LeBron James recently made some big news by promoting the Kia K900, not because he was being paid, but because he’s a big fan of the car. He has since partnered with Kia to promote its luxury brand. LeBron is not a small man, but the K900 seems to be a good fit for him. But that got us thinking: Is the K900 really the best fit for LeBron? We looked at our data to determine which vehicles can best fit someone of LeBron’s stature. These cars are truly fit for a “King,” or at least a very big and/or tall individual.
We looked at a number of criteria to determine how much room a car offers its passengers. We compared every model’s headroom, legroom and midsection space to determine which model from a number of classes would be best for larger people. We’ll try not to overwhelm you with numbers, but they prove that these vehicles offer the most room in their class. So here are the vehicles with the roomiest, most regal passenger accommodations by category.
10. Small SUV: The Jeep Wrangler may seem like a surprise for this category. It has a reputation as being the rugged little SUV, but that smaller body has a relatively large amount of space. The driver will benefit from 41.3 inches of head- and legroom. Your seating area will provide you with a good 55.6 inches of hip space. The Jeep has always offered plenty of space for the driver, but the back seats were usually a bit cramped. Since the generational shift, the back-seat dimensions have gotten a bit better (the back seat measures only a few inches smaller), but you’ll still be glad to be in the driver’s seat.
9. Wagon: The Toyota Venza is our wagon pick. Not only does it have a ton of space up front (think 40.2 inches of legroom), but it affords almost the same feel in the back, giving your passengers a generous 39.1 inches. Think that takes away from the car’s overall utility? Not at all; behind the seats are still an impressive 36.2 cubic feet of cargo space. If you see one of these pulling up to Quicken Loans Arena, don’t be surprised to see LeBron, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving all pile out, nice and refreshed from all the space they enjoyed on the way to the game.
8. Compact: If you’re a tall person in the market for a compact, your options are not as limited as you might think. When it comes to spacious compacts, the Dodge Dart is the way to go. Yes, the Dodge Dart. We realize that calling something “the largest compact car” may seem pretty meaningless, but these measurements offer ample space. With 38.6 inches for your head, 54.8 for your hips, 58.2 for your upper body and 42.2 for your legs, this small car can seem mighty big. Likewise, passengers in the back will benefit from comparable space, compromising only a few inches of legroom. Don’t let the size of the Dart deter your consideration.
7. Pickup: For tall people who need a lot of utility, there’s no beating the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Not only can you fit a ton of whatever you want in the Silverado’s cavernous bed, but you can also fit yourself comfortably in the cab (just ask Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith). With 42.8 inches of headroom and 45.3 inches of legroom up front, there’s plenty of space to stretch out as you drive to the lake or to defend your NFL title.
6. Minivan: Minivans were made to accommodate space, and the Toyota Sienna is the most accommodating in this regard. Besides the other obvious advantages to driving a minivan (seating and space for everyone, a crazy amount of cargo room, etc.), anyone will fit comfortably in the Sienna. With 39.1 inches of headroom and 40.5 inches of legroom, you should have no hesitation in choosing your minivan. Don’t let the Sienna deter you just because it’s a minivan. It is the practical choice for a big person.
5. Large SUV: The GMC Yukon is a big vehicle. The GMC Yukon XL is even bigger. There should be no doubt in your mind about how spacious this SUV is on the inside. With a length of 224.3 inches, you can imagine how much space you’ll have in your seating area. Of course, the extra space includes 121.1 cubic feet of cargo space, but the enormity of the Yukon XL can really be felt while sitting in it. You’ll breathe easy with a full 40.3 inches for your head, 60.3 inches for your shoulders, 65.2 for your hips and 41.3 inches for your feet. And the back seats have virtually the same dimensions as the front. The Yukon XL couldn’t really justify sacrificing comfort with all that space.
4. Midsize Sedan: If you like to stretch out as you go fast, look no further than the Chevrolet SS. This Australian muscle machine not only pumps out 415 hp, it also affords you 42.1 inches of legroom and 38.7 inches of headroom. That means that you’ll never feel cramped in the 4.7 seconds it takes you to get from 0 to 60 mph. Oh, you can also fit your friends (big or small) comfortably, too—the SS seats 5 and boasts 39.7 inches of legroom in the back.
3. If you have a driver: When you’re not the one driving, priorities change. The Rolls-Royce Phantom may not offer the most legroom up front (although it’s no slouch with 41 inches), but the back is what matters. Where other sedans have a hard time cracking 40 inches, the Rolls offers up a delightfully absurd 53.1 (if you buy the extended-wheelbase model). While you could theoretically ride around in the back the whole time, why would you? The Phantom lays down 453 hp via its 6.7-liter, 12-cylinder engine, making it as fun to drive as is is comfortable to be chauffeured around in.
2. Passenger/Cargo Van: If you want maximum space, there’s no way to beat the Ford Transit Passenger. New to the U.S. for 2015, the Transit Passenger replaces the outgoing E-Series van. Sitting up front, the Transit Passenger offers an unrivaled 56.6 inches of headroom coupled with 41.3 of legroom. While the front seat is more than impressive, it’s in the back where the van really shines. While the back seats are a bit more cramped than the front (with only 33.7 inches of legroom), they boast 65.2 inches of headroom, meaning none of the 13 people in the rear seats will feel claustrophobic. Add to that the Transit Passenger’s 211.8 cubic feet of cargo space and you have van almost big enough for LeBron to shoot hoops in.
1. Luxury Sedan: If you are in the luxury sedan market, the BMW 7 Series definitely offers the most space. It fulfills our requirements with 40.6 inches of headroom, 41.3 inches of legroom and 59.2 inches for your shoulders to move around in the front. That’s pretty good, but the 7 Series doesn’t front-load its comfort—it has loads of space in the back, too. Your passengers in the back will get plenty of space with 38.9 inches for their heads, 38.9 for their feet and a solid 57.4 inches around their shoulders. These measurements handily beat out all other luxury sedans, and with the 7 Series comes BMW’s array of luxury offerings. If you have the money, this is probably your best bet to accommodate your exceptional height.
Do you have a favorite roomy ride?
-jharrington and zwaller
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Nothing like a roomy ride … in this day and age of shrinking airline seats, we all deserve ample space in our own chariot!