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Best executive cars 2021
A good executive car need to be comfortable, classy and well equipped, yet also cheap to run. So, which models hit all their targets, and which should be avoided?...

A good executive saloon needs to combine two opposing qualities: luxury and affordability. The best have efficient engines that make them cheap to run as company cars, or even utilise electric power. Yet they also have plush interiors and enough soundproofing to keep them super-quiet on the motorway.
Ideally, they should also offer a comfortable ride and be enjoyable to drive. Plus, they should have a user-friendly dashboard layout and come equipped with the latest infotainment and safety technology.
Here we count down our top 10 buys, and reveal the car to avoid. If any of these models take your fancy, just click on the relevant link to find out more or see how much of a discount you could get by using What Car?'s free New Car Buying service.
Volvo S60
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£36,132
RRP from £39,680 to £51,100
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It might not a particularly economical choice, but there's little arguing with this junior Volvo saloon's interior quality. Every model comes bursting with the latest safety kit, too, while a great driving position means you'll stay comfy even on long motorway journeys.
Pros
- Lots of safety kit
- Great driving position
- Classy interior
Cons
- Overly firm ride
- Limited rear head room
- Folding rear seats cost extra
Mercedes C-Class
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£32,336
RRP from £34,670 to £80,017
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The C-Class is one of the big three when it comes to executive cars – the other two being the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series, which feature further up this list. Mercedes's car does a lot well, too, combining strong and efficient engines with a smart interior and lots of toys. However, the ride is rather firm on standard suspension.
Pros
- Smart-looking interior
- Good amount of standard kit
- Decent finance offers
Cons
- Rivals are better to drive
- Relatively pricey cash buy
- Smaller boot than rivals
Mazda 6
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£24,725
RRP from £24,725 to £32,105
The latest Mazda 6 offers strong but quiet diesel engines and plenty of room for passengers, plus Mazda's infotainment system is one of the best around. Only the fact that the 6's low-speed ride is rather firm and the handling less precise than you might expect stops it finishing higher on this list.
Pros
- Strong but quiet diesels
- Excellent infotainment system
- Very well equipped
Cons
- Firm low-speed ride
- Handling not as precise as some rivals
- Boot is on the small side in the class
Alfa Romeo Giulia
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£33,161
RRP from £34,995 to £67,995
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Alfa Romeo's latest attempt at an executive car is a very strong effort. The Giulia is composed at cruising speeds and offers very engaging handling when you switch from motorways to B-roads. Its interior quality isn't up with the very best, despite recent improvements to some of the materials, but even the entry level Super trim won't leave you short of equipment.
Pros
- Engaging handling
- Strong performance
- Competent petrol engines
Cons
- Diesel engines could be quieter
- Rivals have a bigger boot
- Interior quality still can’t match German rivals
Jaguar XE
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£29,353
RRP from £29,635 to £40,140
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Taking on the German brands in the executive car market is a big task, but Jaguar has made a good go of it with its junior saloon, the XE. It's offered with a strong range of engines and rewards keen drivers with excellent steering and sharp handling. It's let down a little when it comes to interior quality, but the equipment list is generous.
Pros
- Agile, enjoyable handling
- Relative exclusivity
- Generous equipment list
Cons
- Tight rear-seat and boot space
- Interior could be classier
- Poor reliability record
Volkswagen Passat
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£21,252
RRP from £27,085 to £39,480
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Next to some of the cars on this list, the Passat looks like a bit of a bargain. It gives you a spacious and practical interior, an economical range of engines and a reasonably large boot, and all for a tempting price. However, the closely related Skoda Superb is bigger and cheaper still.
Pros
- Comfortable ride – if you stick with smaller wheels
- Spacious and reasonably plush interior
- Quiet at high speeds
Cons
- Diesel engines can be gruff and aren't RDE2 compliant
- Big wheels produce too much road noise
- Less versatile than hatchback rivals, despite big boot
Skoda Superb
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£23,348
RRP from £25,105 to £41,500
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Speaking of which, the latest Skoda Superb isn't just better than the Passat, but many premium-badged cars, too. It's very comfortable and has a massive amount of space inside. What's more, both the 2.0-litre diesel and the plug-in hybrid iV model combine good performance with sensible running costs.
Pros
- Vast interior and boot space
- Exceptional value for money
- Classy, high-quality interior
Cons
- Some rivals are more fun to drive
- Diesel engines sound a little gruff
- Automatic gearbox can be a tad jerky in traffic
Audi A4
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£27,994
RRP from £30,835 to £58,025
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Recently facelifted, the A4 is hard to fault in almost every area, which is why we named it our Car of the Year back in 2016. As you'd expect, the interior is luxurious and beautifully finished, with practical rear seats and a spacious boot. Go for our recommended 187bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine (badged 40 TDI) and you'll also enjoy prodigious performance and good fuel economy.
Pros
- Class-leading interior quality
- Smooth engines
- Well equipped as standard
Cons
- Entry-level engines a touch weedy
- All-touchscreen infotainment system
- Rivals have lower CO2 emissions
Tesla Model 3
What Car? Target Price from
£43,490
RRP from £43,490 to £56,490
The Model 3 is great to drive, packed full of tech, fast (ridiculously so in Performance guise) and surprisingly practical. Factor in a competitive price, especially given its sheer pace, and it’s not only a great electric car, but one of the best executive cars you can buy.
Pros
- Savage acceleration
- Long range between charges
- Surprisingly practical
- Fast charging via Tesla's prolific Supercharger network
Cons
- Build quality could be better
- Handling not as entertaining as petrol rivals
- Some may find the ride a touch firm
BMW 3 Series
What Car? Target Price from
£29,304
RRP from £31,590 to £50,875
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For many, the 3 Series remains the de facto executive car, and it's easy to see why. The latest version is the best-steering BMW of recent times and matches this with stellar body control and plenty of grip, yet it still manages to serve up good ride comfort and relaxing refinement. Add to all that a spacious interior and the tax-efficient plug-in hybrid tech of the 330e model, and it's the undoubted class leader.
Pros
- Brilliant fun to drive
- Class-leading infotainment system
- Great range of engines
Cons
- Ride is rather firm – particularly in M Sport versions
- Not as well finished inside as an Audi A4
- Adjustable lumbar support costs extra
And the executive car to avoid...

Not only is the i40 far older than most of its rivals, it's also sub-par to drive and will cost you more to run than most of the other cars here. It might have decent space inside and you can save a bundle with generous discounts, but it simply fails to pass muste... Read our review