Best used executive cars (and one to avoid)

It may be the only fully electric car on our list, but the Tesla Model 3 is a great proposition if it fits into your lifestyle. It's good to drive and well equipped, and even the Standard Plus model, which will be the cheapest used buy, has an official range of 254 miles – or 267 miles if you go for a post-2020 facelifted version. It'll also see off the 0-60mph dash in just 6.1sec, and do it all in a hushed, smooth and suave manner. 

The Performance version goes a few steps further on the acceleration front, shrinking the 0-60mph time to just 3.3sec. Its official range is good – at 329 miles – too. There's also the Long Range and it can officially travel 348 miles before running out of juice. 

"The cream of the electric car crop and now the king of the executive cars. So smooth and now excellent value. I love its instantaneous responses and its ability to swoosh is addictive." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found: 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus, 52,069 miles, £12,999

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The BMW 3 Series is great to drive and available with a wide selection of superb engines that are extremely efficient. It's supremely competent and wonderfully classy. What’s more, it’s spacious enough for the average family and most versions are comfortable and reliable. 

Our favourite engine, if it fits into your lifestyle, is the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 330e. It offers great performance (0-60mph is achievable in just 5.9sec), yet it also has the potential for huge savings in fuel bills, provided you can charge it up regularly and the majority of your journeys are short.

Mid-range Sport comes with all the equipment you’d need and allows you to avoid the overly firm suspension of M Sport.

"A terrific car,  just beaten for value by the Tesla Model 3 but if anything even better to drive. I'd happily have one on my driveway." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

We found: 2019 BMW 3 Series 330e Sport Pro, 61,780 miles, £15,995

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Possibly the classiest car here, the Audi A4 continues to live up to its award-winning reputation and is still one the best executive cars you can buy.

It isn’t as lively to drive as the 3 Series, but it still impresses on the road and is good fun – it's wonderfully refined, too. It also has a comfortable ride (as long as you avoid big wheels on S line models), a well-built interior and loads of desirable equipment. It's reliable, too. In short, the A4 is a fantastic all-rounder. 

We’d go for the 160bhp 35 TDI diesel, because it has plenty of low-down punch (so you can tootle around town effortlessly) yet has enough pace to whisk you up to motorway speeds effectively – 0-62mph takes 8.2sec.

Our preferred trim – entry-level Technik – is pretty well-equipped. You get 17in alloy wheels, power-folding door mirrors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, heated front seats, front and rear climate control, cruise control, keyless start, parking aids, LED headlights and infotainment features.

"So classy inside and a really suave executive car. I had one as a long-termer for six months and loved its refinement." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found: 2022 Audi A4 2.0 TFSI 35 Technik, 53,810 miles, £15,900

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You’d be hard pushed to find a car at any price that has as broad a range of talents as the BMW 5 Series – a previous What Car? Used Car of the Year in our chosen form. It comes with a range of punchy yet efficient engines, neat styling and a wonderful ride and handling balance. It's wonderfully refined, too.

Our recommended version is the 530e plug-in hybrid, because it has the potential for great economy. Add to that its luscious and spacious interior, excellent ergonomics and class-leading iDrive infotainment controller and it’s no wonder we rate this car above all others as a used luxury buy.

"Almost as good to drive as the smaller 3 Series and even more of a luxury hit. I've always loved the sheer rightness in so many areas of the 5 Series." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

We found 2019 BMW 530e M Sport, 46,418 miles, £18,399

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The Mercedes E-Class is available used with a great range of engines, comes very well equipped and is a quiet and smooth cruiser. It’s not as spacious in the rear seats as some – including the larger S-Class – and the ride can be quite firm on certain versions too. Still, those are minor flaws in a very elegant, classy and comfortable package.

On forecourts, there are plenty of E-Classes to choose from, but prices tend to be a bit higher than the equivalent BMW 5 Series. For that reason, we can't put it any higher up this list.

"There's something about the E-Class that's still really desirable, even when faced with such sterling opposition. It's quite reliable, and I love its wafting ability." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found 2020 Mercedes E220d AMG Line Edition, 61,424 miles, £20,199

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The clue is in the name, it would seem. The Superb is good to drive, can be found with a wide selection of engines and is extremely efficient. What’s more, it’s spacious enough to moonlight as a limousine and every version is extremely comfortable. For the money, there's almost nothing to touch the all-round capabilities of the Skoda Superb. 

