10 Cars with the Most Front Legroom for Taller Drivers

2016 Lexus RC-F ・ Photo by Lexus

Autobytel may have discovered an unexpected factor in the rise of the South Korean automotive brands, as it turns out that Hyundai and Kia showcase half of the 10 cars with the most front legroom in our recent study — and that includes their mainstream midsize sedans. That said, several domestic cars join the list as well, along with one surprise entry. Let’s take a look at 10 of the cars with the most front legroom this year.

2016 Kia K900 — 45.9 inches

The 2016 Kia K900 comes with 45.9 inches of maximum legroom for the driver and front-seat passenger, who enjoy a number of other comforts as well. For example, as Kia’s range-topping sedan, the ultra-lux car delivers heated leather seating for both front- and rear-seat occupants, but the former furnishes ventilation, too, and the driver’s chair offers a 12-way power adjustment. And to be clear, all that’s standard for the K900, as are luxury cues like a 420-hp V8 engine, an 8-speed automatic transmission, exterior LED lighting, a 14-speaker premium audio system, a tri-zone automatic climate setup and imposing 19-inch wheels.

Photo by Kia

2016 Chevrolet Impala — 45.8 inches

Cars that have the most front legroom are often big in other dimensions, too, and such is the case with the 2016 Chevrolet Impala. The current Impala is the Bowtie brand’s fullsize sedan, complete with fully 45.8 inches of front legroom to go with its more than 200-inch overall length. Owners likewise love the Impala’s trunk, thanks to its cavernous 18.8 cubic-foot capacity, and that’s complemented by 105 cubic feet of passenger volume. Yet at the same time, the Impala is fairly fuel efficient despite its proportions. Thus, backed by a standard 2.5-liter, 196-hp 4-cylinder engine, the car can reach 31 mpg on the highway. But even with its up-level 3.6-liter V6, able to unleash 305 horses, the Impala can still achieve 29 mpg in that measure. It’s also worth remembering that the Impala is one of the many Chevy products now boasting a standard mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, and Apple CarPlay is new for 2016.

Photo by General Motors

2016 Cadillac XTS — 42.3 inches

We were hoping the new Cadillac CT6 would impress us in terms of front legroom, but at 42.3 inches, it doesn’t even come close to qualifying. That means the car currently at the top of the Wreath and Crest range, the Cadillac XTS, holds on to this spot for 2016. With 45.8 inches of front-row legroom, the XTS is the roomiest Cadillac sedan in today’s lineup. And with all that space to sprawl out, the driver (and front-seat passenger) can upgrade to 22-way power-adjustable “Opus leather” seating that and supplies warming, ventilating and massage functionality. Then, beyond being one of the luxury cars with the most front-seat legroom, the XTS also brings bonuses for back-seat occupants, as engineers have recently introduced a rear-seat armrest with integrated audio and sunshade controls. Finally, all XTS occupants can relax in a cabin theme that presents Kona Brown as a primary color and pairs it with Jet Black accents and trim made from open-pore Sapele wood.

Photo by General Motors

2016 Hyundai Genesis — 45.7 inches

The 2016 Hyundai Genesis plays the packaging card pretty well since it’s smaller in length than its own more luxurious sibling — the Hyundai Equus — yet it also offers an extra half inch of space up front. Both those entries join the Hyundai Azera and Sonata among the sedans with the most front legroom, but the Genesis sedan sets the pace with 45.7 inches worth. (That’s also 1.5 inches more than the Genesis coupe, which didn’t make the cut here.) Just keep in mind that the Genesis, while certainly supplying the lux amenities needed to compete against larger and more upscale options, also undercuts them with an MSRP that starts at $38,750.

Photo by Hyundai

2016 Hyundai Sonata — 45.5 inches

Proving people don’t have to pay a lot of money for cars with a lot of front legroom, the 2016 Hyundai Sonata is stickered from $21,750 although it still serves up 45.5 inches of it—no other mainstream midsize sedan offers more. The Sonata, however, offers much more, leveraging a brand-new design that delivers so much interior volume that the vehicle qualifies as a large car under the EPA’s size-classification scheme. Further, that capacious cabin is complemented by a fresh exterior design, along with Top Safety Pick+ and 5-Star Overall Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, respectively, along with robust infotainment options. The more up-level 2016 Hyundai Azera, built on the same platform as the Sonata, has the same amount of front legroom, too.

