Executive Car: Toyota Camry vs Volvo V50 / S40

[niky]

The Legacy is, I think, ugly as an apartment block, but it's got a turbocharged boxer engine and AWD... which makes up for all sins...

The Mazda6, personally, is not tight, not quite like the old Mazda6 ...which really wasn't tight, either... being based on the 626, which was quite spacious for its time), but the class benchmarks have moved on.

In the case of the Camry and the Accord... they've moved a lot. If you're moving up from an older mid-sized car, the Mazda6 will seem perfectly spacious to you... but if you cross-shop, you'll note how much roomier and more comfortable cars like the Accord seem.

I love the Mazda6, very sporty feeling, good enough power considering the price... but I'm the kind to drive myself. It may feel tighter in front for bigger passengers because of the way Mazda builds center consoles, but otherwise, it's fine.

If I were buying for a back-seat passenger, though, I'd look elsewhere.

Again...(from other thread) Accord... great space... not quite as boring as the Camry, great engines... incredible interior quality compared to the competition. Only thing I hate is the grip of the stock tires, but that's easy to fix.