Having never driven an Avalon (or competing "large" FWD car), what is the benefit over a comparable loaded midsize car? For example:
Avalon vs V6 Camry
Taurus vs 2.0T Fusion
Azera vs 2.0T Sonata
Impala vs 2.0T Malibu
Are the gains in room/features/refinement significant over the midsize version? These large FWD cars seem somewhat redundant to me now that midsize sedans are so large/powerful/feature-laden. But since I haven't driven them, I could be missing something. The only "large" FWD sedan I've driven is the Maxima, and while it is marginally more sporty/luxurious than a loaded V6 Altima, the difference to me wasn't all that significant.
Coming from a developing country, where a Camry or Accord is large size sedan and somewhat upscale (yeah, laugh all you want but it's true!
![Wink ;)](https://www.autos.ca/forum/Smileys/CarTalk/wink.gif)
), first time I saw in person(*) a 'full-size' car by North-American standards was when my dad came to visit and got a Taurus from the rental as they did not have any mid-size available.
Man, that thing was big. My sister came along and claimed 'one could play soccer inside' given the amount of legroom available! And I had to agree with her: I had never seen anything like it.
![Grin ;D](https://www.autos.ca/forum/Smileys/CarTalk/grin.gif)
Now, I can only wonder what an extended wheelbase version of S-Class/7-series/A8/LS has to offer...
(*) Oh! Not quite. I once got a rental 2007-ish Impala in a business trip to US. Although I did not pay any attention to the legroom in the back as I was riding alone, I did pay attention to the bench-type front seat of that Impala trim that allowed 3 people to sit in front. I was laughing out of nothing for a good while, remembering old US car barges from the 50s and 60s that I only knew from photos and Hollywood movies...