Long the heart of the traditional American automotive marketplace, large cars have been relegated to rental and police duty for the past two decades. So much so has demand for large cars faded, that several automakers abandoned the segment all together. Chevrolet's largest car is now the Impala, which is really a large midsize sedan. Pontiac's biggest car is the G6 and that's smaller than a Honda Accord.

What's the reason for the demise of the large car? A change in buyer's tastes from cars to SUVs. While the large-car market has withered, the SUV market has blossomed. However, as fuel prices rise, buyers of thirsty SUVs are having second thoughts and are looking for fuel-efficient vehicles to replace their guzzling SUVs. These buyers are turning back to large cars to meet the needs of their growing families.

Unique Large-Car Features

- Dodge Magnum is the only station wagon in the bunch. - Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego have an available rear-seat entertainment system. - Dodge Magnum can tow a trailer that weights up to 3800 lb when properly equipped. - Buick Lucerne offers heated and cooled seats and heated washer fluid. - Performance fans will want to check out the Chrysler 300C, Dodge Charger R/T, and Dodge Magnum R/T.

What is a large car?
It's funny that large cars would pull a disappearing act. If anything, Americans are getting bigger, not smaller. We carry around more stuff in our cars than ever before and expect them to offer the comfort and features of a modern living room.

Traditionally, large cars have offered the most passenger and cargo room on wheels. That's changed with the popularity of large SUVs, but it's still the rule. Most large cars have more passenger space than SUVs--especially in the rear seats. Large cars also have huge trunks, some swallowing as much as eight full-size golf bags.

But the large-car landscape has changed, or should we say evolved, over the past decade. As consumers switched to SUVs for family duty, large cars found a niche as taxis, police cruisers, and rental cars. That meant less features, less personality, and discount prices.

Recently, automakers and the buying public, have rediscovered large cars. Some with personality like the Chrysler 300, some with luxury like the Toyota Avalon, and some just plain commodious like the Ford Five Hundred.

While the large-car marketplace has changed dramatically over the past decade, one thing hasn't changed, and that's value. Large cars still offer buyers the biggest bang for the buck, the most features per dollar, and bottom-line prices only slightly higher than mainstream midsize sedans. That makes large cars a great deal for today's shoppers.

What to look for in a large car
Obviously, if you're in the market for a large car you need passenger or cargo room--or both. Though most large cars offer plenty of space, it's important to know that they aren't all created equal. The Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego have the most interior room and the largest trunk among all large cars. The Kia Amanti favors value pricing and luxury features over interior room.

Some large car shoppers may be looking beyond passenger space to features, and this is where the new generation of large cars excels.

All large cars offer leather upholstery as standard or optional equipment. A few offer navigation systems and satellite radio. Some have simple rear-seat pass-through to the trunk while others offer full-folding rear seats to increase cargo space.

Some large cars are front-drive, others are rear-drive, and a few offer all-wheel drive. Buyers in northern climates may want to consider front- or all-wheel-drive models, while those who tow may want to consider rear-drive models.

The Return of the Large Car?

Big cars are back, but they aren't the anachronistic behemoths of the past. Today's large cars border on sporty, have loads of luxury, and get better fuel economy than midsize SUVs. A few make styling statements and some coddle with luxury. The point is, large cars aren't just for grandpa and grandma any more. There for families on the go, real-estate agents, and executives..

Most large cars come with V6 engines, but a few offer lusty V8s that have plenty of power. But buyers have to keep in mind that the extra power comes with lower fuel economy and higher insurance costs. Some of the V8s even require premium-grade gasoline, which further increases annual fuel costs.

Large-car safety
Large cars are among the safest vehicles on the road. Each year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety compiles a list of vehicles with the fewest occupant deaths per million miles driven. The cars with the least driver deaths per million miles are almost always large cars. It makes sense as they have ample room for occupant protection and are usually driven by responsible adults with families to think about.

Still, there are a few safety features shoppers of large cars should be aware of. Antilock brakes and front airbags are standard equipment on all large cars. Buyers will also want curtain and side airbags as well. These valuable safety features are standard on a few vehicles; optional on others.

A few large cars offer stability control systems. Stability control systems work with the antilock braking system to help drivers maintain control of the vehicle in turns and on slippery roads. Though stability control isn't a necessary safety feature like curtain airbags, it can be worthwhile for drivers in climates where snow or rain frequently covers the road.

Consumer Guide® always recommends that buyers opt for as much safety equipment as they can afford. When weighing options, shoppers should always place the safety of occupants before their comfort. In cases where money is tight, that may mean forgoing the sunroof or leather upholstery in lieu of optional safety equipment.

Large-car shopping tips
Buyers of large cars need to be aware of a few things before they head out to dealerships. First off, most large cars can be had below sticker price--some even lower thanks to generous manufacturer rebates. Secondly, large cars aren't in huge demand. That means shoppers have the upper hand when it comes to selection and bargaining.

Best Buys

Chrysler 300 Dodge Charger Dodge Magnum Ford Five Hundred Mercury Montego Toyota Avalon

Large-car buyers also need to use their head when it comes to selecting options. For the most part, large cars start out in the low $20,000 range, but prices quickly escalate for top-line models and can approach $40,000 if buyers are not careful.

The Dodge Charger is a great example. A Charger SE with the 3.5-liter V6 and side curtain airbags stickers for a reasonable $23,585. However, a Charger R/T with its standard V8 and luxury and performance features costs $30,195. That's a big jump.

