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2026 Subaru Crosstrek ReviewThe Best Mid-Size Sedans of 2025
With all the style, substance, and drivability you miss in the average crossover, today’s hottest mid-size sedans remain defiantly relevant.
The Mid-Size Sedan Soldiers On
This may be the era of the SUV and full-size pickup, but it turns out the once mighty mid-size sedan might be as good as it’s ever been. Even as the segment has shrunk over time, those remaining few options have continued to evolve and improve so that today’s mid-size sedan is a veritable bargain. They carry all the expected bits of tech, from the latest infotainment to advanced driver assistance systems, and comfortable, stylish interiors while providing superior levels of drivability compared to ponderous, top-heavy SUVs.
6. Subaru Legacy
Classic Subaru aesthetic
Spacious interior with lots of cargo space
Legendary all-wheel-drive capability
The features are okay
Underpowered in lower trims
Less competitively priced than a Camry
A sunsetting vehicle that could use a hybrid option
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
7.75/10
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MSRP
$24,895 - $38,195
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
27 City / 35 Hwy (MPG)
The 2025 Subaru Legacy might be the best kept secret among mid-size sedans. Its standard all-wheel drive, powerful turbocharged engine, and low entry price make it surprisingly competitive, even compared to the segment’s best options. The Legacy offers two powertrain options, a base 2.5L flat-four with 182 horsepower or a turbocharged 2.4L making a peppy 260 horsepower. The Legacy’s cabin is competent and comfortable, though you will need to climb the trim ladder to access higher quality materials like Nappa leather upholstery. Like its symmetrical all-wheel drive system, Subaru’s EyeSight suite of advanced safety features comes standard regardless of trim. The Legacy starts at just $24,895, the lowest base price of any vehicle on our list.
5. Nissan Altima
Great value for your money
Strong fuel economy figures
Optional 9-inch bronze wheels
Standard steel wheels are meh
Lack of a more powerful engine
No hybrid engine options
The Goldilocks of sedans
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$27,000 - $33,330
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
27 City / 39 Hwy (MPG)
The 2025 Nissan Altima represents another strong value proposition among mid-size sedans. The Altima is a good all-around vehicle with one glaring deficiency; its only powertrain is merely adequate, 2.5L four-cylinder making 188 horsepower and yielding 32 mph combined. That puts it clearly behind the rest of the segment, which offers either a more efficient hybrid or a more powerful turbocharged engine. The Altima makes up ground once you’ve made your way inside. Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats are among the best and make even hours-long car rides a breeze. Like the Legacy, you’ll need to climb up a few trims to find the best interior quality the Altima has to offer. The Altima does come standard with a generous array of driver assistance features including blind spot monitoring. Starting at just $27,000 helps make the Nissan Altima a reasonable option among mid-size sedans.
4. Hyundai Sonata
Optional hybrid engine
Elegant for a cheap sedan
Very solid standard tech
AWD availability still limited
Still no proper N version
Weaker Engine lacks power
An average sedan with great value
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.5/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$26,900 - $37,700
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
28 City / 38 Hwy (MPG)
The 2025 Hyundai Sonata emphasizes efficiency and high-end tech features while making the most of its recent visual updates. The Sonata offers two engine choices, a 2.5L four-cylinder with 191 horsepower and up to 38 highway mpg, or a hybrid 2.0L with 192 horsepower and up to 51 highway mpg. The Sonata’s interior is a pleasant blend of comfort and practicality. Despite the optional pair of 12.3-inch screens, a digital gauge cluster and infotainment screen, respectively, the Sonata wisely retains physical buttons for HVAC controls. We wished the Sonata offered a bit more room inside as its 34 inches of rear seat legroom came in well behind the segment leaders. Still, a starting price of $26,900 for the SE trim and its highly efficient powertrains make the Hyundai Sonata a value buy worth considering.
3. Kia K5
Attractive and modern styling
Great engine options in all trims
Great value with nice technology
Limited AWD availability
No hybrid models available
Has a lower mpg than it’s rivals
The driver’s choice for an everyday sedan
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
8.75/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$28,145 - $35,645
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
24 City / 33 Hwy (MPG)
If sportiness is more what you crave in your mid-size sedan, the 2025 Kia K5 might be just what you’re looking for. The K5 features the most powerful engine option on our list, plus a recently updated (improved) interior, and loads of standard features. The K5’s pair of engines starts with a 2.5L four-cylinder making 191 horsepower, the same as its corporate cousin, the Hyundai Sonata. But where the Sonata opts for a hybrid, the K5 distinguishes itself with a 2.5L turbo with 290 horsepower paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The K5’s newly renovated interior keeps things simple yet elegant. Our only gripe is the adoption of haptic touch controls for the HVAC system. The K5’s suite of advanced safety features, including adaptive cruise control, comes standard. The Kia K5 is a lot of car for money, starting at $28,145, and stacks up well against the next two cars on our list.
2. Toyota Camry
Top notch fuel economy
Well thought out interior
Sharp, classily styled chassis
No V6 version available
CVT holds performance back
Cramped cabin for taller drivers
A great vehicle overall
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
9/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$29,495 - $35,695
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
44 City / 51 Hwy (MPG)
The Toyota Camry’s sees major updates for its all-new 2025 model year, repositioning it once again at the top of the mid-size sedan segment. The biggest change for the Camry is a move exclusively to hybrid powertrains; gone is the V6. Yet the shift sees the Camry effortlessly marry efficiency and power starting with the front-wheel drive version of the 2.5L four-cylinder, which makes a lively 225 horsepower and yields 51 combined mpg. The optional all-wheel drive version ups output to 232 horsepower and offers 44 combined mpg. The Camry’s revised cabin sees a marked improvement in both material quality and aesthetics. Upper trims offer a pair of 12.3-inch screens, a digital gauge cluster and an infotainment touchscreen, respectively. Every Camry comes with Toyota’s Safety Sense and includes adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring among its driver assist features. The base LE starts a bit above the segment average at $29,495 but is well-equipped as a result.
1. Honda Accord
MSRP starts under $30,000
Hybrid fuel efficiency
Top marks from safety agencies
Best features exclusive to top model
No options for All Wheel Drive
CVT is the only option available
Thank you, Honda, for continuing to make a solid sedan
CARSFORSALE.COM SCORE
9.5/10
How Do We Score?
CarsForSale.com takes into account key metrics to compile an aggregate score. Click to learn more.
MSRP
$28,295 - $39,300
BEST FUEL ECONOMY
17 City / 23 Hwy (MPG)
The 2025 Honda Accord also sits at the top of our list of the best mid-size sedans. Athletic handling, efficiency, and daily drivability see the Accord setting the bar high for the rest of the segment. Though it lacks a bit of the horsepower of its rivals, the Accord possesses a superior chassis, making it the segment’s most enjoyable driver’s car. The base 1.5L turbo-four makes 192 horsepower and offers a respectable, if unremarkable, 32 combined mpg. The 2.0L hybrid set up bumps to 204 horsepower and nets 48 combined mpg (44 combined for the Hybrid Sport/Touring). The Accord’s interior abuts luxury levels in terms of design while fit and finish aren’t far behind. Rear set legroom is also tops in the segment with a capacious 41 inches. Honda Sensing, their suite of advanced driver assist tech, comes standard on every Accord. Minor flaws like the lack of an all-wheel drive option or the CVT as the sole transmission do little to dim the brilliance of the 2025 Honda Accord.
