Comfort, opulence, presence, performance and the latest technology. These are just some of the things we expect a luxury car to deliver. It should be as good to drive as to be driven in.
The luxury car market is changing. Once upon a time, a luxury car meant a four-door saloon with acres of space in the back and the most relaxing experience this side of a long weekend at a luxury spa.
Today, a luxury car is just as likely to be an SUV such as a Range Rover or Bentley Bentayga. If you prefer riding high, check out our guide to the Best Luxury SUVs. Here, we’ve rounded up the finest ‘traditional’ luxury cars you can buy, with our choices presented in alphabetical order.
Audi A8
At £81,000, the Audi A8 is one of the ‘cheapest’ cars on our list. Not that many A8s will leave a showroom at that price – flagship models command a six-figure price tag, and that’s before you start perusing the options list.
You don’t need to splash out on a pricier model. Even the entry-level A8 Sport features the kind of equipment and technology that will delight the most demanding of gadget freaks. Petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid versions are available, along with a 571hp 4.0-litre V8 in the S8.
We said: ‘The Audi A8 offers luxury, space and performance in abundance, making for a genuine alternative to the (much pricier) Bentley Flying Spur. From the soft leather seats to the pillowy ride, this is an extremely comfortable way to travel.’
Bentley Flying Spur
Most luxury cars are best enjoyed from the sumptuous surroundings of the back seat. The advantage of the Bentley Flying Spur is that it’s just as great to drive. Give the chauffeur the weekend off.
There are engine options: a 4.0-litre V8, a 6.0-litre W12 or, as Bentley moves with the times, a 2.9-litre plug-in hybrid. Don’t be fooled into thinking the Flying Spur Hybrid is a poor relation, however. It can hit 62mph in 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 177mph.
We said: ‘The Bentley Flying Spur is a glorious way to travel, with acres of legroom, electric window blinds, even massaging armchair-style seats. With a talented driver at the wheel, we have no doubt that it could keep pace with a BMW M5. For a 2.4-tonne limousine, that’s an outstanding achievement.’
Read our Bentley Flying Spur review
BMW 7 Series and i7
In the battle between the 7 Series and S-Class, the BMW has always been the luxury car of choice for keen drivers. It’s not as comfortable or opulent as the big Mercedes-Benz, but it can handle corners like a smaller BMW saloon. It doesn’t come cheap, with prices of the most affordable 7 Series – the all-electric i7 – starting from £102,000.
For that, you get a limo that offers up to 387 miles of range if you choose the xDrive60 version, plus one of the most tech-rich interiors available in 2024. If the 14.9-inch curved display isn’t enough, rear-seat passengers can be treated to an optional 31.3-inch theatre screen and a Sky Lounge panoramic sunroof.
The ‘standard’ 7 Series is a more traditional alternative to the i7, albeit with a thoroughly modern plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Even the ‘entry-level’ 750e xDrive will hit 62mph in just 4.9 seconds, while the M760e xDrive will complete the sprint in 4.3 seconds.
Amazingly, despite the car’s weight and luxury trimmings, the plug-in hybrid offers up to 55 miles of electric range – if you remember to recharge the battery.
Genesis G80
Genesis is the luxury division of Hyundai and it’s been doing a grand job of muscling in on the premium and luxury establishment in South Korea and the US. It’s taking a little longer to grow in the UK, but on the evidence of cars like the G80, it deserves to succeed.
It’s not the Korean brand’s largest luxury saloon – the G90 flagship isn’t available in the UK – but with Bentley-esque styling and a level of quality that’s more than a match for the Germans, the G80 is worthy of your shortlist. Along with the electric version, the G80 is also available with a 2.5-litre petrol engine and three trim levels: Premium, Luxury and Sport.
We said: ‘As a line-in-the-sand car, the Genesis G80 is a good introduction to this new premium brand. It’s got a lot of work ahead, to draw people from their BMWs and Mercedes-Benz – and to cement itself as a successful alternative (Lexus) rather than a pointless failure (Infiniti).’
