What Car IS The Best? Camry, Accord Or Malibu? May The Best Car Win.

001...with respect, we both know that what is going to happen here is that brand loyalty will take over good, common sense and there will be name-calling and there will be those few that will bring other brands into the mix (I'm sure a Hyundai and a BMW will find their way in for good measure). I was actually hoping that you would have posted a link to an independent survey or something of the sort so we could hear what the real experts have to say. <sigh> I'm just glad I'm the first one in here so I don't have to read the tripe that gets posted from here on out.

— tango (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 12:41:02 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 16   

Neither, the aspirational looking Optima is a better buy.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 1:05:58 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -20   

They are scared to compare us. The US Makes are scared of us and those Wonderful, Wonderful Chinese Cars!!!!!!!!

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 2:44:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -21   

After driving the Malibu against the others, I would say GM has a very compelling product. It looks far more attractive at every angle, more standard features, and quality I'm sure would be the question, but really, GM has leaped so far into that arena, I wouldn't worry about that. Its down to pricing and what car that appeals to you the most. This is a smart moveon GM's part to pound home the fact that its not the same company from a decade ago like so many are still thinking and are highly misinformed about the company product lines.

— inspirion7 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 3:13:08 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

The Malibu is one of GM's "conqeust" cars one of our cars like the CTS, C6, G8',Camero, Enclave and Travers cars aimed to perform better than most cars in their segment and win back lost market share. The Malibu has a longer warranty about the same or more HP, a better interior and better MPG than the other two cars mentioned and the Kia Optima the Smoke mentions is so far behind any car in this segment. So the Malibu is the clear winner.

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 3:47:39 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

UAW, the Next Gen Optima will wipe the floor of your Malibu. We'll see how the Malibu stacks up in less than 12 months.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 4:49:21 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -11   

i rent a lot of these cars while travelling, and i can say without a doubt that the Malibu ranks at the top. Best driver of the bunch, solid feel, and quiet. i havent rented an accord in quite a while, but the malibu is definately better than a Camry.

— freeagent (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 8:28:01 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Accord. Honerable mention to the Malibu. I had one as a rental and was quite impressed. The camry is just to boring and bland. But I probably would buy it over the Malibu due to long term reliability.

But as it stands:
1. Accord
2. Malibu
3. Camry

— 0to60 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 8:41:22 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Although all three candidates in this debate are by definition "appliance" cars, the head nod has got to go to a tie between the Accord and the Mailbu.

I want the Malibu to win this debate and take over as a national sales leader, however the ghosts of GM past still haunt the brand and will continue to for most likely a generation. The Accord simply works, we all know that. The Camry would not even be on my radar as I am not a Toyota fan at all, but that is a topic for another day.

The Malibu is well built, drives well and competes in a segment GM only years ago could only fantasize about. My encouragement would simply be this, if this generation is this good, don't let up and make the next generation a World Class leader.

-00J

— Agent00J (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 8:53:17 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

I love the way the Malibu looks, but I must say up close the interior falls short of the Accord standard - it looks good in pictures but the quality is not quite there. I hope it does well though because I would hate for Honda to get lazy with the next Accord (which already has too many buttons inside and works with some questionable design choices throughout).

— IhavearedS2000 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 10:14:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Inspiron, I thought the Malibu was an Acura when I first saw it, then I saw that Chevy Logo. Its a great car, but I think its Korean time and you know that. The Malibu will duke it out well with the Next Gen Optima, and the the Regal will Duke it out with the Sonata. The Competition between our brands along with the Resurgent Germans will be all that matters for at least the next five years.

The Japanese wont matter anymore, as they will have to rebuild. Their won is about to shoot up sky high, while the dollar sinks. Their quality and designs isnt what it used to: but the Koreans Americans and Germans are finding it. In 5 years youll look out of touch buying a Japanese car and the headline will say:

"What Car is best Optima, Malibu, or Jetta? May the best Car Win!!!"

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 10:24:19 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -8   

HyundaiSmoke: I don't care about next generation if I need th car "now" and now, Malibu looks better than Optima or Hyundai in this class...

— Yonder7 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 11:57:33 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

Just look at all the ads just here on autospies showing why it is better than Accord or Camry.

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 12:23:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

One key factor in people's buying decisions that all of you are forgetting that you need big daddy 001 to remind you of is RESALE value.

That is where the Malibu gets smoked.

I personally prefer the drive and exterior design of the Malibu and would buy it because it can be bought for less money than the others with deal discounts or dare I say, slightly used on eBay (about $14k for a one year old car with under 20k miles...quite a steal).

I like the Camry in SE guise second and the Accord third.

001

— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 2:45:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

The camcord sells on name and reputation, nothing tangible. There is NOTHING special about either car and no good reason for them to find the number of buyers they do, other than the fact that american car buyers are ignorant lemmings.

Cars like the Malibu, the Fusion, the 6 and the Altima have all done their homework and are all better in practically any way you can name. I almost feel bad for their makers, because they have such excellent products, that are outsold by such mediocre and underwhelming cars.

