Style Smackdown #7: Full-Size Sedans

"IanZ - limited-slip indifferential" (ianz-limited) 06/18/2016 at 23:05 • Filed to: Style Smackdown

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Throughout the Style Smackdown series I will be ranking cars in their respective segments. Where others judge on cornering prowess, interior comfort, and value for money, I judge on one factor: STYLE.

Tonight the battle is between full-size sedans.

#1: Chrysler 300 - Before those upstart Lincoln kids came around, the 300 was the original Bentley ripoff. Just kidding, Bentley wishes they could look this good. Although I have noticed Rolls-Royce has been using spare 300 headlights on the Ghost.

#2: Toyota Avalon - Toyota stumbled their way onto a good design with this one, an they stumbled elegantly. The Avalon works in all the ways the Camry doesn’t. Although Toyota is apparently using leftover chrome foglight surrounds from 2000's Camries.

#3: Dodge Charger - I’m not quite sure how I feel about the Charger. Dodge’s crosshair grille is a great design, and those taillights are bold and elegant. But the body has always bugged me; I don’t much like the scalloped detail on the doors, and the body looks weirdly droopy from the side. There’s a thinness to it; it almost looks too long for it’s height/width.

#4: Buick LaCrosse - The LaCrosse is the opposite of the Impala; the styling works in spite of the shape. There are a lot of elements I like about the LaCrosse; the handsome fascia is wide and low, and the taillights are clean and elegant. But the swoop on the rear haunches seems pasted on, and the greenhouse is an odd shape with the upswept beltline. It’s really a shame, since the details are so great.

#5: Kia Cadenza - In concept, the Cadenza should be a winner. Kia’s Tiger-nose grille, signature quad foglights, and unique z-motif in the Cadenza’s headlights and taillights. But the execution is a bit lacking. The foglights don’t work as well as on the Sportage, and the large swaths of empty sheetmetal are jarring - especially in white.

#6: Chevrolet Impala - The Impala works I think in spite of the bland styling. The shape of the body is really clean and classic; pretty muscular. The double Chevy grille has never looked good, but it’s worked in here a little better. All that said it’s a bland design; there’s very little here to catch the eye.

#7: Ford Taurus - I really can’t think of anything to say. It’s a car? I think?

#8: Nissan Maxima - There is so much wrong with this design I don’t really know where to begin. For starters the grille is hideous; their “v-motion” design is one of the worst on the market today, and I hate how there’s no delineation between it and the headlights. I don’t mind how the fenders wrap around the foglights, but more needs to be done in that area to make it work better. The u-shaped chrome strip around the grille is just a terrible idea, and everything about it is so thick . There’s a mile of sheetmetal above the wheels, and the bodywork just looks heavy - like it was carved out of clay. It might sound contradictory after saying that, but I like the muscularity of it. I don’t mind the faux floating roof, although it seems like they could have done more with it, and the taillights are cool.

#9: Hyundai Azera - I don’t really get the Azera. Not only from a design standpoint, but I just don’t know where it fits in in the lineup. If you look at the design, which I try to avoid, it’s basically just a stretched and massaged Sonata. From 5 yeas ago. But it’s kind of a mess. The headlights and grilles conspire to sneer at you, and

For Sweden > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 06/18/2016 at 23:12

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Put the Buick at #2 and this can be a good post

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 06/18/2016 at 23:14

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HMMMM

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 06/18/2016 at 23:16

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Not that the Avalon is a bad looking car, but it certainly isn’t exciting. I’d move it and the Impala further down the list.

wafflesnfalafel > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 06/18/2016 at 23:20

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The Impala flies along at 110 quite nicely... rented one exactly like that but silver. Ergo isn’t fabulous but the seats are excellent. One of the few cars I don’t need to slide the seat all the way back. I agree the exterior styling isn’t flashy (and the rear fender haunch is a little weird) but anonymity can be a good thing. The goofy electric parking brake is a POS.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 06/18/2016 at 23:25

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#2

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 06/18/2016 at 23:25

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I very badly want to put a 300C on bags.

AM3R shamefully returns > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 06/18/2016 at 23:29

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The maxima is STUNNING in person.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > AM3R shamefully returns 06/18/2016 at 23:50

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Especially in blue

IanZ - limited-slip indifferential > For Sweden 06/18/2016 at 23:52

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I WILL NOT BOW TO YOUR TYRANNY

IanZ - limited-slip indifferential > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul 06/18/2016 at 23:54

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Technically a luxo sedan, but this would be middle of the pack if it were here. It's a handsome car but there are some things about bug me.

AM3R shamefully returns > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 06/19/2016 at 00:08

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I completely agree. Saw a blue one and I really had to give it up to Nissan. Stands out and looks fantastic.

Does it still have that crappy CVT? If not, that's a real winner right there.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 06/19/2016 at 00:11

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They got rid of the chrome fog light surrounds on the facelifted Avalon, and have replaced them with real lights, and an angry grille that looks meh in pictures but works so well in real life, especially on dark paintwork.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 06/19/2016 at 07:58

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I still want to take a time machine back fifteen years and talk to someone in Hyundai and mention “luxury” and watch them get all uncomfortable

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > AM3R shamefully returns 06/19/2016 at 10:00

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Still FWD and still a CVT, I was in the market and had it at least been a true 6 speed auto I woulda bought one.

The Stig's former college room mate > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 06/20/2016 at 17:26

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I think as a rule full size cars need to be rear wheel drive. 2,4,6,7,8,9 are disqualified.