Family Sedans Reviews

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Family Sedans Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Family Sedans Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Car and Driver >> Details/Subscribe	2008 10 Best Cars Csaba Csere and Tony Swan Jan. 2008		The staff of Car and Driver conducts this comparison test annually. The result is a listing of their favorite vehicles for the current model year. Although only two of the ten cars named, the Chevy Malibu and Honda Accord, fell neatly within the boundaries of our "family sedan" category, the extensive testing and specific criteria described make this article an excellent resource for practical, reliable information regarding these vehicles.

Family Sedans Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Family Sedans Ratings Comments on Reviews

2. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	New Cars: Sedans Editors of Consumer Reports As of Mar. 2008		Consumer Reports performs extensive road tests of a variety of vehicles, and provides numeric ratings and rankings of each vehicle within a specific class. Consumer Reports also focuses on some issues not often covered by different reviews, such as safety ratings and fuel economy. The reviews at Consumer Reports are thorough and easy to understand, but target the average car buyer rather than true automobile enthusiasts.
3. Motor Trend >> Details/Subscribe	2008 Motor Trend Car of the Year: The Finalists Editors of Motor Trend Jan. 2008		For the past 57 years, Motor Trend has looked at the vehicles on the market and selected a car of the year. Ratings are based on three categories: significance, superiority and value. The Car of the Year for 2008, the Cadillac CTS, is pricey for a family sedan, but both the Chevy Malibu and the Honda Accord are among the eight finalists. Editors praise the newly redesigned Malibu for its clean lines and competitive acceleration, and note that this year's Malibu represents "a genuine alternative to the Camry." The 2008 Accord wins accolades for performance, comfort and value, but editors feel that the newer Accord has bulked up a bit more than is necessary.
4. Motor Trend >> Details/Subscribe	Comparison: 2008 Chevy Malibu vs. 2008 Nissan Altima vs. 2008 Honda Accord vs. 2007 Toyota Camry Ron Kiino Not Dated		This head-to-head comparison pits three 2008-model sedans against last year's Motor Trend Car of the Year award winner, the 2007 Toyota Camry. As author Ron Kiino notes, much can change in a year where the automotive world is concerned, but the Camry still emerged the overall winner thanks to its excellent balance of performance and amenities. The Chevy Malibu finished a close second, although three out of four judges indicated that Honda's stellar resale and reliability record would motivate them to purchase the third-place Accord over the Malibu.
5. Edmunds InsideLine.com	Comparison Test: 2007-2008 V6 Family Sedans Jason Kavanaugh Dec. 9, 2007		This competitive review evaluates the Chevy Malibu, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, though the Camry and Altima included in the test are both last year's models. Interestingly, the line-up here is almost exactly the opposite of Motor Trend's comparison, with the Accord placing first, followed by the Altima, Malibu and Camry. This article offers an interesting counterpoint to Motor Trend's analysis, particularly with regard to the judges' impressions of the new-for-2008 Chevy Malibu and the major redesign the Toyota Camry underwent in 2007.
6. Edmunds.com	Car Reviews Editors of Edmunds.com As of Mar. 2008		In addition to the article above, Edmunds offers a host of reviews and buyers guides. The site's buying guide for sedans is not especially detailed, but it provides a useful synopsis of what the editors consider to be the high and low points of the top choices for 2008. All cars also receive full reviews that offer a lot more detail -- though not as much as at resources such as Motor Trend or Car & Driver. Some sedans are also evaluated in comprehensive road tests and head-to-head matchups. Users also provide ratings. Other tools include lists of top ten cars in various categories, most desired cars by editors and owners and more, though many of those have yet to be updated for 2008.
7. Consumer Guide.com	The Consumer Guide to 2008 Midsize Cars Chuck Giametta Not Dated		Consumer Guide performs road testing on many of the top-selling vehicles on the U.S. market, ranking them against a class average. While Consumer Guide's test results are reported primarily in numerical format and can be difficult for some users to interpret, the thorough nature of the performance analysis as well as the editors' value-based recommendations make this a helpful resource for most shoppers. Large sedans are listed under a separate heading, but the format and organization is identical to the Midsize Car Guide.
8. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety	Top Safety Picks 2008 Editors at IIHS.gov Not dated		The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety evaluates how well cars protect their occupants in three different types of crashes: frontal offset, side impact and rear. Cars receive ratings based on the results for each test. In order to merit recognition as a top safety pick, a car must get the highest rating of "good" in all three tests and offer electronic stability control. This year, six family sedans are awarded the Top Safety Pick designation.
9. CarCritic.com	Ratings and Reviews Don Vorderman As of Mar. 2008		CarCritic.com was created by automotive journalist Don Vorderman to counteract "the lack of frankness in the reviews in publications that have to depend on advertising money from car manufacturers." Instead, the site is funded by visitors (each review costs $1 to read with a $5 minimum). In return, car buyers get a short synopsis along with a "RuthlessReview" evaluation and bottom-line assessment. Reviews are based on hands-on testing, along with user reviews, repair and reliability data and vehicle history.