You might have guessed that luxury and performance are big-time players in the large-car marketplace--and the automakers biggest profit centers. As a buyer, it is your job to make sure you pay only for the luxury and performance you need. In most cases, that means reasonably-fuel efficient V6 engines and a few luxury features. Load the car up with equipment and you might as well purchase a luxury car.

The bottom line is shop smart. Choose the least-expensive model that meets your needs, select only the options that you need, and don't skimp on safety.

Buick Lucerne Base Price Range: $25,265-$34,265 EPA MPG Range: 17-28 Body Styles: 4-door sedan A step up in roominess and features from the Buick LeSabre and Park Avenue sedans it replaces, Lucerne occupies a middle ground between the flamboyant Chrysler 300 and the conservative Toyota Avalon. The well-appointed CXL V6 may be the most Lucerne for the money. However, the costlier, but still reasonably priced, CXS is tempting just for its better ride control, with V8 power an added bonus.

Chrysler 300 Base Price Range: $23,525-$39,920 EPA MPG Range: 14-28 Body Styles: 4-door sedan Acceleration with the 2.7 V6 is weak, but the boldly styled 300 is an otherwise Best Buy combination of performance, roominess, and value. The startling SRT8 outpowers cars costing twice as much with little compromise of the 300's other virtues.

Dodge Charger Base Price Range: $22,320-$35,320 EPA MPG Range: 14-27 Body Styles: 4-door sedan Charger's rakish sedan styling masks room for five, athletic moves, and reasonable prices. The 3.5 V6 offers acceptable performance, and the R/T and SRT8 are muscle cars. We'd like to see AWD added to the option list, but overall Charger has a lot to offer the full-size car buyer.

Dodge Magnum Base Price Range: $22,430-$37,320 EPA MPG Range: 17-28 Body Styles: 4-door wagon Magnum proves aggressive styling and functionality are not mutually exclusive. The 2.7 V6 can't move this big wagon with much verve, but the 3.5 V6 offers acceptable performance, and the R/T and SRT8 are muscle cars. Cargo versatility, passenger room, available all-wheel drive, and solid construction inside and out make most any Magnum an outstanding value.

Ford Crown Victoria Base Price Range: $24,510-$30,830 EPA MPG Range: 17-25 Body Styles: 4-door sedan Big-car traditionalists are well-served by Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis. But these cars are ancient in design terms, so they're far less nimble and efficient than the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Toyota Avalon, and Ford's own Five Hundred and Mercury Montego--Best Buys all.

Ford Five Hundred Base Price Range: $22,230-$28,230 EPA MPG Range: 20-29 Body Styles: 4-door sedan Five Hundred and the similar Mercury Montego earn Best Buy status for their generous passenger space and cargo room, take-charge driving stance, good road manners, and available all-wheel drive. Engine choice is limited to a single V6, but it has adequate power for this duty. And, while the transmissions have some quirks, they're not deal-breakers.

Kia Amanti Base Price: $27,795 EPA MPG Range: 17-25 Body Styles: 4-door sedan Amanti's soft, floaty ride, quiet cabin, and noseplow in turns recall American sedans of years ago. For some buyers, that throwback flavor is a virtue, for others a curse. There's no debate about the car's high level of features per dollar, which helps its perceived value.

Mercury Grand Marquis Base Price Range: $24,780-$31,135 EPA MPG Range: 17-25 Body Styles: 4-door sedan Grand Marquis is a nice enough big sedan, but suffers from a Reagan-era basic design. We prefer the Toyota Avalon, Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger, and Mercury's own Montego as more-modern, more-satisfying choices in this class.

Mercury Montego Base Price Range: $24,430-$28,730 EPA MPG Range: 19-29 Body Styles: 4-door sedan Montego and its Ford cousin are Best Buys for their generous passenger room and cargo space and take-charge driving position. Transmission behavior isn't flawless, but acceleration is on par with most rivals, as are road manners and build quality. And only the Chrysler 300 in this class matches the available all-wheel drive.

Toyota Avalon Base Price Range: $26,625-$33,815 EPA MPG Range: 22-31 Body Styles: 4-door sedan Avalon is no longer miles ahead in this class for refinement, room, or interior ambience, yet remains an unquestioned Best Buy. Among its many assets are a benchmark V6 powertrain, solid feel, composed ride, and surprisingly adept handling, plus Toyota's strong track record for quality, reliability, and resale value.

Large Car Specification Comparison

Vehicle	Wheel-base, in.	Length, in.	Curb Weight, lb.	Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	Fuel Capacity, gal.	Front Head Room, in.	Front Leg Room, in.	Rear Head Room, in.	Rear Leg Room, in.
Buick Lucrne	115.6	203.2	3764	17.0	18.5	39.5	42.5	37.6	41.0
Chrysler 300	120.0	196.8	3712	15.6	18.0	38.7	41.8	38.0	40.2
Dodge Charger	120.0	200.1	3800	16.2	18.0	38.7	41.8	36.2	40.2
Dodge Magnum	120.0	197.7	3855	71.6	18.0	38.4	41.8	38.1	40.2
Ford Crown Victoria	114.6	212.0	4129	20.6	19.0	39.5	41.6	37.8	38.0
Ford Five Hundred	112.9	200.7	3649	21.2	20.0	39.4	41.2	38.6	41.9
Kia Amanti	110.2	196.0	4021	15.5	18.5	40.0	43.7	38.4	37.2
Mercury Grand Marquis	114.6	212.0	4135	20.6	19.0	39.5	41.6	37.8	38.0
Mercury Montego	112.9	200.9	3656	21.2	19.0	39.4	41.2	38.6	41.9
Toyota Avalon	111.0	197.2	3490	14.4	18.5	38.8	41.3	37.5	40.9