— tattedtwice (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 4:51:39 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Accord
Passat
Mazda 6
Legacy
Altima
Azera
Sonata
Camry
Galant
Fusion
Milan
Aura
G6
Malibu
Sebring
Avenger

— Enforcement (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 6:25:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

The reason why I talk about the Next Generation Models is becuase, hey all of these cars we speak of will be replaced within 2-3 years tops. Sure the cars are being sold now, but they are getting dated.

Also, considering the age of these cars whats the point of this article anyway? Why would anybody buy a new car after the current gen model has been out 3-4 years already? They are paying the same, if not a higher price for the same stuff from day one.

The Way I see it, if you cant afford to buy the car within its first 2 years in a model cycle, then whats the point of buying it in the first place, unless in that 3rd or 4th year they came out with a special variant of the model. Cars these days are like computers, they become obsolete quickly.

Hey, UAW the Sonata is a better car than the Sebring, which is also in that same entry-level luxury D-segment class. I think the interior fit and finish its on par with the LaCrosse, and I dont expect the Regal a car a segment below the LaCrosse to have a better interior.

The Optima is 2 years older than all of these cars as well, and when the Optima was first made it was very on par with the competition back then.

Well at least the Mailbu/Regal is GMs most reliable car platform.

By the way truckman, the most critical part of car safety is that squishy carbon-based lifeform operating the wheel. Plus, it doesnt take much to pass a crash test. A 1 star car can legally pass a crash test, and nobody makes 1 star cars. Either they make cars with a minimum of 3 stars, or they are Chinese and Indian makes and cant even get 1 star to legally pass a federal test. By the way Hyundai owners like myself who were tuning and decking out their cars 5 years ago and before, in the days without aftermarket support and aftermarket parts that fit and looked right are true car people.

We had to make things that seemed impossible and improbable happen with ingenuity, blood sweat and tears. The Genesis, Soul, Forte, and the other stuff coming wouldnt exist without us. If it wasnt for us in the underground grass roots Hyundai/KIA would still be making cars that well only undercutted Toyota.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 6:47:02 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -7   

204E60, 20-25 years ago people thought it was silly for people to get exicted about Toyota and Lexus 1980s rental cars. Now a whole generation of People (Baby Boomers) live and breathe these cars, and a lot of it started from the love of a few young guys starting out in garages, tinkering with early Toyotas and Lexuses. Those Young Guys, along with their Honda/Acrua Counterparts make terms like: Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura, Corolla, Civic, legend, Integra, SC 400, ES, IS, Yaris, Tercel, Fit, Car Mods, and Import Tuning a Household phenomenon.

Imagine what we can do in the next 20 years.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 6:56:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

Ford has a Nice NSYNC System, but its made by Microsoft, and therefore will probably break easily. Even worse, its a first gen system too.

Another thing about people who own certain cars, most of us are conservative on what we spend our money on, especially when electronic components are involved. Thus, we like to have things in our cars that's tried and true first. We dont want some new untested fancy electronic component thats liable to break down causing something mechanical to break.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 7:08:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

1 drive in a 2010 6 SPD manual Camry = sold. The V6 even
shits on the Accord V6. The aggressive transmission shift
points when u really get on it acceleration and handling
even makes the new Maxima CVT seem like an elderly's
car. Yea the Camry looks boring and eye sore but Toyota
gives u the full package with it for cheap. U get big body,
handling (SE), probably fastest FWD acceleration on V6
cars this size (0-100 kmh around 5.7 sec!) and projectors
are just hot put ur own HID and u get that straight cut-off

— StickShiftCamry (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 8:37:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

Joe, the Tiburon is as much as an overrated POS, as the Accent is an underrated piece of simplistic good and honest South Korean Engineering.

The Tib always was near the Bottom of its pack in power and performance. The Accent has always been at the top or near the top of the pack in its class (B-Segment) in power and performance. Those guys would have had their money better spent tuning Accents. But back in those days it was unthinkable to tune an Accent, even though I was doing it. Plus there werent any Accent Parts back then as well. Now there's a huge cornucopia of Accent aftermarket goodies.

The Tib was also way overpriced for what it offered. I knew with the Tibs poor reliablity and price, it was going to last. You can just put a Turbo in an Accent or Direct inject the engine, and youd be at Tib Performance. Maybe thats why Hyundai is going to do that with their veloster concept instead of wasting tons of money on R&D ing a New Tib.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 9:07:58 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6   

Back to the cars, if I was forced to go with a Non- Hyundai Product in the D Segment, Im going for the Mercury Milan Hybrid, or the VW Jetta. Its just that simple.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 9:16:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6   

TDI!!!!

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 9:17:30 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

Here's a quite form Autoweek on the 2008 Malibu:


"For the Malibu, GM engineers had another year to refine what was already a fairly good midsize chassis in the Aura-and it shows. The car is exceptionally tight, not just for a GM car but for any car anywhere near this price point. In back-to-back testing with the latest Toyota Camry, we came away impressed at how well the Malibu held its line and stayed planted over bumpy paved corners versus the Japanese competitor. The Malibu's fit, finish and features also compared favorably against the Camry's, and some on staff say the Malibu is better, more in line with a Volkswagen Passat."

