Why it won

Nothing has been able to dislodge the Mercedes S-Class from the top of the luxury car class. While its competitors have made big strides in the last few years, the Mercedes flagship still offers the best mixture of performance, comfort and quality that money can buy.
 
The S-Class is equally impressive from the driver or the passenger seat, and the diesel versions will manage up to 45mpg, while thrill seekers can opt for the hugely powerful AMG performance models. Buyers after a true executive limousine experience should go for the long-wheelbase version, which boasts an enormous amount of space for rear passengers to relax in, and road and wind noise are completely suppressed thanks to double glazed windows and generous soundproofing.

It commands a high price, but the S-Class comes very highly equipped, with leather upholstery, a smooth automatic gearbox standard on all cars, and it will hold its value better than rivals like the Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series. Throw in a 560-litre boot that is bigger than all its rivals, and the kind of interior build quality that Mercedes is famed for, and the S-Class is a worthy winner.