2008 Chrysler Sebring

Midsize cars still represent the best combination of assets to meet the broadest range of needs. For a blend of passenger and cargo space, affordability, fuel economy, and variety, no other single vehicle comes close to matching the midsize car.

You can even add excitement to the mix. Adventurous styling, cutting-edge features, sporty performance, and real luxury are by no means foreign concepts in today's midsize-car market. From mild to wild, you'll find it in the midsize-car category--if you know where to look.

Price Check

Consumer Guide's 2008 midsize car category contains 24 nameplates from manufacturers in the U.S., Japan, Europe, and South Korea. Their average base price, including options and delivery charges, is $23,929.

The least expensive models typically have 4-cylinder engines and manual transmissions, but they also typically come with power windows and locks, air conditioning, and important safety features such as curtain side airbags and antilock brakes. The starting price of the least-expensive models on our list averages $20,065, though the Kia Optima and Rondo offer versions with base prices around $16,400.

Top-of-the line midsize cars typically come with V6 engines and automatic transmissions, and frequently such amenities as a sunroof, leather upholstery, automatic climate control, and a navigation system. The starting price of the top-line models averages $27,792, with base prices of top-line Chrysler Sebring, Subaru Legacy and Outback, and the Volkswagen Passat breaching $31,000.
Check out our premium midsize car roundup for information on models that typically start at $35,000 and emphasize luxury and performance.

Spending your money efficiently is the smart approach in any vehicle purchase and is especially important in the midsize class, where there are so many vehicles and options to choose from.

Happily, only a small minority of midsize cars do not include such important safety features as curtain side airbags and an antiskid system as standard equipment. We strongly recommend you spend first on every available safety feature, then spring for amenities like sunroofs, leather upholstery, powerful engines, and navigation systems.

Finally, consider resale value. The Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, for example, are seldom discounted, but have the highest resale value in the class. A strong resale value potentially offsets some of their initial cost. Still, many midsize buyers must determine where to save money--up front or at trade-in time. If you're on a tight budget, saving money up front may be the better choice.

Come In, Sit Down

Practicality is the midsize-car's forte, and some models fulfill that core purpose better than others. Before you even take a test drive check the room and comfort of the front and rear seats. How's the headroom? Is there enough legroom? Are the cushions firm and supportive? Is the car easy to get into and out of?

A few midsize cars come as two-door coupes and convertibles, which present challenges of their own. Long heavy doors are a hassle in tight parking spots. And a two-door car's backseat is usually cramped and particularly difficult to get into and out of.

Examine the car's trunk. Can it hold your family's vacation luggage? Is the opening large enough to load that microwave oven box? Will the trunklid hinges crush your cargo? A few manufacturers offer midsize station wagons. Is that a wiser alternative for you?

Power Versus Economy

The midsize buyer's selection typically comes down to a 4-cylinder or a 6-cylinder engine. However, you can get a V8 in the Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Impala, and Pontiac Grand Prix. More cylinders usually mean a higher price at purchase time and at the gas pump.

The 4-cylinder choice is a vote for fuel economy. Midsize cars with 4-cylinder engines average about 25 mpg in Consumer Guide road tests. But some 4-cylinder models feel underpowered, especially in highway passing or merging situations or with a complement of passengers and cargo. Many brands offer a manual transmission with their 4-cylinder engines, and opting to shift for yourself can benefit both acceleration and fuel economy versus the less-efficient automatic transmission.

Midsize cars with 6-cylinder engines have enough power for most everyday needs, and some, such as the 270-horsepower Nissan Altima 3.5 SE and 280-horsepower Volkswagen Passat VR6, are downright lively. But 6-cylinder fuel economy dips into the low-20-mpg range overall, and can settle in the high-teens if you have a heavy throttle foot.

The V8 models deliver robust acceleration, but also fuel economy in the 15 to 17 mpg range in our tests.

Take your driving needs into account, and learn if the engine you want requires expensive premium-octane gas. Compare annual fuel costs--they're found right on the window sticker--and consider how your choice of engine will affect your budget.

Hybrid and Flex-Fuel Alternatives

Five 2008 midsize cars are available with gas-electric hybrid powertrains: the Chevrolet Malibu, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry and Prius, and the Satura Aura; this is up from just two models for 2007. All use a battery-powered electric motor in combination with a gas engine. Their hybrid systems are self-charging and require no plug-in. These hybrids have worked well in our tests, delivering good fuel economy with relatively few powertrain quirks, but they cost about $1600 more than the comparable non-hybrid models in their lineups.