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071102/FREE/71102001/1065

— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 10/25/2009 10:27:59 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Lets not forget the Malibu beat both current Generation Accord and Camery for 2008 car of the year.

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 10/26/2009 1:10:34 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

#1 - Accord Coupe with the 6-speed manual V6. The other two are hopelessly outclassed.
#2 - Camry SE V6
#3 - and a very distant third - A Malibu.

— Invisible (View Profile)

Posted on 10/26/2009 8:31:08 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

There are definitely a few models missing in the comparison, but it typically is broken down to the Honda, Toyota and one American car. The Nissan Altima is always oddly left out of these comparisons, whether it's due to their model years I'm not sure.

You could also toss in the Subaru Legacy and Ford Fusion as they are the only to in this segment who have or offer AWD (also the Passat with 4motion is available but at a price) which to many like me is a HUGE plus and easily keeps me out of the other dealerships without question. It's something that I need on my commutes in inclement and snowy weather.

For that matter, yes you could include the Kia whatever it's called and the Hyundai Sonata. The Mazda 6 (which also had an AWD option in Mazdaspeed trim, not sure about the new model though).

This segment is huge and almost everybody has a model for it, but it gets just overwhelming to go through them all at once. For me, the choice would be the Malibu in LTZ trim instead of the Camry or Accord. They are tired, mundane cars with big overhands, huge wheel gaps, no sense of style and they blend in. I'll take the LTZ in white please.

— Whelan (View Profile)

Posted on 10/26/2009 8:39:26 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Why is it we judge sports cars on how sporting they are, but when we judge boring cars we do not judge them on boringness? If we simply do that the Camry wins hands down forever nobody will ever build a car more boring than the Camry. Also what are we compairing care of similar size or price? Price wise the Jetta would be the VW and size wise it would be the Passat. What would get me interested in this segment would be wagons, but I am the only person who would want a Malibu wagon so I accept it will never be built.

Also Hyundaismoke you are by far the biggest brand whore ever, please turn it down a couple notches.

— rigid (View Profile)

Posted on 10/26/2009 10:03:36 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

The honda eats it's brakes, the Toyota V6 eat's it's transmission and makes funny noises when you turn the wheel and push it hard, the Malibu Is actually reliable but has a less head room in the back seat then Camry and Accord and is a little smaller! The Malibu more European then American almost like the offspring of a VW Passat mates with Toyota Camry. so they all are cheap...they are suck to drive...

They are ALL DESIGNED FOR LAME, BORING CONFORMISTS WHO KNOW NOTHING AND DO NOT WANT TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CARS WHO SHOULD BE BOILED IN A VAT OF HOT OIL. UGGGG Staus Quo cars make me ill..no passion just toaster oven appliences that bore me to death

"I only care about the Ferrari's"

— pennfootball (View Profile)

Posted on 10/26/2009 10:41:07 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Call me crazy but i think the Asian lineups are pretty tired. Toyota for sure isnt making anything that looks.... well that wants to be desired. Without their badge i dont think anyone would overly want to own one.

I guess what i am saying is it would be far easier to get excited about the Malibu then either of the other cars. I think the LTZ version defiantly out plays the higher end versions from both Toyota and Honda as well.

As for Hyundai, i seem them as up and coming. But they need to stop targeting the poor people or people with bad credit. If they ever want to live up to the atrocious standards of Hyundaismoke they need to appeal to buyers who have some money, not the people who cant afford the Toyota or Honda.

— Timzilla (View Profile)

Posted on 10/26/2009 12:55:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

"As for Hyundai, i seem them as up and coming. But they need to stop targeting the poor people or people with bad credit. If they ever want to live up to the atrocious standards of Hyundaismoke"

Very funny !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 10/26/2009 2:35:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

I dont know if you are hating on me or not... but I honestly think that is true.

Happy Toyota customers turn into life long Toyota customers and then transition to Lexus customers. I am not saying Toyota customers are wealthy, but i am saying Toyota didnt have to offer a program where if you lose your job you dont have to pay for you car.

Hyundai are doing well, but for their own benefit they need to widen their customer base.

— Timzilla (View Profile)

Posted on 10/26/2009 3:24:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

I still think there are too many openings in the front of the malibu, and the grille is a bit large. The tail lights are strange also.

— lexusrox123 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/26/2009 4:41:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

We are changing our customer base, not widening it.

We will still keep the same customers, but people who wanted an Acura Lexus but couldnt quite afford one can get themselves a nice Sonata, or an Elantra as opposed to an overpowered gas wasting IS.


I know Im a brand Whore, but big deal. All I know is that Hyundai/KIA has been making tons of news the last 5 days (Like thye have been in the past 2 years), and I have been trying to post articles, but its seems the powers that be are under the pressure to care more about appliance sedans, and penis coupes that NONE OF YOU will probably be able to afford.

The Powers that be are forced due to Discrimination complaints undoubtedly from most of you, to post an article about KIA on cars that wont even see American Soil and nobody cares about becuase it will never come to American soil.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/27/2009 4:07:21 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Its going to be Hyundai/KIA time at SEMA, and we are racking up the goodies. A Shame I cant even post articles about it.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/27/2009 4:10:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2