Back to GuidesThey're the best of the best; the pinnacle of automotive engineering, with head-turning styling and gee-whiz technology and features built in, to boot. They're today's top luxury cars. We rounded up the best of the best to give you a look at the finest cars you'll see on the road today.
1. Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Mercedes is a name synonymous with luxury and the S-Class is Mercedes' flagship full-size sedan luxury model. True luxury is found in full-size variations of vehicles as it adds levels of comfort that can not be added to midsize or subcompact vehicle frames.
The S-Class is built on a long-wheelbase giving it excellent rigidity which is supported by a standard air suspension with adaptive dampers all of which provide one of the smoothest rides on the market. The S-Class is offered with six different engine choices all paired with a nine-speed automatic gearbox.
The S-Class is helped along by a 48-volt hybrid powertrain that boosts both performance and efficiency. Mercedes offers a plug-in hybrid variation of the S-Class named the S560e and on the opposite end a 600 horsepower variant S63 AMG model.
Standard features found in the cabin of the S-Class consist of a 12.3in infotainment screen and Mercedes’ Comand Online system as standard, and a suite of rear-cabin infotainment equipment available as additional options.
The additional options list for the S-Class can boost the $94,250 base price to over $235,600.
Browse Mercedes-Benz S-Class listings here.
2. Audi A8
The Audi A8 offers an all-wheel-drive (AWD) platform as standard with a 335-horsepower turbocharged V6 engine achieving a fuel economy rating of 17 miles-per-gallon (mpg) city and 26 mpg highway. Audi offers four different engine options with the most powerful engine being a high-performance Audi S8 which boasts a 563-horsepower twin-turbo V8 engine. The 2021 Audi A8 surpasses the renowned Mercedes S-Class in onboard technology; providing the most advanced autonomous driving system in the world, surpassing Volvo, all Tesla models, and Honda.
Autonomous driving still has its legal limitations but the A8 along with its smaller counterpart the Audi A6 will be more than ready to perform when allowed. The A8's cabin is more business-like than extravagant and is built with real wood and supple leather. Audi provides the driver with a serendipitous driving experience blocking out all road, wind, and engine noise in the cabin. Standard infotainment features include a dual touch-screen system, Amazon Alexa, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, wireless device charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, navigation, voice recognition, two USB ports, a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo system, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and HD Radio.
3. BMW 7 Series
BMW offers the 7-Series luxury sedan as a competitor against both the Mercedes S-Class and Audi's A8. The 7-Series offers both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and AWD drivetrain options along with two wheelbase length choices. Ride quality is dependent on BMW's adaptive air suspension and its lengthy list of standard safety features.
Standard safety features of the 7-Series include a surround-view parking camera system, front and rear parking sensors, hands-free park assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and many more. The 7-Series seats five comfortably and has a fuel economy rating range of 13-22 mpg city and 20-29 mpg highway dependant on powertrain options.
The interior of the 7 Series provides ample space for all passengers, offering padded leather surfaces, real metal and wood accents, and soft-touch plastics. Standard infotainment features consist of a 10.2-inch touch screen, navigation, Apple CarPlay, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, HD Radio, satellite radio, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, Bluetooth, two USB ports, voice and gesture recognition, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and wireless device charging.
Browse BMW 7 Series listings here.
4. Maserati Quattroporte
Maserati steps up their performance for 2021 with a new vehicle model offering a high-performance trim of the Quattroporte. The Quattroporte Trofeo is equipped with a 580-hp twin-turbo V-8 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Quattroporte Trofeo is only offered with an RWD drivetrain, however, while the base trim is offered standard in AWD. The base model Quattroporte S Q4 gets a 424-hp twin-turbo V-6 engine achieving a fuel economy of 16 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.
The Quattroporte is listed as a luxury vehicle, and rightfully so. With Italian design and heritage, the Quattroporte interior offers soft leather, Ermenegildo Zegna silk, real carbon fiber, genuine wood, and nicely finished metal accents. The cabin only seats four, however, and feels a bit cramped for a full-size vehicle and is similar in space to the midsize Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Audi A6, or the BMW 5-Series. Maserati offers modern technology in the Quattroporte outfitting it with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, a voice-activated virtual assistant, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity.
Browse Maserati Quattroporte listings here.
5. Porsche Panamera
When you hear the name Porsche, odds are that your first thought is a high-end sports car. While Porsche is a world-renowned sports car manufacture, Porsche also makes a luxury sedan known as the Panamera. However, the Panamera is not your usual luxury sedan and happens to be one of the fastest production sedans in the world. The Panamera has seven engine options to choose from, the most powerful being the hybrid variation, the Turbo S-E, adding an electric motor to the Turbo S' V8 taking the 620 engine and increasing it to a total of 689 horsepower.
The Panamera does not only shine with performance but it also provides a luxurious interior consisting of elegance and simplicity that makes it one of the best in this class. The Panamera offers high-end cabin materials such as leather, wood, aluminum, and soft-touch plastic. The interior blocks majority of road and wind noise providing a peaceful and serene driving experience. The cabin of the Panamera is not as refined as the Mercedes-Benz but is not as sterile as a BMW interior.
