Best midsize cars of 2026, ranked by owner data
We ranked 6 midsize cars on sale in the US and Canada against each other on three measured things: problems reported by owners, the new asking price, and EPA combined fuel economy.
Data from October 2026. Sources: owner reports, Auto.dev US listings, EPA ratings. How we rank · Best used midsize cars
Photo: S5A-0043 / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
#1 of 6
Toyota Camry
Score 76 out of 100
- Owner reliability (45 of 45 points): 1 recurring problem in owner reports, none very frequent: the fewest on this list
- Price (6 of 30 points): median new asking price $32,220 (50 US listings, Auto.dev): lower than about 20% of this list
- Fuel economy (25 of 25 points): 46 mpg combined (EPA): the best gas or hybrid on this list
- New price
- $31k–$33k (median $32,220)
- Fuel economy
- 46 mpg
- Owner reports
- 1 recurring problem in owner reports, none very frequent
- Main owner complaint
- High-mileage wear items (e.g., EVAP system codes, ABS sensors, TPMS sensors)
Best for
Most reliable by owners
1 recurring problem in owner reports, none very frequent. Ranked #1.
Lowest new price
Median new asking price $27,409. Ranked #3.
Best fuel economy
46 mpg combined (EPA). Ranked #1.
The full ranking
- #1
Toyota Camry
Score 76- New price
- $31k–$33k (median $32,220)
- Fuel economy
- 46 mpg
- Owner reports
- 1 recurring problem in owner reports, none very frequent
- Main owner complaint
- High-mileage wear items (e.g., EVAP system codes, ABS sensors, TPMS sensors)
Why #1
- Owner reliability (45 of 45 points): 1 recurring problem in owner reports, none very frequent: the fewest on this list
- Price (6 of 30 points): median new asking price $32,220 (50 US listings, Auto.dev): lower than about 20% of this list
- Fuel economy (25 of 25 points): 46 mpg combined (EPA): the best gas or hybrid on this list
- #2
Honda Accord
Score 58- New price
- $30k–$34k (median $30,859)
- Fuel economy
- 32 mpg
- Owner reports
- 3 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent
- Main owner complaint
- 1.5L Turbocharged Engine Reliability
Why #2
- Owner reliability (27 of 45 points): 3 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent: fewer than about 60% of this list
- Price (12 of 30 points): median new asking price $30,859 (50 US listings, Auto.dev): lower than about 40% of this list
- Fuel economy (19 of 25 points): 32 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 75% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #3
Hyundai Sonata
Score 51- New price
- $27k–$28k (median $27,409)
- Fuel economy
- 28 mpg
- Owner reports
- 1 very frequent problem and 3 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- Catastrophic engine failure (Theta II engines, 2.0L, 2.4L)
Why #3
- Owner reliability (18 of 45 points): 1 very frequent problem and 3 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 40% of this list
- Price (30 of 30 points): median new asking price $27,409 (50 US listings, Auto.dev): the lowest of this list
- Fuel economy (3 of 25 points): 28 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 13% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #4
Nissan Altima
Score 42- New price
- $27k–$30k (median $27,973)
- Fuel economy
- 29 mpg
- Owner reports
- 2 very frequent problems and 2 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- CVT transmission failure
Why #4
- Owner reliability (5 of 45 points): 2 very frequent problems and 2 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 10% of this list
- Price (24 of 30 points): median new asking price $27,973 (50 US listings, Auto.dev): lower than about 80% of this list
- Fuel economy (13 of 25 points): 29 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 50% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
- #5
Hyundai IONIQ 6
Score 36- New price
- $42k–$47k (median $44,025)
- Fuel economy
- 88 MPGe
- Owner reports
- 1 very frequent problem in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) failure
Why #5
- Owner reliability (36 of 45 points): 1 very frequent problem in owner reports: fewer than about 80% of this list
- Price (0 of 30 points): median new asking price $44,025 (16 US listings, Auto.dev): lower than about 0% of this list
- Fuel economy (0 of 25 points): No data yet (too few EVs to compare)
- #6
Kia K5
Score 26- New price
- $28k–$29k (median $28,073)
- Fuel economy
- 28 mpg
- Owner reports
- 1 very frequent problem and 4 recurring in owner reports
- Main owner complaint
- Electrical/Infotainment glitches
Why #6
- Owner reliability (5 of 45 points): 1 very frequent problem and 4 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 10% of this list
- Price (18 of 30 points): median new asking price $28,073 (50 US listings, Auto.dev): lower than about 60% of this list
- Fuel economy (3 of 25 points): 28 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 13% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
How we rank
- Owner reliability, 45 points. Problems that owners report again and again, from our owner reports. A very frequent problem counts twice. Fewer problems than the other cars on this page earns more points.
- New price, 30 points. The median asking price in US listings (Auto.dev). Cheaper than the others earns more.
- Fuel economy, 25 points. EPA combined rating. Electric cars are compared only with other electric cars, in MPGe.
- No guesses. A car needs enough owner reports and three years on sale to be ranked. A number we don't have earns 0 points and says "No data yet". We never compare NHTSA complaint counts between models, because they grow with the number of cars sold.
Questions
- What is the best midsize car of 2026?
- The Toyota Camry ranks #1 of 6 with a score of 76 out of 100. 1 recurring problem in owner reports, none very frequent, and its new price is $32,220 at the median.
- Which midsize car has the fewest owner-reported problems?
- The Toyota Camry: 1 recurring problem in owner reports, none very frequent.
- What is the cheapest midsize car on this list?
- The Hyundai Sonata, with a median new asking price $27,409, based on US listings.
- How does CarWizz rank midsize cars?
- Each car is compared only with the other cars on this page. Owner reliability is worth 45 points, new price 30 points and EPA combined fuel economy 25 points. A car without enough owner reports is not ranked, and a missing number earns no points.
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