Full-Size Family Haulers: Sedans vs. Pickups

The 2011 Cadillac DTS is big – really big. The Cadillac DTS full-size sedan is so big, in fact, that it can seat up to six passengers, thanks to the availability of a front row bench seat. Not many luxury cars can make that particular claim, and it gives the DTS an advantage when it comes to moving larger families from point A to point B. Add in an enormous trunk and optional equipment such as an adaptive suspension system and a blind spot warning system and there’s a lot to like about the sedan as a comfortable hauler.

The 2011 Cadillac DTS also offer solid power in the form of a 4.6-liter V-8 engine that can produce up to 292 horsepower and 288 lb-ft of torque in top spec, and which returns fuel economy of 15-mpg city and 23-mpg highway.

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT is marketed as a crossover, but by any other name it’s still a pickup truck. The Cadillac Escalade EXT wears the same bones as the Chevrolet Avalanche, which in turn borrows its platform from the Chevrolet Silverado pickup. This means four doors, seating for five and as much luxury gear as can be stuffed into its cavernous interior. While the Escalade EXT might give up one seating position to the DTS, it does add in a configurable rear storage compartment that includes a Midgate feature that can extend the length of the open truck bed into the cabin.

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT also comes with a mighty 6.2-liter V-8 that churns out 403 horsepower and 417 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive is standard, and fuel economy is unsurprisingly dismal given the vehicle’s weight: 13-mpg city and 18-mpg highway.

It really comes down to the roads you need to travel. Either Cadillac will offer you a comfortable ride and pamper you with gizmos and leather, but while the DTS prefers to cruise the boulevard or eat up interstate miles, the Escalade EXT is equally at home on a rutted country track or a swanky urban avenue. The fuel mileage offered by the DTS makes it a more appealing long distance companion – at least where your wallet is concerned – but the Escalade EXT is much better when it comes time to haul a ladder or a load of drywall. Ultimately, your particular driving needs will help you decide which of these vehicles will be a better daily driver.

The 2011 Ford Taurus makes the compelling argument that a family sedan doesn’t have to sacrifice performance to practical concerns. The Ford Taurus is spacious in both the front two positions and in the rear bench seat, and its gaping trunk can swallow up to 20.1 cubic feet of cargo. Four available trims ensure that there is a level of equipment to match almost any budget, and standard gear such as cruise control, a CD player and keyless entry get the Taurus started out on the right foot.

Speaking of the right foot, the 2011 Ford Taurus rewards base model buyers with a 263 horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 that is also good for 249 lb-ft of torque and fuel economy of 18-mpg in city driving and 28-mpg on the highway. All-wheel drive is optional with this engine, but it’s included free of charge with the Taurus SHO. Remember the performance we talked about in the opening paragraph? The SHO brings it to the table in the form of a 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V-6 that puts out 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. Even better is the fact that the SHO’s gas mileage checks in at a very responsible 17-mpg city and 25-mpg highway.

The 2011 Ford F-150 King Ranch maximizes the comfort of its passengers while maintaining impressive practicality. The four-door SuperCrew 2011 Ford F-150 King Ranch can seat five, and its five-and-a-half-foot cargo box can haul a significant amount of gear. Heated and cooled seats, Chaparral leather trim and an LCD gauge cluster add to the upscale feel of the full-size pickup, while the availability of four-wheel drive and an Off-Road package lets drivers take all of that comfort with them wherever their travels might lead.

The 2011 Ford F-150 King Ranch offers two engine choices. The first is a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, which makes use of two turbochargers in order to produce 365 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. Next up is a 5.0-liter, eight-cylinder unit that is good for 360 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. Fuel mileage for each engine is rated at 16-mpg city and 22-mpg highway - impressive figures given the weight of the truck and the amount of horsepower on tap.

There’s no question that both of these highly rated vehicles are worthy family chariots. Equally matched in terms of passenger room, the Taurus pulls ahead in terms of ride comfort and handling. It also enjoys a fuel mileage advantage over the F-150, although one that is not quite as yawning as one might imagine. The Ford pickup can haul, tow and venture off the beaten path – attributes that the Taurus just can’t match – but it’s also much larger than the full-size sedan, making it somewhat of a liability in urban traffic. Rural dwellers will probably be able to finesse the F-150’s massive dimensions a bit better than anyone who has to regularly parallel park downtown, while city dwellers will appreciate the quiet and accommodating cabin of the Taurus.

The 2011 Toyota Avalon is the largest automobile bearing the Toyota badge. The full-size Toyota Avalon no longer offers the six-passenger seating found on previous generations, but it still provides exceptional interior room for as many as five people. The Avalon’s trunk space isn’t quite as gargantuan as what is offered by some of its competitors (14.4 cubic feet), but the sedan makes up for it in other areas, thanks to its reclining rear bench, Lexus-like ride and a list of standard equipment that is replete with power features.

The 2011 Toyota Avalon comes in a single drivetrain configuration, one which makes use of a 3.5-liter V-6 that is rated at 268 horses and 248 lb-ft of torque. Despite riding on a large platform loaded with sound deadening insulation and plush accoutrements, the Avalon turns in fuel mileage of 20-mpg around town and 29-mpg during highway cruising, which places it near the top of the list when it comes to full-size sedans.

The 2011 Toyota Tundra CrewMax Limited is definitely a nice truck. Four doors, seating for five and a five-foot, six-inch bed deliver the goods when it comes to the Toyota Tundra CrewMax Limited’s passenger and cargo capacity. It also helps that the Tundra CrewMax features one of the biggest rear seats in the industry, offering a feeling of spaciousness that is enhanced by a reclining seatback.

Under the hood, the 2011 Toyota Tundra CrewMax Limited sports a 5.7-liter V-8 that serves up 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque. Four-wheel drive is of course available, and the Tundra’s fuel efficiency shows as 14-mpg in stop and go driving and 18-mpg highway.

There’s no doubt that the Toyota Tundra is quite roomy inside, and all that space found between younger passengers camped out in the rear seat will help keep squabbling to a minimum. Unfortunately, the Toyota pickup rides a lot rougher than might be expected from a vehicle with such a refined interior – and certainly doesn’t compare to the glassy smoothness of the Avalon. If you need the towing and four-wheel drive offered by a full-size pickup, but also need to cart around the brood , then the Tundra is not a bad choice. If you are simply looking for a comfortable, roomy automobile, then the fuel efficiency and plus-sized passenger compartment offered by the large sedan makes it the clear-cut choice.