Luxury Car of the Year 2022: Range Rover

The Range Rover is the 2022 Auto Express Luxury Car of the Year, with the Bentley Flying Spur and BMW iX commended

• Our choice
• New Car Awards 2022: the winners

The car that pioneered the luxury SUV class more than half a century ago, the remarkable Range Rover is back to its best in 2022. All new from the ground up, the brilliant British machine effortlessly combines traditional opulence, comfort and refinement with state-of-the-art technology to deliver an incredibly advanced and appealing package.

As with all of the best luxury cars, the Range Rover is an imposing presence on the road, its design referencing the original, but with a thoroughly modern edge. Yet it’s the big Brit SUV’s beautifully finished interior that’s the real star of the show. Not only is it more spacious than ever, it’s also dripping with lavish materials and has all the latest tech. There’s also a long-wheelbase option for those who want to stretch out even more, while a seven-seat layout is available for the first time.

As you’d expect, few cars are as relaxing on the move, with whisper-quiet refinement and a pillowy soft ride. Yet the Range Rover is as good to drive as it is to be driven in. Its high-set seating position gives a commanding view of the road, while the option of four-wheel steering allows the luxurious Land Rover to be hustled surprisingly hard through a series of corners. Under the trademark clamshell bonnet there’s a choice of engines that includes mild-hybrid petrols and diesels, a pair of plug-ins and even a thundering twin-turbo V8. An all-electric model will arrive in 2024, too.

Yet the four-wheel-drive Range Rover’s party trick is its ability to go where no other luxury rival would dare. With its cutting-edge Terrain Response set-up and adjustable air suspension, it’s as happy tackling the King’s Road as it is wading through up to 900mm of water.

After five decades, this British institution feels like it’s just getting into its stride. The Best Luxury Car of 2023? Don’t bet against it.

Our choice

Range Rover D350 Autobiography (£122,375)

Monthly payments and company car rates aren’t big talking points for Range Rover buyers, so for that reason, we’d pair the silky six-cylinder D350 diesel with the high-ranking Autobiography trim. It comes with 22-inch wheels, heated, cooled and massaging front seats, plus a brilliant Meridian sound system, for the £122,375 asking price.

Commended

Bentley Flying Spur

Our luxury car champ for the past three years, the Flying Spur takes a runner-up spot in 2022. It’s still a hugely desirable machine, mixing exceptional comfort, refinement and hand-crafted exclusivity with a healthy dose of driver engagement. The addition of a powerful plug-in hybrid powertrain only enhances the Crewe car’s appeal even further.

BMW iX

There’s no denying that BMW caused a stir with the design of its flagship EV, but look past the controversial exterior and you’ll find a brilliant luxury SUV. As you’d expect with an EV, the iX is supremely relaxing, with top-notch refinement, a smooth ride and a 380-mile claimed range. Yet keen drivers will enjoy its poise and performance, while the technology on offer is some of the best in this class.

The 2022 New Car Awards are brought to you in association with Hankook tyres

New Car Awards 2022: the winners

Keyword: Luxury Car of the Year 2022: Range Rover