Photo by Hyundai

2016 Kia Optima — 45.5 inches

Though it’s been redesigned for this year, the midsize Kia Optima kept its 45.5 inches of front legroom intact. New owners should notice a number of other enhancements, highlighted by a new turbocharged engine. The unit displaces a mere 1.6 liters and was designed to rely on Kia’s first 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to deliver both more performance and higher fuel economy ratings than the standard powerplant. The more up-level Kia Cadenza, built on the same platform as the Optima, has the same amount of front legroom, too.

Photo by Kia

2016 Lexus RC —45.4 inches

When Toyota’s luxury division decided to bring out a brand-new premium sports coupe, Lexus naturally fitted the car with features like a 306-hp V6 engine (although a new base trim has been added this year), a sophisticated 8-speed Sports Program Direct Shift automatic transmission and an aggressively aerodynamic design. Moreover, the 2016 Lexus RC 350 also has 45.4 inches in which drivers can stretch their legs, allowing the brand to offer two of the coupes with the most front legroom in the Autobytel rankings. That’s because the RC range includes not just the RC 350, but also the hi-po RC F, with just as much legroom and power but even sharper driving reflexes. Difference-makers here include the Lexus Adaptive Variable Suspension, a dedicated Sport+ mode for the vehicle’s drive-selector and, in RC F models with rear-wheel drive, a Lexus Dynamic Handling setup complemented by Dynamic Rear-wheel Steering.

Photo by Lexus

2016 Hyundai Equus — 45.1 inches

Consider: With 45.1 inches of front legroom, the 2016 Equus no doubt caters to the front row, courtesy of standard heated and cooled leather seating, along with a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s throne with a powered seat-cushion extension and active headrest, rear-row passengers also have climate-controlled seating but then can add a power-recline function and a back-seat entertainment center with dual 9.2-inch display screens. But the Equus proffers plenty of other premium cues as well, not the least of which are its exterior LED lighting array and interior technologies that include a 17-speaker Lexicon audio system.

Photo by Hyundai

2016 Nissan Altima — 45 inches

In terms of mainstream, front-row comfort, the Zero Gravity seats in the refreshed 2016 Nissan Altima is hard to beat. Standard on all Altima models, these units were engineered following NASA guidelines to enable a comfortable, natural position with superior support. Owners can opt for an upgrade, though, moving up to leather-trimmed, heated front seats highlighted by an eight-way powered driver’s seat. However, that’s just for starters, and Nissan additionally has carved out an extensive space ahead of those seats, with 45 inches dedicated to making room for the lower limbs. And besides being one of the best cars for front legroom, the Altima also is one of the best midsize sedans for fuel economy. Just ask the team at the EPA, which rated the standard Altima as able to reach 27 MPG city/39 MPG highway despite delivering a robust 182 hp and 180 lb.-ft. of torque.

Photo by Ryan ZumMallen

2016 Nissan GT-R — 44.6 inches

With fire-breathing power and first-class front seat accommodations, the 2016 Nissan GT-R kicked off the new selling season with 44.6 inches of legroom for the driver and front-row passenger, along with a new 45th Anniversary Gold Edition that showcases limited availability and multiple layers of Silica Brass exterior finish. That shade, inspired by the look of the iconic Nissan Skyline GT-R of 2001, will be offered on fewer than 30 models for the 2016 model year. Meanwhile, all GT-R drivers will benefit from significant enhancements as compared to the 2015 model, led by a retuned suspension, a restyled exterior appearance, and a revised cabin with standard active noise cancellation from Bose. Yet enthusiasts shouldn’t worry about the soundtrack, as the roar of the GT-R’s 545-hp V6 engine will still come through loud and clear.

Photo by Nissan