Best luxury cars 2025 – tested, rated and the ones to avoid
A luxury car should have sumptuous materials, ride comfort worthy of a magic carpet, and a super-smooth engine. Here's our run-down of the top 10, and the one we'd avoid...
If you've done well enough in the game of life to be considering a luxury car, then the range of options in front of you has never been larger – whether your taste is more for the traditional liousine, or for the newer wave of capable and comfortable SUVs.
While lots of attributes go into making the ultimate luxury car, the ones which our data tells us is most important to luxury car buyers are comfort and refinement. That means top-notch materials used inside, the kind of seats you can sink into after a long day, and quiet cruising manners which will let you while away the motorway miles.
To truly be a great luxury car, though, the best in this class will also need to offer the latest technology, loads of space for your passengers to stretch out, and enough room in their boots to tackle all of your luggage.
And, since plenty of luxury cars are also run as company cars, they'll need to be frugal to run, with tax-friendly C02 emissions.
Finding the best luxury cars, then, is a hard task, but it's one which our experienced team of road testers is more than up to. They've spent countless hours at the wheel of every luxury car on the market, testing them across hundreds of miles, both on public roads and back-to-back against key rivals at our private test track.
The result of that testing is this definitive list of the best luxury cars you can buy. If any of them take your fancy, you can click the links to read more about each car in our in-depth reviews, or see our latest discounts through our free New Car Deals service.
We've also named the luxury car we think you should avoid, and answered some of your most commonly asked questions about electric car ownership at the bottom of this page.
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Strengths
- Supremely quiet and comfortable
- Incredibly spacious and practical
- Great infotainment system
Weaknesses
- There are cheaper alternatives
- Looks won’t be to all tastes
- No plug-in hybrid or electric option
You might be expecting to see a traditional luxury limousine at the top of this list rather than an SUV – but give us a moment to explain, and we think you'll agree that the BMW X7 deserves its place as our reigning Luxury Car of the Year.
For one thing, it is one of the most comfortable cars around – whether you're driving it yourself, or are lucky enough to be being driven in one. If it's the former, then you'll enjoy the smooth and powerful progress offered by our recommended 40i petrol engine. It'll dispatch the 0-62mph sprint in just 5.8sec, yet shouldn't be ruinous to run.
Or if you're sat in the rear seats with a chaeuffeur up front, you'll appreciate the palatial leg and head room on offer, even if you're well North of six feet tall. You'll also enjoy that everything inside the X7 feels built to last, and that it's fit to bursting with the latest technology. To find another car to match the X7 inside, you'll need to spend a lot more on a Bentley Bentayga.
Downsides? Well, the X7 isn't exactly cheap to buy, and there aren't any plug-in hybrid or electric options to attract green-minded buyers, but all things considered we think the X7 is deserving of its title as the ultimate luxury car.
“The BMW X7's Ultimate Pack brings all the necessary kit to make the car a home away from home when I’m behind the wheel, including four-wheel steering, five-zone climate control and adaptive cruise control.” – Dan Jones, Reviewer
Read our in-depth BMW X7 review
Strengths
- Offers lots of Range Rover qualities for a lower price
- Incredible ability off-road
- Fantastic electric range on the PHEV model
Weaknesses
- Cheaper than a Range Rover, but still very expensive
- Rivals are sharper to drive
- Land Rover’s reliability record is a concern
The Range Rover Sport shows that the best luxury car isn't necessarily the most expensive. It offers a lot of what we like about the full-size Range Rover, but at a much more affordable price. That means you get a commanding view of the road, a luxurious interior, a cosseting ride and impressive off-road ability.
It also handles better than its larger sibling, although it’s not quite as sporty as a BMW X5 or Porsche Cayenne.
Our favourite model, the D300, is the more affordable of the two diesel options on offer, but it has plenty of power. Its 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine will haul it up to 62mph in 6.6sec.
And we'd go for Dynamic SE trim, which adds some attractive styling touches to the comprehensive entry-level SE version, which comes with keyless entry, two-zone climate control, a plush leather interior and adaptive cruise control.
