MOTORPHILIA » Blog Archive » You have $22,000 to spend, which of these would you buy and why?

MSRP: $19,820 – $28,810
Invoice: $18,567 – $26,459
Avg. Paid: $20,460
- $29,501
MPG: 22 City / 32 Hwy

#1

2011 Ford Fusion

Reviewers were impressed with the 2010 Ford Fusion’s upscale
interior, more powerful engine options and available all-wheel
drive. The 2011 Ford Fusion maintains these traits, but gains …

U.S.News Scores
Overall:	9.1
Performance:	9.0
Exterior:	9.0
Interior:	8.8
Safety:	10.0
Reliability:	9.0

MSRP: $28,405 – $28,405
Invoice: $26,094 – $26,094
Avg. Paid: $29,059
- $29,059
MPG: 41 City / 36 Hwy

#2

2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid

If you’re in the market for a Hybrid, you may not need to look
further than the 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid. It was the 2010 North
American …

U.S.News Scores
Overall:	9.0
Performance:	9.0
Exterior:	8.7
Interior:	8.9
Safety:	NA
Reliability:	NA

MSRP: $19,395 – $25,495
Invoice: $18,593 – $23,847
Avg. Paid: $19,816
- $25,834
MPG: 24 City / 35 Hwy

#2

2011 Hyundai Sonata

Sharply-styled inside and out, and remarkably fuel-efficient, the
all-new Hyundai Sonata is winning some positive press — but
its most upscale trims can’t compete with some competitors.

U.S.News Scores
Overall:	9.0
Performance:	8.2
Exterior:	8.2
Interior:	8.0
Safety:	9.9
Reliability:	8.0

MSRP: $23,520 – $28,790
Invoice: $22,108 – $26,801
Avg. Paid: $25,122
- $30,576
MPG: 51 City / 48 Hwy

#2

2011 Toyota Prius

The 2011 Toyota Prius isn’t the most comfortable or fastest car on
the market, but the Prius makes up for these faults with its stellar
fuel economy …

Best Hybrid Car for the Money

U.S.News Scores
Overall:	9.0
Performance:	8.3
Exterior:	8.6
Interior:	8.5
Safety:	10.0
Reliability:	NA

MSRP: $19,990 – $29,320
Invoice: $18,481 – $27,098
Avg. Paid: $19,407
- $28,255
MPG: 20 City / 29 Hwy

#5

2011 Mazda Mazda6

If you want a side of sport with your order of affordable midsize
car, be sure to take a look at the 2011 Mazda6.

U.S.News Scores
Overall:	8.9
Performance:	8.7
Exterior:	9.2
Interior:	8.5
Safety:	8.7
Reliability:	NA

MSRP: $18,999 – $27,149
Invoice: $18,239 – $26,063
Avg. Paid: $18,639
- $26,375
MPG: 21 City / 31 Hwy

#5

2011 Suzuki Kizashi

The 2011 Suzuki Kizashi aims to compete with such upscale midsize
cars as the Acura TSX or Audi A4, but for the price of an affordable
midsize …

U.S.News Scores
Overall:	8.9
Performance:	8.8
Exterior:	8.6
Interior:	8.3
Safety:	10.0
Reliability:	NA

MSRP: $21,180 – $31,730
Invoice: $19,214 – $28,747
Avg. Paid: $21,065
- $30,949
MPG: 23 City / 33 Hwy

#7

2011 Honda Accord

The 2011 Honda Accord is the go-to car for reliability and
practicality in the class of Affordable Midsize Cars. To keep pace
with rivals, Honda has made …

U.S.News Scores
Overall:	8.8
Performance:	8.2
Exterior:	7.7
Interior:	8.4
Safety:	10.0
Reliability:	NA

MSRP: $25,795 – $25,795
Invoice: $24,383 – $24,383
Avg. Paid: $26,129
- $26,129
MPG: 35 (Est) City / 40 (Est) Hwy

#7

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is your best bet if you’re looking
for a car that combines great fuel economy with strong performance,
an upscale interior and …

U.S.News Scores
Overall:	8.8
Performance:	8.0
Exterior:	8.6
Interior:	8.5
Safety:	NA
Reliability:	NA

MSRP: $20,270 – $30,540
Invoice: $19,431 – $28,294
Avg. Paid: $19,739
- $29,217
MPG: 23 City / 31 Hwy

#9

2011 Nissan Altima

The automotive press considers the 2011 Nissan Altima a solid choice
for small families, but notes that it’s easily surpassed by the
competition in terms of performance, …

