The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are the best-sellers of this segment, yet neither of them has played the innovator role in recent years.
The Camry has received a mid-cycle refresh for 2015 that’s brought more adventurous styling and some refinement improvements, but it remains a rather traditional sedan.
The Accord is a handsome sedan in its latest iteration, with surprisingly sporty performance and good interior space.
The Nissan Altima isn’t as sporty as it has been in the past, and it doesn’t quite keep with the segment in safety and features, but it’s very comfortable and spacious.
The Mazda 6 is the way to go if you value driving enjoyment; it’s also one of the sharpest-dressed sedans in this group, gets great fuel economy, and is offered with either manual or automatic transmissions.
Finally, the Hyundai Sonata is very closely related to the Optima; in its latest iteration the Sonata has become a more conservative model, although like the Optima it makes major gains in cabin quiet and comfort.
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 2016 Kia OptimaBrowse Used Listings |  2016 Chevrolet MalibuBrowse Used Listings |  2016 Hyundai SonataBrowse Used Listings |  2016 Subaru LegacyBrowse Used Listings |  2016 Toyota CamryBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | ||||
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The 2016 Kia Optima is better than its game-changing predecessor in nearly every way—except it’s a little less distinct. |
The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu lineup skips performance models, plush luxury appointments, and all-wheel drive; yet the driving experience, comfortable cabin, and frugal numbers may convince you to trade in that Camry, Accord, or Fusion. |
Spacious and fuel efficient, the 2016 Hyundai Sonata is a worthy rival for America's best-selling family sedan. |
All-wheel drive for the entire lineup, a big back seat, and excellent gas mileage might be enough on their own to woo family-sedan shoppers; the 2016 Subaru Legacy has that, plus top safety, a smooth ride, and a design that fits right in. |
The 2016 Toyota Camry offers a controlled ride and plenty of interior comfort, making it pleasant for the driver and passengers alike. |
| MSRP From | ||||
| $22,140 | $21,625 | $21,300 | $21,745 | $23,070 |
| Gas Mileage | ||||
| 22 MPG City / 40 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 46 MPG Hwy | 23 MPG City / 44 MPG Hwy | 20 MPG City / 36 MPG Hwy | 21 MPG City / 39 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | ||||
| Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4 | Turbocharged Gas I4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded H-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 |
| EPA Class | ||||
| Large Cars | Midsize Cars | Large Cars | Midsize Cars | Midsize Cars |
| Style Name | ||||
| 4-Door Sedan LX Turbo | 4-Door Sedan L w/1VL | 4-Door Sedan 2.4L PZEV | 4-Door Sedan 2.5i | 4-Door Sedan I4 Automatic LE (GS) |
| Drivetrain | ||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | ||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | ||||
| N/A | 4 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | ||||
| Sedan | Sedan | Sedan | Sedan | Sedan |
| Transmission | ||||
| Auto-Shift Manual w/OD | Automatic | Automatic w/OD | CVT w/OD | Automatic w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
| 2016 Kia Optima vs. 2016 Chevrolet Malibu | 2016 Kia Optima vs. 2016 Hyundai Sonata | 2016 Kia Optima vs. 2016 Subaru Legacy | 2016 Kia Optima vs. 2016 Toyota Camry | |