Family Sedans Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Family Sedans Ratings Comments on Reviews

10. MyRide.com	MyRide's 2008 Editors' Choice Award Staff at MyRide.com Not Dated		Editors at MyRide.com tested a number of vehicles and voted for the one they'd most often recommend in each of a number of categories. The Chevy Malibu and the Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable twins were the winners in the Best New Midsize and Best New Large Car categories, respectively.
11. Kelley Blue Book	Recommended Shopping Lists: Mid-Size Sedans Editors at KBB.com Not Dated		Though not a formal comparison, this resource provides price-based lists of editors' top picks for family sedans. Links from this page lead to vehicle-specific reviews that offer comprehensive, easy-to-read, consumer-friendly overviews of each model's performance and value.
12. Autoblog.com	Consumer Reports names Nissan Altima top mid-size sedan Damon Lavrinc Jan. 8, 2008		This short article highlights results of Consumer Reports' testing of sedans, as reported in the February 2008 edition of the magazine. According to the article, the Nissan Altima edged out the Honda Accord by one point to take the top spot in the "Affordable" category. Author Damon Lavrinc states that editors at Consumer Reports still consider the Accord a top performer, superior in many respects to the Altima, but they declare that the Altima represents a slightly better overall value.
13. Kiplinger.com >> Details/Subscribe	The Best Cars for 2008 Mark Solheim and Jessica Anderson Mar. 2008		Kiplinger magazine makes picks for the best 2008 cars in a wide range of classes. These short reviews are unique in that they also include predicted five-year service costs, predicted three-year and five-year resale value, and insurance costs. In the $20,000 to $25,000 range, which editors label "the sweet spot for bargain hunters," the Chevy Malibu is judged Best in Class and Best New Car, while the Honda Accord wins First for Safety. In the $25,000 to $30,000 range, the Accord sweeps the Best in Class and Best New Car awards, while the Saab 9-3 retains its First for Safety designation.
14. Cars.com	Best Bets: New Passenger Cars Joe Wiesenfelder Not Dated		Reviewer Joe Wiesenfelder considers safety, practicality, comfort and performance when selecting the representatives for Cars.com's annual compilation of Best Bets. This is a fairly long list, and the attached reviews aren't lengthy or comparative, but they do offer a balanced approach thanks to the above-listed criteria. Interested shoppers can follow links to more detailed and comprehensive reviews, though. Cars.com also provides consumer reviews, as well as a side-by-side comparison tool, and editors sometimes reprint helpful reviews from other publications.
15. AOL Autos	Editors' Picks: Top Sedans Kevin Ransom Dec. 2007		Editors at AOL Autos focus primarily on styling, value, performance and reliability to compose their annual list of top picks. In the sedan category, several of the choices are high-end luxury cars priced well out of the affordable "family car" range, but many others -- most notably the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Chevy Malibu and Chrysler 300 -- are good values. The Infiniti G35, while a bit more than $30,000 to start, is praised for its sportier driving experience.
16. Automobile Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	2008 Automobile Magazine All-Stars Editors of Automobile Magazine Jan. 2008		Automobile magazine has printed up their list of all-star vehicles for 2008, but only one car that can unequivocally be called a family sedan has made the list. Editors credit the Chevy Malibu with bringing General Motors firmly back into contention as a quality family-car manufacturer, and say that the Malibu is far more solid and substantial than its somewhat plain appearance might suggest. Several other sedans, including the BWM 3 Series and Infiniti G35, make the cut here, but are priced quite a bit higher than the Malibu.
17. About.com	Best New Cars of 2008 Aaron Gold Not Dated		Aaron Gold, About.com's Guide to Cars, relies on his experience as an automotive journalist to select the best new and redesigned cars for each model year. Unlike some others, Gold has actually tested the models he recommends himself, and reviews are well-balanced and filled with useful information. The newly redesigned Chevy Malibu once again nabs the spotlight, while the smaller, category-straddling Subaru Impreza also makes the list. Gold notes that, in spite of his inclusion of the Nissan Altima coupe on the best-of-2008 list, the Altima sedan remains his favorite mid-size family car. (Note that ConsumerSearch and About.com are both owned by The New York Times Company, but are not affiliated editorially.)
18. AOL Autos	Great Sedans for $25K Kevin Ransom Not Dated		This article proves a helpful resource for bargain hunters aiming for more amenities at a fixed and budget-friendly price. Though most of the sedans profiled are 2007 models, two 2008 family sedans are included. The Chevy Impala garners a mention thanks to its spacious interior and four available trims. The Volvo S40, which starts at around $25,000, has a generous list of high-end standard features that render even the base model a relatively luxurious ride.
19. NWautos: The Seattle Times	2008's most fuel-efficient sedans Editors of NWautos Dec. 11, 2007		EPA gas-mileage estimates calculated to more accurately reflect "real-world" driving have been released for 2008, and this article neatly summarizes which sedans are more likely to outperform others on the basis of observed fuel economy. Most of the vehicles listed are hybrid versions of popular family cars, but two non-hybrid mid-size sedans make the list: the Nissan Altima and Honda Accord rank eighth and tenth, respectively. Among hybrid family cars, the Toyota Prius, Nissan Altima hybrid, Toyota Camry hybrid, Chevy Malibu hybrid and Saturn Aura hybrid all placed near the top.

Family Sedans Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Family Sedans Ratings Comments on Reviews

20. BuyingAdvice.com	5 Most Reliable Family Sedans and Station Wagons Editors of BuyingAdvice.com Apr. 30, 2007		Winners here are included based on historical reliability; numerical ratings are included for each, but the origin or meaning of the rating isn't clearly explained. The attached narrative reviews are also very short and lack detail. The review is also dated, and does not include 2008 model year cars. The Honda Accord tops this list, followed by the Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, Mitsubishi Galant and Volvo S40.
21. Interest.com	Mid-Size Sedans: The Best Family Cars Michelle Krebs Not Dated		Interest.com lists six vehicles in total, three of which they say offer an outstanding ride and driving experience, and three which they consider to be "the best value, with an emphasis on price and gas mileage." Their choices in the former category are the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Saturn Aura, while the Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata and Chevy Malibu are deemed exceptional values for their class and competition. However, it's unclear if or to what extent these vehicles were road tested, or how they were evaluated for the purpose of this review.
22. IFCAR.net	Comparison Test: Premium Family Sedans Editors of IFCAR.net Not Dated		The Institute for Consumer Automotive Research (IFCAR) has strict guidelines for its family sedan comparison test. The cars need to be 2006, 2006.5 or 2007 models under $28,000 with an automatic transmission and an engine greater than 180-hp. While now somewhat dated, the results may still be useful for those looking for a detailed review with a high volume of vehicles. The site lists 21 cars in order of preference; the Honda Accord holds the top spot, praised in every aspect aside from trunk space.
23. BuyingAdvice.com	5 Most Reliable Sedans (Large) Editors of BuyingAdvice.com Apr. 30, 2007		As previously noted, BuyingAdvice.com focuses on reliability to make its recommendations, although it's not entirely clear from where their data is derived. Still, this review offers a helpful starting point for prospective buyers who are interested in a roomier family car. The Toyota Avalon took the top spot on this list, followed by the Kia Amanti, Ford Five Hundred (now the Ford Taurus) and the Mercury Montego (now the Sable). Again, this is an older review and somewhat out of date. For example, the Ford Crown Victoria ranks number five, but as of 2008, it is a fleet-only vehicle not offered to the general public.