Available As: Large sedan

Base Price Range (MSRP): $21,820-$36,625

Pros: Acceleration (V8s).

Cons: Interior comfort, ride, refinement, visibility, fuel economy.

Overall: A Chrysler 300 that tries to be sportier, and fails.

Rating: 4/10

Recommended: NO

The Charger is a rear-wheel-drive large sedan with available V8s, which seems to make the basics for a practical modern muscle car. But it isn't. Though theoretically a sportier version of the Chrysler 300, it only offers more aggressive styling (at the expense of interior comfort and visibility) and a stiffer ride without a significant improvement in handling. And the 300 wasn't a fantastic car to start with, standing out only with its Hemi V8s, and only then because of its impressive power. If you must have one of the two large Chryslers, it should be the Chrysler 300, but there are better choices than either.

Consumers looking for a moderately sporty large sedan should consider the Nissan Maxima, which is more agile than the Charger and offers a standard powerful V6 and a comfortable interior. If you would like an upscale-feeling sporty family car but don't need a particularly roomy back seat, Nissan's cheaper midsize Altima would be a good choice. If sporty behavior is important but an upscale feel is not, look at the Honda Accord, Mazda6, and Mitsubishi Galant. And if you are looking for a more traditional comfort-focused large sedan, consider the value-priced Ford Taurus, or the more luxurious Buick Lucerne, Hyundai Azera, Kia Amanti, and Toyota Avalon.

See the 2006 Charger SXT in the IFCAR Large Sedan Comparison Test

See the 2006 Charger RT in the IFCAR Large Sedan Comparison Test

See the 2008 Charger SXT  in the IFCAR Premium Family Sedan Comparison Test

Available As: Large sedan

Base Price Range (MSRP): $24,565-$27,560

Pros: Interior and trunk space.

Cons: Handling, fuel economy, interior quality, acceleration, instrument layout.

Overall: Consumers who enjoy the feel of the land yachts of yore can find the same benefits as the Crown Victoria combined with modern improvements.

Rating: 4/10

Recommended: NO

Depending on how you look at it, the Ford Crown Victoria (and the identical Mercury Grand Marquis, and their upscale Lincoln Town Car variant) can be considered the oldest vehicles in production. It had a minor suspension and styling modification in 2003, a partial redesign in 1999, another in 1992, and a few less-significant modifications through the 1980s. One could accurately call the current vehicles nine (still geriatric by automotive standards), sixteen, or, going back to the date of the first Ford full-size sedans on the “Panther” platform, twenty-nine. Thus, these current vehicles present a flashback to the days of V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive, land yachts, with their twin bench seats, huge trunks, and soft ride and handling. But as other cars have changed around them, developments have been made in interior space efficiency that gives many smaller vehicles more interior space than these cars, powertrain efficiency that has given dozens V6 cars better performance than their V8s, and safety features that outweigh their sheer size, while still in some cases undercutting them in price. In short, the Crown Victoria accurately replicates the popular cars of the 1970s, but the standards of excellence have risen around them. Its resistance to abuse has hade it a popular police and taxi vehicle, but there are many better choices for everyday consumer use.

Fortunately, Ford also sells a modern large family sedan, the Taurus. It is physically smaller than the Crown Victoria, but it has a larger interior and trunk. It rides comfortably, but is also more agile and more maneuverable. Their V6s are more powerful and more fuel-efficient than the Crown Victoria's V8s. They have more modern safety equipment and higher safety ratings. And they're no more expensive, even after the Crown Victoria's frequently generous rebates. The Hyundai Azera and Kia Amanti offer a similar experience with a particular focus on luxury and refinement, and for a higher price the Buick Lucerne and Toyota Avalon offer more of the same. Also try out some of the roomy midsize family cars to see if they're not too small before spending extra: the Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, and Toyota Camry are reasonable choices.

See the 2006 Crown Victoria LX Sport in the IFCAR Large Sedan Comparison Test

Available As: Large sedan

Base Price Range (MSRP): $24,235-$27,355

Pros: Interior space, interior quality, refinement, acceleration, price, warranty.

Cons: Fuel economy.

Overall: Space and luxury for a reasonable price.

Rating: 9/10

Recommended: YES (IFCAR Top Pick)

For the price of comparably-equipped midsize family sedan, the Azera adds to such a car a luxury feel, more safety equipment, and even more interior space. It can also be considered a low-cost alternative to other large luxurious sedans. The Azera is smooth-riding and quiet, has a spacious and well-finished interior, and handles surprisingly well. Its standard V6 is adequately smooth and strong, but the 3.8-liter V6 on mid- and high-trim models is silent and effortless in comparison, but comes at a price premium of $1,300 between comparably-equipped cars. The Azera isn't as fuel-efficient as many smaller competitors, nor is it quite as silent as some pricier large sedans, but it's an excellent car at a very competitive price with few obvious shortcomings.

For maximum luxury within mainstream prices, consider the V8 versions of the Buick Lucerne. It is very comfortable inside, rides and handles well for its size, and offers strong acceleration. It's more expensive than the Azera however, not as quick, not as fuel-efficient, and not as nimble. The Toyota Avalon is more powerful and fuel-efficient, and slightly quieter and smoother-riding, but has flatter seats and clumsier handling, and also costs more. The Ford Taurus is a quiet, powerful, safe, and spacious family sedan with competitive pricing but without the Azera's interior quality. And the Kia Amanti, which shares some mechanicals with the Azera, is similar in most ways but has an even nicer interior but less ride and handling control.

See the 2006 Azera Limited in the IFCAR Premium Family Sedan Comparison Test

See the 2006 Azera Limited in the IFCAR Large Sedan Comparison Test

Available As: Large sedan

Base Price Range (MSRP): $25,495

Pros: Interior comfort, interior quality, refinement, ride, safety ratings, price, warranty.

Cons: Fuel economy, handling.

Overall: A better, $25,000 Lincoln Town Car.

Rating: 7/10

Recommended: YES

Despite recent upgrades, the Amanti remains a boat of a car. Its ride float has been controlled but hardly eliminated, as has its body roll. Its seems no attempt was made, however, to fix the numb, slow steering. Blame the handling on both the suspension tuning and the car's weight, and the latter also hurts fuel economy. But if you like a softer ride, and the handling and fuel economy aren't deal-breakers, you'll find a surprisingly good car. Quite literally, everything else about this car is excellent. The engine is smooth and powerful, the ride is silent, the seats are spacious and very well-shaped and comfortable, the interior is extremely well-detailed and well laid-out, and the price undercuts most rivals by a significant margin. Give it the test drive it deserves more often than it gets before buying your next large car.

The Hyundai Azera, which shares some mechanicals with the Amanti, is a better-rounded choice in the bargain-luxury segment, with a more controlled ride, better handling, slightly higher gas mileage, a larger trunk, and lower-priced base versions, but it isn't quite as silent, its seats aren't quite as comfortable, and its interior isn't quite as nice. (Though it hardly falls short in any of those ways.) For a similar price, consider the Ford Taurus, which as a vast interior and trunk, a smooth and quiet ride, top-notch safety ratings, and better gas mileage, though it has a less opulent interior. You could also spend a more for the Toyota Avalon's additional power and fuel economy or the Buick Lucerne's blend of similarly excellent seats and better ride and handling.