Mercedes S-Class saloon review
Top 10 best luxury cars 2025
If money is no object and your tastes run to extravagance, read on for the 10 best luxury cars on sale today
Luxury, by its very nature, is utterly unnecessary, but that’s not to say we all wouldn't like a little bit of it from time to time. The best luxury cars have power, equipment and comfort beyond the needs of anyone – and that’s exactly their point.
Of course, with that opulence comes a big price tag. Practically all of the luxury cars on this list will run you upwards of six figures, making them some of the most expensive and exclusive machines on the road. Then again, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more refined travel experience without boarding a private jet.
The definition of luxury has changed in the automotive context over the years – decades ago luxury meant the use of only the finest materials around the cabin, and a focus on the rear passengers’ comfort first and foremost. While that’s still true, modern luxury means hi-tech and futuristic features must be a part of the recipe, and some luxury cars even aim to be as fulfilling for the driver as they are for the chauffeur-driven VIP passengers.
Although large, thirsty, yet refined and smooth petrol engines used to be the quintessential recipe for luxury cars, an increasing number of them are now offered with plug-in hybrid and even fully electric powertrains. In some ways this actually adds an extra level of opulence for the occupants, with the peace and quiet that comes with the low noise levels associated with an electric motor.
It does, of course, mean that you’ll save on fuel costs, too, although we’d imagine that might not be the main draw for someone in the market for an extravagant and lavish luxury car. While some manufacturers used to boast about how many cow hides were used for each car’s leather interior, there’s also been a shift towards new sustainable materials and textiles, matching the changing tastes of buyers.
Read on for our list of the top 10 best luxury cars, or head over to our rundown of the best sports cars if you’re after a toy for the weekend. If you're after luxury at a slightly more palatable price point, our lists of the best executive, best large executive and best used luxury cars are all well worth a look, too.
- Priced from around £94,000
Often imitated but never quite equalled, the Mercedes S-Class is the definition of ‘flagship’. For decades it’s been the luxury car to beat, with the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 and many more all trying to wrest the crown from its head. As the first production car to have anti-lock brakes and an airbag over the years, the S-Class has pioneered a long list of technology that we now take for granted.
Today’s S-Class is a high-tech masterpiece and even has the ability to optimise ride quality by reading the road surface ahead. There’s a choice of silent-running petrol or economical diesel and hybrid engines – the plug-in hybrid manages a huge 68-mile electric range – as well as a long-wheelbase version for added space. Buyers after a pure-electric model are also catered for by the Mercedes EQS – a separate model, but equally luxurious.
The S-Class’ cutting-edge interior rivals a private jet for design and opulence and places the Mercedes firmly at the head of the luxury-car table – somewhere it’s sat for some time. If the S-Class somehow isn't luxurious enough, there's also a Mercedes-Maybach version which costs around £100,000 more and is even more opulent.
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- Priced from around £102,000
Perhaps the Merc’s biggest rival is another German luxury car mainstay, the BMW 7 Series. For this latest generation, it can be had in fully-electric i7 guise for the first time, bringing the smoothness and quietness of an EV to the luxury saloon. It’s a combination that’s hard to beat, as the BMW i7 is one of the refined cars on sale today.
Not everyone will be won over by the polarising styling, but luxury cars are all about the interior, and this is where the i7 certainly delivers. It’s dripping in the latest technology from the brand, with an optional 31-inch ‘Theatre Screen’ for the rear passengers that folds down from the roof. Don’t worry if digital screens aren’t your thing – the i7 still ticks all the traditional luxury car boxes, with opulent materials and some of the comfiest seats you’ll find on four wheels.
BMW has always positioned it as the brand for those who like to drive, rather than be driven, and the i7 is no exception. Despite its heft, it handles surprisingly well and we can’t fault the acceleration on offer. Even the eDrive 50 model has 449bhp, while the M70 version ups the ante with 651bhp. Plus, a range of between 343 to 387 miles will be plenty for serene motorway cruising.
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- Priced from around £104,000
The Range Rover has long been driven by wealthy owners – none more so than members of the British royal family – but recent cars have also been a hit with chauffeurs transporting VIPs in the back seats. Its appeal has been given a big boost by the arrival of a long-wheelbase version with additional rear legroom, along with a much greater focus on luxury.
Choose the Executive Seat package and the standard rear bench is replaced by two individual reclining chairs with a massage function and calf rests. Options include rear screens to keep passengers entertained and a fridge between the rear seats. The Range Rover’s air suspension does a great job of filtering out bumps and road noise for a serene ride, too. Conveying a tough image and with real off-road prowess, the stretched Range Rover might also appeal to dignitaries who might need to evade the odd bit of bother.
The Range Rover is available with a selection of diesel mild hybrid, petrol plug-in hybrid and petrol V8 engines, but the environmentally-conscious will want to wait for the EV version, expected to land later in 2025.
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- Priced from around £100,000
Instead of electrifying the S-Class, Mercedes decided that its first flagship electric saloon was deserving of a clean-sheet design – hence, the Mercedes EQS. The EV is similar in size to the S-Class, but you’ll notice it doesn’t sport the same traditional limo-like profile. Instead, the EQS looks to have been shaped by the wind, with a sleek body that cuts through the air. It’s one of the most aerodynamic cars on sale, and boasts a mighty 450-mile range as a result.
While the EQS is very different from the S-Class under the skin, luxury car buyers will be pleased to know that the cabin is just as opulent. Material quality is top notch as expected, and there’s little in the way of road or wind noise when you’re on the move. But if you’re not a fan of digital screens, you’ll want to look elsewhere, as the EQS is jam packed with them. The Mercedes ‘Hyperscreen’ takes up the entire dashboard, while the passenger gets a screen all of their own, too.
