Budget Family Sedans

Hyundai Sonata's price belies complete overall package

The Hyundai Sonata (*Est. $18,700 to $26,550) is not only the best budget family sedan, reviewers say; it's one of the best family sedans at any price. Reviews rate it second only to the Honda Accord. The Sonata is Motor Trend's top pick "if family comes first," although it isn't particularly stylish, and it isn't particularly fun to drive, critics say. However, for families on a budget who simply want a practical, comfortable car that won't break down or cost a lot to run, experts say you can't go too far wrong by choosing the Hyundai Sonata. "The Sonata is a killer bargain," writes Jeremy Cato for Toronto's The Globe and Mail. Like the Accord, the Sonata is one of the most reliable sedans you can buy. Unlike the Accord -- and nearly every other car on the market -- Hyundai backs up the Sonata's dependability with a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty (typical warranties run three years/36,000 miles).

Testers say the Sonata offers plenty of legroom in the front and rear, with a wider backseat than the Honda Accord and a bigger trunk than the full-size 2009 Toyota Avalon (*Est. $27,845 to $35,185). The Sonata's fuel economy is on par with the Accord and most other midsize sedans (25 mpg in mixed city/highway driving, according to Environmental Protection Agency estimates). Above all, the Sonata's crown jewel is its new, plush interior, reviewers say. "To be frank, this is the Lexus-lite interior we were expecting when Toyota's all-star [Camry] was last redesigned," write editors at Edmunds.com, who add: "Hyundai has built a better Camry than Toyota did."

The Sonata gets excellent scores in government crash tests, but -- like the Accord -- it falters in another side-crash test. The Sonata earns only an "acceptable" side-crash rating at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, after failing to protect the driver as well as most other midsize sedans.

Although experts say the Hyundai Sonata (*Est. $18,700 to $26,550) outclasses all other budget family sedans, two others are recommended fairly often: the 2009 Ford Fusion (*Est. $19,270 to $27,675) and its sister model the 2009 Mercury Milan (*Est. $21,180 to $27,800). Unlike the Hyundai Sonata, the Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan twins are among the few family sedans that offer all-wheel drive, but reviews largely ignore that aspect. Instead, they usually concentrate on the factors that seal the deal for most family-car buyers: roominess, reliability, safety, fuel economy and price. While the 2009 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan don't fall short in any of these areas, critics say they don't quite measure up to the Sonata or any of the other top family sedans, either.

The fully redesigned new 2010 Ford Fusion is already in showrooms, and early feedback is generally favorable. "A perfectly decent car," Car and Driver concludes after testing the new, 2010 Fusion. "But as good as it is, the Fusion doesn't register a high score on our fun meter."

The new 2010 Ford Fusion ties with the Honda Accord for best real-world gas mileage (25 mpg mixed city/highway) in Car and Driver's test of family sedans. We'll cover the 2010 Ford Fusion in greater detail in a future update once a greater mix of reviews is available for analysis.