Car Rankings: Affordable Midsize Cars
Ranking of midsize cars, generally priced under $25,000. Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and more. Rankings based on an in-depth analysis by U.S. News editors of all published auto ratings, reviews and test drives.
- MSRP: $27,625 - $27,625
- Invoice: $25,313 - $25,313
- Avg. Paid: $27,554 - $27,554
- MPG: 41 City / 36 Hwy
#1
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is the 2010 North American Car of the Year. Many reviewers are calling it the best hybrid sedan yet. It holds its ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 9.3 |
| Performance: | 9.1 |
| Exterior: | 8.9 |
| Interior: | 8.9 |
| Safety: | 9.9 |
| Reliability: | 9.0 |
- MSRP: $27,855 - $27,855
- Invoice: $25,555 - $25,555
- Avg. Paid: $27,851 - $27,851
- MPG: 41 (Est) City / 36 (Est) Hwy
#1
2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid
The 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid is a very close cousin to the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - and many reviewers call the pair the best hybrid sedans ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 9.3 |
| Performance: | 9.1 |
| Exterior: | 8.1 |
| Interior: | 8.8 |
| Safety: | 9.9 |
| Reliability: | 9.0 |
- MSRP: $19,620 - $28,030
- Invoice: $18,305 - $25,677
- Avg. Paid: $19,570 - $27,854
- MPG: 22 City / 31 Hwy
#3
2010 Ford Fusion
The 2010 Motor Trend Car of the Year, the Ford Fusion is no longer just viable competition for the imports. It's now one of the best midsize ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 9.2 |
| Performance: | 8.8 |
| Exterior: | 8.9 |
| Interior: | 8.8 |
| Safety: | 9.9 |
| Reliability: | 9.0 |
- MSRP: $22,400 - $27,670
- Invoice: $21,056 - $25,757
- Avg. Paid: $22,658 - $27,830
- MPG: 51 (Est) City / 48 (Est) Hwy
#4
2010 Toyota Prius
All-new from the wheels up, the car that has come to symbolize environmental consciousness is now more fuel-efficient, more powerful, and larger than before. The 2010 Toyota ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 9.1 |
| Performance: | 8.5 |
| Exterior: | 8.4 |
| Interior: | 8.0 |
| Safety: | 9.3 |
| Reliability: | 10.0 |
- MSRP: $21,825 - $26,955
- Invoice: $20,734 - $25,607
- Avg. Paid: $21,767 - $26,697
- MPG: 22 City / 30 Hwy
#5
2010 Chevrolet Malibu
The Chevy Malibu has enjoyed a ranking near the top of the midsize car class since a 2008 redesign. With a distinctive, two-tone cabin more stylish than ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 9.0 |
| Performance: | 7.9 |
| Exterior: | 9.0 |
| Interior: | 8.4 |
| Safety: | 9.9 |
| Reliability: | 8.0 |
- MSRP: $21,055 - $31,305
- Invoice: $19,101 - $28,363
- Avg. Paid: $20,264 - $29,934
- MPG: 21 City / 31 Hwy
#5
2010 Honda Accord
The Honda Accord has been an excellent choice for most family sedan buyers for more than a generation. The 2010 Accord does nothing to change that, with ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 9.0 |
| Performance: | 8.2 |
| Exterior: | 7.7 |
| Interior: | 8.6 |
| Safety: | 9.8 |
| Reliability: | 9.0 |
- MSRP: $26,150 - $26,150
- Invoice: $23,796 - $23,796
- Avg. Paid: $25,581 - $25,581
- MPG: 33 (Est) City / 34 (Est) Hwy
#5
2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid
The 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid offers all of the virtues of the Toyota Camry - rock-solid dependability, exceptional comfort and low long-term cost of ownership - with ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 9.0 |
