Hyundai Sonata vs. Honda Accord vs. Toyota Camry vs. Ford Fusion

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Comments

  • oldjoeoldjoe Member Posts: 132
    To me the Civic is one of the most beautiful and efficient small cars...comparing it to a Sonata is a cruel joke. For one, the Civic has 1/3 better gas mileage from a tried and true engine that is the best in the small cars. If you build a small car that is inherently stable, you will not need the marketing hype of non-existent vapor-hardware.
  • oldjoeoldjoe Member Posts: 132
    Let's see, drum brakes have been around for 100 years, disk brakes since after world war II (by the tiny Crosley). they have had a lot of teething problems, but are now reliable (I hope). There is nothing wrong with drum brakes that and intelligent driver cannot handle. Disk brakes allow for incompetent drivers to stay out of harm's way.
  • chronochrono Member Posts: 149
    Your statement about disc brakes are completely ignornant. Why not reverse this statement as saying "Disk brakes allow for competent drivers to stay out of harm's way". How many times have you had someone in front of you slam on the brakes in rush hour traffic? Someone cut you off without notice? These scenerios happen quite often and disc brakes can save any driver from disaster.
  • chronochrono Member Posts: 149
    Korea a third world county? What planet are you from. They have one of the most powerful economies in the world today. They spend more on R+D then anyone one in the world. And their students rank the highest in test scores. Let's please keep bias political opinions out of this discussion ..
  • zodiac2004zodiac2004 Member Posts: 458
    Other than less fading in multiple high-speed stops, what makes a disc superior?

    I really would like to know what I'm missing here!


    Other things being equal, disc brakes are simply superior in terms of stopping distances.
    It's kinda similar to carburetion vs FE, OHV vs OHC vs DOHC, etc
    I'm sure you can design a drum brake which is more powerful than most discs, but in real world application, that doesn't happen.
    Plus, discs are easier to inspect.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,545
    All the discussion about theoretical 200K durability and resale value in 10 years is fine, but more important to me (within reason) is how the car works/drives/feels. I am more concerned about liking what I have to drive for all that time, than hoping it might be worth a fewK more down the road.

    Resale is also tricky since if you pay more to start with, it sure better be worth more later on, so resale price is less important than depreciation.

    IMO, what hyundai seems to have done is improve enough that it is reasonable to expect it to give service like any other normal car, and in today's world, that means just driving it for a long time with just normal maintenance. As long as I expect that it won't give me any abnormal amount of trouble, i will consider any car.

    The value equation comes into play once a car makes the basic cut, but the unltimate deciding factor will be how much I like it. A Camry might last forever without ever putting a dime into it, and sell for more than I paid for it, but I would never buy one because I don't like like the way it drives and it isn't comfortable for me.

    I don't own a Sonata, but I would look at it if they offered a stick version with a moonroof. I also consider the Fusion a viable choice, since I like how it drives, and I'm not concerned about long term durability.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • haefrhaefr Member Posts: 600
    "what are the advantages of rear disks over rear drums?"

    Under normal driving, not much more than bragging rights. The front brakes always provide well over half a car's braking. But in sanctioned competition driving, the superior heat dissipation of a rotor over a drum provides for considerably less brake fade - an important consideration when the driver enters a turn at 80 mph or faster and has to bleed speed in a hurry, and needs all four brakes at near peak efficiency. For those who do their car's brakes, disc brake pads are generally easier and faster to remove and replace than conventional brake shoes, though.
  • smith20smith20 Member Posts: 256
    Don't forget, Korea is still a third-world country with very unstable neighbors and severe social, political and economic problems.

    I lived there for two years in the past and I don't agree with this statement. Like another person said, they have a well-educated population. I think they have the highest percentage of population with broadband Internet access. Also, in a previous job I competed with Korean companies in another high tech industry and they were very tough competitors.
  • smith20smith20 Member Posts: 256
    Resale is also tricky since if you pay more to start with, it sure better be worth more later on, so resale price is less important than depreciation.

    Which is why I personally believe it's always important to normalize the depreciation to a common unit, such as dollars. Then you can compare any car to any car in terms of their financial impact to the owner. I think that's why Edmunds always breaks it down to dollars. The only problem is that they don't always include all of the available rebates to a potential owner such as valued owner rebate, competitive owner rebate, or a financing rebate. The other issue is that they are predicting how the supply/demand is going to settle up to five years in the future.
  • goodegggoodegg Member Posts: 905
    and I'm not concerned about long term durability.

    If you're not concerned about LT durability of a car, then take a chance on whatever "feels" nice.

    For the other 100 million car buyers.......buy a Honda.

