Saving the Fullsize Sedan

"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
04/11/2016 at 21:45 • Filed to: Sedans

“ Big-ass cars for big-assed people! ” Let’s face it, every class of vehicle has increased in size. The biggest perpetrators are the compact and midsize sedan and CUV segments. They have been given longer wheelbases, wider stances, and a focus on practicality. This means our beloved large cars are being pushed into an uncertain market position. I don’t want to lose my large, non-luxury sedans!

Now I know all you enthusiasts don’t care about the death of heavy, V6, FWD sedans. To that, I completely agree! Don’t act surprised, I’m an enthusiast too after all! That’s why I say the first thing fullsize sedans require is:

Standard AWD

Need I say more? Let the midsize offerings be FWD and charge a premium for AWD versions. However, if someone is shelling out the dough for a Taurus Limited it should be better than a Fusion Titanium. Make the AWD system standard and make sure the fullsizer can compete with the decked-out midsize sedan option. While we are at it:

Standard Premium Engine

The top engine offering in the midsizer needs to be the base engine in the fullsizer. This means that the Impala is unacceptable with a 196hp four banger. If the vehicle isn’t making mucho low-end torque-o, it’s no bueno Amigo!

Higher Standards of Build Quality

This one isn’t an issue. The fullsizers typically have more advance suspension tuning, better interior materials, and great use of lightweight construction compared to the midsize sedan or CUV options. This is why any large sedan from a Toyota Avalon, to a Hyundai Azera, or Buick LaCrosse is always a surprisingly engaging and enjoyable driving machine (by that brand’s standard). Seriously, if you haven’t driven a 2012 MY and up fullsize sedan, you are missing out on some of the most fun road cars from mainstream manufactures you can find.

Manufacturers need to take what is already being done well up one more notch. After that, offer adjustable suspension options or special leather packages. I think magnetic ride control on a Buick LaCrosse would get a lot of people to at least open the driverside door on the thing.

Rear Seat Room

Now this one is going to sound odd, but I don’t think it matters whether or not the fullsize sedan is more roomy or numerically larger in dimensions than the midsizers. However, that doesn’t mean they should be tiny! I think there is nothing wrong with the Altima being a larger or more practical car than the Maxima. What I would have issue with is a large sedan not having a large enough rear passenger space to fit three average childseats across.

They shouldn’t just fit three children, but be developed for three kids. This means window shades, lower shoulder lines, no coupe-like styling taking place if it compromises the rear cabin. Let the midsizers have the swoopie roofies. The rear passenger area also needs great ventilation, easy access Isofix points, and wide rear door openings for ease of childseat installation. The best part is that the better suited these vehicles are for childseats and the precious cargo that rides in them, the better they are for moving three adults!

Fullsize sedans aren’t luxury limos. The only buttons in the backseat should be for the window and heated seats. Rear passengers don’t need a console to control anything, and I would say that screens on the front seatbacks are unnecessary (meaning a great top level option package). In fact, with every car having dual climate control nowadays, there should be a button that switches from syncing the rear seats with the driver’s climate settings to the front passenger’s climate settings. One of those two is bound to be something the rear passengers like. I’m not saying don’t give the rear passengers a way to close the vents or adjust their own climate control. I’m saying it would make life easier on the kids and animals that can’t control that temperature or vent. Everything else from radio to navigation controls, just let the backseat occupants ask, they’re going to be vocal anyways.

Safety Tech

Fullsize offerings should be packing the most standard safety features of any vehicles on the market. There seems to be a system in which automakers divide these up, so I’ll leave it to those that know what all goes into safety tech. Here’s a quick list from Wikipedia on just the Driver Assistance Technology that’s super common:

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! :’ DADS : Driver Alertness Detection System !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! System to prevent crashes caused by fatigue

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! systems to prevent or reduce the severity of collision.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! systems to increase seeing distance beyond headlamp range

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! control the direction and range of the headlight beams to light the driver’s way through curves and maximize seeing distance without partially blinding other drivers

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , which alert drivers to difficult-to-see objects in their path when reversing

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! which maintains a safe distance from the vehicle in front

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to alert the driver of an unintended departure from the intended lane of travel

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! systems or !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! which restore traction if driven wheels begin to spin

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , which intervenes to avert an impending loss of control

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! systems

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! measurement and speed governance systems

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! system

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! notify a driver how close their vehicle is to an object - usually providing a distance measurement, to the inch, as to how close they are.

Regardless of the way in which safety tech gets packaged together, fullsize sedans should be the flagships for safety and convenience tech.

