't be able to drive 700 miles before a piss break

No definitely not. I'm sure it won't be my last diesel though.

[whitejeep1989]

As always market dollars wins any journalist attention. Why would publishers cover cars that are better in value but not paying them enough advertising fees. It's not cheap to rent offices on Madison Avenue here in NYC.

Wait, you don't think ALL these companies are advertising heavily in MT or its sister publications?

[BsickPassat]

as much as I try to like the Altima, I loathe the rear end treatment of the car.



The crooked tail lights kills an otherwise attractive design. There are other cars that have the "crooked tail lights", like the BMW 3-series... but for some reason, it looks horrible on the Altima

[koko12]

I recently drove a Jetta with the same power-train and transmission in the Passat and I was pretty bad IMO. The engine didn't sound good at all and was very lethargic, and the transmission was very slow to shift and almost not knowing which gear to be in. The car felt bigger than it was. It felt very much like the Ford Focus automatic. I can't imagine how much worse this powertrain would be on the much larger Passatt. If this is why MT calls a driver's car they need to get their priorities aligned.

[Swallow Doretti]

That's all you got? You could at least try to entertain us here as the number of ****s given is still = 0.

To be fair, it's all your worth. And if you didn't give a shit, you wouldn't have bothered to respond. Twice.

[whitejeep1989]

I wonder if Malibu's low ranking was due in part to the early bad blood the Eco model established with the press. Once these folks decide they don't like something, it is rare that they change their minds, even if later versions completely address perceived shortcomings. Overall, it's a pity that GM struggles to define the class of vehicle it should understand the most. Where are the folks that made Bel Air a legend, and anything with the Cutlass prefix a perennial best seller? Hell, even the Celebrity was a best seller. I guess it's worth waiting to see how the sales figures turn out, but I think this generation of 'Bu has lost some of the magic of the last. Maybe it's time to bring Lutz back for one more fantastic mid-cycle rethink? Maybe it's time to focus some of that money and talent that's attempting to make Buick Regal into an A4 competitor on just one global mid-sized family sedan?

[Shomegrown]

To be fair, it's all your [sic] worth.

Are you capable of discussion without getting butthurt and turning things personal?


I don't remember initiating a turn down that road, but have fun with it...

[Yo Teach]

So MT does a comparison on all the NEW designs/models of last years top selling sedans

Would have been better to put all the sedans in there. The Subaru, Kia/Hyundai, etc. Considering 90% of the brands put out a new generation in the past few months it would seem only fair.

Oh well, can't argue with the results although the Passat is much better with the 2.0T.

My picks:

1 - Passat
2 - Mazda 6
3 - Ford Fusion
4 - Kia Optima
5 - Toyota Camry
6 - Honda Accord
7 - Nissan Altima

The rest of the cars you mentioned have probably all been reviewed in previous comparison tests and not placed first. I don't know specifically when, I don't regularly read MT. If they do not come in first, they generally do not invite them back until the next redesign or major update. Sometimes there is also the issue of locating a car.

[2.0T_Convert]

The rest of the cars you mentioned have probably all been reviewed in previous comparison tests and not placed first. I don't know specifically when, I don't regularly read MT. If they do not come in first, they generally do not invite them back until the next redesign or major update. Sometimes there is also the issue of locating a car.

I think sales had to do with it. The article states it is the collection of the biggest sellers compared to the COTD winner. The other 5 cars aside from the Passat still outsell the 6/Legacy/Avenger/Sonata/Optima/Mitsu not worth mentioning.

[Swallow Doretti]

Are you capable of discussion without getting butthurt and turning things personal?

I don't remember initiating a turn down that road, but have fun with it...

Perhaps you should go five posts up and read what you wrote then. You started in with the personal attacks because I said the Passat isn't the great sedan M/T makes it out to be. And I'm sure you'll continue to beat it to death, mainly because the mods apparently don't ban trolls like you anymore.

[BsickPassat]

the new Sentra looks really good.... there is some similarities in styling with the Altima.... but Nissan did a better job on the rear of the Sentra than Altima

[Shomegrown]

Perhaps you should go five posts up and read what you wrote then. You started in with the personal attacks because I said the Passat isn't the great sedan M/T makes it out to be.

See, and that's where the confusion started.

I commented on your statement, not you. I pointed out the irony, but that may have sailed over your head.

Then remarking that your insults aren't half as snarky as you think they are isn't a personal attack on you. If you can't wrap your head around that, it's no use discussing further.

