Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. Large Cars comprise the biggest passenger sedans and wagons. Large, inside and out, they also include the only 6-passenger cars. Large Cars offer lots of metal for the money and are dominated by domestic brands.

Our Best Buys include Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum, Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego, and Toyota Avalon. At this time we have no Recommended picks.

With 300,000 sales and counting, the 300 remains a hit going into its third model year. We've not yet heard about all the changes planned for '07, but Chrysler has confirmed a new long-wheelbase version, the 300 LWB. Splicing in six inches between the front and rear wheels improves back-seat leg room to more than 46 inches, Chrysler says. Exclusive options, all for rear-seat occupants, will include lighted writing tables and vanity mirrors, reading lamps, and twin 12-volt power ports.

Meantime, Chrysler is said to be studying a 300 convertible, likely with four doors as on the recent Helios concept. That exercise was built by outside vendor ASC to show additional body-style possibilities for Chrysler's LX big-car platform--and naturally to drum up some new business. The convertible 300 isn't a done deal yet as far as we know, but it could surface during the '07 or '08 model years. If it does, it would have a soft top for reasons of cost and passenger room. Chrysler is also reportedly mulling a 300-based luxury-class sedan that might revive the Imperial name, as well as a high-performance 2-seat coupe using Dodge Viper running gear. Both these ideas have also been previewed in recent concept models, but the odds of either reaching showrooms is still unclear.