Best Midsize Sedans for the Value

The Subaru Legacy is a midsize sedan that offers a wide range of trims, a choice of two engines, and a long list of standard features. All Legacy models come with all-wheel drive, making them a favorite among drivers who live in snowy climates. The ride is impressively smooth and quiet, but this isn't a sporty car. Acceleration is modest, especially with the base four-cylinder engine. Still, the Legacy provides the comfort, features, and composed ride that families and commuters will appreciate.

Comparatively, the Honda Accord has a roomy interior, more trim levels, and a hybrid model, but no all-wheel drive. The Hyundai Sonata also has more trims but is available only with front-wheel drive. The Kia K5 is an all-new model with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive and sportier handling.

The 2022 Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with plenty of room for five passengers. It has something for everyone with 13 trims that include two gas engines, a hybrid engine, and a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive. No matter which you choose, the Camry is focused on passenger comfort with a welcoming interior swathed in attractive materials throughout. While some sedans have minimal rear-seat room, the Camry can comfortably seat three adults back there. It boasts a wide range of standard safety features along with a comprehensive infotainment system. Downsides are an underpowered base engine and a small trunk that makes it difficult to accommodate luggage for those five adults.

Other popular choices in the midsize-sedan segment include the Nissan Altima, Honda Accord, and Hyundai Sonata. The Altima has fewer trims with similar pricing and a less powerful engine. The Accord provides better fuel economy and more room for cargo. The Sonata has similar pricing and a lineup that includes both gas and hybrid engines.

Formerly known as the [Kia Optima], the newly rebranded Kia K5 competes against popular sedans, such as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Unlike those familiar names, the K5 stands out in the segment with bold styling that assures it won't be mistaken for anything else in the class. The Kia also offers all-wheel drive as an option along with a fun-to-drive performance model at the top of the range. Complementing the K5's aggressive exterior is a nicely trimmed cabin that borders on luxurious in the higher trim levels. And like most Kias, the K5 has an easy-to-use driver interface that makes its standard features all the more accessible.

The midsize sedan slots into the Kia lineup above the compact Kia Forte and below the Kia Stinger sport sedan. The K5 is an inch longer than the Camry and about 3 inches shorter than the Accord.

The Mazda6 lives up to the brand's reputation for building cars for people who like to drive. If you just want to get from point A to point B, there are better choices. If you want to enjoy the ride, then go with the Mazda6. It has crisp handling and a responsive engine, especially the available turbocharged upgrade. The interior is comfortable, with quality materials even on base models. Top trims rival luxury brands at a much lower price. The infotainment system is comprehensive with good smartphone connectivity. The smallish backseat and trunk are its shortcomings.

The Honda Accord has more room for people and cargo. The Nissan Altima has an attractive though less elegant interior, but lacks powerful engine options. The Toyota Camry provides a less upscale interior. Overall, the Mazda6 delivers an attractive and engaging choice for those who want a sporty midsize sedan.

High-riding crossovers may dominate the market, but that hasn't stopped Cadillac from leaning into sedans. The luxury automaker followed up its out-of-production ATS and CTS sedans with Cadillac CT4 and Cadillac CT5 successors, respectively.

The 2021 CT5 is a midsize sedan that features significant performance and tech updates, including new engines and a 10-speed automatic. All CT5s have the latest in onboard technology, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Premium Luxury, Sport and V-Series models optioned with the Technology package get a new reconfigurable 12-inch high-definition (HD) gauge cluster. But by far, the most significant tech advancement available in the new CT5 is Super Cruise. In addition to providing hands-free driving capability on more than 200,000 miles of U.S. and Canadian highways, the latest iteration of Super Cruise changes lanes on demand.

Although the CT5 is roughly the size of midsize German sedans such as the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series, the Cadillac's price point aligns it more closely with the smaller Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series.

The Genesis G70 is the smallest and best-selling entry of three premium sedans offered by Hyundai's quickly growing luxury brand. It competes head-to-head with such long-standing entry-luxury sedan favorites as the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A5, and Lexus IS. It offers evocative design, a luxurious interior, and a long list of amenities that often cost extra in competing European-brand models. The G70 also leads the segment with advanced safety and driver-assistive technology.

The G70 delivers an engaging driving experience with nicely balanced ride and handling. Although the base G70 2.0T four-cylinder won't match the acceleration response and fuel economy of its 3 Series competitor, the small Genesis is fun to drive in both rear- and all-wheel-drive form. It also costs less than its European rivals, is comparably equipped, and comes with a much stronger warranty: 10 years or 100,000 miles on the powertrain and 5 years or 60,000 miles bumper to bumper, plus three years of free scheduled maintenance.

Audi offers an extensive lineup of high-end luxury sedans. The Audi A6 is the Goldilocks of the pack, slotting between the brand's compact Audi A4 and flagship Audi A8 sedans. With a choice of robust powertrains and standard all-wheel drive, the Audi A6 feels capable and in control. The car delivers good fuel economy, too, but it doesn't have the sporty edge of some of its competitors. One area where the A6 does shine is the cabin, where quality materials make it look and feel expensive. Audi's standard equipment also provides a big helping of modern electronics.

Unfortunately, shoppers have plenty of options in the midsize luxury sedan segment. If you are looking for a more affordable choice, the Lexus ES 350 starts at $41,000 and includes a more powerful engine than the A6, with many of the same features. The Genesis G80 2.5 starts at $48,745, gets better gas mileage, and delivers more horsepower than the A6. The BMW 5 Series is priced similarly to the Audi and delivers engaging performance.

Combining a spacious interior, loads of technology, and solid performance, the BMW 5 Series is a midsize luxury sedan that does everything well. It's not quite as sporty as it used to be, but it's still an athletic car that can be driven quickly with little effort. A range of engines means you can choose from an efficient four-cylinder, plug-in hybrid, or a turbocharged V8. Rear-wheel drive is still the standard, but all-wheel drive is also an option for dealing with cold-weather climates.

Continual improvement to BMW's iDrive infotainment system has resulted in a system that's intuitive to use and more helpful than you might expect. Although Detroit got out of the luxury-sedan business a few years back, the 5 Series still has plenty of viable competition. Whether it's the luxury-meets-performance Mercedes-Benz E-Class, techno-filled Audi A6, racy and stylish [Jaguar XF](/jaguar/xf /), or the Scandinavian cool of the Volvo S90, there are plenty of choices in the premium midsize-sedan segment.