10 Cars With the Most Rear Legroom Under $50,000

2016 Volkswagen Passat

Everyone knows that extended-wheelbase luxury cars offer reams of rear seat room, but what about more affordable fare? You might be surprised at the list of cars with the most rear legroom whose MSRPs start at less than $50,000, as there are some very affordable cars out there that provide generous accommodations for second row riders. A few hail from the premium segment, but by and large these cars are aimed at those seeking a comfortable daily driver suitable for family use. Let's take a quick look at 10 of the cars with the most rear legroom under $50,000 for 2016.

1) 2016 Buick LaCrosse — 40.5 inches

The 2016 Buick LaCrosse is the nascent premium brand's fullsize flagship sedan, and it offers both front-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations as well as the choice between 6-cylinder and hybrid drivetrains. With 40.5 inches of rear legroom on offer, the Buick LaCrosse is also the most spacious under-$50,000 car on our list. Buick provides a long list of luxury gear that can be installed in the LaCrosse, including features such as a suede headliner, high end leather seats (heated and ventilated, of course), and adaptive cruise control with automatic braking and collision warning.

Photo by General Motors

2) 2016 Chrysler 300 — 40.1 inches

The 2016 Chrysler 300 takes a more traditional approach to fullsize near-luxury. The Chrysler 300 features a rear-wheel drive platform with the option of all-wheel drive, and a V6 and Hemi -8 are also on the options list (along with an 8-speed automatic transmission). The 300's 40.1 inches of rear legroom trail just behind the LaCrosse, but the car's slab-sided styling stands out in a crowd and its Uconnect infotainment interface is one of the best in the business.

Photo by Chrysler

3) 2016 Cadillac XTS — 40.0 inches

The 2016 Cadillac XTS is actually based on the same underpinnings as the Buick LaCrosse, which explains why its 40 inches of rear legroom are within a half-inch of the similarly-sized sedan. Style-wise, the Cadillac XTS heads in a different direction, and it also offers the CUE infotainment system's haptic touchscreen and obsidian capacitive response panel on the center stack. Available with a startlingly wide range of equipment (as well as the Vsport performance model's all-wheel drive and twin-turbo engine), the 6-cylinder XTS charts a unique path in the General Motors portfolio of large 4-door cars.

Photo by General Motors

4) 2016 Chevrolet Impala — 39.8 inches

The 2016 Chevrolet Impala is the last vehicle on our list of cars with the most rear legroom under $50,000 that share the same GM platform. Riding on the backbone used by the LaCrosse and the XTS, the Chevrolet Impala is the most affordable of the trio, and it also nearly matches them in the rear legroom department with 39.8 inches. 4-cylinder motivation is standard with the Impala, but it's also possible to select a V6 engine and with it, the option of all-wheel drive on higher trim levels. Unusually, the Impala is also offered with a bi-fuel CNG, or compressed natural gas, engine that can be special-ordered from Chevrolet.

Photo by General Motors

5) 2016 Chevrolet SS — 39.7 inches

The 2016 Chevrolet SS might be 0.1 inches smaller out back than the Impala with its 39.7 inches of rear legroom, but despite its similar fullsize dimensions it's in a different conceptual universe. The Chevrolet SS is a rear-wheel drive high performance sport sedan that offers blistering acceleration from its standard V8 engine. In addition to its 6-speed automatic transmission, it's possible to order the SS with a 6-speed manual, and a magnetically adaptive suspension system is also offered with the automobile to help it deliver handling that is a cut above any other vehicle on this list.

6) 2016 Volkswagen Passat — 39.1 inches

The 2016 Volkswagen Passat is an often-overlooked fullsize sedan that delivers exceptional rear leg room. With 39.1 inches of space to stretch out in the second row, the Volkswagen Passat is a great road trip companion. In addition to its understated German interior styling, the Passat provides the option of a 4-cylinder turbo motor or a V6 engine, with all three sending their output to the vehicle's front wheels.

Photo by Volkswagen

7) 2016 Toyota Avalon — 39.2 inches

The 2016 Toyota Avalon is the plushest sedan built by the Japanese brand, and when ordered in Limited trim it offers features such as three zones of automatic climate control, heated leather seats front and rear, HID headlights, and an available Technology package that can install adaptive cruise control. With their own heated seats and climate settings, it's clear that those seated in the back of the Toyota Avalon will fully enjoy the 39.2 inches of legroom available in this fullsize family car, which also features V6 power and the option of a hybrid model.

Photo by Toyota

8) 2016 Lincoln MKS — 38.6 inches

The 2016 Lincoln MKS, like the LaCrosse, has been designed to charm luxury-seeking buyers who need a big car but who don't necessarily want to pay big money. 38.6 inches of rear legroom ensures a comfortable ride for those seated behind the first two positions, and the Lincoln MKS crams a surprising amount of technology and high end equipment into its cabin (including an infotainment system, a heated steering wheel and front and rear seats, and even a self-steering lane keeping system). Behind the Lincoln's signature waterfall grille you'll find either a standard V6 or a twin-turbo EcoBoost V6, with both models available in an all-wheel drive configuration.

9) 2016 Ford Taurus — 38.1 inches

The 2016 Ford Taurus is the mechanical twin of the Lincoln MKS, but there are some key differences between the two cars besides their different sheet metal and interior trappings. The Ford Taurus is marginally smaller out back, with 38.1 inches of rear legroom, and while it offers a standard V6 engine it's also possible to order a turbocharged 4-cylinder EcoBoost motor or even a twin-turbo EcoBoost V6. The latter comes with the SHO trim level, a performance-oriented version of the car that also up-sizes the vehicle's brakes and installs all-wheel drive.

Photo by Ford

10) 2016 Volkswagen Jetta — 38.1 inches

The 2016 Volkswagen Jetta is a bit of an outlier on our list of cars with the most rear legroom under $50k. For starters, not only does it fall way under our price cap, but it also hangs out in the entry-level compact car segment, which is an unusual place to find Taurus-like levels of legroom (38.1 inches in the back). The Jetta makes a turbo and a non-turbo 4-cylinder unit available, and the Jetta Hybrid offers 48 MPG in highway driving.

Photo by Volkswagen