Commuting — and kid-schlepping — in three cars you should put on your shopping list
With American buyers convinced cheap gas will last forever this time, trucks and crossovers are making sales news again. However, the bread-and-butter midsize sedan still moves most commuters each morning, and the bulk of those sedans wear either a Camry or Accord nameplate.
In this competitive segment, though, there are other choices that offer features — and horsepower numbers — that were the domain of premium luxury cars just a few years back. At the $ 30,000 price point (give or take a grand), the choice seems to be power or luxury, rather than both, so here we’re going to look at different approaches for different kinds of drivers rather than going for a straight apples-to-apples comparison.
Presented in alphabetical order, we have three 2016 midsize sedan contenders — the Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima and Volkswagen Passat — plus two kids who need to get to school; let’s see how things shake out.
2016 Hyundai Sonata Sport 2.0T
As-tested price: $ 29,885
Dad rating: B
Hyundai’s turbo four pulls strong from the start and makes this Sonata Sport a snappy freeway weapon, despite a coarse engine note and touchy accelerator pedal. The wide range of seat adjustments and well-laid-out dash also make it an easy car to enjoy, though lots of black plastic and a fair bit of road noise remind you this car is also the least expensive of the bunch. Still, it has just about everything the average commuter could want in a daily driver, plus a healthy dose of boosted fun under the right foot, all in an attractive if nondescript exterior package. You can also trade the turbo engine for more options in the Sonata Limited, or get them both (for several thousand more) in the Limited 2.0T.
Kid rating: A
Plenty of rear-seat legroom and comfortable seats, though it’s a little hard for short passengers to see well out of the side windows. Heated rear seats are a huge plus for winter.
Overall verdict: Excellent value for the money with a great engine and lots of features.
Read our 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid review here
2016 Kia Optima (SX-L model shown)
2016 Kia Optima EX
As-tested price: $ 30,615
Dad rating: A
In contrast with the Sonata Sport 2.0T’s power-over-luxe approach, the Kia Optima EX trades the turbo engine for a kitchen-sink options package; it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison, but it is an example of the kind of tradeoff buyers at the $ 30K price point face. Don’t let the output fool you, though: This Kia gets moving just fine thanks to its silky 2.4-liter I4, and its Bentley-esque interior trim and options may be more appealing than the Hyundai’s extra power. The Optima is also by far the quietest of our three sedans, with outstanding isolation from road, wind and engine noise. As with the Hyundai, the Kia can be had with a turbocharged engine and fewer luxury appointments for about the same price, or with everything in one package for about $ 35K.
Kid rating: A+
Good rear legroom and “fun” perforated, quilted-leather seats. Multi-stage heated seats and side glass sunshades keep snoozy kids cozy in all kinds of weather, and the huge sunroof makes everything feel open and airy, even in back.
Overall verdict: If you want something “loaded” with luxury-car goodies and a silent, serene ride, this is your car.
Read our full 2016 Kia Optima review here
2016 Volkswagen Passat SEL
As-tested price: $ 31,315
Dad rating: B-
News of the new Passat got lost in VW’s diesel emissions scandal last fall, but there are huge technology and powertrain improvements in this big sedan. It’s finally class-competitive, with safety features like blind-spot assist and adaptive cruise control, plus there’s amazing interior room (it’s like a long-wheelbase executive sedan inside) and a massive trunk. The Passat boasts VW’s crisp handling and a quiet, responsive turbo powertrain (that takes regular fuel and returns remarkably good economy), but a LOT of wind and road noise makes it into a cabin that still contains some chintzy hard plastics. The Passat’s seats are also markedly less comfortable than those in the Optima and Sonata.
As with the others, an available upmarket Passat gets power (in the form of a V6, in this case) and more amenities, but it’s easy to touch $ 40K by the time you’re done.
Kid rating: A
Room to stick little legs all the way out and STILL not touch the front seatbacks; the ski-pass-through hatch in the center seatback is fun to open, letting you look into the trunk, and heated rear seats keep things toasty. The traditional small sunroof is fine for the front seats but does nothing for back-seat passengers.
Overall verdict: In terms of size and driving dynamics, the Passat is a poor man’s Audi A8L; it just needs better seats and some sound deadening.
Read our full 2016 VW Passat review here
