Best grand tourers 2026, plus the one to avoid – driven and rated

You might be surprised to see a car with four stars overall lead this list. But remember – many of the cars here also fall into other classes. So as a coupé, and judged against other coupés, the Bentley Continental GT only gets a four-star rating. But as a grand tourer? It leads the pack.

Part of its appeal comes from the thunderous power resting underneath its bonnet. There's a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine which on its own develops 591bhp, but it's backed up by an electric motor which adds a further 188bhp – as well as an official electric range of 50 miles. And if you unleash all of that power at once, this huge, imposing luxury car will rocket to 62mph in just 3.2 seconds.

The Continental GT's interior feels special in all of the right places, with all the technology you could want and the kind of materials which wouldn't feel out of place in a stately home. And since the rear seats are more practical than what you'd find in most coupés, your family will thank you for choosing the Continental GT over some of the other cars on this list.

Just be sure that as well as being able to buy the Bentley in the first place, you can also afford to run it. Even the official figures suggest you should expect to see just 27.4mpg, and we dare bet that most owners will regularly acheive less than that. Still, for the right road and the right circumstances, nothing revives the grand tourer spirit like the Continental GT.

“I’ve been lucky enough to take the last-generation Continental GT on a weekend away with three friends and we all found it to be a comfortable long-distance companion. My only concern with the new car would be the limited boot space, especially in the convertible.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Read our in-depth Bentley Continental GT review >>

The Porsche Taycan is an outstanding feat of engineering, and one which should turn the head of anyone who thinks they wouldn't be able to take on grand touring in an electric car. Indeed, when we wanted to visit as many European countries as possible in just 24 hours back in 2023, there was only one car for the job – the Taycan.

Even the cheapest Taycans get a large 7kwh (usable capacity) battery, giving the cheapest models up to 421 miles of range officially. And even if you opt for one of the most powerful versions, that range figure doesn't dip below 345 miles – still more than enough for the needs of most drivers. The same is true of power, because even the single-motor cars get 429bhp, which is enough to launch you uop to 62mph in 4.8 seconds. 

Inside, the Taycan beats all of its electric car rivals for quality, even its Audi E-tron GT stablemate. And thanks to a superb driving position and supportive seats, you won't notice the hours spent driving it slip by. Not that you'd want to, because the Taycan excels at making every drive fun, thanks to agile and engaging handling and a plush ride.

While the Mercedes EQE or Tesla Model S have a touch more room in the back for rear passengers, a couple of six-footers will be perfectly fine in the rear of the Taycan. Plus, the boot is plenty big enough for a baby buggy or a set of golf clubs – or, perhaps more realistically, the six carry-on suitcases we managed to fit inside it.

"If you specify the no-cost Weissach Pack, the range-topping Turbo GT model can go from 0-62mph in 2.2 seconds and shove you back in your seat as though gravity is acting horizontally. Yet when you're more measured with your accelerator inputs, it accelerates very progressively and doesn’t feel the least bit tetchy to drive.” – John Howell, Deputy Reviews Editor

Read our in-depth Porsche Taycan review >>

Sharing many of its components with the Porsche Taycan means that the Audi E-tron GT is already off to a strong start. And despite costing about the same as the Taycan, the E-tron GT actually gives you a little more bang for your buck, coming with four-wheel drive as standard, whereas the entry-level Taycan is rear-wheel drive only.

Basic quattro versions of the E-tron GT come with 576bhp and can cover the 0-62mph sprint in just 4.0 seconds, while the range-topping RS Performance model ups the power figure to 921bhp, while dropping the 0-62mph time to a scarcely believable 2.5 seconds. And while it's not quite as agile as the Taycan through corners, the E-tron GT is still wonderfully entertaining, and has a ride that's slightly softer. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 N feels more focussed than both cars, but doesn't quite fulfill the brief of being a grand tourer so doesn't appear here.

We love the E-tron GT's fantastic driving position, which places you much closer to the road than in the Tesla Model 3. The infotainment system is top-notch, too, with good resolution and icons which respond quickly to your pods. Plus, you can change the climate using physical switches rather than having to rely on the touchscreen.

