Car and Driver Midsize Sedan Test: May 2012 Issue

[rlaltiowner05]

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...mparison-tests

*Spoiler Alert*

1-Passat 2.5SE
2-Accord EX
3-Optima EX
4-Sonata SE
5-Camry SE
6-Malibu ECO

I haven't seen this posted here so I figured I'd post it up.

[kraut_pauer79]

not the first review to lament the new Malibu Eco. Hopefully the turbo and the 2.5 are a lot better.

I'm surprised at the Camry's results, I've already been seeing it everywhere and I always think it looks really nice, I'd actually take one over a Passat, and I'm a huge VW troll. I must be getting old.

[feels_road]

the car is lively out of the blocks, logging the quickest sprint to 30 mph. In fact, it wasn’t until we hit our handling loop that we fully probed the Passat’s winning slalom athleticism. On serpentine byways, sure enough, it summoned the best steering and brake feel, a transmission that could often predict the driver’s next move, and a ride/handling trade-off that wasn’t so much a trade-off as a victory on both counts. “Somebody sweated the suspension calibration,” noted tech director Don Sherman. Moreover, the German engine matched the Camry’s for lowest levels of NVH, and the cockpit ergonomics equaled the Optima’s.

The Germans surely are still masters at optimizing both handling and comfort without undue sacrifice in either direction.

(I don't want to again push my cars, here - but they fall along the same exact line; this has been a tradition of mastership for decades, now).

[Bias_Ply]

That's relieving to hear, I was a little worried about the new Impalassat.

[Robski92]

The Passat with a the TDI motor would be my choice in the mid size class.

[Mazda 3s]

I think that this is the first time that any of the car rags have even bothered to do a comparison test with the "new" Optima.

[Hajduk]

And the Accord still made their 10-Best list over the Passat

[Joe Cook]

Did it really? If so, it is deja vu all over again and stuff.

Remember when the B5 Passat came out, it also won a comparo against the Accord. But which car made C&D's 10 best list? You guessed it -- the Accord and not the Passat.

In this segment though, I'd probably either go with the Passat TDI or the Optima. Surprised the new Camry didn't do better though. It's improved in about every way. Guess they didn't send Car and Driver enough advertising dollars their way.

Joe C.

[Mazda 3s]

I'm actually surprised at the accolades for the Sonata:

The Optima and Sonata offer the most stand*ard horsepower in this class. Which attracts us as a Flashback Pheasant Tail attracts brook trout. Riding on the only 18-inch rubber in our group, the Sonata was quickest to 60 mph, earned the lowest quarter-mile ET, topped both our top-gear tests, and was the fleetest from 5 mph to 60 mph. When it came to whoa, well, the Sonata aced that, too, knocking out the shortest braking distance from 70 mph. Then it went on to serve up the second-fastest pass through our 610-foot slalom. Quite a résumé.

Since this car’s debut as a 2011 model, it seems there’s been a sample in our Ann Arbor fleet every other week, so we’ve chronicled its traits in detail. To recap: The steering can’t match the Volkswagen’s accuracy, but at least it’s “two-finger spinnable” at parking-lot speeds. The chassis is competent with good damping and roll control. Throttle tip-in is gentle, as velvety as the Camry’s. Speaking of the Toyota, this Hyundai is only one decibel noisier at full throttle. All primary controls are fluid and willing, ditto the secondaries (apart from a radio-volume-control knob that is perversely designed to resist human fingers). The cockpit’s solid design is marred only by its remorseless blackness.

[lonewolf]

I was waiting for someone to post this comparo and get the pop-corns.

Considering the much bally hooed "sporty" Optima lagged the Sonata in some aspects, it is a shocker for sure. I had higher hopes for the Malibu and so that was my biggest disappointment. And obviously given all the HyunKiaToyoGM fanbois panning the 2.5 lump of Passat, I was pleasantly surprised that it came up tops by a decent margin.

Let the "could be/should be/can be/will be"sss begin

[2.0T_Convert]

remorseless blackness?

[Jrod511]

normally one puts space after a spoiler alert. normally.

[Turbio!]

They thrashed that Malibu. Oof. That's disappointing - it really needs to be a winner, and that's not a promising start. The "cramped interior" criticism is damning.

[Mazda 3s]

remorseless blackness?

Which is bad... unless it's a BMW

[RacingManiac]

I was surprised to read the stats on the Korean's 200bhp base engine.....I can still remember the day the 190 something bhp V6 was the optional top of the line engine for most mid-sizer...

It really is disappointing for the Malibu as I've seen a few driving around and its a sharp looking car. I also find it interesting that this was not the first time I heard knock on the new Camry's interior quality, and much as their verdict stated though, it won't matter one bit as people will still buy them in the millions...

It also seems that so far the VW's US Passat is holding up quite well for its new intended segment, and catching far less flak(and getting genuine praises) than the el-cheapo new Jetta....

[Professor Gascan]

Interesting that the Passat laid down the best slalom speed, despite being the only one inhibited by it's stability control. Sounds like it's the class of the field; too bad VW didn't style the exterior that way.

[SchnellFowVay]

I have to be honest, I recently rented a near-brand-new Passat 2.5, and it disappointed me to no end.

Maybe I am just used to my 135i, but the car felt pretty light on the highway -- it did not inspire confidence at any speed above 60MPH. Moreover the transmission in normal mode (as opposed to "sport mode") seemed really reluctant to downshift, even under full-throttle accelaration.

Finally, as a nod to the dashstrokers, the interior felt much lower quality than the passats of 5-10 years ago.

