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Dodge Stratus R/T
Honda Accord EX
Hyundai Sonata GLS V-6
Kia Optima LX
Mazda 6 i
Nissan Altima 3.5SE
Saturn L200
Subaru Legacy L
Toyota Camry SE
Volkswagen Passat GL 1.8T

If a mid-size family sedan is what you want, the market is flooded with 'em. Despite the burgeoning SUV phenomenon, mid-size family sedans sell well over a million units each year to people who want affordable transportation that doesn't necessarily make a statement about their lifestyles.

To gauge the new 2003 Accord's competence and appeal, we decided to pit a four-cylinder, five-speed-manual EX — for $22,060, it comes with air, anti-lock brakes, electric everything, remote access, and a six-disc CD changer — against similar offerings in the marketplace. We didn't consider such cars as the Ford Taurus and Mitsubishi Galant, which are not available with manual gearboxes.

And, in alphabetical order, this is what we rounded up in the way of competition.

Dodge's face-lifted Stratus, now in R/T array, comes with a standard five-speed manual and 2.7-liter V-6. Priced at $22,475 to start, it would have matched our Accord EX price bogey quite well, but ours got loaded up with $1510 worth of pearlescent paint, leather seats, premium stereo, and power driver's seat.

Using that price profile when shopping for a Hyundai Sonata also allowed a V-6 model — the GLS — into the mix. Hyundai typically includes comprehensive equipment at competitive prices, so we could have had an even higher-trim LX with leather upholstery without reaching our price target. But Hyundai did not have an LX test car available. Truth be told, it didn't even have a manual-transmission car for us to test. Thus, we took an automatic and tried to evaluate the car with reference to the shift quality in the Kia Optima LX — the Sonata's platform sibling — which we also added to the mix.

The Optima is only available with a manual transmission in four-cylinder form, so that's what we got. At $16,080 (including $85 worth of floor mats), it was easily the least expensive car out the door. You could order the optional 2.7-liter V-6 and still not stray northward of our price point, but then a stick shift is not an option

Having voted the new Mazda 6 s a 2003 10Best honoree on the basis of its V-6, we were very interested in the performance of the four-cylinder Mazda 6 i. The test car had to be pretty loaded —with leather, a sunroof, side airbags, a Bose stereo, a Premium package, a Comfort package, and a Sport package that adds trick bodywork and wheels — before it neared the price target. Delete those extras, and Mazda's 6 i is a sub-20-grand buy.

Speaking of value, the Nissan Altima 2.5S manual can be loaded opulently for $22,000, but none was available, so we allowed in the $23,189 3.5SE. It boasts the strongest V-6 and the biggest interior in the group. For those who buy by size, the Altima clearly went into the contest with a major advantage in spaciousness.

Saturn's L200 fit the description for this test and entered with a low price, a roomy interior, and the promised refinement of GM's Ecotec four-cylinder engine. And yes, we tried to keep in mind the virtues of undentable doors and all those well-advertised warm and fuzzy dealers, too.

With its flat-four engine and all-wheel drivetrain, the Subaru Legacy L was the odd man out. Nonetheless, the specs and the price matched the recipe for this shindig, and the Subaru was invited to show its stuff. At just over 20 large, the car represents pretty good value.

We couldn't ignore the segment's current bestseller, Toyota's Camry, represented here in SE guise with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual. To the base SE we added alloy wheels, ABS, side airbags, and a power driver's seat, pushing the sticker to $22,529.

Last to the party is the Volkswagen Passat GL 1.8T, the sole forced-induction vehicle in the mix. Because of revised ordering protocols at VW, the only test car available on the West Coast was equipped with an automatic transmission. Okay, that kind of flouts our rules again for this test, but Passats are available with manuals, so don't bombard us with letters.

This test was conducted in California because the winter weather is better than it is in Michigan, right? Wrong, we were deluged by rainstorms raging in off the Pacific. At least every car had all-season tires. Anyway, what better way to assess defoggers, wipers, and wet handling?
10th

9th

8th

7th

5h

5th tie

4th

3rd

2nd

1ST

 
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Nothing surprising about who won. Maybe a surprise or two in the remaining order.

 
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Honda

 
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GOOO Hondaaa I loved my '00 Accord...was really nice to be in. However, I'm surprised by the order of the 2nd to 4th place cars.

 
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is that 5th place the kia? now THAT's surprising. i thought both the kias would be the last two places. oh well, i guess they're improving their quality.

 
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The Accord has always set a benchmark in terms of value, and quality. To be honest the only other car I would buy in that class would be a Camry, again that car is one of the top leaders in that class. I was somewhat disappointed with the 6 though, unless u go for the top package, you are not getting a very good value.

 
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5th is the Subaru. The Hyundai/Kia are 8/9. I'm surprised the Saturn came in last. Our daughter drives one and it's a really nice car.

 
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the mazda is really the only good looking sedan out of the bunch

 
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Congrats to Honda... i'm surprised that VW came before Toyota...

 
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I agree, the new accord coupe and sedan both left me wishing for the last gen

 
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the mazda 6 and the accord are the best out of that whole bunch

 
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oh hehe. i didn't look at the list of cars; i just read the article. i assumed there were two kias in the test, so.... yeah i guess kia does still suck

 
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the 6 has a pretty nice exterior... i would prolly choose that car out of the bunch, even though is has a little less zip in the engine...

 
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My guesses would have been:

1: Camry
2: Accord
3: Altima
4: Passat
5: Mazda 6
6: Who Cares
7: Who Cares
8: Who Cares
9: Yeah
10: Cool

 
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The Accord has a much lower 5 year cost of ownership than the rest besides beating them in today terms and standards. There was a good article in USA Today on Aug. 15 about 5 year cost of ownership and how cars with a lower price and/or a rebate aren't the best buy. It talked about looking at the whole picture, not just the purchase day numbers. Excellent advice that too many car buyers don't heed.