Choosing a luxury car isn’t easy. Sure, if you can afford to go out and indulge in one of the finest cars that the market has to offer, you’re in a very lucky position, but there’s big money at stake if you make the wrong decision.
In addition, luxury also brings with it an expectation of status – do you prefer the understated luxury of a car such as the Lexus LS or Audi A8, or something as ostentatious as a Rolls-Royce Phantom or Bentley SUV?
Decisions, decisions… Here’s our round-up of the very best luxury cars you can buy today
10. Lexus LS
It’s not the most obvious choice in the luxury car market, but the latest LS500h is an interesting flagship for the Lexus range. It has a 3.5-litre normally aspirated engine, assisted by a hybrid boost system that increases its standard 295bhp to the equivalent of 354bhp. It also has a 10-speed gearbox for further curiosity value.
9. Bentley Bentayga
It’s far from pretty, but the world’s fastest SUV certainly has presence. There are, of course, traditionalists who believe that Bentley jumping onto the SUV bandwagon isn’t good for the brand, but you only have to look at the success of the Range Rover to see that this is what certain buyers want. And if you’re in the market for a luxury SUV, what better than one with a Bentley badge on its snout?
8. Maserati Quattroporte
Literally translated, Quattroporte simply means ‘four-doors’. It’s hardly the most enchanting name for a luxury car, but the big Maserati saloon is beguiling in other ways, not least its charismatic styling and striking interior. The range-topping V8 GranSport has a truly wonderful engine, but the downside is that it also comes with a £116,000 price tag.
7. Bentley Mulsanne
It may have ventured where other luxury car makers fear to tread with the Bentayga SUV, but Bentley still keeps its traditional market happy with the Mulsanne – a luxury saloon that keeps the brand’s most traditional name alive. It’s a huge car with a huge presence, though its weight is kept down (and performance kept up) thanks to a mixture of aluminium and composite fibre body panels.
6. Rolls Royce Phantom
The world’s most iconic luxury car remains the epitome of prestige vehicle ownership for many, and it doesn’t disappoint. It has a twin turbo 6.75-litre V12 engine producing 536bhp, while the interior is positively dripping in luxury features, as you’d expect from a car costing £360,000 before you’ve even looked in the options catalogue. Yes, it’s a bit vulgar. But if you’ve got it, you may as well flaunt it…
5. Jaguar XJ
The XJ is entering its eighth full year of production, and as a result it’s starting to feel a little dated. It doesn’t look it, though, in direct contrast to traditional Jaguars, retaining svelte good looks and a commanding road presence. It doesn’t feature as much technology as cars such as the Audi A8 and Mercedes S-Class, but it’s still one of the best luxury cars for owners who like to drive themselves. It’s good value in this company, too.
4. Mercedes S-Class
There has never been a bad car wearing the Mercedes S-Class badge, and the latest version is true to form, with a fabulous mix of opulence, technology and style. The current generation features a nine-speed automatic transmission, a lug-in hybrid option and has a more youthful appearance than previous S-Class models, especially within the cabin. It’s a wonderful car, and it’s beautifully made, too.
3. Range Rover
Long gone are the days when the Range Rover was the car of choice for farmers with families, as it stands head and shoulders above any other SUV as an iconic luxury model in its own right. The latest updates to the flagship model include the addition of a P400e Plug-In electric hybrid model to keep it tax and environment friendly, but it’s the 5.0-litre V8 SVAutobiography that shows the Range Rover in its most indulgent light, with 546bhp on tap and a stunning interior.
2. Tesla Model S
The ultimate luxury car for early adopters, the Tesla Model S features a number of autonomous driving features and an electric-only range of up to 400 miles depending on model and power output. The range-topping £127,000 ‘Performance’ model accelerates from 0-60mph in a supercar-shaming 2.5 seconds. Futuristic and fun to drive.
1. Audi A8
The latest A8 is a real innovator, with features such as Audi’s ‘Virtual Cockpit’ and Artificial Intelligence technology that allows it the ability to drive itself in traffic and park itself in a garage. It also features a heat-seeking camera similar to those used by the police and military to help detect animals lurking in the undergrowth. In addition, it’s also a fine luxury saloon.