“A standout feature of the Sport is the way it lets you look HGV drivers in the eye and see over the top of pretty much any other type of vehicle on the road.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor
Read our in-depth Range Rover Sport review
Strengths
- Stunning interior
- Impressive optional 8K cinema screen
- Extremely comfy for all occupants
Weaknesses
- Desirable options are very expensive
- Boot has a comparatively small opening
Electric cars can make excellent luxury cars, and the i7 is one example of the pairing working very well. It has a lavish, tech-filled interior, very hushed driving manners and an impressive official range of up to 387 miles (depending on the spec).
For those who are being driven, it offers an enormous 31in 8K touchscreen, which lowers from the headlining at the touch of a button, and two supremely comfortable rear lounge seats that have a massage function.
If you prefer to drive, the i7 is a good proposition, too. It can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 4.7 seconds, which is faster than most versions of the Mercedes EQS – although not as insanely quick as any Tesla Model S. Its real-world range of around 300 miles is a little lower than those rivals, though.
“The i7 is the kind of limo that lends itself to being chauffeur driven, and that ’s why much of its enormous, 5.4-metrelong body has gone into providing VIPs in the back with acres of real estate.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor
Read our in-depth BMW i7 review
Strengths
- Smooth and powerful engines
- Pillowy ride in Sport and S line trims
- Superb interior quality
Weaknesses
- Touchscreen infotainment system
- Third-row space is better in the BMW X7
- Entry-level Sport trim misses some important kit
The Q7 has been one of our favourite luxury SUVs since the original version went on sale in 2006. Instead of resting on its laurels, the latest Q7 is a great all-rounder, offering a supremely comfortable ride and excellent agility for such an enormous SUV.
Air suspension comes as standard on all versions of the Q7, so ride quality is good across the board, but if you want to waft along with the most relaxing ride opt for a Sport or S Line version. Indeed, it's the latter which we recommend.
The Q7’s interior is one of the roomiest and plushest of any luxury car, and there is plenty of space for adults to stretch out. It has slightly more leg room than a BMW X5 or Land Rover Discovery and virtually matches that of the Volvo XC90. All Q7s also come with seven seats as standard, but the ones in the BMW X7 are a little more comfy – especially for third-row passengers.
“Even with the leather-wrapped dashboard, flat-bottomed steering wheel and Alcantara roof lining that comes with range-topping Vorsprung spec, the Q7 still looks a bit conservative inside.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor
Read our in-depth Audi Q7 review
Strengths
- Outstandingly comfortable ride
- Fabulous interior
- Crushing performance
Weaknesses
- Astronomically expensive to buy
- Thirsty engine also makes it costly to run
The smallest of Rolls-Royce's luxury saloons is supremely comfortable, with monstrous performance, serene cruising manners and an exquisite interior.
It’s powered by a stonking great 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine, and has four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering as standard. It’s no snarling big cat to drive, though. Instead it wafts its occupants along almost silently, its standard air suspension ironing out virtually all bumps and potholes. Only when you press your foot to the floor is the silence broken by the gravelly sound of the engine.
Rivals such as the Bentley Flying Spur, the BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes S-Class offer similarly impressive performance, but none can match the Ghost's truly cosseting luxury. You just need to have very deep pockets to both buy and run one, which makes many of the luxury cars here that much more affordable.
“If you’re the sort of person who’s more likely to shop for a superyacht than at a supermarket, the Rolls-Royce Ghost is the car to have waiting for you at the quay.” – Darren Moss, Deputy Editor
Read our in-depth Rolls-Royce Ghost review
Strengths
- Fantastic plug-in hybrid version
- Ride is mostly very comfortable
- Loads of space, especially in the rear
Weaknesses
- Overly reliant on fiddly touch-sensitive controls
- Entry-level diesel isn't as smooth as Audi A8’s
- Mercedes' reliability record isn't the best
Not only is the Mercedes S-Class packed to the rafters with technology, but it’s also a comfortable and exceedingly well-appointed luxury saloon, and one of the best for rear seat passengers.
