- BMW i7
- Mercedes-Benz EQS
- Lucid Air
- Genesis Electrified G80
- Porsche Taycan
- Audi e-tron GT
- Jaguar I-Pace
- BMW iX
- Lotus Eletre
- Rolls-Royce Spectre
BMW i7
Forget the exterior looks, it’s what’s inside the i7 that matters. And there’s no doubt that BMW’s new luxo-limo is best enjoyed from the rear, because its back there you’ll find the astonishing 31.3-inch 8K theatre screen, complete with inbuilt Amazon Fire TV, a HDMI input for any games consoles and a 36-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system. Wowsers.
The experience starts well beyond you get in, courtesy of the electrically opening and closing doors that welcome you. From there, little screens mounted on each door are used to control the heating, cooling and massaging seat functions, while the front passenger seat folds into the front footwell to allow the one behind to fully recline. The BMW i7 has truly raised the bar.
Click here to read our full review
Mercedes-Benz EQS
There’s much to like about the Mercedes EQS, the 450-mile plus range being one such factor, but it’s arguably the mesmerising tech that trumps even that. We’re of course talking about Mercedes’ hyperscreen, a 141cm (55-inch) triple screen glass panel that makes up the dashboard.
It consists of a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 17.7-inch central infotainment screen, and, sitting atop the glovebox, another 12.3-inch display, which allows the passenger to view the satnav, control the audio, watch television, or play a selection of games. Think of it like one of those screens you find in the backseat headrest on long-haul flights.
But the rest of the cabin is equally exquisite too, with the real metal and unpolished wood adding a touch of class, and the ambient lighting the wow factor for any passengers. Sure, it’s not quite as jaw-dropping as the i7 in the rear, but it’s an equally lavish experience all the same.
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Lucid Air
The Lucid Air has attracted plenty of fanfare since its launch, and most recently was named the 2023 World Luxury Car of the Year at the 2023 World Car Awards, voted for by 100 automotive journalists from 32 countries and pipping the BMW i7 and Genesis G90 into second and third place respectively. Should come as no surprise, then, that it features in this list.
During development its engineering team reportedly had the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class front of mind, and suffice to say it provides an interior experience to match. We were highly impressed with the tech, sense of airiness and quality of materials during our all too brief time behind the wheel – now we’re just waiting for its full launch on our shores.
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Genesis Electrified G80
As the posh branch of the Hyundai Motor Group, you’d expect Genesis to have a car that’s a touch more premium than anything that its group siblings offer, and the G80 is one such car.
The flagship of Genesis’ electric line-up, the G80’s cabin is classy and beautifully conceived with its Nappa leather dashboard, seats and door cards and wood trim, if less showy compared to some its rivals. No bad thing. The 18-way adjustable heated and vented seats, featuring seven air chambers to ensure maximum comfort and posture, have also received the AGR’s (official German back health association) seal of approval, which your back will undoubtedly thank you for.
There’s also adaptive suspension that uses a front-facing camera to smooth out proceedings, and noise cancelling tech which works much like your swanky headphones to drown out any noise. Nice.
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Porsche Taycan
Porsche’s first all-electric car pairs serious looks, serious performance, serious luxury and serious practicality into one serious package… and that means it must be taken seriously.
It comes in many fine flavours, ranging from the entry-level, single motor, RWD-only Taycan, to the top-spec, twin motor, AWD Taycan Turbo S, complete with 715bhp and 774lb ft of torque, a 0-62mph time of 2.8 seconds, and a top speed of 162mph. But whatever version you go for, you’re guaranteed Porsche premium quality, all the screens you could ever need – including one above the glovebox in front of the passenger, should you so wish – and comfort and performance to match.
The biggest compliment we can give it is this: the Taycan is a proper Porsche that just happens to run on electricity. Which means it should seriously be on your shopping list.
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Audi e-tron GT
Ah, the sister car to the Porsche Taycan. Based on the same VW Group platform and sharing the basic chassis and motor set-up, we won’t get into the debate about which wears the smarter suit. But we will admit this: interiors have long been Audi’s forte, so it stands in good stead here.
