The Midsize Sedan is FINISHED! Does Anyone Even CARE?!

Famous names like Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Nissan Altima are all that remain of a once popular market segment. With the demise of the Hyundai Sonata, Kia K5 (and Kia Optima in name only) and Kia Stinger, joining the ranks of Chevy Malibu and Ford Fusion, not to mention the Volkswagen Passat, it seems that the midsize sedan segment has all but vanished thanks to the growing popularity of crossovers and SUVs. While we wait and see what Mazda plans to do with the 6 and wonder whether or not the Subaru Legacy will soldier on, join me for a little pontificating on the current state of midsize sedans and if the market segment will continue to whither on the vine or have any kind of renaissance. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

2022 Toyota Camry XSE 4 Cylinder

2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid XSE

2021 Kia K5

2021 Hyundai Sonata

2022 Nissan Altima

#hondaaccord
#carreview
#toyotacamry

[ItsNova]

I'd prefer a car that doesn't have a "high rollover risk warning" sticker on the sun visor, thanks. I'll stick to an Accord.

[kiwiinterstates]

I hope that you’re wrong but I have a feeling the industry is moving in that direction…slowly. My go to car for everyday use is the Toyota Camry. In fact my family owns all sedans and no suvs 👀

[Dondriver]

Nowadays people want something SUVish with a big TV on the dashboard. Here in Europe we don't like sedans too much, but we love wagons. And they're also disappearing. We're forced by taxes and restrictions to buy new EVs, but there's almost no wagons among them. Just SUVs and crossovers with a tiny trunk but with the huge screen and for the insane amount of money... USA market sets the rules...

[Imagenation]

Midsize sedans are not dead, at least for me. I'm gonna zip around in my 4 cyl 2010 Camry until the wheels fall off... and I plan to get a newer one! Aerodynamic, better handling, less likely to frontover children, easy to get in and out, decent capacity for passengers and typical errands, and fuel economy are just unbeatable in the sedan design. If Toyota ever decided to make a Camry "hatchback"... X-D

I've been in SUVs and crossovers, but they're oversized for what they supposedly provide. And most SUV drivers I see aren't taking them on offroad camping trips - they're typically alone, in the city, and only using them for work commutes or buying groceries. If I ever had to upsize my vehicle: hatchbacks, wagons, or vans offer way more utility for the size and performance, but I think too many urbanites are oversold on the styling and "safety" of SUVs and trucks to consider these alternatives. And nothing is more scary than seeing someone in an Escalade doing tailgates at 120+ km/hr!

[verou]

2 years later he right about the altima getting axed😢

[MyLifeThai]

I had always had big sedans, but I finally bought my first hatchback (2008 Honda FIT). With how expensive gas is nowadays, a person needs to be able to use their car as a pickup. My FIT gets 36 mpg and I have hauled a 20 ton hyd. shop press in it and a Silverado transmission. Hatchbacks make the most finacial sense for me.

[Blank]

I think that one way to revive midsize sedans is to make them liftbacks like the Arteon

[drivingadventures]

I think part of the reason the mid sized cars are dying off is, today's compact car is almost as large as a mid sized car was in the 90's. So if a compact can meet all your needs, then why upgrade. And if you do upgrade, folks tend to upgrade to the SUV or pickup truck.
However, as more brands drop the mid-sized cars, those who sell them, might get that market share, because not everyone wants to upgrade to a SUV. I wouldn't be surprised to see Accord and Camry still selling in 2030, but after 2035...I have my doubts.

[JiltedValkyrie]

Toyota and Honda aren't going anywhere, but obviously America gave up a while ago. The Camry and Civic are the two best-selling sedans, but now they got the market all to themselves. SUVs are big ugly looking things, so somebody has to keep the sexy curves of the sedan going.

[sd.]

I think part of the reason might be because cars are ever gowning in size. Look at the size of a Corolla and Camry from the 80's to now. The size of a Camry in 1985 is thinner and shorter than a 2023 Corolla and only 3 or 4 inches longer. The Corolla has essentially become the Camry.

