Mercedes E-Class review – a smooth and refined executive saloon
Top 10 large executive cars – the best to buy in 2024
Large executive cars are the ideal choice for drivers who want something classy and capacious
While SUVs may be all the rage these days, large executive cars still hold plenty of appeal with private buyers and business drivers alike. They take the comfortable and handsome formula of the best executive cars, but add in some extra space to make them equally suited for traditional family car duties.
Many large executive cars will spend the majority of their miles cruising along the motorway, so they need to be fast and refined, but they should also be enjoyable to drive when required. The best models stand apart with premium, well-built interiors, fitted with the latest in-car technology and with enough space for four passengers to travel in comfort. Good fuel economy and low CO2 emissions are important, too, especially for business drivers.
That’s a lot to ask from one car, but the 10 models below deliver on those requirements. There are petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric options to suit every buyer’s taste, but be warned, they’re not cheap. All bar one of the large executive cars below cost over £40,000, so you’ll need deep pockets if you’re buying privately. Business drivers will be most interested in the hybrid and electric options, as these will return the lowest Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax bills.
The best large executive cars
Keep reading for our pick of the best large executive cars on sale today, or you can read our list of the best luxury cars if your budget can stretch a bit further.
- Priced from £55,120
The Mercedes E-Class has long been the gold standard for large executive cars, and the latest model upholds that impressive legacy. From a purely aesthetic point of view, its understated looks carry just the right amount of prestige without shouting about it too much, striking a well-judged balance of tradition and modernity. Climb aboard and things lean heavily towards the modern end of the scale, with giant screens taking up the majority of the dashboard but with plenty of high-quality materials. The Mercedes star on the front means it’s packed full of the latest safety systems, while the brand carries a certain kudos many consider unmatchable.
While the Merc is not quite as sharp to drive as the BMW 5 Series, some will prefer the more relaxed approach it offers. There are petrol and diesel engines that return over 44 and 53mpg respectively, as well as the tax-busting E 300 e plug-in hybrid that emits just 12g of CO2 per km. For an electric alternative to the E-Class, there’s the Mercedes EQE – though it’s much more expensive. The EQE offers a fantastically high-tech interior and an impressively long range of between 346 and 384 miles on a single charge, depending on the trim level. It will likely replace the E-Class entirely once petrol and diesel cars disappear from showrooms in 2035.
- Priced from £51,015
Put simply, the latest BMW 5 Series is one of the best all-round executive cars on sale. It features a beautifully built interior, excellent passenger space and the most enjoyable driving experience in its class. The entry-level 520i is the pick of the range for private buyers, going from 0-62mph in less than eight seconds, yet returning around 45mpg in combined urban and motorway driving. Company car drivers should instead choose the plug-in hybrid 530e model, which can manage the 0-62mph sprint in under seven seconds and offers a low Benefit-in-Kind rate. For even lower running costs, there’s the equally impressive electric BMW i5.
Inside, state-of-the-art electronics and infotainment systems are blended perfectly with high-quality trim and materials, while the seats are comfortable and supportive, although the Mercedes E-Class is the more comfortable of the two across imperfect road surfaces. It may not be quite as handsome as the outgoing model in our eyes, but the latest 5 Series is a modern take on the traditional large executive car that nails the experience from behind the wheel.
- Priced from £47,040
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is the South Korean manufacturer’s electric executive offering, delivering striking streamlined looks and an impressive electric range from its 77kWh battery, making it ideal for motorway trips. The single-motor version can manage up to 338 miles on a single charge, while the dual motor setup adds a little extra power at the expense of 16 miles of range. If you do run low on juice, the good news is that the Ioniq 6’s incredibly quick charging speeds will have it topped up from 10 to 80% in around 18 minutes at an ultra-fast charging station. As with all the electric vehicles on this list, the Ioniq 6 will be a good choice as a company car, thanks to its zero tailpipe emissions putting it in a lower BiK band.
The Ioniq 6 offers a good driving experience too; it feels planted, albeit a little firmer than the Ioniq 5, and its low centre of gravity helps reduce body lean. While the steering doesn’t offer the most feedback, it is accurate, well-weighted and well suited for motorway driving.
- Priced from £34,875
While Skoda’s image as a budget-friendly brand might mislead you into thinking it’s out of place on a list of executive cars, the latest Superb certainly fits the brief. It does so with a low price tag and an extra dose of practicality thanks to a boot offering an impressive 645 litres of space.
While not particularly exciting to drive, the Superb excels in terms of comfort and refinement, and is offered with efficient petrol and diesel engines. It’s a shame that the plug-in hybrid engine found in the Superb Estate isn’t available for the saloon, as it offers a useful 62-mile electric driving range and competitive BiK rates for business drivers. We think the Superb is best suited to private buyers as a result, so it's handy that it's the cheapest car on this list by quite some margin.
Long-distance motorway drivers might prefer to opt for the 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine, but most buyers will be happy with the entry-level 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine, which is a great all-rounder. While safe and conservative on the outside, the Superb’s interior has taken a giant leap forward, and can compete with much more expensive cars in terms of design, tech and build quality.
