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Read the link I posted. It was the highway test that skewed the results for the Ford hybrids because the EPA test is conducted mostly under 62 mph and the CR test is a steady 65 mph. That was the difference. The City test for the Ford hybrids was in the same range as the Prius C, Sonata and Camry hybrids (10-12 mpg below EPA). The Prius was 19 mpg below EPA on the City test but you don't see CR making headlines with it.
But if you drive 65-70 mph on a typical ICE car, you stand a good chance of getting at least close to the EPA highway fuel economy. For example, in CR's test of the 2013 Altima, they easily exceeded the EPA highway number on their 65 mph test.
So the lesson here seems to be, if you intend to drive a lot on the highways and freeways of the USA, the Fusion hybrid isn't a good choice, since you're paying much more for that car than for a regular mid-sized sedan that will probably get better highway fuel economy than the Fusion hybrid.
It will still beat the Camry hybrid, Infiniti hybrid and Lexus ES hybrid at those speeds in overall mpg. And if you can drop back from 65 to 60 you'll beat them by a larger margin. And it still beats most non hybrid midsized sedans even on the pure highway test. All for only about a $2500 premium. I only drive 9K miles per year and I'd break even in only 3 years.
Good luck with that on most freeways in the USA. You'll also beat the EPA ratings for ANY car cruising at 60 mph.
Altima was in the low-40s on the highway in the CR tests. So you are saying the Fusion was better than that on the CR highway test?
Not sure what point you're trying to make.
Mileage is not what I hoped it would be. I'm getting 28-30 on the highway - mostly 65mph+. You can get 32-34 mpg doing 55 but that's not most of my driving. In the city, you really need to look at the instantaneous mileage meter and use a really light foot to get good city mpg. Overall I have 24.7 mpg combined with probably 60/40 city/highway so not too bad (my foot is still heavy). I hope that after 5K miles that maybe it gets better. Coming from a 6 cylinder engine, I see hills and wind really impact a 4 cylinder.
The one thing I can't get used to is the digital fuel gauge. It's not adjusted right and is almost impossible to show full. If you do get it full, a mile of driving will pull it off pretty quick. I thought this had a 13 gal gas tank but the specs say 16.5. It would suck renting this and trying to get from the gas station back to Hertz without the tank showing not full! Not sure if the dealer can fix this or not (or whether they would acknowledge its an issue). The other day I was down to 1/8 tank and I was only able to get 12 gal in.
The mic for hands free is pretty bad for iPhone users. I got complaints of a lot of wind noise. I tried a Samsung Galaxy and there was much less noise. In any case, I found a Jawbone Icon that plays really well with my iPhone and Sync so I can answer calls, etc. from the steering wheel controls.
Overall, coming from an '06 and then a '10 Maxima, I'm happy with the car. I do miss my heated steering wheel though the remote start makes up for it a little!
I know this info is probably out there, but for some reason I am always confused as to which engine comes in the Titanium. Not sure where/why it confuses me..I think is because when I last checked I have gotten conflicting results. I 'think' it comes only with the 2.0? (ecoboost) ..why they just don't call the turbos a turbo still mystifies me..marketing geniuses always at work trying to justify their presence behind a desk, is my first guess..
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She recently bought a '13 Elantra with stick shift. She's getting 41-45MPG and is saving about $40 a week in gas over her last car, an '04 Sonata MT that she retired with 196K on the odo.
I live in the Chicago suburbs and while I take a commuter train into the city, there are others who drive it. From my 'burb to downtown is about 40 miles each way.
Long commutes are a fact of life for lots of people.
"....The new Accord is roomy, nice to drive, well equipped, and very fuel efficient.
Its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, when matched with the smooth continuously variable transmission, squeezes out an excellent 30 mpg overall and 40 on the highway. That’s as good as a tiny Honda Fit and better than most compact cars. The 3.5-liter V6 is super-smooth and quite powerful, snapping off a 6.3-second 0-to-60 mph time that is competitive with some sports cars. And its 26 mpg overall is among the best in its class.