[eggy]

I'm driving my Accord until it's last breath. Regular maintenance and that thing is pretty much immortal. Seeing what Honda did to the 2023 Accord, my hope lies with Toyota
I'll get a coupe (maybe GR86) before those are completely gone and their prices skyrocket making it impossible to get one. It's sad seeing Karenmobiles thiving this hard despite the fact that 99% of the owners are mainly using it for coffee runs and as a status symbol

[nnyyrd]

I wonder how much of this is cyclical. I was at the DMV the other day and there were tons of 2015-2020 model sedans in the parking lot. I don’t know what they’ll upgrade to next, but certainly if the only options left are Camry and Accord and that’s what those buyers are asking for, it will have the rest questioning what to do. I mean if you were going to recommend a sedan like that to anyone it would already likely be an Accord or Camry anyway.

[blacjackdaniels]

All part of the inflation process.
Now with everybody struggling for money to pay rent and to buy groceries, people are thinking the first way to cut costs is to just get a small car and POOF, they’re gone. Do you want a small car, here’s a Nissan rogue crossover. Here is a Toyota RAV4. Just look on the road that’s all you see crossovers. They don’t want us buying cars that we can afford. They want everybody spending every last dime and or in debt.
It’s not the people that are making this decision. People would completely buy a Ford focus, a Kia Rio, a Toyota Yaris, a Nissan versa which is going away, a Mitsubishi Mirage which is going away, a Chevy Cruze, a Hyundai Accent.. People would buy these 100%!
That’s the reason that they are gone. It’s not because nobody wants them. It’s because they don’t want people to have them.

[pilskadden]

I'm from Europe and fortunately we do still have some sedans, hatchbacks and wagons to choose from. But many people seem to prefer SUVs and crossovers now, so it is probably only a question of time before the sedans disappear here too. I think you are right that the majority of car buyers are not interested in handling. They only want to sit up high, nice performance in a straight line (which they never use, looking at how slowly most people enter a freeway) a soft ride and no feeling whatsoever of what is going on with the front wheels. Sad but true for the rest of us who enjoy the driving dynamics of a great handling sedan.

[EricFortuneJr.]

Automakers, particularly American brands, aren’t building desirable sedans anymore. Certain Japanese models struggled in the beginning, but now they’ve been around for 30-40+ years and have constantly raised the bar each decade. They have a solid loyal customer base. It’s hard to convince someone who’s owned a Camry and an Accord (each lasting 300, 000 miles) and Malibu (that lasted 125, 000 miles with transmission failures) to buy another Malibu. That person is likely going to stick with their Accord or Camry. If they live in the northern Midwest they might be a Subaru loyalist. Just my 2 cents worth.

[-thelawfulqualia-]

I'm a new driver and I've always leaned towards sedans. I've bought a used sedan and I'd like to keep it that way moving forward, SUVs just don't move my heart like sedans do, unfortunately all I see here in Europe are hatchbacks and SUVs.
If possible, I'd like the sedan market to have a new boom in the coming years so that I have better chances at finding one when I buy my second car.

[katefoyder]

I started preferring small suv/crossovers while running as an independent contractor for courier companies. I no longer do that full time, but I still prefer them because of the cargo space. I have a 2018 Ford Escape and I just bought a 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness, (my first non work vehicle)

[w.e.s.]

Im gonna get that decal on my back glass now
Ancient crap barge
I drive a rt chatger. Man just found this channel today. I love it. Only car reviewers i eatch is doug demuro and regular car reviews glad i found this. Im in alabama btw south of huntsville 30 minutes

[LyleBialk]

I just bought a 2024 Nissan Versa. Love it so far, manual transmission and 43+ MPG average. Yes, the Versa is supposed to be discontinued after 2025.

[MrHuff]

I agree that the midsize sedan is eventually going away because manufacturers offer so many options from compact suvs and subcompact suvs to full size suvs. Buyers want more space for their growing families and more utility and capabilities even though most of the car will be used for errands and maybe road trips and dropping the kids off at school. Also commuting to work. I considered the CR-V or Rav-4 before I purchased my Camry. I also considered the Accord. CA gas prices kept me from buying a compact SUV. Dealerships are over charging for Hybrids so I couldn't go that route either.