Money-no-object uber-wafters
Whether you’re a belted earl, a progressive plutocrat or a lucky lottery winner, it has perhaps never been harder to choose a luxury car.
Buyers have a huge degree of choice when it comes to comfortable high-end motors.
Though you’ll still find big eight- and 12-cylinder engines under the bonnets of some luxury cars, buyers are now just as likely to find an electric motor (or two).
Given that an electric powertrain is always going to be much quieter than a petrol engine, electrification has the potential to create ever more refined luxury cars, and this is something to which manufacturers and buyers alike have grasped with both hands.
BMW, for instance launched its new 7 Series in electric for only (though plug-in hybrid models are coming down the line) while Mercedes-Benz appears set to provide pure-electric equivalents of most of its combustion-powered range over the next few years, having already launched several “EQ” models (though we understand the EQ moniker will be dropped in time).
Even that most traditional of British car-makers, Rolls-Royce, is banking on batteries with the launch of its Spectre coupé towards the end of 2023.
Car makers’ electric vehicle plans for 2023 and beyond
Despite the fact that change is in the air, some things remain pleasingly constant in the luxury world.
Whatever they’re powered by, with all luxury cars the focus is still on comfort, technology and refinement meaning that thick carpets, sumptuous seats and near-silent wafting are, as ever, the order of the day.
Here are five of the best luxury cars for sale in 2023.
1. BMW i7
From £110,545
As with BMW’s iX SUV, the i7’s challenging looks are offset by its first-class interior. The company’s new 7 Series was initially launched in electric form only; the i7 xDrive60 features a large battery with a 101.7kWh capacity and two electric motors producing 536bhp, for a range of up to 388 miles per charge and the ability to get from 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds.
Impressive though those figures are, more impressive still is the i7’s cabin. Unlike the old 7 Series, the new model is being sold exclusively in long-wheelbase (stretched) form, meaning tons of room in the rear — all the better for experiencing the optional reclining seats and massive 31.3in 8k-definition screen that flips down from the roof and features built-in Amazon Fire TV.
As well as the ability to connect to the screen’s audio with Bluetooth headphones, there’s the option of listening out loud through the surround sound system, which incorporates speakers set into the seats for a more immersive experience.
The i7 really is a very modern take on the luxury limousine with its blend of wood and leather mixed with touchscreens aplenty.
BMW i7 2023 review: Tech-laden luxury in the electric age
2. Bentley Flying Spur
From £170,720
Hand-crafted luxury is a byword for many bespoke British car brands, and the Crewe-built Bentley Flying Spur is a fantastic specimen of the breed.
Go for either the silky-smooth W12-cylinder or lighter V8 engined models and you get a car that can cruise in near silence yet has the power to entertain if so desired. Even the 2.9-litre V6 plug-in hybrid model is quick, despite the Flying Spur’s considerable weight, propelling the drawing-room-on-wheels to 62mph in 4.1 seconds — the same as the V8 version.
What’s more, Bentley’s Mulliner division can help to create one-off versions for even greater luxury (at this end of the market bespoke is de rigueur), and the Blackline specification results in an edgier, more purposeful look.
Video: A lap of Monaco in the 2020 Bentley Flying Spur
3. Mercedes EQS
From £105,610
The Mercedes S-Class is still a sublime car in terms of quality and tech but the pure-electric EQS has slightly stolen the S-Class’s thunder, chiefly thanks to its emission-free powertrain and power management.
Some versions of the EQS can manage a whopping 486 miles between charges, but that isn’t just down to the massive 107.9kWh battery. The fact that the powertrain is remarkably efficient helps, as does the relatively low weight of the car’s structure and the smooth, cab-forward styling. Yes, it may lack the presence of the S-Class, but it looks that way for a reason.
It’s remarkably refined, too, generally free from the squeaks and rattles audible in most other EVs due to the lack of masking noise from the engine. The cabin is a nice place to be and an absolute tech-fest thanks to a huge dashboard-spanning Hyperscreen.
The EQS is a very clever car indeed, but if saloons aren’t your thing, there’s an EQS SUV, too, and an ultra-luxury Maybach version of that in the pipeline.
Mercedes-Benz EQS is a 479-mile electric luxury limo with an astonishing dashboard
4. Range Rover
From £99,375
Last year saw the arrival of an all-new Range Rover in regular five-seat form as well as stretched five- and seven-seat configurations. The new models come with a line-up of new electrified powertrains and underpinnings designed to accommodate a pure-electric model in 2024, though unquestionably the model’s move upmarket continues, with ultra-luxury interiors stealing the show from its ever-impressive four-wheel-drive capabilities.
All of this means that the world’s finest go-anywhere limousine is now bang-up-to-date, though its classic bodyshape is unmistakably an evolution of that first seen in the early seventies.
There’s leather inside, of course, but also a choice of new eco-friendly wool-based “ultrafabrics” clothing the supremely comfortable seats. The new Jaguar Land Rover Pivi Pro infotainment systems work commendably well, too.
Available with a broad choice of engines from diesel, to plug-in hybrid and, of course, a big supercharged 523bhp petrol V8, the Range Rover is the only car in the world to combine this much luxury with this much off-road capability.
While the V8 model has obvious appeal for traditionalists, the pick of the bunch is probably one of the plug-in hybrids — either the P440e or P510e — as we found the smoothness, instant torque and refinement of the previous-gen plug-in hybrid Range Rover Sport to be a boon on and, surprisingly, off-road.
The updated PHEV system for the new Range Rover offers around twice as much electric range as before, and Land Rover says that the majority of customers will be able to accomplish around 75% of their journeys on battery power alone. But for those in need of towing or who plan to use their Range Rover full long-distance cruising, we’d still recommend plumping for one of the diesels.
Range Rover 2022 review: Even better for wafters and drivers
5. Rolls-Royce Ghost
From £249,600
If any car maker is synonymous with luxury, it’s Rolls-Royce. We’ve picked the Ghost here as it’s the newest model that we’ve driven, but you may also like to take a look at the Spectre, Rolls’ first electric car, which is due by the end of this year. And any of the company’s cars will deliver smooth, near-silent and unruffled running with power to spare.
The latest cars even come on a platform called the Architecture of Luxury, while tech such as terrain-reading navigation helps to maintain the high standards of comfort for which the company is famous. And the Black Badge models add an extra bit of exclusivity and spice.
Big changes are underway at Rolls-Royce, though, with the launch of the Spectre and the company planning to go all-electric by the end of the decade, so you may want to get in there for one of the last petrol-powered Rollers while you can.
2020 Rolls-Royce Ghost review
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Keyword: 5 best luxury cars to buy in 2023