Once the crown jewel of automakers, large sedans are a dying breed. On the contrary, already almost in the grave. As car manufacturers focus on meeting the demand for SUVs and production of electric vehicles, customers have to say goodbye to what was the standard American car. US News & World Report has put together a list to show what’s left in the large segment, and while these cars are among the best large cars for 2022, the following are the last four still on sale and will not be available for much longer.
What replaces the Toyota Avalon?
Toyota killed the Avalon in August 2022; sadly, the four-wheel drive and TRD models were ditched last year. Edmunds reports that the Avalon was replaced by Toyota’s all-new, high-riding, hybrid-only Crown. Since the last Avalons have sold out, shoppers can pick up a base model for $36,375. Higher trim levels will run just over $43,000.
As a luxurious and slightly larger Toyota Camry, the 2022 Avalon impresses. It boasts a spacious, comfortable and lavish interior, an easy-to-use infotainment system and a plethora of standard safety features. The Avalon accelerates quickly with its 301 hp 3.5-liter V6 engine and gets excellent gas mileage.
Why was the Chrysler 300 discontinued?
Earlier this year, Stellantis confirmed that the Chrysler 300 would be discontinued after model year 2023. msn claims the nail in the coffin could have been that the big car didn’t make it to get the 707 horsepower Hellcat engine. However, parent company Stellantis aims to electrify most of its offerings by 2025.
Nevertheless, the 300 starts at about $32,000, and the top-of-the-range 300S starts at about $38,000. That’s why the sedan starts significantly lower than its rivals and offers the lowest top price in its class.
What to expect from the 2022 Chrysler 300? It comes with a fuel-friendly 292 horsepower 3.6-liter V6 or powerful 5.7-liter Hemi V8. The 300 also has a huge cabin space with luxurious touches, even if they are a bit dated. Nevertheless, all infotainment functions are user-friendly. Chrysler’s large, comfortable sedan is easy to live with, but it doesn’t offer the driveability of its sporty competitors.
Will the Dodge Charger be discontinued?
Along with the 300, Stellantis also drops the Charger. motor reports that the Brampton assembly plant in Canada, where the Charger, Challenger and 300 are produced, is undergoing a complete modernization and retrofit. The effort is to electrify the fleet, with production of at least one Charger EV set to begin in 2025. Currently, the price of the base SXT starts at $32,500, lower than many others in the large sedan segment. For drag-strip-worthy acceleration, the Hellcat Redeye starts at $85,695.
For those looking for more power in their LD platform sedan, the 2022 Dodge Charger offers a four-door option with huge power. Base models feature the 292 horsepower V6, but varying degrees of raw V8s come in 5.7, 6.4, and supercharged 6.2-liter variants.
Consumers can have anywhere from 370 horsepower R/T up to 797 horsepower in the SRT Hellcat Redeye and Jailbreak models. On the inside, much of the comfortable, spacious cabin is carried over from the 300, but the bells and whistles are rather underwhelming. Another drawback is that the charger does not have the safety features typical of a sedan in its price range.
Will there be a Maxima from 2023?
In his last call, the Nissan Maxima from 2023 starts at $38,140 in its base SV trim, above class average. The top-of-the-line Platinum trim starts at $44,250 and comes with maple wood trim on the dash.
However, Motorcycle trend reports that this large car will be taken out of production next year as Nissan invests in EVs. While an all-electric Maxima hasn’t been confirmed, Nissan has teased that the full-size sedan might return via the automaker’s “technical innovation.”
With a comfortable cabin packed with quality materials, the Nissan Maxima is packed with amenities and safety features. With a fuel-efficient 300 hp 3.5-liter V6, the Maxima also offers superior driving dynamics compared to its mid-sized brother, the Altima. However, the Maxima’s tight rear seat and relatively small trunk make it less practical than the Altima. Either way, the luxurious cabin can make up for where the Maxima falls short on pragmatism.
The end of the standard segment of full-size sedans and large cars
In recent years, every automaker has decided to cancel their standard, non-hybrid large sedans. As automakers move with the times, more attention is being paid to SUVs, mid-sized hybrids and EVs. The dwindling segment saw the departure of the Chevrolet Impala, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Azera, Kia Cadenza and Volkswagen Passat. After their departure, only the sedans mentioned above remained.
Unless you want a luxury, hybrid or EV full-size sedan, you need to act fast. While these vehicles are in between American newsbest big cars for 2022, production of the 300, Charger, Maxima and Avalon has already ceased or will cease in the near future.