The standard air suspension makes it ride more gracefully than a BMW 7 Series, although it’s not quite as adept at wiping out the thuds from potholes as an Audi A8.
The S-Class’s interior is certain to impress, too. All versions come with a giant portrait-orientated touchscreen infotainment system, heated front and rear seats, four-zone climate control, eight USB-C ports to keep all of your devices topped up, and a removable 7.0in tablet in the rear armrest.
The S580e plug-in hybrid is our favourite S-Class model because it has a substantial real-world electric range of up to 63 miles and it qualifies for low benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax. We'd also go for the stretched L version, which is standard from AMG Line Premium trim upwards, because it gets you a tad more room inside.
“The S-Class makes use of driver profiles to store all your preferences. These are recalled via facial or fingerprint recognition when you get in.” – Doug Revolta, Head of Video
Read our in-depth Mercedes S-Class review
Strengths
- Fabulous driving position
- Fantastic off-road ability
- Useful seven-seat versatility
Weaknesses
- Very expensive
- Reliability is a concern
- More physical controls for the infotainment would be preferable
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. It's become more versatile too, with two lengths available – standard and long-wheelbase (LWB), which allows you to have seven seats.
The diesel versions make most sense for private buyers. Although our top choice, the entry-level D300, is the slowest model in the line-up, it dispatches the 0-62mph dash in a respectable 6.9sec.
The only cause for concern is Land Rover's reliability record, which is historically among the worst of any car brand. That being said, the previous-generation Range Rover was actually the third-most reliable luxury car according to the results of our annual Reliability Survey. The latest version, however, was too new to be featured.
“Climbing into the driver’s seat after a long day is like slipping into your favourite armchair. It’s supportive, covered in top-quality leather and heats up quickly.” – Darren Moss, Deputy Digital Editor
Read our in-depth Range Rover review
Strengths
- Extremely comfortable ride
- Spacious interior and boot
- Class-leading interior quality
Weaknesses
- Expensive to run in terms of depreciation
- Plug-in hybrid has a shorter electric range than the S-Class
- Dim-witted automatic gearbox
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.
Like the BMW 7 Series, the S-Class and the Range Rover, the A8 can be had in standard-wheelbase form (ideal if you’re a private buyer looking for the ultimate luxury saloon) or as a stretched, long-wheelbase L model, which provides even more leg room for those sitting in the back. We prefer the A8 L.
Whether you’re sitting in the back or front seats, you can’t fail to notice the sumptuous fit and finish of the A8’s interior. It may not be as flashy or tech-laden as some alternatives here, but it certainly is the most well-heeled.
“Screen-based climate controls look swish but are tricky to use on the move.” – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor
Read our in-depth Audi A8 review
Strengths
- Beautiful hand-finished interior
- Effortless performance
- Impressive infotainment system
Weaknesses
- Gearbox can be laggy around town
- High running costs
- Average boot space
Bentley is exceptionally good at producing beautifully built luxury cars that are also great to drive, and with the Bentayga – its first SUV – that continues. It has a great sense of occasion, brilliant refinement and impressive levels of comfort and performance.
You’d be hard-pushed to spot it, but the Bentayga uses the same underpinnings as the Audi Q7, and under the bonnet you'll find that model’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine or the tech-laden V6 plug-in hybrid engine.
That’s where the similarities end, though. The Bentley has a hand-finished interior, and a large infotainment screen that comes loaded with useful features, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, real-time navigation and an embedded SIM.
“The Bentley Bentayga S’s freer-flowing sports exhaust does a fantastic job of transforming the character of the V8 engine.” – Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor
Read our in-depth Bentley Bentayga review
Audi Q8
Strengths
- Spacious interior
- Fantastic build quality
- Strong range of engines
Weaknesses
- Pricey to buy
- Lack of physical buttons for infotainment system
- Iffy reliability and average warranty
It might not be as smooth to drive as the BMW X7, or have the glitzy interior of the Range Rover Velar, but there's still plenty to love about this upmarket coupé-SUV. Our favourite version is the petrol, which offers more poke than the diesel alternative, and can fire you from 0-62mph in 5.9sec. Its turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol engine develops 335bhp, which feels plenty, even if you have to rev it harder than the diesel to get the same pulling power.
