Having recently been car-shopping and having driven and bought none of the above, with my wife in a new Forester instead, I'll relate what I learned in driving these cars. Three four cylinder automatics. There is no stick Camry, not sure about the Fusion and while there are stick Accords, they're rare. These are probably the least costly decent mainstream cars available and any one of them would make a good daily driver as well as a family car for trips. Which to pick would depend upon how large your kids are. Real world fuel economy would probably be a wash between them.
Fusion: The driver's car. Feels, drives and rides tight. Decent power and very tall gearing in top. Quiet and composed and decently quick. Good sized trunk but not enough interior space for four adults. Cheapest car of the group. Would be a very good value for those willing to endure a sharper ride as well as no real back seat for adults.
Camry: The Lexus. Good ride and very quiet. Not a handler, but Camrys never were. Decent power but the slowest of the three. More room than the Fusion but not in the league of the Accord. A decent car at a decent price. Priced between the Accord and the Fusion.
Accord: Great room along with decent ride and handling. Does not ride as well as the Camry but is better than the Fusion. Does not handle as well as the Fusion but is better than the Camry.
Trumps either other car for room. Four adults fit comfortably. Also the fastest of the three in comparing NA four cylinder engines.
Subaru Forester: What we ended up buying for quite a few more dollars than any of the above but what my wife feels happy driving on her brutal commute. Rides very well and is quiet. Very good fuel economy for a real AWD car along with 9" of ground clearance. Plenty of room for four adults plus gear. Not a corner carving machine, but my wife will never do that anyway.
JMHO, but this is what I found.
Fusion: The driver's car. Feels, drives and rides tight. Decent power and very tall gearing in top. Quiet and composed and decently quick. Good sized trunk but not enough interior space for four adults. Cheapest car of the group. Would be a very good value for those willing to endure a sharper ride as well as no real back seat for adults.
Camry: The Lexus. Good ride and very quiet. Not a handler, but Camrys never were. Decent power but the slowest of the three. More room than the Fusion but not in the league of the Accord. A decent car at a decent price. Priced between the Accord and the Fusion.
Accord: Great room along with decent ride and handling. Does not ride as well as the Camry but is better than the Fusion. Does not handle as well as the Fusion but is better than the Camry.
Trumps either other car for room. Four adults fit comfortably. Also the fastest of the three in comparing NA four cylinder engines.
Subaru Forester: What we ended up buying for quite a few more dollars than any of the above but what my wife feels happy driving on her brutal commute. Rides very well and is quiet. Very good fuel economy for a real AWD car along with 9" of ground clearance. Plenty of room for four adults plus gear. Not a corner carving machine, but my wife will never do that anyway.
JMHO, but this is what I found.