You have to contort your feet a bit in order to get into the rear of the E-tron GT, but once seated you'll find enough room for a couple of six-footers to sit comfortably.

“Personally I'd add the optional Technology Pack to my Audi A1, since it brings a larger infotainment screen with sat-nav and the ability to draw postcode entries with your fingers.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

Read our in-depth Audi E-tron GT review >>

If you want your grand tourer to announce your presence from a couple of miles away, then the Aston Martin DB12 is the car to choose. That's because the sound from its 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol engine is both loud and theatrical, so heads will turn whenever you drive past.

And you could be driving very fast indeed, because that engine puts 671bhp at the disposal of your right foot. Deploy it all at once, and you'll hit 62mph only a fraction slower than a Ferrari Roma sports car. What makes the DB12 so effortless to drive, though, is that even when you're bumbling around at low speeds, it still feels engaging. It stays impressively flat through corners, with steering which we'd describe as being close to perfect.

The rear seats in the DB12 are best reserved for smaller adults, and even then only on short trips, because most adults will fin their head leaning on the sloping roof. The Bentley Continenta GT is a better cruiser if you'll be travelling four-up.

“It might seem an odd issue, but I found loading luggage into the Aston Martin DB12's boot to be a bit of a faff because the lid doesn't open very high.” – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

Read our in-depth Aston Martin DB12 review >>

Any version of the Porsche Panamera is going to make a fantastic grand tourer. Whether down to its comfort, handling or sheer presence, the Panamera seems to be tailor made for country-crossing adventures.

For the ultimate grand tourer, though, we'd recommend opting for the mid-range GTS model. This swaps the standard car's V6 petrol engine for a more powerful, more evocative V8 alternative, and it explodes you towards the horizon. The ride is firmer than in standard cars, but it's incredibly well controlled across undulating roads, and calmer than you might expect at motorway speeds. The handling is wonderfully judged, with precise balance through corners and minimal body lean.

The low-slung driving position of the Panamera seems tailor made for grand touring, and you're surrounded by high-quality materials no matter where you look. We like that there are physical switches to adjust the climate, too. As for space, a couple of six-foot adults will find they can sit comfortably behind a couple of similarly tall adults in the front, while the Panamera's 500-litre boot is large enough to swalow four carry-on suitcases.

“I’m a big fan of the GTS’s exhaust tuning – it really does bring out the audible appeal of the Panamera’s V8 engine.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Read our in-depth Porsche Panamera review >>

Despite its position at the top end of BMW's line-up, putting an 8 series Gran Coupé on your driveway will still cost substantially less than some of the other grand tourers on this list. But don't think that you're being short-changed as a result, because the 8 Series Gran Coupé does most of what you'd want from a grand tourer very well.

The 840i engine we recommend is actually the entry-level choice, but it still has 328bhp coming from a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol unit. It won't quite match the Porsche 911 up to motorway speeds, but the difference will be minimal. Plus, the official fuel economy figure of 33.6mpg is better than you'd get from key rivals.

We like the 8 Series' interior, and in particular its rotary-controlled iDrive infotainment system, which is better to use than the touchscreen-based setups you'll find elsewhere in this class. You can fit more luggage into the 8 Series Gran Coupé's boot than you would into the Aston Martin DB12 or Bentley Continental GT, including a set of golf clubs if you fancy playing a few holes.

"I find it quite shocking just how quickly the BMW 8 Series is predicted to depreciate, with its value dropping off faster than pretty much every car I’ve researched over the past couple of years." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Read our in-depth BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe review >>

It would be hard not to consider any list of the best grand tourers without an entry for the Porsche 911. While some cars here are more spacious – including the Porsche Panamera and Porsche Taycan further up this list – very few can offer the same level of driver engagement as the 911. 

We don't think you need to spend a lot of money on one of the range-topping models to get the best experience, either. Okay, so the entry-level Carrera isn't exactly cheap, but it's thousands of pounds cheaper than some models in the line-up. The Carrera gets 389bhp from its 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six petrol engine, and it loves to rev. Planting your right foot to the floor will cover off the 0-62mph sprint in 3.9 seconds – a lot quicker than the rival Mercedes-AMG GT 43 – while emitting a truly glorious sound.

