Midsize Sedans 2.0

m6user · May 2013

Yes, I would like to replace my wife's Mazda6 with a new one in about a year. However, to get the bells and whistles you are forced into 19" rims. That is a major downer for me. I would prefer 17", could deal with 18", but 19"s may just be a deal breaker as we keep our cars for at least one tire change, often two. And, living in Chicago area, the extra wide profile do not do that well in the snow and I'm just not into having dedicated snow tires for a myriad of reasons.

m6user · May 2013

Just the 19" rims on the uplevel versions!

And the fact that the Touring level only gets the "pleather". I would prefer cloth or leather or at least the option of one of those. Love just about everything else about it.

[Deleted User] · May 2013

They are all great cars, all variations on a theme. It allows us to make choices on what we prefer. I don't see how proclaiming the 6 the current winner should upset anyone. Heck, the Passat was on top one month, but came in last 90 days later! It doesn't mean it is suddenly a bad car. My Optima's steering is vague, and it is hard for me to feel out the car's limits. I wish I had the Mazda's steering and that X factor that makes it more fun to drive than others perhaps.

It's a fickle market, and our arguing proves it!

Oh, and Backy...the mailman apologized. LOL.

backy · May 2013

I'd be happy with the base Mazda6 with the 6MT, it has 17" rims I believe. And a price close to $20k. A lot of car for that money.

m6user · May 2013

Agree mostly but two of my present three vehicles have automatic climate control and I've, admittedly, become addicted to that feature. It seems whenever I drive my truck, which doesn't have it, I'm constantly fiddling with the fan and/or temp control to get it right. If the base had that(as an option of course) I could just add the autodim+compass+Homelink rearview mirror and that would do it. I know, I know it's a minor inconvenience but after having had it I just don't want to go back. Kind of like power windows.

Obvioulsy, a profit motivated(for shame) marketling ploy on Mazda's part! :sick:

Kirstie_H · May 2013

to our latest featured member, who just happens to be a sedan owner: http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.f277491

[Deleted User] · May 2013

I especially like 6 Sport MT choice too, especially since a previous review said that the Mazda's light clutch would not be a problem for rush hour commuting. Also, It weighs only 3150 lbs. (210 less than the Accord Sport) There are 6 exterior paint options on the Sport, and you can choose either black or tan interiors. You have to move up to the Touring for more options, and C/D said that the seats in the GT looked AND felt like they came from a $50,000 car.

If the 6 was available in Dec 2011, I would have bought one. Really.

explorerx4 · May 2013

Some people will understand my point. I 'm not trying to convince anyone of anything, just to keep an open mind that rim size is only one component in a vehicle's handling/ride.

explorerx4 · May 2013

Once you have one, like my Fusion, anything without it seems 10 years old, or just cheap.

m6user · May 2013

I think we are all smart enough to understand that suspension parts, quality, tuning, etc all contribute to the ride and drive of a car. We were talking in general terms that larger, thinner sidewall tires ride rougher given equal other parts and are more expensive when same brand and quality tires are concerned. Then you also have the rims. Haven't seen too many rims of the same quality and manufacture that were cheaper in the higher rim diameters. Some manufacturers do a pretty good job of integrating the larger wheel diameter without sacrificing a smooth ride but 9 times out of 10 in mainstream(non-luxury) one can tell the difference easily.

m6user · May 2013

I like video games but just not in front of me while I'm driving. Too gimmicky for me. I guess I'm more of a traditionlist when it comes to speedos and tachs and like the look of quality instruments versus digital graphics. It's a personal taste thing and I can the appeal for some.

tundradweller1 · May 2013

For your consideration,
A friend owns a Blue Reflex Touring and I have the Soul Red Sport.
He has been commenting on the pleather showing scratches/scuffs.
I was going to buy the Sport in blue but found it too far to the slate end of the spectrum for my tastes.
Note the rim sizes. The 17's while not as stylish still fill the wheel wells just fine.
He claims the 19's did well in the late season wet snow in March but I still have my doubts.
We go back and forth with jabs. I told him I didn't want nanny lights blinking at me every time a car passes. He touts the Nitrogen filled tires (green caps) give a better ride (clueless:) I put red valve caps on mine, when he asked about it I told him I had them filled with Helium to "lighten" the handling.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa266/tundratom/2Mazdas_zps975f8f3c.jpg

benjaminh · May 2013

All praise to Mazda for making such a great car!+++

But there are some of us who would prefer an Accord anyway. I've owned 2 Mazdas and 2 Hondas in my 33 year driving career, and although the Mazdas were good, I think the Hondas were higher quality in more areas.