And sure enough, the e-tron GT doesn’t disappoint. You get a 12.3-inch virtual cockpit behind the wheel, a 10.1-inch infotainment display in the centre, just the right amount of physical switchgear, all the Alcantara you could ever ask for, and space for five passengers in comfort.
Plenty to like then. Indeed, the Audi is pitched as more of a rapid GT than a four-door sports car like the Taycan, and in our experience is the more comfortable and spacious of the two, if slightly (and we mean slightly) slower. Which means if we were scoring it on points…
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Jaguar I-Pace
Back in 2018, there was a danger Tesla was going to have the premium EV market all to its own. But then up stepped Jaguar with an electric SUV that was well built, comfortable, spacious, quiet, and above all, pretty handy to drive.
It’s no secret that beyond the rapid acceleration, few electric cars felt genuinely engaging to drive. Blame the artificial steering, the firm-footed ride, the absence of any sensory appeal. The Jaguar I-Pace doesn’t fix all the flaws, but it’s undoubtedly better than most; an electric car that driving enthusiasts might just be able to get onboard with.
Sure, it might not have the star appeal of some of the cars on this list, particularly when it comes to the rather ordinary interior, but for a car launched half a decade ago, it’s testament to Jaguar that it retains its place on this list today. Who even needs a chauffeur, anyway?
Click here to read our full review
BMW iX
Cover thine eyes, again. The BMW iX is arguably even more of an eyesore than the i7 above (even if it does look slightly better in the metal), but focuses its efforts on silencing the two-and-a-half tonne SUV naysayers by offering a more luxurious cabin than any of its rivals can even come close to.
Which means its cabin is quite unlike any other BMW you’ve ever seen before too. Talking points include the steering wheel that’s more square shaped than it is circular, the huge two-part digital instrument cluster/infotainment display, the matte wood trim complete with backlit switch graphics, the optional denim-like fabric for the seats, and the glass iDrive rotary controller.
There’s plenty of practical logic here too though, including an optional ‘heat comfort pack’ that electrically heats the lower dash, door trims and console while maximising energy efficiency. We weren’t convinced on first impression, but six months with one changed our mind.
Click here to read our full review
Lotus Eletre
Welcome to a Lotus unlike any you’ve previously seen; one powered by electricity and here to take the fight to the like of the Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne, and suchlike.
You’ve likely figured out by now that it’s a family SUV, which means it needs seats. It offers space for up to five, reduced to four thrones if you option the Executive Seat Pack. The front seats are 12-way adjustable, while it also gets four-zone climate control, a 15-inch touchscreen, a 1,380-watt KEF 15-speaker stereo as standard, or a 2,160-watt, 23-speaker KEF system for the audiophiles out there. Six unique interior designs are available, including recycled man-made fabrics for the eco-conscious.
All that, and there’s still up to 688 litres of space in the boot. When it comes to luxury family electric SUVs, this thing will take some beating. Expect to see it on the roads later this year…
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Rolls-Royce Spectre
There can hardly be a more fitting conclusion to this list than the Rolls-Royce Spectre. Heck, at this point, Rolls-Royce might as well be under the dictionary definition of the word ‘luxury’.
And the Spectre is a big a statement as they come. Inside you’re greeted by almost 4,800 individually lit stars spread across the headliner down into the doorcards (a Rolls first). It gets a fully digital instrument cluster (another Rolls first), a big central touchscreen, a third screen in front of the passenger that simply displays the Spectre logo (because obviously), and a bespoke in-house built audio system. The all-new seat design offering unlimited personalisation options might as well be armchairs, while other home comforts come in the form of the rug-like mats.
But does it still have an umbrella in the door, we hear you ask? TG editor-in-chief Jack Rix asked just that when he took a closer look late last year. Expect prices to start from £300k upwards…
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Keyword: Here are 10 of the best luxury electric cars available now or the near future