Questions regarding Honda and the Full Size Car Segment

[autofreak]

I was just wondering if Honda had any plans to ever enter the full-size car segment so that they would be able to compete witht the Toyota Avalon and/or the Nissan Maxima. Or even if Honda had any plans to have Acura enter into the full-size luxury car segment. I would just love to see Honda incorporate their magic into a full-size car.

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[sherwood]

the maxima went full size after the last redesign put it over 110"

the next accord probably will do the same-- watching the way it has been growing in size the past 15 years that is

[Misa]

does the RL count?

[sherwood]

Originally Posted by lexusis350

No RL is about the size of the Lexus GS, Mercedes-Benz E, Infiniti M and BMW 5-Series.

which are all full sized cars. your point?

[fastball]

The Accord may break the 110" barrier in '08, but Honda doesn't need a full size car. They are successfull with their current formula. Toyota has the Avalon, but it is not their bread and butter car. The Camry is. And for Honda to bring out a car to go directly head to head with an Avalon is kinda crazy. Hondas have always been more performance oriented than Toyotas (certain exceptions apply with the Celica, Supra, MR2), and it is no secret that if you let a blind person drive a Park Avenue and an Avalon back to back, they couldn't tell the difference.

So, why should Honda make a bigger car? Just to have one?

[Troopa-R]

Originally Posted by fastball

So, why should Honda make a bigger car? Just to have one?

Sometimes that's all the reason a fanboy needs.

Personally, I think Honda has enough things to work on with it's current lineup and manufacturing capabilities than to even consider jumping into new segments.

[sherwood]

Originally Posted by lexusis350

These cars are not exactly full size.

The LS, S-Class, 7-Series are full size. I think Acura's RL is good enough for the competition. It just needs a V8 and it will be as good as any luxury car. It offers quality at a lower price. Save over 10K from a Lexus and more with Mercedes or BMW.

no those are limos.

the RL is fullsize.

[Troopa-R]

Originally Posted by sherwood

no those are limos.

the RL is fullsize.

Let's put this "debate" to rest: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/info.shtml#sizeclasses

The RL is 99.0 cu.ft. interior, 13.1 cu ft making it a midsize car.

And as someone whose parents own one of the new RLs, as nice as it is, it's really not much (if at all) bigger than their old Gen6 98 Accord.

[sherwood]

Originally Posted by Troopa-R

Let's put this "debate" to rest: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/info.shtml#sizeclasses

The RL is 99.0 cu.ft. interior, 13.1 cu ft making it a midsize car.

And as someone whose parents own one of the new RLs, as nice as it is, it's really not much (if at all) bigger than their old Gen6 98 Accord.

it depends on who you ask.

most people i deal with believe that the standard categories are based on wheelbase..

sub-100"= sub-compact
100"-105"= compact
105"-110"=midsize
110"-115"= full
115+"= limo

interior volume is another way of doing it but i feel that the wheelbase is a better depiction of the external dimensions of the car, or in other words, the cars overall size.

[sherwood]

Originally Posted by lexusis350

When you look at the RL, it looks much smaller than a full-size car. Its nicer than a full-size car, but its small. I saw one next to a new 2006 or 2007 Avalon XL and it looks small. But it looks much more luxurious, just a little smaller, especially the rear seat leg room.

i see the mid-sized market being one filled with 4 door coupes, cars like the 3-series and the lexus IS series.

the RL is most certianly bigger than these cars, it's just a matter of where you draw the line.


acura/honda could use a larger car, yes. but this doesnt mean that the RL is mid-sized.

[Misa]

Originally Posted by sherwood

the RL is most certianly bigger than these cars, it's just a matter of where you draw the line.

exactly.

[Troopa-R]

Originally Posted by sherwood

i see the mid-sized market being one filled with 4 door coupes, cars like the 3-series and the lexus IS series.

the RL is most certianly bigger than these cars, it's just a matter of where you draw the line.

I would agree that the RL is bigger than the 3-series and the IS, but I consider those compact cars. They're really no bigger than a Jetta or a Civic, neither of which is large enough to be mid-size.

Really, all these definitions are arbitrary, but if there needs to be a definition, the Federal Government classifications are a standardized set that all the automakers agree to, and they classify the RL as a mid-size car. And if we consider cars like the RL as full size, where does that put cars that are significantly larger like the Avalon and 300C? Do we create a category above full size?

Again... my parents own one of the new RLs. Relatively speaking, it is not a big car.

[autofreak]

Originally Posted by Troopa-R

Really, all these definitions are arbitrary, but if there needs to be a definition, the Federal Government classifications are a standardized set that all the automakers agree to, and they classify the RL as a mid-size car. And if we consider cars like the RL as full size, where does that put cars that are significantly larger like the Avalon and 300C? Do we create a category above full size?

This is exactly why I had a question regarding Honda ever entering the full size segment, because they have no current full size vehicle. If Honda or Acura did, however, enter the full size car segment I think that they'd have to make it a RWD with optional SH-AWD (for Acura) or FWD (at the very least for Honda).

[angry sol]

i don't think they have any plans to release one in the states, but truth is if they did, it would sell like hotcakes. honda has a very good reputation and that reputation alone is enough to sell cars

[MrFatbooty]

Sherwood, while you may have your own personal beliefs about what constitutes a full-size car, there are generally accepted standards for vehicle size classifications. By those standards, all the cars you've been talking about are midsize.