Which are the biggest cars on the local market?

If you want to go against the flow of downsizing, which are the biggest cars on the local market?

Should you wish to supersize your order of car, the obvious choice would be to go for something American, right?  After all, if you want a proper full-size sedan, SUV or pick-up truck (which is an indication of size – much larger than any South African bakkie) then the USA is the place to shop for your Lincoln Navigator 9-seat SUV or Chevrolet Silverado dual rear-wheel pick-up truck.

But you’re not in America… and neither is your big-car need.

In case you thought the Range Rover L (LWB) has to be the biggest SUV available locally, you may be surprised that its length of 5208mm is exceeded by the Infiniti QX80 measuring a super-long 5305mm.  The Lexus LX is 1865mm high and the Range Rovers are 1835 (both in standard-ride height) but again outsized by the Infiniti at 1945mm.  At 2266mm wide, across mirrors, it is 46mm wider than a Range Rover, so the QX80 once again wins with its size trump card.  In wheelbase, though, the Range Rover L, at 3120mm, outdoes the Infiniti’s 3075mm.

Most number of seats?  Excluding the MPVs like Mercedes-Benz Vito and new V-Class and Volkswagen Kombi and Caravelle and taxis which are designed for the job of carrying the most number of people, we have become used to the idea of a 7-seater SUV, of which there are a selection – well, the Infiniti QX80 has 8 full seats.  It comes in only one engine spec, being the 5.6-litre V8, and costs R 1 238 000.

So the SUVs are the biggest, right?  These intimidating 4x4s might win the height round, obviously, but is there a car that is longer?  Bentley’s biggest car is the Mulsanne, but at 5575mm just beats the Rolls-Royce Ghost EWB (Extended WheelBase) at 5569mm.  So the Rolls-Royce Phantom at 5842mm must be the longest?  Still not.  But if that is still too short for you, sir can order the Rolls-Royce Phantom EWB, stretching to a limousine-long 6092 mm to take 1st place.  Its 6.75-litre V12 under the lengthy big bonnet is supremely smooth and quiet.  As the expression goes: if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.

Therefore, if you want to supersize your car order, get the Infiniti QX80 or Rolls-Royce Phantom EWB.