| Performance: | 8.0 |
| Exterior: | 8.0 |
| Interior: | 8.4 |
| Safety: | 8.7 |
| Reliability: | 10.0 |
- MSRP: $27,085 - $33,015
- Invoice: $26,002 - $31,694
- Avg. Paid: $27,156 - $32,963
- MPG: 18 (est) City / 27 (est) Hwy
#8
2010 Buick LaCrosse
When the 2010 Buick LaCrosse first appeared, the automotive press collectively gasped, "That thing's a Buick?!" With a Lexus-like interior, and elegant exterior and better road manners ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 8.9 |
| Performance: | 8.5 |
| Exterior: | 9.3 |
| Interior: | 9.0 |
| Safety: | 9.9 |
| Reliability: | 8.0 |
- MSRP: $19,395 - $29,045
- Invoice: $17,938 - $26,138
- Avg. Paid: $18,677 - $27,693
- MPG: 21 City / 31 Hwy
#8
2010 Toyota Camry
Sales of the Camry have been halted while Toyota addresses a problem with the car's accelerator. For more information on the Toyota recall, including how it affects ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 8.9 |
| Performance: | 7.7 |
| Exterior: | 8.0 |
| Interior: | 8.6 |
| Safety: | 8.7 |
| Reliability: | 10.0 |
- MSRP: $19,900 - $29,600
- Invoice: $19,078 - $27,425
- Avg. Paid: $19,573 - $28,546
- MPG: 23 City / 31 Hwy
#10
2010 Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima is as practical and functional as the top midsize family sedans, but adds a dose of fun most of them lack. It’s no match ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 8.7 |
| Performance: | 8.5 |
| Exterior: | 8.7 |
| Interior: | 7.6 |
| Safety: | 9.2 |
| Reliability: | NA |
- MSRP: NA
- Invoice: NA
- MPG: NA
#11
2010 Kia Optima
Kia’s steadily-improving Optima should make it onto the test-drive list of some shoppers looking to spend less than $20,000 on a midsize car, but only those willing ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 8.6 |
| Performance: | 8.2 |
| Exterior: | 7.0 |
| Interior: | 7.9 |
| Safety: | 9.9 |
| Reliability: | NA |
- MSRP: $21,535 - $28,155
- Invoice: $19,866 - $25,825
- Avg. Paid: $21,738 - $28,121
- MPG: 22 (Est) City / 31 (Est) Hwy
#11
2010 Mercury Milan
The Mercury Milan is an attractive and well-balanced family car. Fun to drive for a front-wheel-drive, midpriced, midsize sedan, it offers an upscale cabin and an impressive ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 8.6 |
| Performance: | 7.7 |
| Exterior: | 8.3 |
| Interior: | 7.7 |
| Safety: | 9.9 |
| Reliability: | 9.0 |
- MSRP: $26,780 - $26,780
- Invoice: $25,097 - $25,097
- Avg. Paid: $26,266 - $26,266
- MPG: 35 City / 33 Hwy
#11
2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid
The Nissan Altima Hybrid offers the sharp handling and spacious interior of the Nissan Altima, and the added fuel efficiency of a hybrid powertrain. It’s available in ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 8.6 |
| Performance: | 7.9 |
| Exterior: | 8.7 |
| Interior: | 8.5 |
| Safety: | 9.2 |
| Reliability: | NA |
- MSRP: $18,450 - $28,390
- Invoice: $17,507 - $26,219
- Avg. Paid: $17,740 - $27,069
- MPG: 20 City / 29 Hwy
#14
2010 Mazda Mazda6
Entirely redesigned last year, the Mazda6 is one of the sportiest and sexiest cars available in the midsize sedan segment. It gets expensive, however, once you start ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 8.5 |
| Performance: | 8.7 |
| Exterior: | 9.2 |
| Interior: | 8.4 |
| Safety: | 8.8 |
| Reliability: | 5.0 |
- MSRP: $19,995 - $29,995
- Invoice: $18,926 - $28,061
- Avg. Paid: $19,097 - $28,327
- MPG: 19 City / 27 Hwy
#14
2010 Subaru Legacy