    They've proven themselves over and over. From cars to motorcycles to generators to marine products - you can't go wrong.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    What do you think Hyundai is, some sort of two-bit outfit? It is one of the largest corporations in the world. They don't just build "marine products", they build huge ships. They also build goods like industrial robots, which are used in their own factories as well as by other companies, such as Mercedes-Benz.
  • haefrhaefr Member Posts: 600
    "What do you think Hyundai is, some sort of two-bit outfit?"

    You're right. Any company which can fund the Peoples Democratic Republic of Korea (North Korea) to the tune of one million American dollars daily is definitely not a "two-bit outfit".
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    What does the foreign aid policy of one country to another have to do with cars? I could care less what support the Republic of Korea gives to their fellow Koreans to the north, when it comes to buying cars.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,545
    Either you misinterpreted what i said, or maybe I wasn't clear.

    and I'm not concerned about long term durability. didn't mean that I don't think it is important. Rather, I wasn't concerned that the Fusion wouldn't have it.

    let me try that again: I was comfortable that all the choices remaining would have acceptale long term durability, which, IMO, has a lot to do with how you maintain the car also.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • goodegggoodegg Member Posts: 905
    Me supporting Honda has nothing to do with Hyundai.

    It has to do with Honda quality, value, and pride of ownership.

    If you want to feel slighted because I didn't mention Hyundai in my recommendation - feel free.

    Honda will continue to outshine its rivals. You can't go wrong owning their products.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    No, you can't go wrong with owning their products. Unless you owned a CR-V that caught fire. Or a '04 Accord with one of the transmissions for which gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash. Or one of the earlier Accords that could roll away even when the shifter is in Park. And so on.

    No car is perfect. Hondas are really great, but not perfect.
  • chronochrono Member Posts: 149
    Honda will continue to outshine its rivals. This my friend is an opinion, not a fact. Unless you can look ahead into the future your statement really can't be defended. With the Accord, I really don't see a large difference in quality vs. the Sonata. Plus, I don't think I've ever considered the Accord to be a value either.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,545
    if you go back to the earlier days of the Japanese brands, they were considered cheap tin cans, and no comparison for the top dogs of the day (the domestics). What helped them is the gas crisis (1 and 2) came along at exactly the right time, and there was very little viable competition in the small car arena then.

    Yes, they were better quality (in some cases) than given credit for, although the '70s and early '80s at least had lousy structural integrity and rusted out badly. But, they tended to be reliable mechanically. A 1974 Datsun 610 was by no means a great car, but it did get better mileage than an LTD, at a time when that mattered!

    Hyundai can be looked at as being in somewhat the same postion today. They are making good cars, but still have a stigma, and are trying to measure up to the makers that have the "rep".

    There are some differences, of course. Lot's more competition, and ToyHon isn't going to be as arrogant as the big 3 and let them take the market, although in some ways (real cheap cars), they almost did!

    korea as a manufacturing force also might be where Japan was in the 60s/70s someplace. Hyundai is a big honking conglomerate, with lots of resources and expertise, so if they get focused on a goal, don't sell them short.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • nornenorne Member Posts: 136
    yeah and we are soooooooooooooo perfect with our foreign policies ;)
  • nornenorne Member Posts: 136
    Hey backy, lets not forget about the infamous tranny failures on the ody and some acura models. Honda makes good products but they are anything but perfect.
  • 03accordman03accordman Member Posts: 671
    The CRV fire episode is over hyped by anti Honda posters, thats all.

    As for the transmission, could you point us to a link where the problem is said to result in transmission lock up at speed?

    Park is not suposed to be used as a parking brake, that's why there is a parking brake in all cars.

    Anyway, from 2000-2002, Honda had problems on one of their transmissions and they recalled/replaced all and added a 100k warranty.

    True, no car is perfect, Honda is just a bit closer than anyone else.
  • goodegggoodegg Member Posts: 905
    Sure all cars (even Honda) aren't perfect.

    But Honda never dumped an Excel on the American market.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    Let's stick to the cars of our subject and let's leave OUT the political comments, please.
  • banditboybanditboy Member Posts: 54
    I been following this thread and seems like every one here drives their cars for 10yrs and 200k....amazing.My 99 sonata gave me 5 years and 120k trouble free miles..remeber this model cannot be campared to a accord due its quality.

    After the sonata i pretty much concluded that any car will make it 120k
    without major failures and as far as resale goes paying 5k more to get 3k later is
    not good in my book

    My tauras has 90k and it was kinda abused as caught it smoking when my wife drove in and it had no oil a few times over the years...but its been a solid realiable car ...and my mazda 6 only has 3k and not sure how it will fair .

    btw, the fusion is a streched mazda 6.....

    here sonata is getting a market adjustment taged on which making them same price and accord.I like accord but the mazda 6 blew it away in the feel part plus are all honda dealers jerks.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    Hmm, well, you'll pardon us if we recognize the fact that you really haven't visited ALL Honda dealers, so that's a tough opinion to accept.