Inside, you are treated to one of the best driving positions available, comfortable seats, and terrific visibility. All Accords have a standard backup camera, rare among family sedans. Uplevel models include advanced safety features seldom found in this category, including forward-collision and lane-departure warning systems, and Honda’s new Lane Watch blind-spot camera system....
In the final tally, the four-cylinder Accord jumped 10 points in our Ratings to take over the top spot among entry-level sedans...
Based on its history, we expect above-average reliability for the Accord.
The Accord is one of the more agile family sedans, with subdued body lean and decent steering feedback....
Honda has finally solved the Accord’s longtime problem with road noise; road and wind noise are nicely muted....
The CVT is smooth, quick, and unobtrusive, marking a new benchmark for that type of transmission. You’d be hard pressed to tell that it isn’t a conventional automatic, high praise indeed....
Drivers will find plenty of space in the cabin. The cloth front seats are wide and supportive, although the LX model lacks power seats and lumbar adjustment. The powered leather seats provide better support and more adjustments and have two-position seat memory, a unique feature in this class. The rear has a supportive bench that’s comfortable for two adults but tight for three.
Fit and finish is generally very good....
The Accord’s gauges are a model of clarity, and most controls are easy to use....
All Accords come with standard dual-zone automatic climate control, a nice touch....
The trunk is large and nicely trimmed....
Someone else said something here that is totally true. All of the mid-size sedans are great cars. You really can't go wrong to a certain extent.
If they were not such good machines we wouldn't all be here talking about them, and arguing for our choice.
I agree with that, although IMO there's a few mid-sizers that fall very quickly to the back of the pack, not close to being competitive with the others: 200/Avenger for sure, and possibly the new Malibu. But for the others... really I think it's a question of personal taste, and price.
Case in point: a month ago I jumped at the chance to trade in a 2007 Sonata GLS with a lot of body damage, no warranty left, and new rubber needed in a year or so for a 2013 Sonata GLS with every option except iPod cable for nothing out of pocket and $48 a month for 35 months. It was a surprise for my wife, and she loves it... calls it the Enterprise because of its space-age styling and dash. And I enjoy driving it too, when I get the chance. Lots of power, economical, roomy, smooth and quiet ride, nice controls and displays, lots of creature comforts (heated seats, power seat, Bluetooth, BlueLink, XM radio etc. etc.). Full warranty including no-charge wheel/tire/glass repairs and paintless dent removal (Thanksgiving special). And great looking I think in ruby red and black/tan interior. Yet it's not even considered in the top 4 or 5 mid-sized family sedans, and when the new Mazda6 hits showrooms the Sonata will drop further relative to the competition. But it's a very enjoyable car, and hard to beat for the money.
You know what they say: happy wife, happy life.
Sounds like an awesome deal on a really good car. Congrats!
And my guess is that the Sonata is maybe in the top 3 or so of midsize cars.
Some (including me) would say the new Accord seems to be in first for now.
But which car is in second is tough to say. As you say, the 200 and Malibu are at the bottom. And the Camry has not been highly rated in any test I've seen lately, even though they sell like crazy.
Just from the comparison tests I've read, it seems kinda like a 3-way tie for 2nd place between the Altima, Sonata, and Optima. Maybe the Passat is in there too.
I need to swing by the Honda dealer one of these days to sit in a new Accord and Civic.
actually, 2013 is sneaking up on me, and the Philly auto show is in mid-January. So get to see everything then.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Since we've only had the 2013 for 4 weeks and less than 500 miles, I'm sure it's not broken in. And the weather has been seasonable, meaning cold (mostly 20s to 30s). And all city driving so far. So, kinda early to be drawing generalizations about FE, but what I've seen so far is that my wife gets around 20 mpg the way she drives it, which is very short trips, lots of idling, heavy foot on the gas. That's maybe 5-10% better than she was getting on the old car in similar conditions. When the car was brand-new, I got to drive it most of the time for several days and I was getting 25-26 mpg around town, still all short trips (less than 7-8 miles). That was again maybe 5-10% better than the 2007. Given it's a brand-new car with 198 hp vs. 162, not too bad I think. I can't wait to take it on a trip of some distance to see how it does on the highway. Our 2007 was getting 32-33 tops on the highway; I expect to see an improvement with the new car.