If there’s a sticking point for the EQS, it’s the slightly firm ride quality. It’s a heavy car, so the suspension is taught in order to keep the body in check through corners, but it means that some potholes can upset the ride. Some buyers may miss that floating sensation found in other luxury saloons, in which case, we’d recommend sticking to the S-Class.
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- Priced from around £75,000
For many, the Range Rover remains the pinnacle of luxury SUVs, but what if you want something a little more dynamic? Well, you’re in luck, as the Range Rover Sport offers just that. It’s a bit smaller, lighter and more agile than the full-fat Range Rover, but the Sport doesn’t skimp on luxury. You still get a beautifully-appointed interior that’ll make you question why anyone bothers upgrading to the bigger car.
Under the bonnet, you’ll find the same engines as the Range Rover, too. Whether you’re after a diesel or petrol model, the Range Rover Sport has you covered, plus there’s even the bonkers SV model. This features a twin-turbocharged 616bhp V8 engine, plus a host of sporty upgrades to transform the giant SUV into a true performance car. But we’re focusing on luxury for this list, and the Range Rover Sport delivers no matter which engine you pick. The suspension happily soaks up the worst of British roads, while the gear changes are practically imperceptible.
As a bonus, the Range Rover Sport is considerably cheaper than the regular Range Rover, so you’ll have some extra cash to splash on the extensive options list.
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- Priced from around £90,000
Rewind the clock just a few years and the suggestion of a Lotus appearing on this list would have you ridiculed. Oh, how things change – the Lotus Eletre couldn’t be any more different to the lightweight sports cars that came before it. It’s both fully-electric and a big SUV, marking two firsts for the iconic British brand, but it’s also hugely luxurious.
Calling the Eletre a transformational car for Lotus would be an understatement. The cabin feels truly upmarket and up to scratch for a car costing around six figures. Materials are high quality, while the tech is at the cutting edge of today’s luxury cars. Whether you opt for the standard five-seat layout or the fancier four-seat option, the rear seats of the Eletre are just as pleasant to sit in as the front pair.
On the move, you can sense that some of the sporty DNA of its predecessors has filtered through to the Eletre. It’s quick, agile and surprisingly fun to drive for an SUV that weighs over 2.5 tonnes. Thankfully, that hasn’t come at the expense of refinement. The ride is beautifully judged and is on par with many of the traditional luxury saloon cars found on this list.
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- Priced from around £89,000
Look past the massive kidney grilles and the divisive styling, and the BMW X7 is one of the poshest large SUVs that you can buy. Its boxy shape gives it a cavernous interior offering seven seats. The inside is luxurious, with everything from the folding seats to the split tailgate operated electronically. Air suspension allows you to drop the ride height by 40mm to make loading easier as well.
The X7 features a mass of standard kit including two 12.3-inch displays for the instruments and infotainment. Two diesel engines and a single petrol engine are available, with the range-topping 395bhp X7 M50d taking only 5.4 seconds to do 0-62mph. On the road, the X7 feels composed and refined thanks to its air suspension setup, with optional rear-wheel steering giving it impressive cornering ability despite a weight of nearly 2.5 tonnes.
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- Priced from around £156,000
The Bentley Bentayga isn’t a car for the self-conscious. From its giant front grille to the ‘crystal cut’ headlights, it’s an imposing design that shouts luxury from practically every angle. Depending on who you are, that’ll either be a big tick or an immediate turn off, but there’s no denying the level of quality on offer in the Bentayga.
Like Bentley’s other models, the Continental and Flying Spur, the Bentayga is impeccably built. The hand-crafted interior is a cut above other SUVs, and the personalisation options are essentially endless. Exclusivity goes hand in hand with luxury for many buyers, and Bentley gives you the option to design a Bentayga to your exact preference. Open the rear doors, and you’ll struggle to find a more luxurious set of seats without upgrading to a private jet – even more so in the Bentayga EWB (extended wheelbase).
For those who prefer to drive rather than be driven, the Bentayga is surprisingly fun, feeling closer to a Porsche Cayenne than a Range Rover. That’s unsurprising given that the Bentley shares its platform and engines with the Porsche, but the extra sound insulation in the Bentayga makes it a more refined long distance cruiser. We just wish that the suspension was a little softer – we found it has a tendency to shudder over some roads that wouldn’t trouble a Range Rover.
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- Priced from around £83,000
The old Porsche Panamera was a competent and quick car, but it had ‘challenging’ looks, to put it politely. This latest version, however, is now handsome and sleek, as well as being even better to drive than the previous model, with improved performance and economy. As a driving machine, it’s extremely hard to beat among luxury-car rivals, with steering precision, power and tenacious grip that Porsche 911 enthusiasts will applaud. Passengers don’t get a rough deal, either: the rear seats sit either side of a cool colour touchscreen if you go for the four-zone climate control.
While those in a position to afford a Panamera may have another car (or, indeed, staff) to head to the dump in, a hatchback boot and individually folding rear seats mean the Panamera is almost as practical as it is luxurious. Choose the 4 E-Hybrid for low running costs and London Congestion Charge exemption or the Panamera Turbo if you want to go faster than 99% of other cars on the road. There’s a Panamera for everyone, then – well, everyone with more than £83,000 to spend on a car. We’d also recommend checking out the electric Porsche Taycan, which starts at a similar price.
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- Priced from around £313,000
There was a time a Rolls-Royce SUV would have been an unthinkable prospect, but the British brand has now had to move with the times. The result is a very impressive vehicle, boasting typical Rolls-Royce luxury as well as not-insignificant off-road ability.
It's powered by a 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine, but prioritises comfort over outright speed. A versatile interior and boot means the Cullinan can be practical, too, making it appealing to more adventurous owners.
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