The bottom line? Hybrids are a fuel-efficient way to enjoy the benefits of a midsize car. They perform as well or better than their non-hybrid counterparts, and emit fewer exhaust emissions while doing it. But it will take many miles to recoup a hybrid model's higher purchase price in fuel savings.

Sharing some headlines with gas-electric hybrids are so-called flex-fuel vehicles. These have engines that can run on conventional gasoline, the E85 blend of ethanol and gasoline, or any mix of the two. Ethanol is made from renewable plant products grown on U.S. and foreign soil, and E85 is promoted as one avenue to America's independence from imported oil.

In the midsize-car class the Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, and Chevrolet Impala offer V6 engines with flex-fuel capability. The E85 capability adds no cost to the purchase price of these cars, and in our tests, the use of E85 fuel has had no effect on vehicle performance.

But E85 fuel is not widely available. It's offered at only a fraction of the nation's gas stations, and most of those are in Midwest corn-producing states. And E85 has less energy content than a comparable volume of conventional gasoline, so fuel economy can suffer by as much as 20 percent per gallon.

Safety First

Any midsize car you're considering should have antilock brakes and curtain side airbags. These are very important safety features.

On some models, these features are included in the base price. On others, they're optional at between $1,000 and $2,000. In some cases, these safety items are available only on the more-expensive uplevel models in the lineup. In any case, it's well worth the extra expense, and its money more wisely spent than for convenience options.

Antiskid control is another safety enhancement available on many midsize cars. It helps the driver maintain the intended path in fast curves and on slippery roads. Finally, all-wheel drive can be an important traction aid in inclement weather. Among midsize cars, it's available on versions of the Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Volkswagen Passat, and is standard on the Subaru Legacy and Outback.

Spice It Up

There's no reason your family car has to look or feel like a mere transportation appliance. There's no reason it has to act like one either. Fancy alloy wheels, high-watt audio systems, body spoilers, fog lamps, heated leather seats, even swoopy coupe and convertible body styles are there for the asking in the midsize category.

Many midsize cars come in sport versions, with taut suspension settings, wide low-profile tires, and powerful engines. The Pontiac Grand Prix GXP, for example, has all of the above, and with its 303-horsepower V8, does 0-60 mph in under 6.0 seconds.

None of this spice comes cheaply; you'll pay to play. And you may sacrifice some fuel economy and even comfort. Many of the performance models ride more stiffly than their plainer counterparts, for example. The upside is that even if you opt for the sporty version, you'll retain the basic utility that makes a midsize car attractive in the first place.

Reliability and Warranties

Any midsize car's value equation must take into account how much it will cost to maintain. That comes down to how often it will need service, and how much of that service is covered under warranty.

In general, Japanese brands tend to score highest on customer surveys of reliability and overall vehicle satisfaction. However, Buick and Mercury, among domestic brands offering midsize cars, scored well in some recent surveys. So did the South Korean manufacturer, Hyundai. The good news is that the gap in long-term quality between high-priced cars and non-luxury brands is closing rapidly.

Factor into your purchase decision the duration of the factory warranty. It's an important way to save money in the first years of ownership by relieving yourself of out-of-pocket service expenses. Every manufacturer's basic warranty covers the entire vehicle for repair or replacement of everything but wear items, such as brake pads and windshield wiper blades. These "bumper-to-bumper" warranties typically last 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. But some are longer. Among midsize brands, Buick's and Volkswagen's bumper-to-bumper coverage is 4/50,000, while Hyundai's and Kia's basic coverage is 5/60,000.

All midsize cars also come with a powertrain warranty, typically for 5 years/60,000 miles. This covers repairs on the costliest components of a car--the engine, transmission, and the rest of the drivetrain. The most generous powertrain warranty is on Chrysler Group products, which is lifetime coverage for the original owner. With a similar restriction, Hyundai and Kia provide 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage.

Shop Smart

With so many manufacturers represented, and with a few hundred dollars on the window sticker that could make or break a deal, the midsize market is subject to intense competition. Use this competition and price sensitivity to your advantage when negotiating the purchase price.

Shop as many dealers as practical. Make it clear to your salesperson that there are plenty of other brands and dealerships vying for your business. Keep your eye on the bottom-line price for the vehicle and all its options, including delivery fees and taxes. Use that figure for comparison.

As with any automotive purchase, get only the equipment and options you need and use. If you have to decide between, say, a CD changer or antilock brakes, do the right thing for you and your family and get ABS.

Finally, never purchase without a long test drive in the exact car you are considering. Different trim levels in the same lineup may come with specific tires and suspension tuning that make them ride and handle very differently. The same goes for differences in seats, engines, and transmissions.