The only bestselling midsize sedan to earn a Good rating was the Accord.
Video and story at link:
http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr122012.html
"....In the Camry, the force of the impact shoved the front wheel back into the footwell, bending the windshield pillar and pushing the parking brake pedal and the left outer edge of the instrument panel rearward into the driver's survival space. Likewise, there was significant intrusion in the Prius v, along with high forces on the dummy's legs and feet. The Prius v is the only car in the midsize test group to earn a poor rating for hip and thigh protection.
The Camry's driver airbag and side curtain airbag deployed, but the steering wheel moved so far to the right that the dummy's head made only minimal contact with the front airbag. The side curtain airbag didn't extend far enough forward to help prevent the dummy's head from hitting the instrument panel. In the Prius v, the side curtain airbag deployed too late in the crash to offer protection.
"Toyota engineers have a lot of work to do to match the performance of their competitors," Lund says....
The Accord sedan shows how safety belts and airbags work together to provide exemplary protection. The dummy stayed engaged with the Accord's front airbag, and the steering wheel remained relatively stable because there was only moderate intrusion into the occupant compartment. That meant that the driver airbag was in the right position to cushion the dummy's head and chest. The side curtain airbag extended far enough forward to prevent the dummy's head from hitting interior components...."
Rated good:
-- Honda Accord, four-door
-- Suzuki Kizashi
Rated acceptable:
-- Ford Fusion
-- Honda Accord, two-door
-- Kia Optima
-- Nissan Altima, four-door
-- Nissan Maxima
-- Subaru Legacy
-- Subaru Outback
-- Dodge Avenger
-- Chrysler 200, four-door
-- Mazda 6
-- Volkswagen Passat
Rated marginal:
-- Hyundai Sonata
-- Chevrolet Malibu
-- Volkswagen Jetta sedan
Rated poor:
-- Toyota Camry
-- Toyota Prius v
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20121220/OEM11/121219849#ixzz2Fa8G06s7
As for the test... many of these cars were designed before the latest IIHS test was implemented. So not doing well is understandable. But the Malibu is a recent redesign, as is the Camry. So their performance is puzzling.
Since these cars' share their platform I find the results puzzling.
I like the new Accord, but I hate that the 2.4 EX doesn't have dual exhaust. There is an empty hole in the left side of the bumper. I hate that. It looks like someone forgot to bolt on the left side.
I know it's silly, but little things like that keep me happy that I bought the Optima.
The thing that would drive me mad about the Optima are the giant blind spots in that car because of the huge rear roof pillars. Not good imho. The Accord, almost alone among all midsize sedans, has excellent visibility all around.
But everyone gets to make their own choices, and the Optima is clearly a very good car except for those pesky blind spots.
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2012/12/honda-shines-toyota-falls-in-latest-i- - ihs-crash-tests.html
"Honda Shines, Toyota Falls in Latest IIHS Crash Tests
....IIHS noted the Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Volkswagen Passat and Volkswagen Jetta underwent running changes within the 2013 model year to various areas — like airbag modules and structural elements — to earn their Acceptable scores (or Marginal, in the Jetta's case). So if you're shopping any of them, check the driver's doorjamb for a sticker that has, among other certifications, the month your car was built. You'll want to ensure it came after the month during which the change was made:
Subaru Legacy or Outback after August 2012
Volkswagen Jetta or Passat after October 2012
Nissan Altimas after November 2012
Ford Fusions after December 2012
Yes, you read that right. The Fusion earned a respectable score, but IIHS spokesman Russ Rader confirmed it won't apply until January-built cars. Automakers were "notified of what the test parameters are, and some that are able to, elect to make changes," Rader told Cars.com. "We presume that the changes that were made improve the vehicle's performance."