And I'm sure you'll continue to beat it to death, mainly because the mods apparently don't ban trolls like you anymore.

Wow.

When did I piss in your Cheerios? It must have been pretty intense. It's just the internet. Take a deep breath and let it go.

[InfinitiG]

1st - Passat SE 2.5 - (MT loves interior and most fun to drive despite worst engine and slowest)
2nd - Honda Accord EX-L 2.4 - (tied for best power, hates interior, not fun to drive)
3rd- Ford Fusion SE 1.6 ecoboost (MT loves the turbo, loves the exterior, hates interior & mediocre MPGs)
4th- Nissan Altima SV 2.5 (best MPGs tied for best power, MT still doesn't like the CVT)
5th- Toyota Camry XLE 2.5 (MT hated the interior)
6th - Chevy Malibu 2.5 LTZ (Shame on GM)


Anyways - My own take is Nissan deserves the crown. After starting this article talking about how bread & butter family sedans are so important and deserve notice MT tosses out all of the important metrics and puts focus on simple German interiors and driving dynamics.

Passat is the clear fun to drive German car, Altima is the best family car IMHO

I have to agree, especially after reading the article. Despite not liking the CVT, they also praised and really liked the Altima's ride and handling. It was the quickest and got the best MPGs. They loved the interior and said it had the best mix of gadgets/technology and user-friendliness (hi Ford).

Beyond the CVT, they only knocked it for the seat color (really?) and not having as much rear headroom. I think it deserved higher than 4th at the very least.

[InfinitiG]

Those are only with MFT, which is an option on most trims, and only standard on the top of the line trims. The car in the test did not have it.

Yeah, and Motortrend hated the non-MFT interior in this test.

[TooFitToQuit]

Having driven the Accord Sport, I disagree. I loved that car. Too bad it's not available in a wagon.

[P-Body]

The rest of the cars you mentioned have probably all been reviewed in previous comparison tests and not placed first. I don't know specifically when, I don't regularly read MT. If they do not come in first, they generally do not invite them back until the next redesign or major update. Sometimes there is also the issue of locating a car.

I've yet to see an Optima SX in a comparison.

I know, I know, most people don't buy the top trim level. But just saying. I was actually looking forward to it in this group.

[Ross1013]

2nd - Honda Accord EX-L 2.4 - (tied for best power, hates interior, not fun to drive)

How did you arrive at this interpretation?

Here's the article's actual text:

For one thing, this is a conspicuously spacious sedan, with a truly palatial back seat and unparalleled airiness all around. "Very roomy," writes Martinez. "Most of the materials have an Acura-quality feel; well above the cheap plastics in the Chevy and the Ford." The seats are splendid, with a richness and plushness rare for this class. Climb aboard, and right away you know you're riding in something special.

The powertrain continues that sensation. The 2.4-liter four and CVT deliver tied-for-best acceleration, fine observed fuel efficiency (we recorded 25.8 mpg), and smooth, refined manners. "Nice linear powerband without any dead spots," writes Febbo. "Best CVT on the market," adds Evans. "You can only tell it's a CVT when it hangs at an rpm for a few seconds. Feels like a regular automatic and makes the Accord feel quick." Ride quality is top-notch, though communication with the road is minimal. Still, such a relaxed demeanor is probably what many buyers want. Though not the quietest car in our test, this is easily the quietest Accord ever -- a huge step forward for Honda.

The new dual touch screen's center stack borders on overly complex ("Just give me my buttons back," writes Evans). And some of the pieces look chintzy. Febbo: "The smaller touch screen and shifter have a rainbow-glitter black that looks like it was stolen from a bass boat." Those few bits look out of place in an otherwise premium cabin.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...#ixzz2863SqoIN

[InfinitiG]

I've yet to see an Optima SX in a comparison.

I know, I know, most people don't buy the top trim level. But just saying. I was actually looking forward to it in this group.

Isn't the limited the top trim for the Optima? These new top trim levels (limited, Titanium etc) are basically entry level luxury sedans.

[P-Body]

Isn't the limited the top trim for the Optima? These new top trim levels (limited, Titanium etc) are basically entry level luxury sedans.

Having seen an SX-L, I pretend it doesn't exist.

[Saintor]

It is the revenge of the NA engines. The 1.6 Ecotoy looks really pathetic. It does nothing that NA engines won't do better. Would be even worse if it was automatic.