With quiet driving manners and reassuring – if not exactly entertaining – handling, the Q8 is the kind of car you can easily cover big miles in, even if some of the alternatives on this list will put more of a smile on your face while doing so.
When it comes to space for people and luggage, a couple of tall passengers will find that they have plenty of room to stretch out in the rear seats, and while the Q8's boot is slightly smaller than that of the closely related Q7, your holiday suitcases are like to be no problem.
“I know it's the norm these days, but it's a shame that you have to look away from the road in order to use the Q8's touch-sensitive climate controls. At least they're well labelled and offer haptic feedback so you know you've pressed them.” – Dan Jones, Reviewer
Read our in-depth Audi Q8 review
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And the luxury car to avoid...
Jeep's take on the luxury SUV is very good off-road, but it's pricey and can't compete with the best European rivals in the key areas which matter most. Read our review
How to choose a luxury car
Luxury cars need to tick a lot of boxes in order to succeed. To justify the typically six-digit price tag, a luxury car must be capable of seating occupants in comfort, implementing the latest technology and offering a supple ride and relatively sporty performance.
Any car that can offer all that should be an attractive package. However, there are disadvantages to luxury cars that go beyond the price you pay at the dealership.
Here, we share everything you need to know and the questions you should ask yourself before deciding whether or not a luxury car is the right fit for you.
Think about what you want from your car
It’s possible to buy a luxury car as a saloon or SUV. In either case, you won’t be short on room – with luxury cars offering bags of room for passengers and plenty of space for their luggage. However, given the amount of money you’ll need to pay in order to get behind the wheel, luxury cars also need to feature a particularly plush interior.
Unlike many new cars, luxury models completely forgo hard and scratchy plastics – replacing them with the highest quality leathers and woods. Physical controls found throughout the interior should also avoid feeling flimsy or in any way cheap.
Moreover, luxury cars are among the best-equipped on the roads, often implementing features not seen on any other type of car. So, in addition to alloy wheels and air conditioning, your luxury car might come with a surround sound system, an OLED infotainment touchscreen and the very latest driver assistance functions.
Of course, this level of luxury doesn’t exactly come cheap. Luxury cars generally cost £100,000 or more to buy, and require a considerable sum of money to keep on the road. It’s very likely that your maintenance costs, fuel bills and insurance quotes will all increase if you replace a cheaper model with a luxury car.
Is a luxury car good to drive?
The main appeal to driving a luxury car is their impressive levels of comfort. Since many luxury cars have adaptive or air suspension, most are capable of travelling over bumps in the road at any speed while still keeping passengers cossetted.
Luxury cars are also particularly quiet on the move. Whether it’s achieved by active noise cancellation or double-glazed windows, noise from the wind, tyres or engine is kept to a minimum.
Most entry-level versions of luxury cars use petrol and diesel engines which generally offer impressive performance, with some models accelerating from 0-62mph in as little as 4.0sec. However, the fastest luxury cars around today are all fully-electric, which can achieve a smoother build-up of power.
In SUV form, luxury cars are also very capable off-road – featuring four-wheel drive and plenty of ground clearance in order to cover rough terrain. As such, if you’re the sort of person who likes to go on an adventure without leaving your creature comforts at home, a luxury car might be for you.
What are luxury cars like to live with?
Since they’re large and heavy vehicles, luxury cars aren’t the best when it comes to fuel economy. This is particularly true if you opt for a petrol-powered luxury car, with manufacturers commonly fitting V8s and – in some cases – V12s that often officially average less than 20mpg. Diesel-powered luxury cars are generally more fuel efficient but don’t always offer the same levels of performance as their petrol counterparts.
On the flip side, electric luxury cars offer some of the longest ranges around. Since they often feature large batteries, a growing number of luxury EVs are capable of managing more than 400 miles without a charge. They can also cost considerably less to run, particularly if you have the means to charge at home and have an energy tariff with a low off-peak rate.
