It's definitely bigger than GTA3's map. Takes forever to get across, even in my helicopter. Less loading too, I think there are only two areas where it loads at all when driving.
I know. European gamers getting the rough end of the stick. Again.
I visualise a big brother tormenting a smaller child by holding a sweet just tantalisingly out of reach. Of course in this case the solution is easy: a swift kick in the shins. Scaling up to continental proportions, this is not so easy.