Autoblog

Cars.com hosts eight-car family sedan shootout with surprising results

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 03 May 2010 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Chevrolet, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan, Suzuki, Toyota

Midsize sedans don't have it easy anymore. In addition to packing tons of features (technology, safety, comfort) into a relatively affordable package, these vehicles have to be relatively good to drive, functional and not too bad on the eyes. We've seen all sorts of family sedan comparisons, and now Cars.com dishes up its own eight-car test, featuring the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, Suzuki Kizashi, Mazda6 and new Hyundai Sonata.

The eight sedans were not only tested by members of the Cars.com team, but by an actual family of four in an attempt to see what real-world drivers look for the most. The "real family" is comprised of Ben and Jill Tiernan of Los Angeles, as well as their two children, an infant and a toddler. The family drove the cars on highways and city roads, and took their time poking and prodding through the cabins of each tester. Ben and Jill's notes were also compiled and included in the end result data, with father Ben liking the Kizashi the best, while wife Jill raised her hand for the Camry.

What's more, the overall question of fuel economy was put into greater focus. Efficiency is one of the strongest selling points in this segment, and it's no secret that automakers tout the highway mileage numbers of these cars in an effort to attract buyers. Cars.com went a step above - not only noting the EPA estimated fuel economy, but recording what the cars' trip computers displayed, as well as calculating the actual at-the-pump fuel economy. The Hyundai Sonata's 35 mpg might be the highest number on monroney labels, but in the actual calculations, the Ford Fusion's 32.1 observed mpg trumps the recorded 27.8 mpg in the Sonata.

What's most interesting, though, are the end results. We won't spoil the final findings, but it's important to note that the Ford Fusion - a car which has garnered a ton of praise (Motor Trend Car of the Year, etc.) - came in dead last amongst the group, with the Chevrolet Malibu not falling very far behind. On top of that, Toyota's Camry is usually the top pick in these tests (Motor Trend would agree), but it doesn't take first place honors here. How does the well-received Honda Accord fare in all of this? What about newcomers Sonata and Kizashi? Read the full results for yourself at Cars.com.

[Source: Cars.com]

Cars.com hosts eight-car family sedan shootout with surprising results originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 May 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

You'll never guess which midsize sedan wins MT's latest comparo...

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota

2010 Toyota Camry - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ah yes, the good ol' midsize sedan. Bastion of the American family car set and holder of most automaker's sales crowns, as well as that of the best-selling automobile in the United States. As pointed out by Motor Trend, only three car nameplates have held the top sales spot in America in the last 20 years: the Ford Taurus, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

Of course, the current midsize sedan sales leader is none other than the aforementioned Camry. Unless you've been living under a rock for the last few months, you're certainly aware that Toyota has found itself in the hot seat with numerous claims of unintended acceleration and two separate recalls that are meant to deal with such safety defects.

Besides its recent safety woes, Toyota has had to deal with constant pressure from every other automaker seeking to dethrone the Camry as the midsize sales leader. So, the natural question is whether or not the segment stalwart can maintain its edge in the face of such stiff competition and a newly sullied reputation. MT sought the answer in its latest comparo.

These days, Ford's numero-uno midsize sedan is the Fusion, which was significantly redesigned this year, and that car won the coveted Motor Trend Car of the Year Award for 2010. Also new-for-2010 (as a 2011 model) are the Hyundai Sonata, which features swoopy new duds and a high-tech four-cylinder powertrain, and the Subaru Legacy, which is the only model in the segment to come standard with all-wheel drive.

Though not all-new for '10, the Chevrolet Malibu and Nissan Altima are certainly perennial power players in the midsize sedan segment, and as such were included in MT's comparison test. With introductions out of the way, who do you think could have grabbed the top spot in Motor Trend's comparison test of these seven leading midsize sedans? Hint: See the photo above. Suffice it to say... we were a bit surprised. Click here to see for yourself.

In related news, the boys from Inside Line have gone a slightly different route with a much smaller midsize sedan comparison, pitting the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2010 Mazda6 and 2010 Honda Accord together in a winner-takes-all fight. Click here for the results.

Do you agree with either MT or IL, or would you rank them totally differently? Have your say in 'Comments.'

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Camry

[Sources: Motor Trend, Inside Line]

You'll never guess which midsize sedan wins MT's latest comparo... originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toyota issues fresh 2010 Camry recall, reexamining Tacoma unintended acceleration as alleged death toll mounts

Chris Paukert — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Truck, Recalls, Safety, Toyota

2010 Toyota Camry - Click above for high-res image gallery

With its upcoming Capitol Hill hearings only about a week away, Toyota appears to be attempting to tie up any loose ends with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The government agency has just announced a new recall for the 2010 Camry, and the embattled automaker is apparently taking a second look at unintended acceleration cases with its Tacoma pickup while deflecting more unintended acceleration death allegations as well.

Today, NHTSA has announced that it is recalling 7,314 four-cylinder Camry sedans because the power steering pressure hose might be "insufficient." According to the government agency's official verbiage (available after the jump), "the cap between the crimp on the pressure hose and the brake tube for the left rear brake may be insufficient," a condition that could lead to the brake tube interfering with the crimp, resulting in perforation. If said tube cracks, a brake fluid leak can occur - and we all know what can happen from there. Affected units will have their brake tubes adjusted and/or replaced as necessary.