Lexus LS
The Lexus LS is luxury, Japanese-style. We’re denied access to the twin-turbocharged LS, so UK buyers have to ‘make do’ with a 3.5-litre V6 hybrid powertrain in the LS 500h. A V6 hybrid might seem inadequate in the company of eight- and 12-cylinder luxury cars, but as much as 34.4mpg is possible.
It’s a different kind of luxury. Lexus has focused on precision engineering, tight shut lines, rich materials and an opulent interior. It’s a luxury that whispers, but never shouts. A luxury that adds reliability and efficiency to the mix.
We said: ‘Lexus might be throwing its weight behind an expanding range of SUVs, but the LS represents the pinnacle of its engineering and technical might.’
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Short of entering the world of Bentley or Rolls-Royce, no other four-door saloon does luxury quite like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. For generations, it has been accepted as the ‘best car in the world’ and a shop window for future technology.
The current S-Class is no exception. It’s based on an all-new platform and boasts next-generation infotainment and driver assistance tech. Prices start from around £95,000, with short- and long-wheelbase versions available.
We said: ‘Whether you’re relaxing in the back or at the wheel, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is one of the most comfortable and relaxing cars on sale. Few cars offer such a delightful blend of quality, sophistication and dazzling technology.’
Read our Mercedes-Benz S-Class review
Mercedes-Maybach S-Class
In the same way that the Sandero Stepway is little more than a crossover version of the standard Dacia Sandero, one could argue that the Maybach S-Class is just an even more opulent version of the S-Class.
It’s much more than that. With a price tag of £175,000 before you’ve added a few options, this is an S-Class designed to rival a Rolls-Royce. The plushest materials, the largest alloy wheels (20 inches as standard) and some of the priciest option packs you can buy. A two-tone paint job costs £13,500 – enough for a new Sandero.
We said: ‘The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class – or S 650, to be more precise – is essentially the standard S-Class saloon with the lux-o-meter cranked to the max. The list of equipment is extensive and the level of opulence is, well, on another level.’
Read our Mercedes-Maybach S-Class review
Porsche Panamera
With a starting price of £80,000, the Porsche Panamera is one of the cheapest options on our list of the best luxury cars. That’s just the beginning, because the flagship Turbo S E-Hybrid maxes out at around £140,000.
Yes, the Panamera is a hatchback, but this is as luxurious as a Porsche can get, short of choosing a Cayenne SUV. Some versions are as quick as a 911 Turbo, while others offer enough electric range to tackle the daily commute.
We said: ‘It’s expensive, especially with some must-have options, but the Panamera offers a rich ownership experience.’
Read our Porsche Panamera review
Rolls-Royce Ghost
The previous Ghost was the best-selling Rolls-Royce, so the current version had big shoes to fill. It feels like an evolution not a revolution, with its 6.75-litre V12 somehow both highly appropriate and increasingly out of step with the modern world – one the new electric Rolls-Royce Spectre feels more attuned to.
Don’t let the evolutionary styling and familiar engine fool you, because so much of the new Ghost is just that: new. Its aluminium spaceframe chassis, ‘double damper’ front suspension, rear-wheel steering and four-wheel-drive are just some of the highlights.
We said: ‘Unlike the Phantom, the Ghost is aimed at those who enjoy driving, not simply being driven. Its feathery steering offers tangible feedback, while the rear-wheel steering bolsters stability in faster corners.’
Read our Rolls-Royce Ghost review
Rolls-Royce Phantom
We make no apology for including a second Rolls-Royce on our list of the best luxury cars. The Phantom takes luxury to a higher plane – and we’re not just talking about the executive jet that will inevitably form part of the owner’s stable of transportation options.
Once again, power is sourced from a 6.75-litre V12 engine, but the difference here is that the oomph is more likely to be enjoyed by the chauffeur. This leaves the owner to relax in one of the most opulent and spacious interiors. Reclining rear seats are optional.
We said: ‘Frankly, whether you’re asleep on the autobahn or simply chauffeuring your mum to her 70th birthday lunch, the Phantom endows every journey with a sense of occasion. And I can’t think of a better car for an epic, cross-continental road trip.
‘It’s hard to imagine an electric Rolls-Royce being such a compelling alternative to short-haul air travel – not until the public charging network improves, at least.’
Read our Rolls-Royce Phantom review
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