Full Text for the Consumer Reports article
The four family sedans in this auto test are among the best on the market, and three of the them have been updated in the past year. The Volkswagen Passat, which has been our top-rated family sedan since 1999, received a mild freshening last spring, with subtle styling changes and 20 more horsepower. The Toyota Camry, America's best-selling car from 1997 through 2000 and one of our top-rated sedans, received a major redesign for 2002, its first since 1997. Among its many enhancements are all-new styling, more interior space, a stronger four-cylinder engine, and more safety features.
The Nissan Altima, which made its debut in 1993, was also redesigned and has been transformed from an unremarkable, run-of-the-mill sedan into a major competitor. In addition to new styling, it offers a roomier, better-appointed interior, improved ride and handling, a stronger four-cylinder engine, and, for the first time, the availability of a V6. The Honda Accord, meanwhile, continues to be one of the top sellers and one of our top-rated family cars despite its four-year-old design. It's due for a major overhaul for 2003.
To see how they compare, we've put together a two-part report. For this report, we tested four-cylinder versions of all four cars. In our February 2002 autos report, we'll detail how a V6-equipped Camry and Altima compete against six-cylinder competitors from Dodge and Pontiac, and we'll also see how they rank against our previous tests of a six-cylinder Accord and Passat.
Sticker prices for this month's similarly-equipped test cars ranged from $22,154 for the Nissan Altima to $25,380 for the Volkswagen Passat; models with a V6 cost several thousand dollars more. Four-cylinder models typically provide about 1 to 4 mpg better overall fuel economy than the V6 editions, although the trade-off is less power and typically more noise and vibration.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Passat and Camry, virtually identical in our overall test scores, remain the best choices among midpriced four-cylinder family sedans. They differ more in character than performance, with the Passat providing the driving experience of a well-balanced sports sedan and the Camry emphasizing comfort and quietness.
The Volkswagen Passat is a well-rounded vehicle with very good braking, ride, and handling; a spacious and comfortable interior; and top-quality fit and finish. Excellent seats and impressive crash-test results round out the package. The standard engine is now a 170-hp, 1.8-liter turbocharged Four that's clean enough for the Passat to be rated an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV). Acceleration is lively, but the engine occasionally hesitates on takeoff and sounds a bit noisy--the only gripe we have with this impressive car. Reliability has been above average.
The well-equipped Passat starts at $21,750. With a five-speed automatic transmission, a sunroof, and alloy wheels, our test car cost $25,380 including destination. The CR Wholesale Price--which includes any buyer rebates and what the dealer paid after incentives--is $22,531. (All CR Wholesale Prices were effective as of early November 2001.)
The Toyota Camry is roomy and comfortable. It's easy to get into and out of, has an excellent control layout, and serves up a quiet and composed driving experience. It handles well, though not as crisply as the Passat; the brakes, though capable, aren't as good as they should be. Part of the Camry's redesign is a new 157-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that's one of the smoothest, quietest Fours we've tested. Reliability should be much better than average.
We chose the midlevel Camry LE, which starts at $19,800 with a four-speed automatic transmission. An optional antilock brake system (ABS) and sunroof bumped the price for the LE we tested to $22,539, including destination. The CR Wholesale Price is $19,639.
Though more dated, the Honda Accord remains competitive. Handling is secure, and braking is excellent. Interior fit and finish are also impressive, and reliability is top-notch. Road noise is pronounced and the ride is a bit jittery, however. Another criticism is the Accord's acceleration; it's leisurely by today's standards and proved the slowest of this group, with no reward in fuel economy.
We chose the top-trim Accord EX, powered by a 148-hp, 2.3-liter Four. The EX comes with ABS, a four-speed automatic, sunroof, and alloy wheels. Its sticker price was $22,740, including destination. The CR Wholesale Price is $20,510.
The redesigned Nissan Altima has now become one of the top family sedans, with secure handling, a roomy interior, lots of standard equipment, and a competitive price. Its new four-cylinder engine is both powerful and economical. Other strengths include ride and acceleration, where the Altima topped the Honda Accord in our tests. By contrast, fit and finish are unimpressive, and suspension noise is pronounced. Reliability should be better than average.
We tested the Altima 2.5 S, which is powered by a 175-hp, 2.5-liter Four. Pricing for the 2.5 S begins at $18,849. With option packages including ABS, side air bags, a power driver seat, and alloy wheels, the tally came to $22,154 for our test car, including destination. The CR Wholesale Price is $19,897.