Also, the Accord is built in the USA. Honda not only has a huge factory in Ohio to build the car, but huge separate factories to build engines and transmissions for the Accord. Plus there are other suppliers around the area building things for Honda, and all told Accord production employs tens of thousands of people in the Ohio area in good paying jobs. For some, this makes little difference, but for some of us this is a plus factor when buying a car to know that our money is flowing through the US economy in a productive way.

I've owned cars build in Japan, and Germany, and so that's not the be-all and end-all of a car purchase, but for some, as I said, it's a plus factor as long as the car is near or at the top.

I haven't read the test, or driven the Mazda, but for my tastes I'd probably go with the Accord.

But again, praise to Mazda for building an outstanding car. Excellent work. I think they'll sell a lot of them, and they deserve to...

[Deleted User] · May 2013

Ha ha ha ha. Helium to lighten the handling? OMG that is frackin' great!! LMAO. The nitrogen filled tires do not react with temperature like normal air filled tires. My local shell is offering Nitrogen for free by appointment, and there is a big sign that says "up to 25% better fuel economy". That is a pretty fantastic claim, but I highly doubt it unless you came in with 4 flat tires. Then I would believe 20%.

Thanks for the pic's, and I now see what you mean by "tundra-dweller"!!

It is more than a coincidence IMO that your Soul Red Sport looks a LOT like my Spicy Red Optima EX, right down to the cargo net and the mud-guards. Get your windows tinted!!! It looks awesome on red cars. You will be happy you did! I am thrilled with mine.

[Deleted User] · May 2013

The last 2 generations of the 6, as well as the MX-6 and the Probe, were built on the same production facility in Flint Michigan.
Since this was an entirely new car from the ground up (which costs a fortune), and that it was such a make or break model for them in the U.S.; they kept production in Japan for Q/A purposes. ( Source: Automobile Weekly).

I hope in the future they will start making them here again, but since Ford owned the plant in Michigan and they no longer have a relationship, I doubt it will be in Michigan.

explorerx4 · May 2013

That car has the worst 'C' pillar styling I've seen in at least a decade.
Maybe two.

jaxs1 · May 2013

Honda has pretty much always been near top rated in reliability and Mazda less so. So, odds are the same will be true with Accord vs Mazda 6.
Car and Driver tests and rates cars very heavily biased towards track performance even on cars like this that are family commuter cars.
The Mazda 6 is pretty noisy. Some of it is from the 19 wheels, but the car is generally lacking in sound insulation, so it will still be far from "quiet" even with the base model's 17 inch wheels. You will still have to deal with high levels wind, engine and road noise no matter which trim level Mazda 6 you get.
Accord (and many others competing in this segment) have a roomy back seat. Mazda 6 back seat is a bit tight for the size of the car.
The Accord's crash test results was better. It pretty much aced the test where as the Mazda got near the minimum score to get the ranking.
Mazda 6 is about track performance, getting .4 seconds faster 0-60 and the more adventurous styling. Just the type of attributes that would appeal to Car and Driver reviewers.

Having better looks and performance would be great if you didn't have to accept the noisy ride to go with it. It's not as if the new Accord has bad styling and bad performance. The new Accord looks pretty handsome and the styling will age well.

jaxs1 · May 2013

If you care about road noise, the Mazda 6 is not the right car for you.
Even if you get 17 inch wheels, it will still be a noisy car.
In this case, the 19 inch wheels are not the primary source of the noisiness. If you get a Mazda 6 with 17 vs 19 inch tires, it will only be "less loud," not quiet or even "average" for the class.
The car just plain lacks sound insulation, so it is still going to be loud no matter what tires you get.

m6user · May 2013

I've driven the new Mazda6 and I think you're comments about the road noise is a huge exaggeration. It has been noted in reviews but in real life driving I didn't think it was bad at all. That's what the radio volume knob is for. A couple of clicks and you don't hear the road noise much. I care about road noise but probably not nearly as much as you do. BTW, the Accord has always been mentioned by reviewers as having a lot of road noise. I believe the 2013 Accord is probably better but still not as quiet as some other choices. I like the new 6 because it looks great, gets super MPG while still being pretty quick for a 4 banger and handles very good. No car is perfect, even the Accord.