U.S.News Scores
Overall:	8.7
Performance:	8.4
Exterior:	8.6
Interior:	7.7
Safety:	9.4
Reliability:	NA

MSRP: $21,975 – $27,165
Invoice: $20,876 – $25,807
Avg. Paid: $22,161
- $26,625
MPG: 22 City / 33 Hwy

#10

2011 Chevrolet Malibu

Though the Chevrolet Malibu is an excellent family car, it competes
in a competitive class. By doing some comparison shopping, you may
find an even better car …

Best Midsize Car for the Money

U.S.News Scores
Overall:	8.6
Performance:	7.9
Exterior:	9.0
Interior:	8.4
Safety:	8.3
Reliability:	7.0

MSRP: $19,200 – $26,200
Invoice: $18,800 – $24,480
Avg. Paid: $19,803
- $26,762
MPG: 24 City / 35 Hwy

#11

2011 Kia Optima

Reviewers say that the 2011 Kia Optima’s redesign has turned it from
a forgettable sedan to a car that can compete with the best in the
class.

U.S.News Scores
Overall:	8.5
Performance:	8.3
Exterior:	8.4
Interior:	7.0
Safety:	10.0
Reliability:	NA

MSRP: $27,050 – $27,050
Invoice: $24,887 – $24,887
Avg. Paid: $27,033
- $27,033
MPG: 31 City / 35 Hwy

#12

2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid

The 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid is a rare bird. While most hybrids tend
to have a high entrance fee over the standard model, the Camry
Hybrid provides …

U.S.News Scores
Overall:	8.3
Performance:	8.0
Exterior:	7.9
Interior:	8.4
Safety:	6.4
Reliability:	NA

MSRP: $19,995 – $31,395
Invoice: $18,926 – $29,259
Avg. Paid: $19,974
- $30,940
MPG: 19 City / 27 Hwy

#13

2011 Subaru Legacy

The 2011 Subaru Legacy manages to measure up against other
affordable midsize cars and remains the only one to come with
standard all-wheel-drive.

U.S.News Scores
Overall:	8.2
Performance:	8.3
Exterior:	7.9
Interior:	7.8
Safety:	8.4
Reliability:	6.0

MSRP: $26,800 – $26,800
Invoice: $25,116 – $25,116
Avg. Paid: $26,160
- $26,160
MPG: 33 City / 33 Hwy

#14

2011 Nissan Altima Hybrid

In a growing class, the 2011 Nissan Altima Hybrid is easily
overlooked because of its low fuel economy ratings, limited
availability and expensive optional packages.

U.S.News Scores
Overall:	8.1
Performance:	7.8
Exterior:	8.4
Interior:	8.4
Safety:	NA
Reliability:	NA

MSRP: $20,195 – $29,845
Invoice: $18,882 – $27,159
Avg. Paid: $20,295
- $29,683
MPG: 22 City / 33 Hwy

#14

2011 Toyota Camry

The best-selling car in America for eight straight years, the Toyota
Camry saw its reputation damaged by Toyota’s highly-publicized
recalls for unintended acceleration (see our Toyota Recall …

U.S.News Scores
Overall:	8.1
Performance:	7.6
Exterior:	7.9
Interior:	8.4
Safety:	7.4
Reliability:	7.0

MSRP: $26,995 – $27,195
Invoice: $25,277 – $25,412
Avg. Paid: $25,360
- $25,688
MPG: 22 City / 31 Hwy

#14

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: $21,599 – $23,999
Invoice: $20,687 – $22,986
Avg. Paid: $21,398
- $23,668
MPG: 21 City / 30 Hwy

#17

2011 Mitsubishi Galant

Due to its cheap interior, underpowered engine and dated feel,
reviewers don’t recommend the 2011 Mitsubishi Galant.

U.S.News Scores
Overall:	7.5
Performance:	7.9
Exterior:	7.4
Interior:	7.7
Safety:	8.7
Reliability:	8.0

MSRP: $19,245 – $23,945
Invoice: $18,985 – $22,924
Avg. Paid: $19,156
- $23,656
MPG: 21 City / 30 Hwy

#18

2011 Chrysler 200

The new Chrysler 200 replaces the lackluster Sebring sedan. It
solves many of the problems that afflicted the old Sebring, but it
isn’t quite up to par …

U.S.News Scores
Overall:	7.2
Performance:	8.0
Exterior:	8.4
Interior:	5.8
Safety:	10.0
Reliability:	NA

MSRP: $20,230 – $21,730
Invoice: $19,506 – $20,886
Avg. Paid: $20,541
- $22,014
MPG: 21 City / 30 Hwy

#19

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 …