No longer just a quirky option with all-wheel drive, the redesigned Subaru Legacy now one of the most spacious cars in its class. It's a fun-to-drive sedan ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 8.5 |
| Performance: | 8.5 |
| Exterior: | 7.9 |
| Interior: | 7.6 |
| Safety: | 10.0 |
| Reliability: | 6.0 |
- MSRP: $18,700 - $26,550
- Invoice: $17,922 - $24,809
- Avg. Paid: $18,657 - $26,121
- MPG: 21 (2009) City / 32 (2009) Hwy
#16
2010 Hyundai Sonata
Once a budget option, the Hyundai Sonata is now a legitimate competitor for the best midsize sedans. It is not notable for any one trait, but does ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 8.4 |
| Performance: | 7.6 |
| Exterior: | 7.2 |
| Interior: | 8.3 |
| Safety: | 9.7 |
| Reliability: | 7.0 |
- MSRP: $26,995 - $26,995
- Invoice: $25,226 - $25,277
- Avg. Paid: $25,629 - $25,905
- MPG: 22 City / 31 Hwy
#17
2010 Volkswagen Passat
The 2010 Volkswagen Passat is an affordable midsize car with an interior that almost belongs in a more expensive class, combined with with suspension tuning that makes ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 8.1 |
| Performance: | 8.0 |
| Exterior: | 7.7 |
| Interior: | 8.2 |
| Safety: | 8.3 |
| Reliability: | 6.0 |
- MSRP: $19,800 - $23,100
- Invoice: $18,688 - $21,790
- Avg. Paid: $20,372 - $23,652
- MPG: 40 City / 43 Hwy
#18
2010 Honda Insight
The Honda Insight is an all-new, hybrid-only sedan resembling the Toyota Prius, but starting from a lower price. The Insight's easy-to-drive nature and affordable price make it ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 7.7 |
| Performance: | 7.7 |
| Exterior: | 8.7 |
| Interior: | 7.3 |
| Safety: | 9.6 |
| Reliability: | 8.0 |
- MSRP: $21,599 - $23,999
- Invoice: $20,379 - $22,643
- Avg. Paid: $21,980 - $24,325
- MPG: 20 City / 27 Hwy
#19
2010 Mitsubishi Galant
The Mitsubishi Galant has never been as refined as the top sedans in its class. Reviewers consistently cite its cheap interior materials and build quality as reasons ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 7.6 |
| Performance: | 8.0 |
| Exterior: | 7.5 |
| Interior: | 7.8 |
| Safety: | 9.6 |
| Reliability: | 7.0 |
- MSRP: $22,115 - $34,705
- Invoice: $21,240 - $33,087
- Avg. Paid: $21,692 - $33,415
- MPG: 21 City / 21 Hwy
#20
2010 Chrysler Sebring
The Chrysler Sebring has languished near the bottom of the midsize car class for years. With parent company Chrysler cutting costs in recent years, it hasn't received ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 7.1 |
| Performance: | 6.5 |
| Exterior: | 7.2 |
| Interior: | 7.3 |
| Safety: | 9.8 |
| Reliability: | 6.0 |
- MSRP: $20,230 - $21,730
- Invoice: $19,524 - $20,889
- Avg. Paid: $19,991 - $21,409
- MPG: 21 City / 30 Hwy
#21
2010 Dodge Avenger
The aging Dodge Avenger has always sat at the back of a very large, very competitive group of midsize family cars. It comes into 2010 unchanged, and ...
| U.S.News Scores | |
|---|---|
| Overall: | 6.5 |
| Performance: | 6.1 |
| Exterior: | 7.9 |
| Interior: | 6.9 |
| Safety: | 9.9 |
| Reliability: | 5.0 |
Unranked: Affordable Midsize Cars
Our rankings are based on analysis of third party reviews. Sometimes, we are unable to find enough reviews to publish a definitive ranking. Please check back later, as we are constantly updating our reviews.
It's a confusing time to be shopping for a new car. While there are some incredible deals to be had, many of those incentives are for cars that don't offer a lot of value in the long term.
The U.S. News