- Priced from £86,500
Porsche has long held a reputation for building some of the finest sports cars in the world but it also knows a thing or two about the executive market. Much like the Panamera elsewhere in this list, the Taycan is a four-door Porsche with plenty of luxury mixed with driving pleasure, only this time it’s fully electric. There are a number of different versions of the Taycan available, but be careful with Porsche’s long and tempting options list because it’s easy to get carried away and spend a lot more than the car’s original base price.
Range varies from around 350 to a whopping 421 miles across the various models, so all should be more than capable of taking on long journeys and proving easy to live with. The Taycan is a zero-emission car, so it qualifies for some huge savings on both VED (road tax) and Benefit-in-Kind taxes, as well as avoiding the Ultra Low Emission Zone charge, should you find yourself driving into London.
- Priced from £46,525
The latest Audi A6 has all of its predecessor’s premium appeal, but the evolutionary body design possesses a dash of extra dynamism thanks to some sharp creases, flared wheel arches and a powerful grille flanked by swept-back headlights. Inside is where the real advances are evident, though, as Audi has pulled out all the stops to give its E-Class and 5 Series rival some seriously sophisticated technology. Top-spec models get Audi’s impressive Virtual Cockpit instrument pack, plus a big infotainment touchscreen at the centre of the dash, and a smaller touchscreen below for climate control and other ancillary functions.
Driving the A6 couldn’t be more relaxing, thanks to an array of safety and driver assistance technology that has trickled down from the A8 luxury flagship. This includes active cruise control with steering assistance and a City Assist function which watches out for vehicles emerging from side streets that haven’t seen you. With a choice of super-frugal mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, the A6 is a technical tour de force, while being smooth and comfortable enough to soothe even the most harassed executive’s troubled brow.
- Priced from £43,100
Genesis is a luxury spin-off brand from Hyundai, and its G80 model does well to rival more traditional executive rivals. The car features attractive styling with hints of Aston Martin from some angles, and the driving experience is good, too – it’s been specially designed with European roads in mind and balances poised handling with a refined, smooth ride and power delivery.
Buyers are only offered one 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, while the standard rear-wheel drive setup can be swapped for all-wheel drive for a fee. There’s even a full EV version, with a range of up to 323 miles on a single charge thanks to a large 87.2kWh battery. The EV’s zero CO2 emissions also give it a rock-bottom BiK rate, so it’s the better choice as a company car. The G80 is a less well-known choice in our list, but it will certainly make an impression in the company car park.
- Priced from £83,568
While the electric Porsche Taycan may have stolen the spotlight in recent years, the Panamera still holds its place as a formidable executive car with a performance-focused twist. It’s expensive, but you get what you pay for; the Panamera delivers on all the qualities we’ve come to expect from Porsche, with a focused driving experience and a top-notch cabin. A thorough overhaul in 2024 improved things further, proving that there’s still plenty of life left in the combustion-engined saloon despite the success of its all-electric sibling.
Unlike many of the other cars on this list, the Panamera range kicks off with the petrol V6 model – you won’t find any four-cylinder engines here. It’s more than fast enough for most buyers, but in true Porsche fashion, there are several models to choose from, some with supercar-beating performance. Business drivers will be most interested in the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, which sips fuel and emits just 33g of CO2 per km.
- Priced from £43,595
After a string of popular SUVs, many will have forgotten that Lexus still builds the ES saloon, but we’d argue it’s a hidden gem. Sitting beneath the full-fat luxury Lexus LS, the ES is similar in size to the Mercedes E-Class and, like that car, puts comfort ahead of all else. With front-wheel drive, a 215bhp hybrid engine and a 0-62mph time of around nine seconds, it’s not a car you want to drive fast, but the ES will appeal to those wanting a refined and relaxed cruiser.
Inside, the ES is beginning to lag behind rivals in terms of technology and design, but you can’t fault the top-notch build quality and premium materials. Many will prefer the physical buttons and switches for media, temperature and ventilation over the touchscreens that most rivals have adopted. CO2 emissions sit at 119g/km, so business drivers will face a larger BiK tax bill than they would with a plug-in hybrid, but you’ll instead benefit from a solid reputation for reliability and a class-leading 10-year/100,000 warranty.
- Priced from £57,695
The original Audi A7 single-handedly revived the large executive hatchback class in the mid-2000s, stirring memories of models such as the Saab 9000, Rover 800 and Ford Granada. The second-generation model is bristling with up-to-date technology and looks more distinctive than its predecessor, with a sleeker teardrop design. Particular highlights include the dual-screen infotainment set-up and the LED tail lights that perform an animated sequence each time you approach the car.
The A7 is essentially a sleeker version of the Audi A6 saloon above, so you get the same choice of petrol and diesel mild hybrid engines. There is also a petrol plug-in hybrid powertrain found in A7 TFSI e models which offers up to 41 miles of pure-electric driving range – not class-leading, but enough for a short commute or a trip into town and back.
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