Best luxury cars 2023
A luxury car obviously needs sumptuous materials, ride comfort worthy of a magic carpet, and a super-smooth engine. However, models targeting company car drivers must also offer low emissions...
The range of luxury cars on sale is huge, stretching all the way from executive cruisers through to some of the most capable SUVs on the road.
What they tend to have in common is superb comfort and refinement. Plus, many offer beautifully finished interiors complete with high-tech entertainment systems and loads of space for rear-seat passengers.
Running costs might seem less important, but luxury saloons and SUVs are often run as company cars, so CO2 emissions and fuel consumption can actually be key considerations.
Which are the very best models, then, and which are best avoided? Let's start with the top 10:
Bentley Bentayga
Bentley is exceptionally good at producing beautifully built luxury cars that are also great to drive, and with the Bentayga that theory is upheld. It offers a great sense of occasion, brilliant refinement and impressive levels of comfort and performance.
Pros
- Beautiful hand-finished interior
- Effortless performance
- Impressive infotainment system
Cons
- Gearbox can be laggy around town
- High running costs
- Average boot space
Audi A8 L
The A8’s blend of performance, comfort and serenity are wedded to a beautifully built, practical and well-equipped interior. In fact, by a whisker, it beats its chief rival the Mercedes S-Class, which shows just how good it is to drive and be driven in.
Pros
- Extremely comfortable ride
- Spacious interior and boot
- Class-leading interior quality
Cons
- Expensive to run in terms of depreciation
- Plug-in hybrid has a shorter electric range than the S-Class
- Dim-witted automatic gearbox
BMW iX
As soon as you step inside the iX, there's no mistaking it for anything other than a luxury car. Swathes of upmarket materials have been used throughout the interior, including sustainably sourced wood and pleasingly robust-feeling plastics. Being electric, it's also incredibly hushed on the move and offers strong performance, although the real-world range of the xDrive40 model is disappointing.
Pros
- One of the quietest cars we’ve ever tested
- Spacious and luxurious interior
- Great infotainment system
Cons
- Air suspension and rear-wheel steering available only on xDrive50
- xDrive40 has a disappointing real-world range
- Teslas have a better charging infrastructure
Range Rover
The Range Rover needs no introduction, and this fifth-generation model takes all the elements from the previous model and enhances them. As before, it has a road presence few cars can equal, but now it gets an upmarket interior with improved technology and a largely comfortable ride. Mind you, it is much more expensive than before, and Land Rover's reliability record remains a concern.
Pros
- Fabulous driving position
- Fantastic off-road ability
- Useful seven-seat versatility
Cons
- Very expensive
- Reliability is a concern
- More physical controls for the infotainment would be preferable
BMW X5
The BMW X5 was one of the first road-focused 4x4s, and this latest model sticks closely to that car's winning formula. All versions are offered with smooth, gutsy engines, and it feels very well made with a lavish interior. The infotainment system is one of the best around, too.
Pros
- Fantastic plug-in hybrid version
- Great to drive
- Classy, well-designed interior
Cons
- Wide standard tyres generate road noise at speed
- Third row of seats costs extra
- There are more spacious and practical rivals
Mercedes S-Class
Not only is the Mercedes S-Class packed to the rafters with technology, but it’s also a very comfortable and exceedingly well-appointed luxury saloon, and one of the best for rear seat passengers. In S580e plug-in hybrid form, it's even more attractive for company car users, with a substantial real-world electric range and low benefit-in-kind tax.
Pros
- Fantastic plug-in hybrid version
- Ride is mostly very comfortable
- Loads of space, especially in the rear of long-wheelbase models
Cons
- Overly reliant on fiddly touch-sensitive controls
- Entry-level diesel isn't as smooth as it should be
- Mercedes's reliability record isn't the best
Rolls-Royce Ghost
The slightly smaller of Rolls-Royce's luxury saloons is supremely cosseting and comfortable, offering monstrous performance along with serene cruising manners and an exquisite interior. For those who can afford to buy and run it, you will not be disappointed.
Pros
- Outstandingly comfortable ride
- Fabulous interior
- Crushing performance
Cons
- Astronomically expensive to buy
- Thirsty engine also makes it costly to run
BMW X7
The BMW X7 is the biggest and most luxurious SUV that BMW makes. As such, the interior is beautifully made with sumptuous materials throughout, plus it gets seven seats as standard – unlike the Range Rover. Behind the wheel, the X7 is remarkably hushed and surprisingly agile for such a big car, too.
Pros
- Super quiet and comfortable
- Incredibly spacious and practical
- Great infotainment system
Cons
- There are cheaper alternatives
- Feels its size and weight on the road
- Looks won’t be to all tastes
BMW i7
Electric cars and luxury cars often go hand in hand, and in the case of the BMW i7 the pairing works very well. It has a lavish, tech-filled interior, very hushed driving manners and an impressive official range of up to 387 miles (although this varies depending on the spec).
Pros
- Stunning interior
- Optional 8k cinema screen
- Extremely comfy for all occupants
Cons
- Range isn’t spectacular
- Desirable options are very expensive
- Looks won’t appeal to everyone
Range Rover Sport
The new Range Rover Sport offers a lot of what we like about the full-size Range Rover, but at a much lower price. So, that means you get a brilliant, commanding view of the road, a luxurious interior and impressive off-road ability. Plus, the P440e plug-in hybrid offers a substantial pure-electric range of 70 miles. That not only enhances the car's already impressive level of refinement, but it also makes it even more enticing as a company car, due to its ultra-low tax rating.
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Pros
- Offers lots of Range Rover qualities for a lower price
- Incredible ability off-road
- Fantastic range on the PHEV model
Cons
- Cheaper than a Range Rover, but still very expensive
- Rivals are sharper to drive
- Land Rover’s reliability record is a concern
And the luxury cars to avoid...
We can understand why you might be drawn to the old-school charms of the G-Class, but rivals are a lot better to drive on the road while being significantly less expensive. Read our review
Best family SUVs 2023
Want practicality, class and an elevated driving position in a relatively compact package? Then these are the top 10 cars you should be looking at – and the ones that are best avoided