    Just like any other dealership or, uh, burger place or something, some are great at customer service and others are not. That reflects on the individual stores, not what they are selling.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,814
    "Under normal driving, not much more than bragging rights." that is the point i was trying bring to bring to peoples attention.
    the v4 posts are an attempt to help those less technically knowlegable, from looking bad at the dealer by asking to drive a 'v4' when there is not one available.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    That's the least of my worries--looking bad at a dealer! It's the other way around usually. Case in point: I went to my local Ford dealer last Saturday to see if they had any 4-cylinder Fusions in yet. I saw two Fusions outside, but they were both V6s. A salesman walks up and we exchange pleasantries, and I ask him if he has any 4-cylinder Fusions in stock. He says, "Hmm, I'm not sure, let's check." So we walk over to a line of Focuses. He looks at one and says, "I think these are 6s." I was nice and avoided laughing out loud. I just said, "Um, these are Focuses. They are 4-cylinder, but I said I wanted a Fusion." He then says, "Let's see--no, we don't have any in yet. All I have are two Fusions, one right there [note there were two Fusions sitting there, about 50 feet from us], and one in the showroom." I told him I'd stop back another day.

    So, I'm not at all worried about looking bad at a dealer. They want my money no matter if I say I4 or V4. ;)
  • harrybush00harrybush00 Member Posts: 76
    I think for the most part, cars these days, whether they be a Hyundai or a Honda or a Ford, they will survive at least a decade and 100K+ miles without major problems. I think the question is how will the rest of the cars hold up. Electrical systems, body trims coming off, etc. are probably more telling of how well the cars are built after years of abuse. Whatever presumptions people have about a car company, I don't think is worth of getting all worked up about. In the end, I say just buy the car that you want and makes you happy. If you think that an Accord will last longer and prove to be less troublesome than a Hyundai, go for it! You won't know until you buy it and live with it.

    I've been looking at the '06 Accord Coupe EX V6 6MT and the Mazda6s very closely, hoping to buy sometime this coming May or June (yeah, it's a bit early). I thought about the new Sonata, but I'm not sure if I like the way the inside looks... sort of bland, plus no option for a manual + V6 and a navigation.
  • chronochrono Member Posts: 149
    You should go for the Accord if your looking for the manual plus V6. Honda finally offers the manual V6 this year and they have the smoothest shifters around. Plus I'm sure it's the sportiest of the bunch .. good luck!
  • motownusamotownusa Member Posts: 836
    Does offering manual make sense in an Accord ? I mean this is a people mover not a sports sedan.
  • chronochrono Member Posts: 149
    I guess since someone is looking for one then demand is there ..
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    When you make as slick a 6-speed stick as Honda does, it's nice to have that option available. Now if I could just convince my wife that sticks are a good thing...
  • motownusamotownusa Member Posts: 836
    i bet she doesn't know how to drive one, right ?
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    She does, but doesn't do it well and has no interest in learning how to do it well. She would rather be "shiftless". ;)
  • baggs32baggs32 Member Posts: 3,229
    "You should go for the Accord if your looking for the manual plus V6. Honda finally offers the manual V6 this year and they have the smoothest shifters around. Plus I'm sure it's the sportiest of the bunch .. good luck!"

    Sportiest in terms of 0-60 but the Mazda will easily catch up to it in the twisties, and won't be too far behind in a drag race either.

    What's the torque steer like in the Accord V6 MTX? It's virtually non-existent in the Mazda6 V6 MTX. From what I hear an Altima V6 will nearly rip your arms off trying to keep it straight.

    I won't argue the smoothness. The Mazda6 MTX does suffer from a slightly notchy shifter and a clutch with very little feedback. Like everything else though, you get used to it.
  • chronochrono Member Posts: 149
    I believe he was looking for a coupe. Since Mazda does not offer a coupe the Accord wins. I know the 6 handles very well but I do prefer the engine and tranny in the Honda ..
  • baggs32baggs32 Member Posts: 3,229
    From his original post:

    I've been looking at the '06 Accord Coupe EX V6 6MT and the Mazda6s very closely, hoping to buy sometime this coming May or June (yeah, it's a bit early).

    I'm not sure that he knows that the Accord sedan can be had with the V6 and MTX now.

