Let’s be honest with ourselves. The Germans know little of pure luxury. Sure, the Mercedes Benz S-Class or Maybach can carry two bottles of champagne in a freezer with enough cushioning at the seat to make two high-density mattresses. The Brits, well, they’re close to figuring it out. Pack a Benz next to a Bentley, and 9 out of 10 times, the luxury aficionado will go for the four-wheel yacht.
But then, there’s Rolls Royce—the World’s finest. It doesn’t matter what angle you look at it or how much you hate how it looks (hello Cullinan owners). Once you step inside this machine, a standard has been set. Every detail of a Rolls Royce is done to please the eyes of the Queen and make a stinking rich NBA player declare bankruptcy. With a base price of $455,000, the Rolls Royce Phantom, in particular, has made a name for itself as being one of the, if not the most luxurious sedans you can ever put your two feet in.
But what if you could buy about 9 more, properly luxurious vehicles, at the price of one Rolls Royce Phantom? Of course, you can. And if you’re a stickler for budgets, then this piece will excite you more than a car designer looking at how beautiful the Cullinan turned out to be.
10 2021 BMW 540 - $59,450
The BMW 5 Series is a formidable name. This executive sedan has been manufactured by BMW since 1972 to take on the luxury sedans built by Mercedes-Benz and Audi. Currently, the 5 series stands as the second most successful BMW model after the 3 series. More than 5 million cars have been sold.
The seventh-generation BMW 540 combines all the good things you’d want from a luxury sedan and packages it in a very good-looking package. This marque boasts of excellent luxury, balanced driving mechanics, amazing comfort, and enough space to give the driver and passengers an experience like no other. Under the hood is a potent 3.0-liter inline-six paired with BMW’s AWD iDrive system.
9 2021 Cadillac CT6- $55,000
Turns out, apart from burning vast amounts of fuel and packing too much power meant purely for burnouts, American cars can have a lovely touch of luxury. Cadillac, in particular, has been focusing a lot on making crossovers. With the CT6, they’re showing just how well they can deliver a luxury sedan.
The top trim Cadillac CT6 comes packed with a load of exciting features. These include Cadillac’s semi-autonomous Super Cruise control, super comfortable seats with up to 15 massage functions, and a 34-speaker Bose Panaray sound system. Under the hood, the CT6 is all-American with a 4.2-liter twin-turbo Blackwing V8 that develops 500 hp and 574 lb-ft of torque, just what a CEO needs to go drifting.
8 2015 BMW 650 - $34,111
Yes, the 6 series is nowhere near the popularity of the 5 series. However, since 1976, this impressive marque has served many buyers who’re interested in something different compared to what the 5 series has to offer.
The latest BMW 650 belongs to the fourth generation 6 series. It is perfect for anyone looking for a grand tourer with a nice touch of luxury. The BMW 650 boasts of classic styling that’s blended with a nice touch of tech features such as a full-color HUD, adaptive cruise control, heated seats, and a power moonroof. The power unit is a turbocharged V8 that’s mated to either a standard rear-wheel-drive system or BMW’s iDrive AWD.
7 2017 Lexus LS - $49,283
In the UK, the Lexus LS has always been an automatic niche choice. However, with its success abroad, this marque has made a name for itself as a formidable luxury sedan.
For 2017, the LS got a major styling overhaul. The interior thus feels more modern with luxury being swooped in in a rather unconventional way. The 2017 Lexus LS comes in four trim levels, the top one packing a ton of equipment and rare material richness that not so many cars in the world can match. The downside is the rather underpowered 3.5-liter Hybrid V6 that can barely keep up with almost 5500 lbs of weight this car bears.
6 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class - $44,859
This is the self-proclaimed “best car in the world”. While you’ll be the judge of that, this car has been getting a ton of updates over the years. 2014 to 2020 has seen some of the most radical changes in how the car drives and feels, not just from a driver’s perspective but also from the passenger’s perspective.
There’s a lot more luxury that has been added to this car. Apart from having the seats heat you then massage you a lot better, the tech in the car has also been improved, with a key focus on the infotainment and AI system. Also, under the hood, the Mercedes Benz S-Class has received a mild hybrid electrical system that’s all been put in in an attempt to hold off Audi and BMW.
5 2017 Genesis G90 - $39,230
It’s hard to imagine how good Hyundai has managed to make its luxury brand. And just like any other European luxury automaker, the idea behind the Genesis was to trump competition. But that journey has taken well over a decade. And the Genesis G90 is a testament to just how close they’ve come.
The 2017 Genesis G90 boasts luxury in every aspect. It has a beautiful design, state-of-the-art components and, to put the nail on the coffin, a friendlier price than most of its European competition. Under the hood, you can go for a 3.3-liter V8 or a hard-charging 5.0-liter V8. Both these engines are still very capable with the power being routed through an all-wheel drivetrain.
4 2015 Audi A8 - $39,900
The Audi A8 is just the kind of car you need when you want to shut down from the hustle of the world. This impressive luxury sedan creates a haven for you and the passengers that’s filled with comfort, space, tranquility, and luxury.
The latest model of the A8 comes loaded with a host of technological features such as virtual cockpit instrumentation, an all-new infotainment system with a dual-screen setup, and advanced driver assistance systems. Under the hood, the A8 is powered by a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 engine with a mild hybrid system. Combined, it can develop 453 hp and 487 lb-ft of torque.
3 2021 BMW 750 - $86,800
The BMW 750 sets the bar for what a full-size luxury sedan should look, feel, and drive like. The gorgeous design of this impressive marque features bold, detailed lines, a dramatic exterior, and fine details on the interior.
Inside, the BMW 750 brags of luxurious leather upholstery can be customized to every customer’s needs. It also packs some of the best technologies you can get from BMW including a highly advanced driver monitoring and assistance system, BMW Intelligent Personal Assistance that allows you to control everything via voice, and a breathtaking vista.
2 2015 Porsche Panamera - $44,001
When the Panamera first stepped into the scene well over a decade ago, emotions were mixed. Yes, the car looked devastatingly ugly. But somehow, over the years, Porsche managed to make the car look prettier, drive even better, and pack a ton more luxury than the initial offering.
The Porsche Panamera stands out in the luxury sedan market because of how it flawlessly blends luxury with an unparalleled driving experience. At the end of the day, it is a Porsche that drives like a ballerina in a graceful dance. The 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8 at the back is quite peppy with 453 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque.
1 2021 Rolls-Royce Phantom - $455,000
Alright, fine. Nothing can draw your eyes away from this British marque with the flair of royalty. And it can be yours, as long as you have at least $455,000 to spare. Or, you can have all of the aforementioned cars at the price of this one machine. So, why price it that much?
Ever since the Phantom was launched in 2003, it has set the industry-wide standard for what a luxury sedan should be. The bar is so high, that all other manufacturers have struggled to keep up for well over a decade. And it all starts with the interior. Even a five-star hotel would struggle to keep up with this kind of luxury. The leather is perfectly complemented with wood, glass, artwork, wool, and metal. The rear seating area, otherwise known as the “Privacy Suite” opens in the striking suicide fashion. It is isolated and packed with 22-way adjustable seats and a celestial canopy that makes you feel space-bound. The hearty V12 is also a monster that makes it a ton of fun to drive.