It just goes to show what reputation for reliability, quality and resale can do for a brand. The Camry is down toward the bottom of the pack in terms of design, interior materials, handling, 4 cylinder power, etc., but it remains the top seller. Most people don't know much about cars, and often if they have a satisfying experience with a brand, they buy it again. Suzuki was very poorly managed here in the US. The Kizashi was a great car, but that did not help Suzuki at all. On the other hand, VW and Nissan have set about building better reputations and sales for Passat and Altima, and are slowly succeeding. Sonata and Optima really built momentum with great designs and time. Knocking Accord and Camry out of first place, however, will still take years, if it happens.
???
The Camry might be heading for a fall, given its poor results in almost every test. But the Accord? I think it might even have a chance at #1 for 2013. This new test might make the Camry unacceptable to many smart shoppers. Even with big rebates the Camry may not sell quite like it used to....
The new Accord offers a blind spot camera on ALL models. I suspect this safety feature will become standard on almost all vehicle's by the end of 2014. Honda really did a great job on the new Accord. It is really good looking, swift and solidly built. I think they build it out of "lightweightium" or something (as described in a new magazine article).
I wish I had the camera and a passenger seat with a height adjustment as standard equipment. I would certainly want that over power folding mirrors.
Oh, and all the buttons on my rear view mirror are totally undecipherable and pretty useless when living in a condo/apt/townhouse/etc.
As buttons go; nothing is worse than the dash on my mother-in-laws 2010 Nissan Quest. It has like 2000 buttons, all with (ancient Egyptian inspired??) picto-grams.
What does the snake and the cat-headed warrior button do? Anyone?
In terms of the Optima doing better than the Sonata in the crash test, I have a possible guess on that. As you know, for many years KIA and Hyundai were separate, competing companies. When KIA suffered a sudden financial crisis of some kind (which I don't understand or know about) the Korean gov't pressured Hyundai into buying KIA so that it wouldn't go under. But they are, to a significant degree, still separate companies.
In other words, although KIA adopted the basic Hyundai Sonata engineering in developing the Sonata platform, it's possible that KIA engineers decided to strengthen the structure at a few key points. I don't know if that's what happened, but my guess is that it's possible. Look at that article about how some car companies suddenly upgraded some components on their cars for this test in just a few months. Maybe KIA did that too, long before the test?
It could also be just the random variations of the test....
Toyota blew it on the interior. How did the ES/GS 350 get so cool looking and the Camry so lame? The dash/interiors of the Lexus models look high grade, user friendly, and modern...while the Camry gets aluminum painted plastic all over. Barely acceptable.
and....did you guys know that almost every vehicle Toyota makes (except trucks) is riding on some form of Camry platform? Like 6 vehicles.
Oh, it is supposed to be the end of the world tomorrow. Should we send a Camry as an offering to that cool Aztec temple? I think Toyota can spare one.
I went to a local Ford dealer about a week ago and drove through their lot. They had 3 Fusions, all 1.6 turbos. They were hidden all the way at the back of their massive new cars lot.
I mean, there were tons of Focus, Escapes and other vehicles. So, I can only guess as to the scope of Ford's issues or plan is for the Fusion. I still see virtually zero of them around my area; and I drive around a lot. :confuse:
They are shipping a lot of Fusions finally but they're also selling them just as fast as they get them.
Rated good:
-- Honda Accord, four-door
-- Suzuki Kizashi
I still love the Suzuki Kizashi Sport. I am a steadfast Mitsubishi fan now, though, but someone could get a great deal on a Kizashi. I truly think it's a great midsize car.
Incidentally, I didn't notice the Mitsubishi Galant in the list above. Who has a reasonable explanation for this? Talkin' about the IIHS safety ratings above, there.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Do you collect stray kittens too?
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Lets pretend there is "Big Willie Chevrolet". Well, Mitsubishi just shares the showroom with Chevy. I can't think of even one self-supporting Mitsubishi dealer. About 5 years ago, I saw Galant's quite frequently, and I saw many Montero's, Montero Sports, and some other products I cant remember. Now, all I see are Lancer Turbos and Montero's. Maybe a few older Galants. My point being that Mitsu needs to either get serious or stop selling here.
"Where is Kali-go mother? He is never late to come for dinner"asks his 9 year old sister.
I am sorry, but Kali-go was disgraced in battle and had to commit "KIZASHI"!
LOL. :shades: