Edmunds-A surprising winner!

[KitaCam]

Originally Posted By: supton
Impressive.

Speaking of manual, our stickshift Camry I don't think has gotten over 32mpg. Maybe if we drove it at 55mph or something it could. So getting nearly 40mpg is impressive.


That's kind of strange...I get 34.5 on the highway @ 70-77mph over a 3+ hour run...I know your oil is 0w-20 syn so I won't go there...but I'll ask if you have tried putting in new plugs...? Have you checked for any clogging to the PCV valve? Just trying to help here...

 

[needsducktape]

I wouldn't say surprising.

These are the opinions of a few guys that get paid to write.

I would bet ANY of these cars would server their purpose well.

I think too much is made calling a car a winner or looser. -too extreme.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: needsducktape
I think too much is made calling a car a winner or looser. -too extreme.


Yup. "Best" is subjective and depends on one's priorities, hence what's best for you is not necessarily best for me. Reading through it though, one can figure out each car's strength and weaknesses and decide who the "winner" is for themselves.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: KitaCam
Originally Posted By: supton
Impressive.

Speaking of manual, our stickshift Camry I don't think has gotten over 32mpg. Maybe if we drove it at 55mph or something it could. So getting nearly 40mpg is impressive.


That's kind of strange...I get 34.5 on the highway @ 70-77mph over a 3+ hour run...I know your oil is 0w-20 syn so I won't go there...but I'll ask if you have tried putting in new plugs...? Have you checked for any clogging to the PCV valve? Just trying to help here...


Yours is an '05, ours is an '11, with the bigger 2.5L, and it likely is heavier. I'll ask the wife what she gets on the highway trips when it's not me driving it--when I drive it, I get 28ish. [But I cruise at 80mph, and the car is usually filled with family and luggage.] She says she gets 32 on our backroads, which are mostly 40mph or so.

Done this since new. Way too early for plugs I'd think, or PCV, or, well, anything.

 

[charbaby]

For the more, everyday type driving, I'd like the easier going vehicle(whichever that is) with the most comfortable/quiet(er) interior.

This is why we keep our summer car ONLY in the garage for the last 33 years. Any of these family sedans w/4 cyl's will easily kick butt on my V8, T-Top FORMULA but, it sure is fun to drive on those nice summer days.

 

[MBS500]

I used to have 03 altima with v6. At that time it was much better than Camry and Accord, especially SE-R edition. No surprise it scored good again and I would pick altima again over honda and yota, tgey just plain and boring souless transportation. And yes, I used to have stick v6 camry and driven stick 4cyl accord, and had very old accord with stick(that one I actually liked a lot)

 

[Mykl]

Originally Posted By: needsducktape
I wouldn't say surprising.

These are the opinions of a few guys that get paid to write.

I would bet ANY of these cars would server their purpose well.

I think too much is made calling a car a winner or looser. -too extreme.



This. I don't trust the big name auto advertisements publications. I've heard too many stories of manufacturer bullying and influence creeping into these reviews. Granted, I feel like this test is perhaps as clean as it gets, but still.

 

[Gillsy]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
I'd take a base model 6M mazda 6 any day!


Originally Posted By: sciphi
Sounds like Mazda did what it does best, make a driver's car. It also sounds like the Nissan would be a fine interstate cruiser, but might get annoying with the CVT's attempts to drop revs all the time.


I drove a Versa with the CVT. It had the opposite problem. Cruise control set at 55 on the flat highway, it would randomly shoot up to 4000RPM, then go down to 2000.

CVTs - Excellent idea! Poor execution ... horrible execution.
This is the first complaint I ever heard of this nature on a Nissan cvt. My wife has driven a 2011 Versa SL for 50,000 miles, and it has never acted in that fashion unless depressed pedal for passing. Maybe there was a problem with the car you drove. Bummer!

 

[mechanicx]

I think Edmunds got it right in their pick of these three cars. I don't find Accords too appealing being usually noiser, harder riding and not great performance handling or great styling, and always like the Altima better.

Of course I'd probably pick the Malibu over any of these three. I'd rather the Altima had a 6-speed auto even if it did decrease gas milage some. If I want a real sporty handling car I'd get a base model ATS or something similar.

 

[Artem]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: Artem
I don't understand why they used 91 octane gas in the Accord (requires regular) and used 87 octane in the other two (also requires regular)

Just seems fishy to me. If the Accord's engine is tuned for 87 octane then 91 didn't do it any good and could have actually caused it the retard the timing and thus, get less gas mileage.


If anything premium fuel may have allowed the Accord's engine to advance the timing, gaining it fuel economy. Even though the owner's manual recommends 87 octane, the ECU likely has capacity to advance the timing if it determines that it can.

My 2011 Camry was that way. The owner's manual recommended 87 octane, but that engine ran FAR better on 93 octane. It's all I used in it. I got better mileage, too, making the difference in cost mostly a wash. I have tried 93 octane in our CR-V, but it doesn't seem to make a difference either way.


Benefit or not, I just find it strange that all specify regular gas yet 1 got premium for this test.

The owners manual of my 98 Camry V6 literally says regular gas is ok to use but better engine performance can be had with 91 octane or higher gas. I've used 93 octane for many fill ups and didn't see much gas mileage improvement but the engine did feel to respond better. I now use regular gas as it's cheaper for my "beater" and gets the job done.

 

[donnyj08]

i like the Mazda. very stylish looking. its a beautiful car. being built in japan isn't a bad thing. sure it isn't good for the american laborer but i bet it is well built.