The VW Passat is in the thick of the family four-door segment, outpointing most of them on size and almost all of them on fuel economy as a TDI.
The Nissan Altima is a formidable entry here: entry-level models have enviable fuel economy of up to 38 mpg highway, interior space and comfort are excellent, and new features bring it smartly up to date, as does its handsome new look.
The Camry's a bit smaller, especially in its back seat, but its Hybrid model now has higher fuel economy than ever, with admittedly more complexity and much less driving enthusiasm than the Passat TDI.
The Honda Accord gets a revamp this year with a new plug-in hybrid model, but in overall dimensions it's only marginally different from today's car.
Hyundai's Sonata and Kia's Optima bristle with styling confidence and tons of standard features; we don't recommend the hybrid versions for their under-refined powertrains, but the base versions are handy replacements for the base Passat and its graunchy five-cylinder.
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 2014 Volkswagen PassatBrowse Used Listings |  2014 Hyundai SonataBrowse Used Listings |  2014 Kia OptimaBrowse Used Listings |  2014 Nissan AltimaBrowse Used Listings |  2014 Toyota CamryBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | ||||
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The 2014 VW Passat gains a good new four-cylinder, while it keeps its grip on TDI economy, excellent interior room, and top-notch crash-test scores. |
The 2014 Hyundai Sonata remains one of the best buys among mid-size sedans--although with so many much-improved rival models, it's no longer such a standout. |
The 2014 Kia Optima is a sensible and spacious four-door sedan, but it moonlights as something a little more stylish and adventuresome. |
Following improvements that hit all the right spots, the 2014 Nissan Altima is a solid choice for those who don't mind a CVT. |
The 2014 Toyota Camry may not be as attractive as some of its competitors, but it's now more than ever the most sensible choice for shoppers focused on value, frugality and comfort above all else. |
| MSRP From | ||||
| $20,845 | $21,450 | $21,500 | $22,170 | $22,235 |
| Gas Mileage | ||||
| 20 MPG City / 43 MPG Hwy | 21 MPG City / 40 MPG Hwy | 20 MPG City / 40 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 38 MPG Hwy | 21 MPG City / 39 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | ||||
| Regular Unleaded I-5 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 |
| EPA Class | ||||
| Mid-Size Cars | Large Cars | Mid-Size Cars | Mid-Size Cars | Mid-Size Cars |
| Style Name | ||||
| 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Manual S *Ltd Avail* | 4-Door Sedan 2.4L Automatic GLS PZEV | 4-Door Sedan EX | 4-Door Sedan I4 2.5 | 4-Door Sedan I4 Automatic L (GS) *Ltd Avail* |
| Drivetrain | ||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | ||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | ||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | ||||
| Sedan | Sedan | Sedan | Sedan | Sedan |
| Transmission | ||||
| Manual w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD | CVT w/OD | Automatic w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
| 2014 Volkswagen Passat vs. 2014 Hyundai Sonata | 2014 Volkswagen Passat vs. 2014 Kia Optima | 2014 Volkswagen Passat vs. 2014 Nissan Altima | 2014 Volkswagen Passat vs. 2014 Toyota Camry | |
