Thread of the Day: Chevy Malibu Turbo, Ford Fusion EcoBoost, or Kia Optima Turbo?

The midsize sedan segment is becoming increasingly competitive. We’ve already driven the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, but now that it’s available with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, it’s right on par with other midsizers that have replaced V-6s with turbo-fours, like  the Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, and Kia Optima. While we weren’t so impressed with the Malibu Eco hybrid and 2.5-liter, the Turbo gives the Malibu a better name for itself.

“A strong engine doesn’t necessarily make a strong car, but the Malibu does benefit from the addition of a Turbo model,” we write in the Chevy Malibu Turbo First Test. In terms of power, the 240-hp Fusion is slightly underpowered compared to the 259-hp Malibu as well as the 274-hp Optima and Sonata.

When it comes to EPA ratings, the Malibu achieves 21/30 mpg city/highway, while the Fusion gets 22/33 mpg. The Optima and Sonata best those ratings with 22/34 mpg. Pricing is usually the deciding factor for some people, and with that, the Chevy Malibu Turbo starts at $27,010, the Fusion at $26,745, and the Optima at $27,575. The base price for the Sonata starts at $25,670.

For today’s Thread of the Day, we want to know which turbocharged midsizer you’d pick: the Malibu, Fusion, Optima, or Sonata? Or would you stick with a V-6 powered midsize sedan? Let us know in the comments below and read our 2013 Malibu Turbo First Drive here.

Source : wot[dot]motortrend[dot]com