Rear seats are a no-cost option across the 911 range, but they're mostly suitable for children or very small adults. We suspect that most people would use the space instead for luggage, which is handy because with only a 135-litre boot under the bonnet, storage space is at a premium inside the 911.

"It’s a shame the analogue dials have been replaced in the latest Porsche 911. True, the digital dials are more configurable, and real dials are probably something that only purists will care about, but it does remove some of the 911’s previous character." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Read our in-depth Porsche 911 review >>

Even in the high-end M440i xDrive guise we recommend, the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé represents one of the cheapest ways to put a grand tourer on your driveway. 

Despite its bargain status on this list, though, the 4 Series functions brilliantly as a tool for carrying you long distances. Its suspension, although firm, does a good job of soaking up lumps and bumps, and body lean is kept well in check through corners. Plus, while the variable steering takes some gettin used to, it makes the car feel incredibly agile even at higher speeds.

Reaching higher speeds is no problem in the M440i, because it gets a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine plus added power from a mild hybrid system. The result is a total of 367bhp, and the ability to reach 62mph from a standing start in just 4.7 seconds – a close match for the Mercedes-AMG C43 performance saloon.

Rear space is where the Gran Coupé sets itself apart from the standard BMW 4 Series, because there's more of it. Indeed, average-sized adults will find that they can sit comfortably on the rear bench, although six-footers may find themselves grazing the head lining. As for the boot, it's 30 litres larger than the regular 4 Series, and swallowed an impressive seven carry-on suitcases in our tests.

“BMW's iDrive infotainment system is truly brilliant, because it can be controlled through a proper rotary dial. This is so much easier to do on the move than prodding at a touchscreen.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

Read our in-depth BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe review >>

These days, you can have your Mercedes CLA with either electric or hybrid power, but it's the former we're recommending here. You might think that sounds counter-intuitive and against the ehtos of grand touring, but in 250+ form, the CLA has an 85kWh battery which can officially manage 484 miles between charges – more than enough for the needs of most drivers.

Despite not being available with the kind of fancy active damping as many grand tourers, the CLA's standard suspension setup delivers a very comfortable read. That well-tuned suspension helps with the handling, too. And while the Tesla Model 3 has more outright grip through corners, the CLA's steering is sweeter.

Speaking of the Model 3, space is a little better in that car for rear-seat passengers than it is in the Mercedes, and there's slightly more room in the boot. That said, the CLA should still be able to handle your airport luggage without much trouble, and you can always store an extra carry-on suitcase under its bonnet.

“Although this is a premium offering, and therefore not a cheap electric car, I like that Mercedes has given even the entry-level version of the CLA plenty of standard kit.” – John Howell, Deputy Reviews Editor

Read our in-depth Mercedes CLA review >>

The Maserati GranTurismo can be had with either petrol or electric power, but it's the former which we think best suits its entry here as a grand tourer. And in our recommended Trofeo form, the car's 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine is boosted to a heady 542bhp – enough to see off the 0-62mph string in 3.5 seconds. The only wobble here is the sound, because try as it might, the current car's V6 engine can't match the thunderous road of the previous GranTurismo's V8.

The interior of the GranTurismo is comfortable and its seats are supportive, but we think the quality could be improved in places. For a car costing as much as the GranTurismo does, it just doesn't feel special enough in places. Some of the interior panels don't feel especially robust, for example.

As long as your rear passengers measure less than six-feet tall, they should be fine in the rear seats of the GranTurismo – anyone taller will find their heads brushing the roof lining. The boot is bigger in petrol-engined versions of the GranTurismo because they don't need to accommodate a battery, and in our tests the car swallowed five carry-on suitcases.

“You can change the digital clock positioned by the centre air vents to display something else, such as a battery meter or G-meter, which I quite like, because it keep passengers entertained.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Read our in-depth Maserati GranTurismo review >>