A full-size car is a marketing term used in North America for an automobile larger than a mid-size car. The American EPA uses "large car" to denote full-size cars.

Full-size is defined in measurement as greater than 120 ft³ (3,300 L) of interior volume.^[1] Previously, a wheelbase greater than 2.79 metres (110 inches) was the criterion. The term first appeared in the early 1960's to define what also became known as "standard" size cars from the new compact and intermediate models then being introduced.

Due to the growing length of wheelbases among mid-size luxury sedan, however, the overall length of the vehicles has become another factor to take into account. Full-size cars should therefore also feature an overall length of more than 5 meters (197 in).

A "large family car," the equivalent of a full-size car class in Australian terms, often denoted by width. Therefore, the Ford Falcon, Toyota Aurion and Holden Commodore are considered large cars in the Australian and New Zealand markets. These cars are sometimes referred to as "family cars" in Australia, and are typically 4.8 meters (about 15 ft, 9 in) or more in length.

In Europe, the terms "executive car" and "luxury car" may refer to cars of this size (which are mostly luxury cars), such as the Audi A8, BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Jaguar XJ.

Decline and renaissance

The sales of full-size vehicles in the United States declined after the early 1970s fuel crisis. By that time, full-size cars had grown to wheelbases of 3.07 to 3.23 m (121 to 127 in), and overall lengths of around 5.72 m (225 in). Though most cars throughout the 1970s remained full-sized, the GM vehicle downsizing of the late 1970s and consumer preference leaning more towards sporty automobiles caused sales to decline well into the 1990s. With the rise of the SUV, fewer and fewer customers whose preferences were still leaning toward full-size cars bought sedans.

It was not until significant gas price increases made SUV usage very expensive that full-size sedan sales recovered. This surge in sales was further fueled by the introduction of popular new models such as the Buick Lucerne, Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum.

In Europe, full-size cars have only recently gained in popularity. During the 1980s, full-size cars were rare in Europe, but now they have become a common sight. In Germany, full-size cars make up 15% of the total number of cars (VDA annual report), roughly the same average as in the United States.

List of full-size cars

Current full-size cars

A * denotes a car available with 6-passenger seating

• Acura RL
• Audi A8
• Bentley Arnage
• BMW 7 Series
• Buick Lucerne*
• Cadillac DTS*
• Chevrolet Impala* (Chevrolet calls it a mid-size car, and it competes primarily with other large mid-size vehicles.)
• Chrysler 300
• Dodge Charger
• Dodge Magnum
• Ford Crown Victoria*
• Ford Falcon
• Ford Taurus
• Holden Commodore
• Hyundai XG
• Infiniti Q45
• Jaguar XJ8
• Lexus LS
• Lincoln Town Car*
• Maybach 57 and 62
• Maserati Quattroporte
• Mercury Grand Marquis*
• Mercury Sable
• Mercedes-Benz S-Class
• Nissan President
• Rolls Royce Phantom
• Toyota Century
• Toyota Aurion
• Toyota Avalon
• Volkswagen Phaeton

Recent full-size cars

• Mercury Montego
• Ford Five Hundred
• Buick LeSabre
• Buick Park Avenue
• Cadillac Deville
• Mercury Marauder
• Chrysler 300M
• Chrysler Concorde
• Chrysler LHS
• Dodge Intrepid
• Lexus LS 400
• Mitsubishi Diamante
• Oldsmobile Aurora
• Oldsmobile Eighty Eight

See also

• Car classification
• Vehicle size class

References

External links

• Official US government car size class definitions