Future of Fullsize Sedans

To recap, fullsize sedans should be:

Standard with AWD, equipped with engines focused on delivering large amounts of low-end torque at broad RPM ranges, better built/manufactured than midsize sedans and midsize CUVs, focused on rear seat comfort for three children in childseats, and the flagship models for safety and convenience tech.

I know that sounds like asking a lot, but honestly most of these sedans are already doing everything I stated. The AWD and dumping the rental spec versions are all it would take to keep these vehicles a logical buy over the comparatively large midsize options, the versatile CUV options, or the tech heavy compact sedan options. This does mean that finding a fullsize sedan under $31,000 is out the door, but the Avalon, Azera, Cadenza, Maxima, LaCrosse, Lexus ES, and most of the non-fleet Tauri and Impalas are in that $35,000 and up range anyways!

Of course the midsize CUV option is still the better one for the most part, but it’s nice to have a large sedan because you can access the trunk inside of a home garage. I would say garage-ability is the primary seller of a sedan over anything with a hatch. Take advantage of that, and play up the “family” sedan angle as often as the “business” sedan angle. I’m not saying this will save the mainstream fullsize sedan, I’m just saying this would give them a reason to live.

DISCUSSION (11)

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > Wobbles the Mind
04/11/2016 at 21:57

All things considered I think there are two things the full sized sedan can’t compete with. And that’s the ride height, which is a shockingly large reason why people buy a cuv instead of a sedan, and precieved cargo size.

Which is sad, because every full sized sedan is cooler than the equivilant cuv...

TheHondaBro > Wobbles the Mind
04/11/2016 at 22:01

I think AWD might be pushing it a bit. All I know is that I’d daily the shit out of a RWD Avalon.

Wobbles the Mind > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
04/11/2016 at 22:04

It is rough. Living with a midsize CUV and a fullsize sedan...I have to say I can’t justify the sedan in any regard. However, the older generation of humans are still extremely responsive to large sedans. I picked up my bosses in my Amanti once, they couldn’t believe I could afford something like that!They still mention that car anytime I see them. Conversely, I picked up one of them in my Grand Cherokee, they just said it was “nice” and talked about their own crossover.

Wobbles the Mind > TheHondaBro
04/11/2016 at 22:10

I don’t know, you can get an AWD Fusion, Chrysler 200, or Legacy without issue. Not to mention any CUV no matter how small! In fact, I think AWD/4x4 badges sale more cars than any engine you can put under the hood.

LongbowMkII > Wobbles the Mind
04/11/2016 at 22:17

I wouldn’t consider the Impala’s handling and steering to be engaging. Plus it's nearly as tall as my Murano.

JR1 > Wobbles the Mind
04/11/2016 at 22:18

It would certainly help the product but I think nothing can really save them at this point

Chariotoflove > Wobbles the Mind
04/11/2016 at 22:20

I don’t think these cars need AWD. FWD works best for their audience and helps hit the price point. Also, I don’t think a base 4-cylinder is necessarily a bad thing to have, as long as there is some low end scoot, which today’s turbos could provide. But I don't think less than 200 hp-ish is appropriate for cars of this size. I agree with your other points. I really like large sedans like the Impala, better than CUVs.

Wobbles the Mind > LongbowMkII
04/11/2016 at 22:34

That’s sad to hear. I enjoyed a LaCrosse rental I had throughly! I’ll have to check what the rear setup is like on both models and where the weight is. I made an assumption and I was worried about that.

Wobbles the Mind > Chariotoflove
04/11/2016 at 22:39

I think the Genesis Sedan at $38k and how roomy it is inside is what sold me on FWD being a poor sale now. If the Chrysler 300 and Charger took on the Genesis Sedan’s interior volume trick, I don’t think the space argument for FWD setups will be applicable. Seriously, I hated the ride on the Genesis but the interior space threw me for a loop!

Chariotoflove > Wobbles the Mind
04/11/2016 at 23:49

I see what you are saying. I was thinking of the driving characteristics. FWD is what most family drivers are used to and is actually preferred by that market demo in weather. Surprised you didn’t like the Genesis’s ride. I always read that was its strong point. I've never experienced it though.

Textured Soy Protein > Wobbles the Mind
04/11/2016 at 23:55

Old people buy full size sedans. Old people live in warm climates and don’t drive enthusiastically. Going to standard awd doesn’t really offer old people anything in the way of a different driving experience, but it would make for worse fuel economy and rear seat room, two things that old people do care about.