Family-car feud.(Family Sedans - 4-cyl. - Road Test)(Evaluation)

Publication: Consumer Reports

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COPYRIGHT 2002 Consumers Union of the United States, Inc.

The four family sedans in this month's auto test are among the best on the market, and three of the them have been updated in the past year. The Volkswagen Passat, which has been our top-rated family sedan since 1999, received a mild freshening last spring, with subtle styling changes and 20 more horsepower. The Toyota Camry, America's best-selling car from 1997 through 2000 and one of our top-rated sedans, received a major redesign for 2002, its first since 1997. Among its many enhancements are all-new styling, more interior space, a stronger four-cylinder engine, and more safety features.

The Nissan Altima, which made its debut in 1993, was also redesigned and has been transformed from an unremarkable, run-of-the-mill sedan into a major competitor. In addition to new styling, it offers a roomier, better-appointed interior, improved ride and handling, a stronger four-cylinder engine, and, for the first time, the availability of a V6. The Honda Accord, meanwhile, continues to be one of the top sellers and one of our top-rated family cars despite its four-year-old design. It's due for a major overhaul for 2003.

To see how they compare, we've put together a two-part report. For this issue, we tested four-cylinder versions of all...

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