BIG THINGS

WE LOAD UP SIX LARGE SUVS TO SEEK OUT THE WORLD'S LARGEST ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS.

- Elana Scherr

THERE WAS GREAT LAMENTATION in the office when we discovered that the World's Largest Horseshoe Crab was no more.

“Crabbie” had been dismantled and moved from its home in nearby Hillsboro, Ohio, just weeks before our proposed excursion to see it. Rumors say it’s gone to Alabama, perhaps to find a giant mate—horseshoe crabs being rare in saltwater-free Ohio.

Not rare in Ohio are other attractions claiming to be the world’s largest. There are more than a dozen stops in the Buckeye State that brag of their bigness. As we crossed the state line from Michigan in six of today’s roomiest full-size SUVs, we were only a Guinness adjudicator short of claiming World’s Largest Large-Vehicle Comparison.

Like the oversize objects that lure families (and Car and Driver editors) off the highway to places such as local pie stands and the former headquarters of a basket manufacturer, each of these three-row SUVs is comically large, promises entertainment for all ages, and vies for a superlative title. We chose our massive caravanners with an eye toward interior space and multirow comfort. There are no bargains in this segment, but we balanced cost with luxury and ended up with lavishly optioned versions of popular models while still keeping prices under six digits. Although many of the competitors offer alternate engine options and even larger versions with stretched wheelbases, we shied away from those and picked our lineup to suit an imaginary big family’s need for semiregular hauling and towing, as well as everyday usability (for example, parking without requiring an airport ground crew).