Kelley Blue Book scores cars on a five-point scale, and its experts’ ratings give family shoppers a quick way to compare. The midsize and large sedans here run from a lukewarm Chevrolet to Toyota and Honda cars that reach the top of the scale. Here are ten of them, ordered from the lowest score to the highest.
Stay ahead on AI: Join 600,000+ professionals who read The Deep View, the daily newsletter that keeps you up to date with artificial intelligence.
We may earn a commission if you sign up.
1. Chevrolet Malibu: Bottom of the Class
Kelley Blue Book’s experts rate the 2025 Chevrolet Malibu just 3.5 out of 5, the lowest score among the midsize sedans in KBB’s mid-size list. It starts at $26,995, which makes it the least expensive car in that ranking as well.
A low price does not make up for a middling rating, and the competition offers more for a few hundred dollars extra. Shoppers should compare the Malibu against higher-scoring rivals before treating the lower sticker as a bargain, particularly when several better-reviewed models cost only slightly more.
2. Subaru Legacy: All-Wheel Drive Value
The 2025 Subaru Legacy earns 4.0 out of 5 from KBB, starting at $27,980, according to KBB’s best mid-size cars. Its combined fuel economy is listed at 30 mpg in the same ranking.
The Legacy is a solid but unspectacular choice, sitting in the lower half of the list. Buyers who want a sedan with Subaru’s character may still find it appealing, though the rating suggests rivals are stronger overall, and anyone prioritizing standard traction should weigh that against the lower score.
3. Nissan Altima: Solid but Safety Questions
KBB gives the Nissan Altima 4.1 out of 5, and an IIHS driver death report logged 105 driver deaths per million registration years for it. That IIHS figure covers 2023 models, with deaths counted from 2021 through 2024.
The two measures answer different questions, since an expert rating weighs comfort and value while a death rate reflects real-world crash outcomes. Buyers should look at both, and consider the Altima’s $28,720 starting price in that light, because a middling safety record can outweigh a modest price advantage.
4. Hyundai Sonata: Safety Pick With Style
KBB rates the Hyundai Sonata 4.4 out of 5, and the IIHS 2026 awards name the 2026 Sonata a Top Safety Pick+. KBB lists its starting price at $28,695 and its fuel economy at 27 mpg combined.
Pairing a strong expert score with a top crash-test award is a real advantage in this class. The Sonata is among the lower-priced cars on the list, so safety-conscious shoppers do not have to spend heavily, and the combination makes the Sonata an easy model to put on a short list.
5. Toyota Crown: Premium Pricing
The 2026 Toyota Crown also scores 4.4 out of 5 from KBB but starts at $42,535, according to KBB’s hybrid ranking. That is roughly $14,000 more than the similarly rated Sonata.
The Crown is a raised, upscale take on the family sedan, and its price puts it in a different tier from most cars here. Buyers need to decide whether the extra cost buys anything they value over the cheaper 4.4-rated alternative, since the score alone does not justify the gap.
6. Dodge Charger Daytona: Electric Muscle Sedan
KBB rates the electric 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona 4.5 out of 5, from $61,990 with 267 miles of range, as KBB’s electric car list shows. It is the second-ranked car on that electric ranking, behind only the Ioniq 6.
The Charger Daytona carries by far the highest price on this list, and its range trails the Ioniq 6. Shoppers should weigh the brand’s performance appeal against the cost and the shorter distance between charges, because the rating alone does not capture those tradeoffs.
7. Kia K5: Kia’s Quiet Contender
The 2026 Kia K5 earns 4.5 out of 5 from KBB, starting at $28,735, according to KBB’s mid-size list. It lists fuel economy at 29 mpg and ranks third among the 2026 midsize cars in that ranking.
The K5 delivers a higher score than the Sonata or Altima for roughly the same money. That makes it one of the better values here, though the top two cars still hold a clear lead, so the K5 is best seen as a strong value rather than a leader.
8. Hyundai Ioniq 6: Top-Rated EV
KBB’s top-rated EV, the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6, scores 4.6 out of 5 with 342 miles of range from $39,095, per KBB’s electric rankings. It is the highest-scoring car on that list.
Among the electric cars in this gallery, the Ioniq 6 offers longer range than the Charger Daytona at a price well below it, which explains its place at the top of the electric ranking. Buyers should note the 2025 model year, since the non-N version is not returning for 2026.
9. Honda Accord: Accord Ties for First
KBB gives the 2026 Honda Accord 4.8 out of 5, starting at $29,590, with a 33 mpg combined rating, as KBB’s best mid-size cars ranks it first. The score ties it with the Camry at the top of the midsize ranking.
The Accord reaches the top score without the highest price, undercutting the Camry by roughly $900. Shoppers who want a conventional midsize sedan with proven appeal would find little reason to look further, though the Camry offers a different case for those who prioritize fuel economy over everything else.
10. Toyota Camry: Camry Hybrid Efficiency
The 2026 Toyota Camry earns 4.8 out of 5 from KBB, with 51 mpg from $30,495, which KBB’s hybrid listing also shows. It ties the Accord for the top score, and IIHS names the 2026 Camry a Top Safety Pick+.
Few family sedans pair this much fuel economy with a top safety award. The Camry costs a little more than the Accord, but a 51-mpg rating can recover that difference quickly for high-mileage drivers, which strengthens the case for the Camry among the cars that top this ranking.
Stay ahead on AI: Subscribe to The Deep View →
We may earn a commission if you sign up.
More from Morning Overview
- Ford is recalling 223,472 F-150 pickups because the fuel tank can leak or detach
- Hybrids have 15% fewer problems than gas cars, while EVs and plug-in hybrids have about 80% more, Consumer Reports finds
- Regulators cleared the first U.S. small modular reactor, 4 months early
- Lake Powell sank to a record 3,517 feet, nearing the level that stops Glen Canyon Dam’s turbines