jaxs1 · May 2013

Turning up the radio is not a solution for most people who care about noise. Just cover up road noise with loud music? I suppose if you always like to listen to loud music anyway, then it doesn't matter.
The Accord was pretty loud in the last generation and that is a major reason I never seriously considered buying one. That plus the styling was bad anyway.
The 2013 Accord is much quieter to the point where it is finally quiet enough for most people to not bother commenting on it having a noise problem. Some say the Accord Sport model is still noisy due to the louder 18 inch tires tires standard on that model.
Road noise has been repeatedly singled out as one of the worst or maybe the very worst attribute of the Mazda 6. The only thing mentioned as much or more is the small nav screen.
Of course, if the older car you are replacing was even noisier, noise won't seem bad in comparison.

backy · May 2013

Honda has pretty much always been near top rated in reliability and Mazda less so.

Tell that to the many thousands of Accord owners who have had problems with automatic transmissions! :P

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/08/honda-transmission-problems-seem-to-p- ersist/

I've sat in the back of both cars and didn't notice a significant difference in room. The previous-generation Accord was roomier than the current one. Even the first-generation Mazda6, a much smaller can than the current one, had plenty of rear seat space for me.

Given how tough it is to get the IIHS Top Pick+ designation, I think claims that the Mazda6 got the "minimum" score to get that ranking is really pulling out the Big Nit Pick.

[Deleted User] · May 2013

I have not driven a new Accord, but I have driven the Mazda 6 Touring. I don't remember it being loud. Also, based on the pictures provided by tundra-dweller I can barely tell the difference between the 17" rims and the 19's on the touring.

On my Optima, I have 17" rims and 215/55/17 V rated tires. I drove the SX Optima with the 18" rims, but I didn't feel enough of a ride difference that would kill the deal. I can tell the difference visually, and I really think the 18's are nice, but I think the 17's on my car are the right size for the cars mission as a sporty family sedan. I didn't get the turbo because I felt that it would hurt long-term reliability, and it was $5000 more for power I would rarely need and would almost certainly have cost me high insurance rates, not to mention a higher potential for speeding tickets.

m6user · May 2013

Like I said, low road noise is obviously high on your criteria for a new car. I have three cars, an Acura, a Toyota and and a Mazda. They run from very quiet to some road noise but none of them are bad. I never really thought the old Accord was that bad either for road noise so I guess it doesn't bother me as much as the next person. But all the reviewers used to comment about the bad road noise of the old Accord but apparently a lot of people didn't think so or didn't care that much....like me. I think somethimes when they can't find much else to complain about they zero in and jump all over a minor fault. Like, "oh boy, we finally found something bad, let's really play it up so we look like we really did our job". Kind of like internal auditors LOL. I think that was the case in the old Accord as well as the new Mazda. CR didn't seem to downrate the Mazda much for road noise even though they mentioned it in their review.

suydam · May 2013

Well, some cars are noticeably worse. I have a Pontiac Vibe that sounds like a rocket taking off (not in a good way as power is not its strong point) and I can't talk on a cellphone (as a passenger) because I can't hear the caller. These cars, though, not so much different. Accord and Altima are pretty quiet now, Accord much more than it used to be. Haven't tried the new Mazda yet.

m6user · May 2013

yeah, all my cars are midsize or larger and I think that makes a difference. When I used to travel all the time for work I would get compact or subcompact rental cars and I really did notice how loud they were. Both engine noise when accelerating and general road noise while cruising. I think newer cars are a little better as you say and I think bigger is better usually when it comes to noise but there are always exceptions.

igozoomzoom · May 2013

Tell that to the many thousands of Accord owners who have had problems with automatic transmissions! :P

Amen, backy!

The worst part of all was the flippant response and refusal to accept responsibility until class action suits forced them to do so. It was a page right out of the 70s-80s GM playbook!

When it was all said and done, the number of transmissions replaced was in the HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS!!! Many cars (more than half according to some sources) had multiple transmission failures, not just one.

I know a guy who was a Honda fanatic from the time he was a kid. He never even considered anything else. When he got the new car itch, it wasnt a question of what kind of car to buy, but which Honda to buy! 

He leased a 2002 Acura TL Type-S in March 2002 for 42 months. The first transmission was replaced at 13k, then again right at 30k. At 37k, the third transmission went and it needed yet another replacement. There was only four months remaining on the lease and he demanded that they terminate the lease early. They initially said they would, but only if he made a lease or purchase of a new Acura.

That guy was me and I almost leased a 2005 TSX, which I loved and still think the 04-8 TSX is a great car! But it was a matter of principle and, even if I ultimately decided to get a TSX, they were going to terminate the lease on the TL four months early UNCONDITIONALLY! It was either that or, when the finally put the fourth transmission in it, I would probably create a drive thru in their showroom! Im only half-kidding; it was the most infuriating experience of my life.

The guys at the dealership were sympathetic, but they were powerless to do anything. The transmission replacements under warranty were ultimately handed on a regional level, like most significant warranty repairs are handled. But by 2004, they all had to go thru Corporate in Torrance, CA. And my car always had at least five or six others ahead of it waiting for approval and/or parts!

It may sound silly, but it felt almost like a death in the family when I walked out of the Acura dealership leaving my TL forever. I had a folder full of legal documents terminating my lease. They also required that I sign a release preventing me from taking future legal action, which was fine. They also tried to get me to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement preventing me from speaking to the media or anyone else about my experience. Thankfully, an old college buddy married an attorney and she went with me to handle the termination process. She warned me ahead of time that they would probably try to get me to sing a non-disclosure. I wanted to write something very vulgar on the signature line, but instead I let her tell them to shove it in legal-ese.

Before the TL, I had six other Hondas starting with an 85 CRX when I was 15. The TL Type-S was sort of my realistic dream car and it turned out to be the worst automotive nightmare and lease reliable car anyone in my immediate family has ever owned!

I had the same sort of numbness and confusion that accompanies a death and the grieving process. So I followed the same advice experts give after a loss  DONT make any major purchases or changes for at least 6-8 weeks, then discuss it with at least two people you trust before you actually do it. My mom had just bought a 2003 Explorer and her 95 Grand Cherokee was retired to extra car duty. So I had a vehicle to drive and could take as long as I wanted to buy a new one.

I actually loved that old Jeep and would have kept driving it longer than I did (about 10 weeks). But my daily commute was over 50 miles round trip, lots of stop-and-go and when I wasnt in gridlock, my right foot tended to be quite heavy. I averaged 12.4mpg over 10weeks in the Jeep. I was paying a car payment just to put gas in it.

I decided to see what those Zoom Zoom commercials were all about and, long story short, I ended up with a 2006 Mazda3 s 5-door. My paternal grandmothers family has a huge picnic every summer (she had 10 siblings) and they were all Honda people. When I pulled up in my Mazda, I felt like I might end up being hung for treason before the day was done. I made it out alive and over the next two years, I noticed fewer and fewer Hondas at the family picnic. The largest faction ended up with Nissans and now at least seven of them (that I know of) drive Infinitis. Two cousins copied me and got Mazda3s, but the both got sedans, so theyre not as cool as me!

Anyway, I have no intention of ever returning to a Honda or Acura product. I might have reconsidered after 8-10 years passed, but the way theyve screwed so many out-of-warranty Honda owners since then is unforgivable...

tundradweller1 · May 2013

After driving some others it came down to these two. I test drove the 6 Touring, then the Accord LX, then the 6 Sport, then the Accord Sport finally the 6 Sport again.
Personally I noticed a slight amount more noise in the 6. Beyond that the driving dynamics, functionality and ergonomics were won by the Mazda. Styling being subjective as always but from any angle the Mazda absolutely smokes the Accord. It harkens to a 70's RWD muscle car with modern overtones. Suffice to say I bought one. Waxing it now....

[Deleted User] · May 2013

Great story man. My wife's 2004 Mazda 6 had similar issues with the A/C compressor being replaced 3 times, and two transmission replacements before 100k, but Mazda took care of her at least. I had an 03 Protege', but it's lack of ABS and downright dangerous wet traction led to a terrible accident. Motortrend just experienced a taste of that Jekyll and Hyde handling in their last compact car review, validating my experience. Their car HAD ABS and traction control..mine did not, so I quote: "In claiming its previous victory, the Mazda3 dazzled the judges with its crisp, natural steering feel; responsive, unshakable chassis; and sport sedan handling. It led this competition with the same trump card, at least in the dry. As it happened, rain struck during our evaluation loops, and opinions of the Mazda changed quickly. Those who drove it in the dry were again smitten with its excellent handling on the winding road portion. Those who drove it in the wet, however, told a different tale. Editors found it breaking loose at both ends on wet roads."

Ultimately, there was a thundershower on I-95. Having already slid for almost 1/4 mile previously I slowed WAY down. I was doing 40 mph in the slow lane, with basically zero throttle input, and she hydroplaned at both ends, slamming me into the wall, bounced off a truck, and into the wall again. The car was crushed into a cube with wheels, but to Mazda's credit I drove it behind police to the off ramp (3 miles) where a tow truck could reach us safely.

I still have family that swears by them. Getting a completely reliable car seems to be a luck-of-the-draw kind of thing that no manufacturer can completely avoid. There are so many contractors making parts for vehicles, with contracts awarded to the lowest bidders, that failures are bound to happen. All we can hope for is that they happen infrequently.

gee22 · May 2013

I have to agree with you. Obviously, road noise is relative, what one may find acceptable another would not. After reading almost every available review of the Mazda6 I, my expectations regarding road noise were not high. I went from a 2010 Camry to a 2010 Accord and the Accord was somewhat louder but I have noticed no difference between the 2010 Accord and my Mazda6.

tundradweller1 · May 2013

Even though the link was from 2011, the current models have their issues too.
Shuddering CVT's 4 cyl. - VCM problems with the 6 cyl. - radio, uneven body gap and paint issues:

link title

Not a Honda hater, I just didn't buy one...

backy · May 2013

I really like Hondas in general... owned two Civics. My oldest son has a Civic now. I just don't think Hondas are perfect, as some folks do.

If I were looking for a mid-sized car right now I'd definitely check out the Accord LX 6MT. But would look closely at the Mazda6 too. The others are down my list a bit, but lots of good cars in the class now.

[Deleted User] · May 2013

My neighbor told me that my front tires looked a bit low on air yesterday. I told him about TPMS and was confident it would alert me if the pressure went below specs.

Anyway, I though about my MPG problem, and decided to go to my local Shell to check. The fronts were 32 PSI left and 34 PSI right. So, I found that the max pressure was 45. so I set the machine on 42. TPMS didn't warn me because the pressure was within minimum specs I guess.

In short, WOW! What a difference. The vague steering I complained about is now a distant memory! I drove about 20 miles yesterday after the fix and I was pleased with the ride on highway and byways. Now I hope it will increase my MPG. I am going back to the station to fill the rears to match.

Have a good weekend guys, and BTW, the new Star Trek movie is incredible!

wayne21 · May 2013

You may want to see what the manufacturer recommends for a tire pressure. Too much tire pressure may result in the center of your tires wearing out prematurely - just like underinflating them wears out the outside edges.

[Deleted User] · May 2013

Quote: I found that the max pressure was 45.

LOL.

[Deleted User] · May 2013

There is usually a difference between maximum pressure and recommended pressure.

akirby · May 2013

There is almost always a big difference between max and recommended pressure. Recommended pressure is on the sticker in the door jamb or in the owner's manual and is set specifically for that vehicle and is usually around 32-35 psi. The max pressure on the tire is the maximum pressure that should ever be used under any circumstance and going above it could cause tire failure. If you like 42 psi then just keep an eye on tire wear. I would recommend dropping it back to 38.

jaxs1 · May 2013

Yes, the Optima is going to be noisy no matter what. 17" tires will not be enough to make an Optima quiet. 17 inch tires where considered big, low profile tires just a few years ago. 50 series tires are already pretty slim. I'd rather have a bit taller 16 inch tires, but now you can only get 16 inch tires on the most stripped base models of cars.
There is a refresh for the 2014 Optima. If they choose to insulate the cabin better on the 2014s, I will probably add it to my list of cars to consider.
However, noise is not the ONLY reason I don't like 18 and 19 inch tires.
They are unusually expensive to replace and the tread life is short even if you get the longest lasting tires available in that size.

jaxs1 · May 2013

There probably was not that much difference between a 2010 Accord and and 2014 Mazda 6 in noise, but a 2010 Accord does not have a well insulated cabin, so that's not saying much.
2013 Accord models are now reasonably quiet for the class (maybe except Sport with 18" wheels).

dudleyr · May 2013

With hundreds of thousands of miles at 40 psi I have never had an issue with uneven tire wear.

tundradweller1 · May 2013

It never ceases to amaze me that owners and even some mechanics still inflate tires to max. pressure on the side wall. Recommended pressure also pertains to how the car will handle in a emergency situation.
Also on average for every 10 degree change in ambient temperature tire pressure changes 1 psi. You may find them over inflated this time of year.

dudleyr · May 2013

My max sidewall is 51.

My car also handles better at 40 psi, gets better mpg and the tires last longer ( less flex = less heat and longer life.)

explorerx4 · May 2013

A recent case to demonstration how sensitive cars are to adjustments is the Honda Fit recall.
The stability control had to be reprogrammed due to a different tire being spec'ed on the car when new.
The door sticker on my Fusion specifies 37 psi front and rear.

redgat · May 2013

So I've been looking to get a car recently and I'm stuck at somewhat of an impasse. I test drove the Legacy, Accord, Altima, and the Sonata, and I feel like I liked them all equally. I also test drove the Fusion and Mazda6 but something about them didn't impress me too much.

The main problem for me choosing between these cars is that I'm not much of a discriminatory driver. All I really want out of a car is safety, something that's comfortable to drive, and fuel efficiency. I've been leaning less towards the Legacy of late but it's the only car with four wheel drive in the list and where I live (Cleveland), the winters can get pretty bad.

Does anyone have any tips for narrowing it down or other information that I should consider? I might also be moving away from the Altima because of the CVT which I don't feel entirely comfortable with. I've heard some mixed messages about its reliability and whatnot.

backy · May 2013

Get the Accord (best crash tests of the 4 finalists) and put winter tires on it in the winter. Except the Accord has a new CVT too (unless you can drive a stick). Supposed to drive better than the Altima's CVT though. Hard to get away from those CVTs now. Of your top 4, only the Sonata doesn't have a CVT.

I assume an AWD car like the Impreza (better FE than the Legacy) will be too small for you. Oh, and the Impreza has a CVT too.

If you're looking for a comfortable car with real good FE, the Camry LE hybrid might be worth a look. Crash tests (and a few other things) not as good as the Accord, though. The Passat SE TDi might be worth a test drive also.

[Deleted User] · May 2013

My tire wall says 45 and I have it set at 42. In the manual it says within spec. I checked the rears and they are at 36/36. Because there is less weight back there I didn't increase as ride will suffer.

I don't have the tires set to max pressure and I am very much enjoying the way it drives/steers better now. I am looking forward to replacing them with better handling tires anyway, and I already have 18 k on my OEM Nexen Korean made units. I want Michelin's!!!

[Deleted User] · May 2013

No...I think you should go with the Mazda 6 or maybe the Sonata for two reasons.

1) The Mazda will tell you a lot about traction (or lack there of) as it has been proven as having the best steering feel and chassis feedback. When you are driving in winter it is IMPERATIVE to know if the car has traction or not. (my family are from Buffalo).

2) Get a 6 speed automatic, not a CVT; as you can still select 2 or 1 for winter situations, and it might be better for rocking out from being stuck.

Also, keep in mind the the Hyundai (and the Kia Optima of course which has identical drivetrain) has an IN HOUSE BUILT 6 Speed. Why? Because their powertrain warranty is far longer than most competitors, therefore it had to be built right. Not saying others are built wrong...just know that Hyundai's 6 speed has a high reliability rating.

redgat · May 2013

Thank you both. I'll keep that in mind.

[Deleted User] · May 2013

Actually the Optima EX has the quietest idle and second quietest @70mph out of 6 mid size sedans! (May 2012 Car & Driver), The 2012 Accord was loudest at full throttle, and the Malibu quietest at 70 mph. The Camry was quietest at full throttle. The Optima was not the loudest in any category.

Now, what is really surprising is the the new Accord and the Mazda are both way louder than any car tested in May 2012. (C/D June 2013)

The 2013 Accord: 43, 68, 81 (idle/70mph/full throttle)
The 2014 Mazda 6 : 42, 69, 80

This means that the Accord and the Mazda are the loudest mid size sedans on the market!

jaxs1 · May 2013

Honda Accord "what?" Sport? That may be louder due to the louder tires.
Decibel readings don't tell the whole story. Camry, Malibu and the Fusion and Altima without ultra low profile tires are usually rated as quiet. The new Accord other than Sport has been mostly rated as quiet enough and very quiet compared to previews years.
Mazda 6 has been blasted for road noise in most reviews (even though the reviews generally overlook that in the end and recommend the car anyway for style and handling) and the Optima has a lot of complaints from owners about road noise regardless of decibel readings from one C/D test.

backy · May 2013

Honda Accord "what?" Sport? That may be louder due to the louder tires.

Yep, that would definitely come into play on the idle noise level.

Midsize Sedans 2.0

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