    I'm the opposite of you as there isn't a long straight stretch of road where I live so handling is much more desirable than straight line, "drag race" speed to me. The motor in the Mazda6 is very smooth, quiet, and plenty powerful enough for anyone. It does need some more low end torque which seems to have been addressed by Ford with the version of the Duratec30 in the Fusion. But then, there is no MTX with the V6 in the Fusion which would take it off of the list for me if I were going to consider another sport sedan for my next car. I'm sure the SVT and/or ST versions will fix that little problem though. ;)
  • chronochrono Member Posts: 149
    I do really like the Fusion except I'd wait for the new 3.5 liter six to come along .. that's the only weakness amongst it's competition ..
  • haefrhaefr Member Posts: 600
    "Does offring a manual make sense in an Accord? I mean this is a people mover not a sports sedan."

    Really - says who? I think an Accord is "whatever" its owner wants it to be. If someone craves affordable pretensions of BMW driver oriented design philosphy, who're you to pop his balloon? The Accord V6 with 6-sp. manual, while not actual competition for a 525i, is nevertheless, sufficiently sure-footed that it's an interesting and entertaining mid-size touring sedan for Walter Mitty to fantasize in. Don't believe it? For the Accord naysayers, explore the question why so many reviews attempt to compare the Sonata's handling to the Accord. Like it or not, the Accord is an established benchmark among midsize cars.
  • oldjoeoldjoe Member Posts: 132
    It relates to long term stability...there are NO third-world manufactured autos that count. daewoo went belly up and left their customers holding the bag...if a japanese, EU or USA automaker did that there would be hell to pay, but in Korea...? Since I once was stupid enough to buy a Hyundai, I put the Hyundai ship building Company in the class of the similar Yugo....rememeber that one also.
  • motownusamotownusa Member Posts: 836
    Ha Ha Ha. Your wife is living up to the stereotype that women can't drive stick. Anyway, I am guessing your next new car will be whatever she chooses, right ? Usually when it comes to car buying, the woman usually wins. :P
  • garfeinchargarfeinchar Member Posts: 6
    The Honda Accord offers front, side, and side curtain airbags, as well as ABS standard in it's base model - for $18,775 including destination.

    How does the Fusion stack up against that?
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    No, one of the nice things about my wife is she leaves all the car buying to me. :) (Makes up for the fact she can't drive a stick.) The last car I bought was for her daily use and my occasional use, so it was an automatic. But the next car I buy will be for my primary use, and my wife's occasional use. Unless I go with a larger car, i.e. mid-sized. Then she would get the new car and I would take her current car, which is a compact hatchback. So there are lots of possibilities.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,814
    backy, i wasn't referring to you regarding the v4. i meant more like a visiter to this thread who might not be as car savvy. they might end up with a focus instead.(salesperson: "the 4 cylinder version of the fusion doesn't quite look the same and has a different name"). ;)
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • maxamillion1maxamillion1 Member Posts: 1,467
    According to VWvortex.com, Car and Driver just did a V6 Midsize Sedan comparison.

    The cars in this test were the Ford Fusion SEL, Honda Accord EXV6, Hyundai Sonata LX and Toyota Camry.

    Ranks:
    1) Honda Accord EXv6
    2) Ford Fusion SEL V6
    3) Hyundai Sonata LX
    4) Toyota Camry XLEV6 (no surprises there)

    The Accord was fully loaded and had a price tag of over $29K (with the Navi.)
    Pretty impressive for a 4 year old car with the highest price tag.

    The Sonata was right at $23.9K and didn't include any options.

    The Fusion was fully loaded as well, and the Camry was too.
  • ctalkctalk Member Posts: 646
    I heard that to from Autoweek forums. I believe it's the December issue.

    A lot of people will odviously disagree with how they compared the sedans, since the Accord and Sonata have a huge price difference.
  • gearjammer62gearjammer62 Member Posts: 108
    Ford charges $595 for ABS and another $595 for the side and side curtain airbags on the base Fusion SE, which brings the MSRP to $18,390. Still unfortunate that Ford does not see the value in putting these common safety feature as standard on their "state of the art" car, as Honda and Hyundai do.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    I will have to wait to read the article, but I can guess at how it played out: the Accord and Fusion SEL were deemed the best-handling of the group, and probably the best-equipped as well (e.g. navi on the Accord). Handling is Numero Uno for C/D.
  • chronochrono Member Posts: 149
    I read the article and the Sonata only finished 3 points behind the Fusion. I'm not sure how the Sonata and Fusion tied in the powertrain category considering that the Sonata tied the Accord in 0-60 at 6.6 sec. Plus C+D has a category for "must have car" .. what is that? The accord should have won considering it's price tag.
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