Large and in charge. Big is beautiful. Size matters. Yes, there are endless clichés to support the notion that the bigger something is, the better it is. In the automotive kingdom, some vehicles not only adhere to this philosophy, but redefine it. We aren’t talking the puny realm of offerings like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry or even Dodge Charger. No, this is for the serious four wheeled hippos. The cars where it is more fun to be in the backseat than the front seat.
If you have more money to burn than the average NFL Quarterback, then there are some serious vehicles you can buy that are seriously long. How about the 220.9-inch Phantom Coupe? Not long enough for you? You could upsize to the 239.8-inch Phantom extended-wheelbase sedan, or maybe the 242.7-inch Maybach 62?
But for the rest of us mere mortals, there are some sizable vehicles out there under $100,000. Heck, two of the top ten are even under $30,000. So we will now present to you the top ten vehicles that are longer than The Hobbit.
Not officially on sale yet, the 2014 Chevrolet Impala will grow in length for 2014. Already eclipsing 200 inches in 2013, the new Impala ups its size by another inch. The Impala is also one of the cheapest large cars on the market today.
Based on the same platform as the 2014 Impala, it should as no surprise that the Cadillac XTS also makes this list. It must be those pointy front and rear bumpers that squeak it just ahead of the Chevrolet in overall length.
Deceivingly lanky, the Ford Taurus requires a deeper parking space than the Chevrolet Impala, Dodge Charger or Chrysler 300. Not only bordering on massive, the Taurus is also the cheapest vehicle on this list. So, the next time someone wants to buy a car by the pound – point them over to this Ford.
As the sole entry to hail from Korea, the Equus is a budget competitor to the full size German luxo-barges. So to play the part, it needs to be a barge itself. It’s hard to believe Hyundai would ever build a vehicle this large but hey, it’s here and it’s not half bad either.
Like the Equus, the Lexus LS was built to compete with the German luxury heavyweights at a discounted price. Unlike the Equus, that was over 20 years ago and since then the LS has established itself as a serious competitor to the best from Deutschland; its pricing is right on par with the Audi A8 L and BMW 740Li, as is its size.
The German ‘big 3’ have always made extended wheelbase full-size flagship luxury sedans that emphasize rear legroom and passenger space above all else. These are the vehicles that an owner buys, but rarely drives; they have someone else to handle that duty while they conduct business from the rear seat.
The only vehicle in the top five that isn’t an extended wheelbase luxury Q-ship, the MKS is just a plain old large vehicle from the outset. Sharing a platform with the Ford Taurus, like the XTS to the Impala, the MKS must be larger than it’s piddling, peasant cousin to ensure luxurious dominance.
Just creeping in under the price ceiling, the Mercedes-Benz S 550 is another of the long-wheelbase luxury boats. Its base price is set so much higher than its competitors due to the lack of a 6-cylinder engine option offered on the long wheelbase editions. Maybe Mercedes should drop a diesel into this barge.
Not wanting to be left out, the British are represented in the large car party with the Jaguar XJL. Although it is only the second largest vehicle on this list, it appears to be the largest vehicle thanks to that sloping rear roofline.
This is it; this is the monster of the “everyday” car world. At 17 and a quarter feet long, the A8 L is not intended for downtown city street parking. But if you are looking for the largest, luxuriously appointed mobile office, the A8 L might be for you.