Best luxury cars 2024 – tested, rated and the ones to avoid (2024)

You might not be expecting to see the BMW X7 at the top of this chart, but it has more to offer than the lavish accoutrements expected of a prestigious saloon. As well as a plush interior with limo-like space and every new electronic gadget you can think of, the X7 has a commanding driving position and enough room to seat seven people in comfort; these are two things alternatives, such as the BMW 7 Series or i7, can’t provide.

Decked out in soft-touch materials and fitted with a massive digital dash and infotainment system, the X7 really has a wow factor. If you go for the optional Ultimate Pack, you’ll also get massaging front seats and four heated seats.

The xDrive40d's diesel engine remains hushed in most situations, and the Ultimate Pack adds upgraded air suspension and active roll bars, which give the X7 a glassier ride than a Range Rover. It also comes with a four-wheel steering system that makes the BMW easier to manoeuvre around town.

All these attributes combine to provide the perfect blend of luxury and versatility, making the X7 our reigning Luxury Car of the Year.

Read ourBMW X7 review

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 V6 engine will haul it up to 62mph in 6.6esc.

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.

Read ourRange Rover Sport review

Electric cars can make excellentluxury cars, and thei7 is one example ofthe 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.

Read ourBMW i7 review

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.

The Q7’s interior is one of the roomiest and plushest of any luxury SUV and there is plenty of space for adults to stretch out. It has slightly more leg room than a BMW X5 orLand Rover Discovery and virtually matches that of the Volvo XC90. All Q7s also come with seven seats as standard.

Read ourAudi Q7 review

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.

Rivalssuch as the Bentley Flying Spur, theBMW 7 Series and theMercedes S-Classoffer similarly impressive performance, but none can match the Ghost's truly cosseting luxury.

Read ourRolls-Royce Ghost review

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 and a removable 7.0in tablet in the rear armrest.

The S580e plug-in hybridis 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.

Read ourMercedes S-Class review

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, withtwo lengths available – standard and long-wheelbase (LWB), which allows you to have seven seats.

The diesel versions make most sense for private buyers. Althoughour 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 remains among the worst of any car brand.

Read ourRange Rover review

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 at 178 miles. The more powerful xDrive50 has a larger battery and real-world range of 284 miles, which is more in line with rivals, such as the Audi Q8 e-tron and theJaguar I-Pace.

Designed from the ground up to be a pure electric model, the iX is roomy enough to seat five adults in comfort, and it has lots of useful storage solutions. It doesn’t come as a seven-seater, though.

Read ourBMW iX review

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, theS-Class and theRange 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, but it certainly is the most well-heeled.

Read ourAudi A8 review

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.

Read ourBentley Bentayga review

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