In other Toyota/NHTSA developments, Automotive News reports that the Japanese automaker is re-investigating complaints of unintended acceleration in its Tacoma pickup. The renewed probe reportedly arrives on the heels of "a congressional query about the unusual number of unintended acceleration reports since 2005." The previous investigation covered some 514 reported incidents in which 2004-2008 Tacomas allegedly experienced unintended acceleration episodes that resulted in 71 accidents and 17 injuries.

Automotive News notes that Toyota's previous 2008 investigation concluded with the finding that a majority of cases "are related to minor drivability issues and are not indicative of a safety-related defect." NHTSA apparently conducted its own seven-month probe into 2006-2007 Tacomas in 2008, but never took any action, noting that "the information suggesting a possible defect related to motor vehicle safety is quite limited." Just last week, Toyota recalled 8,000 Tacomas to fix an unrelated driveshaft malady.

Finally, in related Toyota safety news, the Associated Press reports that new complaints lodged with the federal government bring the automaker's alleged sudden acceleration toll up to 34 since 2000. That's an increase of 13 in three weeks, with the alleged deaths stemming from nine accidents occurring between 2005 and 2010. The AP notes that between 2000 and 2009, the government had received complaints alleging 21 deaths tied to unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles. The AP suggests that the spike in new complaint filings likely stems from "the heightened awareness of the massive recall among the public and underscore a flurry of lawsuits on behalf of drivers alleging deaths and injuries in Toyota crashes." Thanks for the tip, David!

Gallery: Detroit 2009: 2010 Toyota Camry

[Sources: NHTSA, Associated Press (via El Paso Times), Automotive News - subs. req.]

Tired of Toyota recall news? Try out the recall-free version of Autoblog.

Continue reading Toyota issues fresh 2010 Camry recall, reexamining Tacoma unintended acceleration as alleged death toll mounts

Toyota issues fresh 2010 Camry recall, reexamining Tacoma unintended acceleration as alleged death toll mounts originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: Unlikely Drag Race #5,349 - Hyundai Sonata vs. Toyota Camry in four-cylinder throwdown

Chris Shunk — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Hyundai, Toyota

Click above to watch the video after the jump

We love a good drag race as much as the next guy, especially when the two vehicles are relatively evenly matched. The four-cylinder 2011 Hyundai Sonata and 2010 Toyota Camry sedans appear to be of similar might, as both vehicles are family haulers aimed at the heart of the midsize market. But do we want the two vehicles to drag race to see which one has the best burst off the line?

Apparently someone thought we did, as evidenced by the post-jump video featuring the upstart 2011 Sonata 2.4 GDI against the title-holding 2.5-liter Camry going head-to-head in the battle of four-pot supremacy. We're not sure who created the video but it could have been created by an Asian market arm of Hyundai, so you can guess who wins this sprint to the finish line. That said, the Camry fares pretty well off the line where some would argue a midsize sedan needs power the most. Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself, and while you're on the other side, head over to Comments and tell us which two closely matched production vehicles you'd like to see in a drag race.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Unlikely Drag Race #5,349 - Hyundai Sonata vs. Toyota Camry in four-cylinder throwdown

Video: Unlikely Drag Race #5,349 - Hyundai Sonata vs. Toyota Camry in four-cylinder throwdown originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Detroit 2009: Toyota shows off 2010 Camry

Damon Lavrinc — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:48:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Toyota

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Toyota Camry

In addition to the 2010 Toyota Prius and iQ-based FT-EV, ToMoCo is taking the wraps off the redesigned 2010 Camry at the Detroit Auto Show later today. Due to go on sale this March, the restyled Camry offers the same soul-sucking practicality and Maytag levels of usability as its forbearers, but features a few engineering and design tweaks to bring it into the next decade.

On the outside, the 2010 Camry receives a new front bumper with enlarged air intakes, uprated headlamps and a set of restyled taillights. The XLE model includes 16-inch, ten-spoke wheels, while the SE rolls on 17-inch hoops and the base LE makes due with wheel covers. Inside, a new optional stereo with USB port, Bluetooth, satellite radio, single CD and MP3 capability is fitted, and Vehicle Stability Control is now standard on all models. The Camry Hybrid gets a slightly reworked fascia, along with a new gauge cluster and silk protein/synthetic fiber cloth seats that Toyota claims are more gentle on the skin.

Under the hood of the base Camry, LE and XLE models is a refreshed, 169-hp 2.5-liter four equipped with VVT-i. The SE model uses the same engine, but comes packing another 21 hp and can be had with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox. Both the 268-hp, 3.5-liter V6 and the hybrid drivetrains soldier on unchanged.

Hit the jump for all the details and check the gallery below to see the tweaks for yourself.

UPDATE: Gallery of live shots added.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: 2010 Toyota Camry

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Camry

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Toyota shows off 2010 Camry

Detroit 2009: Toyota shows off 2010 Camry originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments