15 Best Midsize Cars

When it comes to family sedans, there are few competitors that can deliver in the same ways that the Accord does. It’s got the looks, handling and performance to be a reasonable sports sedan stand-in, particularly in higher-performance 2.0T form, but the comfort and practicality that families need. The interior boasts class-leading rear legroom and trunk space. The hybrid model, which loses no space or convenience to its battery pack, also returns up to 48 mpg combined. That’s all topped off by generous standard equipment levels and excellent safety scores.

The Hyundai Sonata is a stylish midsize sedan with available high-tech features that are a class above most of its competitors. While it isn’t the sharpest handling or roomiest car in its class, it does just about everything very well and offers a wide array of models to suit different buyers. The N Line offers surprising performance, the hybrid can return up to 52 mpg combined with little performance tradeoff, and all models are generously equipped and get good safety scores. The Sonata’s emphasis on value is also reinforced by its long warranty and 3-years/36,000-miles of free scheduled maintenance.

The Mazda6 is a well-appointed, sharp-handling family sedan with a dynamic design that blurs the line between mainstream and premium. It also boasts a robust suite of standard advanced driver assistance tech and available luxury and convenience features, such as wireless Apple CarPlay and a head-up display, at an attainable price point. Though it can sometimes feel underpowered and doesn’t get great gas mileage, the Mazda6 ranks high among mainstream sedans in value, curb appeal and certainly driving fun.

Toyota has made the Camry a more fun and sporty choice, with more aggressive styling and a focused performance model, but it’s still the talented jack of all trades that it’s always been. The available V6 powertrain offers vigorous acceleration, performance fully exploited in the TRD model. The hybrid features subtler styling, undercuts the Accord hybrid on price and ties the Hyundai Sonata for best-in-class fuel economy with up to 52 mpg combined. The standard four-cylinder Camry is a tepid performer, and the styling isn’t to everyone’s taste, but the Camry is hard to beat at its price point.

The new-for-2021 K5 builds on years of evolving Kia design cues to create a truly stylish midsize sedan. Borrowing some cues from the performance-oriented Kia Stinger, the K5’s sleek fastback roof, muscular curves, z-shaped headlights and gorgeous modern interior make it look and feel more expensive than it actually is. It’s not as engaging to drive as it is to behold, but it’s still pleasant and comfortable. The K5 lacks hybrid option or all-wheel drive options, but it has a long warranty, an available 290 horsepower engine and a generous list of standard equipment.

The 2021 Mirai is a great car that few will ever experience because you can only get one in California. A complete makeover turns the second generation of Toyota’s hydrogen-electric sedan from a frumpy mutant Prius into a sleek and luxurious midsize that competes well with both other premium sedans and upscale traditional EVs. The Mirai could be a great ambassador for fuel cell technology if availability wasn’t limited to California.

The sleek Volkswagen Arteon looks gorgeous from almost any angle, with an unforgettable fastback shape and beautiful details. Its interior and driving experience, however, are considerably less dramatic than the exterior. It’s huge and comfy inside, however, with crossover-like cargo space thanks to its hatchback configuration and nearly top-of-the-class room for passengers front and rear. The Arteon is a luxurious family companion, with lots of premium features, but its price puts it above most of the mainstream sedan pack and into competition with premium-brand luxury cars.

Subaru’s Legacy will win no awards for striking exterior design, but it’s on the inside where the Legacy excels. The tall proportions equate to a roomy, comfortable interior with panoramic forward vision and a space-efficient trunk that defies its volumetric dimensions. All models get all-wheel drive and a host of tech and driver-assist features, including adaptive cruise control and active lane centering. The Legacy also earns top marks for safety. Handling is sure-footed and confident, but it’s a relaxing rather than sporty drive, and not very engaging. All told, it’s a confident, value-packed and no-nonsense driver.

The handsomely styled Nissan Altima is a solid choice for family motoring or commuting, but not a very exciting one. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and CVT equate to a more subdued driving experience than the sleek looks suggest, and the CVT isn’t a great match for the optional 2.0-liter turbo. That said, the Altima brings good safety ratings and equipment, available all-wheel drive, neutral road manners and a comfortable interior to the table. It handles most day-to-day tasks with aplomb but has a hard time standing out among more dynamic competitors.

The current-generation Chevrolet Malibu was introduced in the spring of 2015 for the 2016 model year. At the time it was one of the better entries into the fiercely-contested midsize family sedan market. A mild exterior refresh in late 2018 brought a larger grill and an 8-inch infotainment screen, but the Malibu hasn’t changed very much over time and many of its rivals have since been redesigned.

The fastback Malibu was ahead of the curve on exterior design, and with many other family sedans adopting the long roofline look, it still looks handsome, distinctive and contemporary. The Malibu’s interior is plain, particularly on the lower-trim models, but it’s also comfy and user friendly, with an easy-to-use infotainment system. The touchscreen’s glass housing makes it look a little larger than it actually is, and the Malibu’s 15.7 cubic-foot trunk is average for the class. All Malibus have compliant and sure-footed handling, and they offer a comfortable ride for those who aren’t looking for a sports sedan.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat continues to balance elegant, if conservative, design with German engineering to give you everything you need in a midsize sedan without dripping with excess. The Passat was heavily revised for 2020, with all-new exterior styling and a much-changed interior, though it continues to ride on the same platform it has used since 2012. 

All models are powered by 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired to a six-speed automatic transmission that delivers 176 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. That’s more than some of the lower-trim models of its rivals, the Passat prioritizes a smooth ride and passenger comfort over an involving driving experience. It isn’t as fast or as fun to drive as cars like the Mazda6 or Honda Accord.

The Passat’s exterior is upright and staid where many competitors are drifting towards sleek fastback looks, but it’s handsome and substantial. The clean interior design is complemented by the sedan’s spacious and streamlined interior that offers 41.2 inches of legroom in the front and a generous 39.1 inches of legroom in the second row. That rear seat is bigger than the Hyundai Sonata, Chevy Malibu, or Toyota Camry, but just slightly behind the Honda Accord. Embedded in the center stack so it doesn’t disturb the minimalist horizontal lines of the dash is a standard 6.3-inch display with  Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard. The trunk provides up to 15.9 cubic-feet of stowage, average for the class, and the rear seats fold nearly flat to expand more cargo area is needed. 

All models feature automatic forward emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alerts and adaptive cruise control. The 2021 Passat got “Good” ratings in evaluations by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and a top five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, though the latter agency qualified its rating to note a potentially elevated risk of injury to front passenger-seat occupants in a head-on collision.

In profile and from a distance, the Kia Stinger looks a whole lot like an Audi A7, but even the priciest version of the Stinger starts at $16,000 less than the base model A7. Underneath the muscular fastback styling and delicate details, the Stinger shares its engines and platform with the highly acclaimed (and more expensive) Genesis G70. The Stinger’s hatchback body gives it huge amounts of cargo space by midsize sedan standards, and it’s comfortable and well-equipped. 

What it isn’t is a car from a premium brand. Kia doesn’t have much cred with enthusiasts or the buyers of large-ish luxury sports sedans, so the Stinger hasn’t been a hot seller since its introduction in 2018. The car carries over unchanged for 2021 as a result, though the Korean automaker is expected to lightly refresh it for 2022. 

The Stinger was designed to be a sports sedan, and its platform is based towards rear-wheel drive, just like Alfa-Romeo’s Giulia or the BMW 3 Series, though all-wheel drive (AWD) is available. The base engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 255 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. With that engine, the Stinger is peppy but not breathtaking. 

The real magic is found in the optional twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6, with 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet on tap. AWD V6s also add torque vectoring, which helps distribute power to the wheels where it will be put to best use in slippery situations. Both engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Sadly, there’s no manual option. The Stinger is a fun drive, but pushed to its limits, the car isn’t as precise a handler as Alfas or BMWs.

The interior isn’t as nice as those pricier rivals either, but it’s bigger on the inside than those compact machines thanks to its long wheelbase. The back seat isn’t quite as big as the Honda Accord, but there’s plenty of room for even tall adults, despite the car’s low-slung proportions. On cargo room, the Stinger really shines with 23.3 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 40.9 with them folded, numbers that put virtually all midsize sedans to shame.

Kia’s infotainment system works well and is showcased on either a 7- or 8-inch touchscreen depending on the model. 

Kia’s standard Drive Wise safety suite includes standard blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts but curiously makes forward collision warnings and automatic emergency braking optional, but a huge array of active-safety features can be specified, and most come standard on the GT1 and GT2 trims. The Stinger earns five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The Stinger a good pick for buyers looking for something sporty and stylish but also practical, and who don’t have the budget for something as grand as a BMW or Audi. The related Genesis G70, not all that much more expensive, might also be worth a look.

Like almost every other major automaker, Honda is more than a few steps down the path toward complete electrification of its model line. Even so, innovation continues at a fevered pace, and not every fuel-sipping model will make the cut as the automaker moves forward. Honda is discontinuing the Clarity PHEVin all its forms after the 2021 model year, following its previous decision to cut the Clarity EV in 2020. The car will remain on sale for the rest of 2021 with no changes. 

The Clarity began life in 2008 as a hydrogen fuel cell car offered only as a lease to customers in southern California. The second-generation cars debuted in 2016, still with hydrogen power, but Honda quickly added an EV and plug-in hybrid. Because of its powertrain options, the Clarity competes against a wide variety of cars, including the Kia K5, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, and Toyota Camry. However, the Clarity Fuel Cell and EV were discontinued at the end of the 2020 model year. (The Clarity Fuel Cell was only available in California.)

Nissan’s self-proclaimed Maxima “four-door sports car” is now five years deep into its eighth generation. The Maxima title was initially used in the states as the top-tier trim name for the 1980 810 sedan before transforming into a full-fledged model name for the 1982 lineup. It’s been in continuous production since and sits atop a lineup that includes the Altima, Sentra and Versa. Nissan’s flagship sedan in the United States, its class consists of a wide swath of vehicles ranging from the Honda Accord and Volkswagen Arteon to the Chrysler 300 and Toyota Avalon. The Maxima stands out with sharp styling, strong acceleration, and surprisingly robust handling capabilities in this segment. 

Four trims are available for 2021: SV, SR, Platinum and 40th Anniversary. Pricing ranges from the SV’s $38,065 base price to the 40th Anniversary Edition’s $45,270 base price, both including a $975 destination fee. 

Nissan Maxima Performance

All 2021 Maxima models come powered by Nissan’s 3.5-liter V6, which produces 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque. Power reaches the front wheels through a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). Though Nissan offers the smaller Altima with all-wheel drive, the Maxima remains front-wheel drive only. 

The Maxima can make the run from 0-60 mph in under six seconds, and it handles well for its size, but there’s plenty of daylight between it and true sports sedans. That said, it can outrun some of its class and manages a smooth ride while holding tight in the corners. The sole demerit is the CVT. Though it’s been improved significantly over the years, it still can’t offer the same traditional feel and immediacy of a well-calibrated automatic or manual transmission. 

Nissan Maxima Fuel Economy

The Maxima returns an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway and 24 mpg combined. Unfortunately, Nissan doesn’t offer a hybrid or plug-in hybrid option for the car, which would boost those average fuel economy numbers. The Toyota Avalon’s hybrid model achieves up to 44 mpg combined, for example. 

Nissan Maxima Comfort, Convenience and Cargo Space

With the Maxima, Nissan shows that it knows flagship cars need flagship interiors. Seating for up to five people means seating for four people here, but cabin quality and styling take the sting out of the tight back seat. Leather and heated, power-adjustable front seats are standard, and buyers can opt to upgrade with plush Alcantara upholstery. The front buckets are deep and supportive, offering 39.4 inches of headroom and 45 inches of legroom. The back seat has just 36.7 inches of headroom and 34.2 inches of legroom. Despite that lack of space, parents will find an easy time installing car seats, thanks to the Maxima’s Good+ LATCH system rating from the IIHS.

The Maxima’s 14.3 cubic-feet of trunk space falls short of the Camry’s 15.1, the Honda Accord’s 16.1 and the Chrysler 300’s 16.3 cubes but not by a glaring amount. 

Nissan Maxima Safety

The Maxima scored a Top Safety Pick + award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). In addition, the car earned Good scores in all crash tests, Acceptable for headlights and Superior for both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention systems. The Maxima also received a five-star rating from the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NTHSA). 

Standard driver aids include blind spot warnings, rear cross-traffic alerts, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warnings, a lane intervention system, forward collision warnings, traffic sign recognition, a driver alertness system and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.

Like it or not, the automotive world is going electric. Everything from hatchbacks to semi-trucks are ditching fossil fuels to focus on battery power, but there are differing opinions on how to cut our dependence on liquid dinosaurs. While battery EVs are the prime movers in overtaking gas-powered cars, a few manufacturers are taking an alternate route. Hydrogen Fuel Cell EVs generate electricity by harnessing the electrons in this powerful element. Honda, Hyundai and Toyota all offer FCEV models you can buy or lease today. Honda’s is the Clarity Fuel-Cell.

The Clarity Fuel Cell is a four-door compact car about the size of Honda’s more conventional Insight Hybrid. It’s spaceship styling isn’t to everyone’s taste but it certainly stands out on the road. To keep the unit cost of building such a specialized vehicle relatively low, Honda also designed battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid versions of the Clarity, though the BEV was discontinued in 2020. This past summer, the automaker also announced that the FCEV will end production this year, so if you want one, act fast.

Fully fueled, the Clarity Fuel Cell will return up to 360 miles of range on a tank of Hydrogen and produce only water vapor as emissions. That’s impressive, but there’s a big downside to fuel-cell vehicles: the lack of filling station infrastructure. Outside of California, only Connecticut and Hawaii have hydrogen stations, and only one a piece. That makes using the Clarity Fuel Cell difficult outside of a network of stations in the Golden State, so Honda only makes this version of the car available there, and only for lease.

Like its competitors, the Hyundai Nexo and Toyota Mirai, the Clarity Fuel Cell is a tough sell. Among the three, it also offers the least discernable advantage over a comparable BEV or PHEV.

Honda Clarity Fuel Cell Performance

The Clarity is powered by an electric motor that generates 174 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. The motor draws its power from a 33-liter hydrogen fuel cell that weighs 114 pounds. Power hits the front wheels through a single-speed direct-drive transmission, just like in a regular electric car. Though its power source may seem alien, the Clarity’s driving experience will be immediately familiar to anyone with experience driving electric vehicles. Power delivery is quiet and smooth, and the car benefits from off-the-line torque that its electric motor generates. That said, there’s not much grunt once the Clarity is in motion, meaning highway passing takes some advanced planning.

Honda Clarity Fuel Cell Fuel Economy

Refueling the hydrogen fuel cell can cost up to $100, but Honda will foot the bill for up to $15,000 in fuel over the course of the lease. The Clarity Fuel Cell’s range extends to 360 miles per tank, which equates to 68 MPGe combined, according to Honda. Unlike a traditional electric vehicle, where owners need to find a charger, plug in and wait, hydrogen fuel cell cars fill up in a process much closer to that of internal combustion engine cars. Fuel cell cars also have batteries, but they exist only to store excess energy until its needed by the car.

Honda Clarity Fuel Cell Comfort, Convenience, and Cargo Space

Despite its remarkable powertrain, the Clarity’s interior is remarkably normal. Its front seats are spacious and nicely padded, with 39.1 inches of headroom and 42.2 inches of legroom up front. The cabin layout is functional and intuitive, and all controls are within easy reach of the driver. Back-seat passengers see 37.1 inches of headroom and 36.7 inches of headroom, making the space a little tight for taller adults. Kids in booster seats will be fine, but the Clarity’s sloping roofline can make loading rear-facing car seats a real pain.

Thanks to the size of its fuel cell, the Clarity only manages 11.8 cubic feet of trunk space. The seats don’t fold, either, which further limits the car’s utility.

Honda Clarity Fuel Cell Safety

The 2021 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell hasn’t been crash-tested by either major ratings agency, but Honda throws the kitchen sink at the car when it comes to standard safety equipment. Features include a low-speed acoustic-alert system, forward collision warnings, lane departure warnings, collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, a head-up display, lane keeping, adaptive cruise control and Honda LaneWatch, which displays a blind-spot camera view in the gauge cluster.