The entry-level S model is fine, but we’d be tempted to spend a bit more money and find an example in SE Technology trim, because it has the best compromise of equipment and price. 

Among the later, post-2018 Superbs, we prefer the 1.5 TSI 150 engine. It's smooth, punchy and economical. The earlier 1.4-litre petrol is similarly refined. Neither of the two 2.0-litre petrol engines is worth the added expense in fuel (unless you do mainly urban driving).

"The bargain exec, especially if you factor in space. It's large enough that with the driver's seat set up for 6ft 2in of me, I can still sit behind in supreme comfort." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

We found: 2022 Skoda Superb 1.5 TSI SE Technology, 40,000 miles, £16,995

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This suave four-door ticks many desirable boxes. It features a traditional rear-wheel-drive layout, plenty of driver appeal, plus all the style and equipment buyers could want. It’s refined on the motorways and the ride is comfortable. True, there are others that are better finished inside and more spacious, but few handle as sweetly – if you’re after a sporty executive saloon, the XE is up there with the 3 Series as one of the best. 

We’d opt for an example bearing the 178bhp 2.0-litre diesel – it feels usefully quicker than the lower-powered version, yet is almost as economical and efficient. The petrol models are smoother and quieter than the diesels, so they're even more pleasant to drive, but fuel economy suffers. If you can afford the bills, the 237bhp 2.0-litre petrol is worth a look.

All XEs get plenty of equipment, but of the earlier cars, Prestige models feel a little bit more premium than entry-level SE, making it our choice. With later cars, even the entry-level S trim is kitted out, making it a recommendable option, too. 

"Ah, a traditional old-school Jag, and none the worse for it. Runs the BMW 3 Series close for sheer driving fun in my book." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found: 2020 Jaguar XE D180 R-Dynamic S, 42,186 miles, £16,990

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Few executive cars are as stylish and fun to drive as the Alfa Romeo Giulia is. It’s actually very comfortable, too, with a supple ride in most versions, and you'll get plenty of equipment. All versions come with a punchy yet efficient range of engines. But it's its quick steering and eager handling that'll please the keen driver here. Few others in our top 10 can match it.  

The standard Giulia comes with plenty of equipment, but, of the early cars, it’s the Super version that we would recommend, because it has a slightly better interior and part-leather seats that give it a more premium feel.

If you can afford the extra money both to buy and to run, or if your annual mileage is a little lower, we do love the decently swift 2.0-litre petrol 276bhp Veloce model, and we love the Giulia QV performance car. Keen drivers will adore them, although Giulia reliability can be a little mixed. 

"I've owned many Alfas over the years and ran a Giulia as a long-term test car. I'm hopelessly biased therefore, but I really like this car. Shame about the reliability." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found: 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0T Veloce, 38,456 miles, £20,748

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The VW Passat is a fantastic all-rounder, blending comfort and efficiency with handling that’s both enjoyable and safe and a delightfully classy interior. There’s plenty of room for everyone, too, and a capacious boot; it even looks good, and used prices are really competitive. Reliability is another strong point in this impressive car's favour. 

Diesels dominate the Passat range and most of the cars on the used market are oil burners. Our pick is the 2.0 TDI 150, which is punchy and flexible enough for overtaking and refined on the motorways. It’s also more economical than the more powerful 2.0 TDI 190.

Entry-level S trim is a little sparse, although it gets air-con and electric windows. We’d go with SE trim: it adds desirable goodies such as automatic lights and wipers, cruise control and parking sensors all round. 

"The poor Passat was one of our very favourite executive cars but this year its reliability score in our survey was startingly low, hence it finishes down our list. Shame." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

We found: 2021 Volkswagen Passat 1.5 TSI EVO SE Nav, 48,382 miles, £14,290

Read our full used Volkswagen Passat review

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Mercedes has built its reputation on luxury, and that's reflected in the attractive, plush interior of the current Mercedes C-Class. Throw in decent practicality, a comfortable ride and a very long electric-only range with the plug-in hybrid version, and you have yourself a compelling package. 

The only problem with the C-Class has always been the strength of the competition. For example, the Audi A4 is better built and the BMW 3 Series is more fun to drive. It's also an expensive choice.

"If the E-Class is just a fraction more than you actually need or want, try the C-Class. I think it's a class act and if you can stretch to the plug-in hybrid version, it can be unbelievably frugal. " – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found: 2021 Mercedes C-Class C220d AMG Line Edition, 53,698 miles, £18,399

Read our full used Mercedes C-Class review

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