DOWN TO EARTH

AMID THE CURRENT MAELSTROM OF OVERPRICED AND OVERSIZE TRUCKS AND SUVS, TODAY'S REMAINING CROP OF MID-SIZE SEDANS LOOKS MORE SENSIBLE THAN EVER.

- Joey Capparella

IT'S NO SECRET that new vehicles, especially pickups and SUVs, are suffering from ballooning prices, enlarged footprints, and swelling equipment lists. But the humble mid-size sedan soldiers on, much the same as it ever was. You probably hardly even notice these four-doors anymore. But they're still here, serving as trusty steeds for commuters, parents, teenagers, and perhaps most of all the ride-share drivers and DoorDashers of America.

With a new Honda Accord having hit the scene for 2023, it was time to pit our perennial favorite against its current cohort. Everyone likes to talk about the demise of passenger cars, but even though the family-sedan segment dwindled significantly several years ago, there's still a healthy set of mainstays that have stuck around. For this test, we targeted a price point in the low $30,000s and avoided hybrid powertrains and flashy option packages in search of affordable sedans that deliver passenger-friendly practicality and the best driving experience.

These plebeian sedans don't exhibit the manic price inflation seen in much of the automotive market. The average as-tested price in this group is $32,550-far below the average transaction price of all new cars, which is skyrocketing toward $50,000, making the four-door car look like a relative bargain.

The 11th-generation Accord, already the recipient of a 10Best award for 2023, is here in EX form. With the top trims now available only as hybrids, this is the highestspec version of the Accord you can get with the base turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four. It stickers for $30,705, the lowest price in the test.

Hyundai has already revealed a less piscatorial version of the Sonata for 2024, but it wasn't available yet, so we tested a $33,600 2023 Sonata SEL Plus model with a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four.