Are luxury cars reliable?
With luxury cars being jam-packed with the latest features, you might think that they are some of the least reliable models on the road. However, according to our latest What Car? Reliability Survey found that luxury cars are no less reliable than other types of car – gaining an average score of 91.1%.
Knobbly tyres with deep tread patterns will take you farthest into the wilderness, but they also provide far less grip than road-focused tyres on Tarmac. So, if you’re also going to be using your off-roader for more mundane tasks, you might want to consider all-terrain tyres.
Even so, it’s worth remembering that spare parts for luxury cars are generally more expensive than those for a cheaper model. As a result, if something does go wrong and the repair isn’t covered under warranty, you might end up spending more than you bargained for.
Should I buy a luxury car?
Buy one if:
- You like a car with plenty of standard equipment
- You need plenty of room for passengers and luggage
- You want a comfortable ride
Don’t buy one if:
- You want good fuel economy
- You’re on a tight budget
- You want a car with low depreciation
How we choose the best luxury cars
Our luxury-car assessments cover dozens of different tests, but our list here places particular emphasis on the factors most important to buyers of these kinds of cars. To do this, we weight our criteria using data from the 20,000-plus car owners who complete our annual reader survey
In the latest annual What Car? reader survey, luxury car owners told us the three most important factors are:
So we rate two areas: perceived quality and build quality, and both must be exceptional given the £100,000 price tags some luxury cars attract. To gain top marks for perceived quality, a luxury car interior must be trimmed in the finest materials and finished with a plethora of soft-touch trim. All the controls and switches also need to feel solid and sturdy, and have a nice action when used.
To find out if a luxury car will waft you along in total serenity, we test all models on a variety of surfaces and at a range of different speeds. And we don’t just assess the ride comfort of one version of a car; rather, we test as many as possible so we can determine the most comfortable versions, and whether its worth splashing out on optional suspension systems.
We use a sound level meter to measure the decibels generated when a car is travelling at 30mph and 70mph. Our systems measure all kinds of noise, including wind, tyres, road and either the engine or electric motor. The lower the readings, the higher our scoring.
Our full testing regime covers dozens of different areas, so we only recommend the very best models on sale. Our how we test cars features explains this in more detail.
FAQs
Luxury cars were traditionally large saloons that sat at the top of a car brand's range in terms of price and equipment, such as the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class. However, spurred on by the success of the Range Rover, which many view as the first luxury SUV, other brands have followed suit and introduced similarly premium vehicles, including the Audi Q7, BMW X7, and Mercedes G-Class. And there are plenty of pure electric luxury cars around, too, including the Audi Q8 e-tron, and BMW iX.
The most luxurious luxury car is the Rolls Royce Cullinan. It has a wonderful mix of traditional and modern design elements, with huge slabs of wood and expertly stitched, soft leather, as well as a BMW-sourced infotainment system that sets the standard for usability. The Bentley Bentayga isn't far behind, clad in the softest leather and wood veneer, with aluminium air vents and delicate stitching around the dashboard.
These days, there are many different luxury car brands to choose from, including Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes and Volvo. There are several brands that are even more luxurious, too, including Bentley, Porsche and Rolls-Royce, but you'll need very deep pockets to put one of their models on your shopping list. Don't discount the likes of Lexus, either, especially if reliability is your top concern.
The Lexus RX (2016-2022) was the top-rated luxury car in our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, which takes into account the real-world experiences of car owners.
Our data reveals that hardly any RX models went wrong over the past year, and of those which did, the issues were mostly minor which meant the cars could still be driven. Even better, all the models which did need repairs were sorted within a day, and Lexus covered all costs.
That experience is typical of the Japanese brand, which has consistently ranked among the most reliable car brands in our surveys.
The second most popular luxury car according to our data is the latest BMW X5, with a reliability score of 96.4%, followed by the 2014-2022 Range Rover Sport, with a rating of 95.3%.