Overall, I was not impressed.

[SinisterMind]

I have to be honest, I recently rented a near-brand-new Passat 2.5, and it disappointed me to no end.

Maybe I am just used to my 135i, but the car felt pretty light on the highway -- it did not inspire confidence at any speed above 60MPH. Moreover the transmission in normal mode (as opposed to "sport mode") seemed really reluctant to downshift, even under full-throttle accelaration.

Finally, as a nod to the dashstrokers, the interior felt much lower quality than the passats of 5-10 years ago.

Overall, I was not impressed.

I had one as a loaner when our Jetta was in for recall work. I felt the opposite of what you are describing. It feels light, but in a good way. It's a big car that drives small. The transmission downshifted when needed. The interior quality is a notch lower than B6, but better than competition. What other car offers dual zone and bluetooth on a base model?

[Aonarch]

The Passat with a the TDI motor would be my choice in the mid size class.

This.

Or a VR6 with 4mo, but that makes it to much money for a Passat.

[GatorMech]

I'm curious to see how the new Ford Fusion will compare to these cars.
It definitely looks better than any of them.

-Robert

[RacingManiac]

I have to be honest, I recently rented a near-brand-new Passat 2.5, and it disappointed me to no end.

Maybe I am just used to my 135i, but the car felt pretty light on the highway -- it did not inspire confidence at any speed above 60MPH. Moreover the transmission in normal mode (as opposed to "sport mode") seemed really reluctant to downshift, even under full-throttle accelaration.

Finally, as a nod to the dashstrokers, the interior felt much lower quality than the passats of 5-10 years ago.

Overall, I was not impressed.

Hence in my post I used the qualifier of "intended segment". The Passat is no longer the VW version of the A4 or meant to be entry level luxury/sporty-ish sedan of the past. That role is now occupied by the CC. The regular Passat is meant to be the bread and butter German version of Camry/Accord. and compare to those as this test was meant to do, I think that was what it did well. As it is a Camry/Accord with some the VW-ness(how they want to market this as), instead of a Passat with a lot of the Camry/Accord beige-ness.....

I drove a Camry for a long time, and that car was never confidence inspiring, and in those days Camry never bothered with any sporty intent with a "SE" trim....

[InfinitiG]

Honestly the Accord is a good car but damn C&D just has a blind love for Honda.

[MrKevkevL]

The new Passat, while not as nice inside as the B6 was, is still a great car. Test drove the TDI the other day and was pleasantly surprised. The torque gave it the illusion that it was faster than it actually was while driving despite the fact it only has 140bhp. Not surprised that they sold 10k of these last month. Can't help but wonder how many of these were TDI's though.

Look forward to seeing how the Passat and its competitors stack up to some of the newly redesignd competition that's looming around the corner.

[CannuckCorradoVR6T]

I'm a little surprised by the outcome of the Passat considering the irreverence in these forums, and from journalists for the 5cyl. engine.

Has the new Passat won every magazine comparison so far? Good for them if so.

[kindofblue59]

I found the Passat's steering wheel/pedal disorientation really jarring. To my body, the steering wheel felt a good two inches too far inboard, so I was twisted to the right while driving it. I guess some people notice it and others dont.

[2.0T_Convert]

Somethings never change.

The best "drivers car" of the bunch is among the most bland vehicles on the road today

[Double-V]

I found the Passat's steering wheel/pedal disorientation really jarring. To my body, the steering wheel felt a good two inches too far inboard, so I was twisted to the right while driving it. I guess some people notice it and others dont.

Same here. I noticed it immediately when I sat in one, and it annoyed the hell out of me. I would probably adapt over time, but one shouldn't have to in a family sedan. There's no good reason not to have the steering wheel actually sit in front of the driver.

[FlashRedGLS1.8T]

Malibu.

Passat.

[BLK9GEN]

I was waiting for someone to post this comparo and get the pop-corns.

Considering the much bally hooed "sporty" Optima lagged the Sonata in some aspects, it is a shocker for sure.

Umm, you realize they compared a sport-model Sonata to a non-sport model Optima, right? Just saying.

[two.twoliter]

And the Accord still made their 10-Best list over the Passat

That's because comparison tests are based on points tallying, and the 10 best list is more subjective.

Still a little suspect however.

[Hajduk]

That's because comparison tests are based on points tallying, and the 10 best list is more subjective.

Still a little suspect however.

A lot of those points are based on subjective judgements.

[Live-Wire]

I'd probably rate the Optima a notch above the Accord... I think the Accords noise, old interior, and boring styling are enough demerits in this segment. The Optima does feel a little heavy on back roads tho, and the steering is quite slow. I thought something was 'off' when I drove one - you really have to put a lot more rotation into the wheel to go around a corner... Kia needs to change the ratio. If they did that, they'd have the perfect mid-sizer... The feature content is just mind-blowing... especially when it all feels so high quality (more like an Audi the the VW itself!). As for the illusive steering wheel heat button, when you know where it is - it isn't hard to find at all.

[TigerinColorado]

Newsflash: C&D Always bash the Eco/hybrid/mpg models. Period.

[Swallow Doretti]

A lot of those points are based on subjective judgements.

You mean like taking points for the black interior on the Sonata being too black--and forgetting it's also available in gray and beige?

I barely skimmed the article because it's C/D, but that bit did stand out to me.

[Saintor]

To all I5 2.5 haters, please take note that it won the powertrain section, including flexibility, fuel economy and engine NVH.