Big, expensive, and devastatingly comfortable, luxury cars are getting faster and more complicated. Modern luxury cars are packed with state-of-the-art safety features and technology meant to make the driving experience as convenient as possible while providing the best performance. Features like adaptive steering and adaptive shifting transmissions exist to eke out as much performance as possible from the car.
While some enthusiasts may claim these cars' luxury features as taking something away from the driving experience, luxury cars have always been about making the destination as safely, comfortably, and as fast as possible.
10 BMW M760i XDrive
Starting at $172,000 the M760i is one of the most expensive cars in BMW's lineup. It uses a 600 horsepower twin-turbo V12, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. It comes with active suspension, cornering brake control, and active four-wheel steering.
It also comes with something BMW is calling Driving Dynamics Control with Adaptive mode, where the car will activate a chassis control function that chooses the driving mode according to the current scenario. There's also an aerodynamic package, which features an active kidney grille.
9 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG
Clocking in at about $20,000 higher, the Mercedes-AMG S63 coupe lacks two extra doors and two extra cylinders but makes about the same amount of power as the BMW. It uses a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, all-wheel-drive, and a 9-speed multi-clutch transmission.
Encased in magnesium, this transmission provides quick up-shifts and rev-matches downshifts. All state-of-the-art driving assists come in a package that costs $2,250 extra, which includes active steering assist, active brake assist, route-based speed adaptation, and several additional assists.
8 Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
Technically a grand tourer, the name Jaguar is synonymous with sports luxury so it still counts. The F-type R Coupe screams sports car from the outside, but its leather-laden interior calmly suggests pure ergonomic luxury. It doesn't perform like a 911, nor does it pamper like a Rolls, but the Jaguar does its best to reach a happy medium.
Powering the R Coupe is a 5.0-liter V8 that produces 575 horsepower, mated to an 8-speed automatic. It's plenty quick, reaching 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, and while the Jag hasn't really improved on the previous year, it hasn't gotten any worse either, making it still a solid pick for a sports luxury car.
7 Rolls-Royce Phantom
Call it an old man's car, but that doesn't stop the Phantom from being one of the coolest cars ever made. It's surely big, horrendously expensive, and needs its own garage, but its smooth ride makes passengers feel like they're cruising at 30,000 feet. Not only does it have auto-leveling suspension for all four corners of the car, a 6.8-liter V12 with 563 horsepower and umbrellas stashed in the doors, it also has satellite-aided shifting and night vision.
The price, however, is staggering for anyone with a day job at around $455,000. This clears even the Mercedes about three times over.
6 Mercedes G-Wagon
The G Wagon from Mercedes by now has earned its place as a stylish, expensive luxury SUV, and its 2021 model continues that streak with unwavering ability. It reportedly excels at driving off-road, featuring all-wheel-drive on the G550 and locking differentials, as well as low-range gears.
It has all the usual luxurious refinements, including heated leather seats that can massage with ventilation, and 54 total unique interior upholsteries to choose from. Owners can get the 416 horsepower twin-turbo V8, or they can spring for the AMG-tuned G63, with 577 horsepower at $25,000 more.
5 Lexus RC-F
The Lexus is classified as strictly a luxury car, but its exterior alone is lush with sports car characteristics, including aerodynamic contours and the fact that it has two doors. Lexus' RC-F is powered by a 5.0-liter V8 churning out 472 horsepower to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission.
While it's slightly slower than its rivals, reaching 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, the RC-F provides a comfortable ride and plush interior materials. Forward-collision warning and adaptive cruise control both come as standard, as are a plethora of other creature comforts.
4 Ferrari SF90 Stradale
Costing more than the Rolls is Ferrari's SF90 Stradale, with an MSRP starting at $500,000. It's a V8-equipped hybrid luxury supercar, with almost 1,000 combined horsepower, with the help of three electric motors.
While there isn't a whole lot in the way of driver assistance features, the car makes up for it with a comfortable leather interior and blistering speed. For the driver who wants luxury comfort, but no computers to get in the way of actually driving the car, the SF90 could be the right choice.
3 Aston Martin DBS
The DBS got a styling change in 2018 and that has carried over to this year. It's much more aggressive, with more pronounced venting above the front wheel wells and wheel spokes that spread out like bolts of lightning. The front grille is taller, and the hood has contours that shrink the headlights from wild-eyed wonder to intense glare.
Thankfully its bite matches its bark. It uses a twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V12 with 715 horsepower, launching the car to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and topping out at a staggering 211 mph.
2 Volvo S90
Sweden muscled its way onto this list in the form of its S90. Its exterior hearkens back to older Volvos with its flat front grille but owns a modern and sleek rear end. It uses a turbocharged and supercharged inline-four that produces 316 horsepower, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
There is also a hybrid option that gets 490 miles to a tank with all-wheel drive. All of this costs a meager sum of $52,600 while being one of the safest, and underrated cars on the market.
1 Chevrolet Corvette
Before it catches a lot of flack, yes, the Corvette is considered a luxury sports car. In fact, according to US News, it's the #1 luxury sports car. Its performance is noted, with its "revolutionary" new mid-engine placement and 6.2-liter V8 sending 500 horsepower to the rear wheels. One caveat with the
new Corvette is its strict ban on manual transmissions, but the 8-speed shifts are quick and seamless.
Chevrolet clearly took a lot of design queues from virtually every other exotic car manufacturer, but it comes together as a wild animal ready to devour even some of the best luxury cars well outside of its price range.