Browse Porsche Panamera listings here.
6. Jaguar XF
The Jaguar XF offers various driving modes that enable the XF to feel like a completely different driving machine. The Jaguar XF can go from a comfortable luxury sedan cruising down the road, absorbing all obstacles the road has to offer, to a quick and nimble athletic sedan. The XF has a 246-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder base engine that is underpowered compared to what is found in its automotive rivals the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Although the base engine is underwhelming, Jaguar steps up their game when it comes to interior design and class. The Jaguar XF offers a cabin built with quality materials including leather upholstery, 12-way power-adjustable front seats, and heated front seats standard. Jaguar offers a unique Pivi infotainment system, which boasts a large, curved 11.4-inch touch screen that can also be found in Jaguar's luxury SUV lineup. The Jaguar XF has space for five and has the leg and headroom for taller passengers. The XF also boasts a large list of standard safety features some of which include rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, driver drowsiness monitoring, and lane-keep assist.
Browse Jaguar XF listings here.
7. Lexus LS
The Lexus LS offers a reasonable pricing point for the luxury car market and delivers a high-quality cabin, a large list of standard equipment, and comfortable seating. The LS is offered in either an RWD or AWD drivetrain paired with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 base engine producing 416 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque.
Standard comfort features include a power rear-window sunshade, a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather upholstery, and 16-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats. The features list does not end with the seats, however, and extend to include dual-zone automatic climate control, a moonroof, proximity keyless entry, and a 12.3-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, navigation, a Wi-Fi hot spot, a 12-speaker stereo, USB ports, satellite radio, HD Radio, the Remote Touchpad, voice recognition, and Bluetooth.
As a product of Toyota, Lexus is also renowned for its dependability. Lexus provides the LS with a four-year 50,000-mile limited warranty and a six-year 70,000-mile powertrain warranty. While the 2021 Lexus LS has yet to be rated, the 2020 model year received a reliability rating of four and a half out of five by the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) ranking it among the best in its class. Having a high dependability rating in the super-luxury car segment speaks volumes to Lexus' dedication to its craft and its continued dominance over its rivals Acura and Infiniti.
Browse Lexus LS listings here.
8. Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Only one rung below the Mercedes-Benz S-Class on the luxury car ladder sits the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The E-Class Mercedes is a midsize luxury car that shares many features with the larger full-size S-Class and smaller compact C-Class and subcompact A-class. The E-Class has three engine options above the base turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. If power is an equal priority to luxury for you the 4.0-liter V8 engine option with 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque AMG 63 S variation of the E-Class is what you want. The AMG 63 S has a significantly higher starting price than the base E-Class starting at $107,500 compared to the base E-Class's $54,250.
Beyond power, Mercedes also provides luxury in the interior cabin providing optional Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, massaging front seats, heated front armrests, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel with wood trim. Standard interior features include remote start, push-button start, proximity keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, 64-color ambient interior lighting, a sunroof, and the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system.
The infotainment system equipped in the E-Class consist of a 12.3-inch touch screen, a 12.3-inch digital driver display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a touchpad controller, navigation, a FrontBass stereo, HD Radio, two USB ports, and Bluetooth.
Browse Mercedes-Benz E-Class listings here.
9. Genesis G90
Genesis is a fairly new automaker for the United States, introducing its first vehicles the Genesis G80 and G90 to the US market in 2016. Genesis is owned by the Hyundai Motor Group and is the companies' luxury manufacturing arm. The G90 is the most premier luxury option offered by Genesis and is offered in two trim levels consisting of a Premium and Ultimate option.
The G90 Ultimate offers additional features over the Premium which consist of a rear-seat entertainment system with two 10.3-inch touch screens, along with power-adjustable, reclining, and ventilated rear seats with memory settings. The Ultimate trim level focuses on rear passenger comfort as much as it does the front. The 2021 G90 scores extremely well with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gaining the rating of Top Safety Pick Plus.
Standard interior features of the G90 include Nappa leather upholstery, a 22-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a 16-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated, leather-wrapped, and power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. The standard features do not end there, however, and also include a suede headliner, power-closing doors, and memory settings for the front seats, steering wheel, and outside mirror.
Browse Genesis G90 listings here.
10. BMW 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series is a midsize luxury sedan that offers a top-notch safety score of 10 as rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The 5 Series is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 248 horsepower and 257 pound-feet of torque. BMW offers five other engine options for the 5 Series all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The BMW 5 Series engines share a history with the Land Rover Range Rover as BMW had ownership of Land Rover at one point in 1994. BMW shortly after sold Land Rover to Ford in the year 2000 but Land Rover continued to utilize BMW engines through 2005. Through this partnership, BMW took interior styling advice from Land Rover and present a high-end interior cabin for their current lineup.
The BMW 5 Series interior offers synthetic leather upholstery standard and 16-way power adjustments in the front seats. Optional features consist of front seats with heating, ventilating, massage, 20-way power-adjustment functions, genuine leather upholstery, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel.
