THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE

All you hear these days is the same mantra: Crossovers are hot; sedans are dead. Every month, sedan sales are down while crossover and SUV sales are up.

And although there has indeed been a marked shift in tastes, reports on the death of the sedan have been greatly exaggerated. Last year, more than 2 million midsize four-doors crossed the threshold of dealer showrooms.

For the 2018 model year, both the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord received complete ground-up redesigns, which means it’s time to put on our consumer-advice pants. Sure, we’re going to evaluate performance and handling of these new-gen sedans, but we’re also going to drill down to determine which is the smarter purchase for the pragmatic car buyer who puts commuting comfort and smart features high on their priority list.

As associate online editor Collin Woodard and I approach the vehicles, we find each is making a distinctive design statement—as if to show the dowdy family sedan can still be relevant and hip. The Camry presents itself as an evolution, its grille wider and Toyota badge thrust forward in a pouting prow. It’s a bold look but obviously recognizable as a Camry. The Accord’s brash, massive belt-buckle Honda badge leaves no question