Best luxury cars 2023

Looking for the best in the business of the car world? These are what you should consider.

If you want the ultimate vehicle, it must be a luxury car. They offer the best in terms of comfort and refinement and are usually packed full of technology.

If you’re buying a new luxury car, it’s not uncommon for them to cost more than £100,000, but steep depreciation means that these can be fantastic used buy, though you do have to be aware of heavy running costs. Repairs will often prove costly, too, which is why it’s worth investing in a used car warranty.

Let’s take a look at the best used luxury cars that give you a slice of a finer life on a more affordable budget.

Mercedes S-Class

A luxury car that has always been at the top of its class across the generations is the Mercedes S-Class. Often at the forefront of innovation, it’s introduced various technologies over the years that have become commonplace in other more ‘regular’ vehicles over the years.

While a new S-Class would set you back close to £100,000, older used examples are available from just £5,000. We would recommend a previous-generation model, sold between 2014 and 2020, as this brings the best balance in terms of modern features and styling and value. You can pick a 2014 car up from around £18,000, which gets you a lot of car for the money.

Range Rover

While the Range Rover might have been conceived as a more rugged 4x4, over the years it’s evolved into more of a luxury vehicle, especially with the option of a long wheelbase version with additional legroom for those travelling in the rear.

One of the most recognisable cars on the road, the full-size Range Rover mixes a luxurious interior with superb levels of comfort and refinement. Given this SUV doesn’t have a great reputation for reliability, it’s highly advised that you have it independently inspected before buying. But while a new Range Rover will set you back more than £100,000, it’s highly recommended, you can now pick up a 2014 example for around £17,000.

Audi A8

Audis are renowned for their quality and innovation, and the car that demonstrates this best is the flagship A8. You can pick up older examples of this luxury saloon for as little as £2,500, but we would recommend a third-generation A8, sold between 2009 and 2017.

Even by modern standards, it still looks the part and is lavishly equipped. A great range of engine options are also available with the A8, while the interior quality is exceptional. But while the starting price of a new A8 might be pushing £80,000, a tidy version of this age can easily be had for less than £10,000.

Aston Martin Rapide

If you want a little more badge prestige, why not take a look at the Aston Martin Rapide. Yes, this sports car manufacturer also produced this lesser-known luxury saloon between 2010 and 2019.

While luxury cars are often bought by people to be driven around in, the Rapide is a car where you’ll want to be in the driving seat owing to its sporty feel and exceptional V12 engine under the bonnet. While hugely expensive new, a used Rapide isn’t as expensive as you might think, with examples now available from around £30,000 – roughly what you’d pay for a new mid-spec Ford Focus these days. You do need to factor in the excessive running costs, however.

BMW 7 Series

Sitting towards the more mass-market end of the luxury car segment is the BMW 7 Series – an arch rival for the Audi A8 and Mercedes S-Class that has been around for years. Known for being great to drive, there’s also a huge amount of interior space, both in the front and rear.

The 7 Series’ interior quality is excellent as well, while BMW’s engines, as with most things, are fantastic. A brand-new version will cost a minimum of £105,000, making it one of the more expensive cars in its class. But if you opt for a fifth-generation 7 Series, sold between 2008 and 2015, which is available for well under £10,000.

Bentley Continental GT

Luxury cars can come in all shapes and sizes, and they can also include sleeker models like the Bentley Continental GT. With a name like Bentley, you might be thinking ‘far too expensive’, but thanks to ludicrous depreciation, you can now pick up a mid-2000s example of the GT for around £15,000. You’d struggle to buy any new car on sale for that, and it’s a fraction of the circa-£200,000 required for a new one.

While the 6.0-litre W12 engine in the Continental GT is one of the finest ever created, you do need to be mindful of the huge running costs and maintenance bills that will go with it.

Rolls-Royce Ghost

If you want the most luxurious of all the luxury cars, it has to be a Rolls-Royce. Nobody can make a car as comfortable or refined as this British car firm, while the interior is filled with the highest grade materials, from soft leather to real wooden interior inlays.

Our vote would go to the Ghost, which might not be the Rolls-Royce flagship but has a slightly more manageable footprint and isn’t quite so expensive to buy. That said, it’s still one for those with deep pockets, as even for a 2010-registered Ghost, you’ll be looking at around £60,000.

Porsche Taycan

If you want to have a more futuristic luxury car, why not take a look at the electric Porsche Taycan. Introduced in 2020, it’s more of a sporting vehicle than about pure luxury. It is, however, an exceptionally talented vehicle and among one of the best electric cars you can drive.

It’s not the roomiest of cars, so if rear-seat space is a priority it’s probably not for you, but with an enjoyable driving experience, tech-filled interior and range of around 300 miles, there’s a lot to love about this Porsche. Steep depreciation also makes it an appealing nearly-new buy, with 2020-registered examples available for around £50,000.

Jaguar XJ

If you want your luxury car to originate from Britain, it has to be the Jaguar XJ. The luxury saloon often used by government ministers has a classy and respected image to go with it. While Jaguar axed the XJ a couple of years ago, there are still plenty of used examples available.

It’s the last XJ we would recommend, sold between 2010 and 2019, owing to its stunning design inside and out, with all versions coming exceptionally well-equipped. There’s a longer ‘XJ L’ available if you want more space too. You can comfortably pick up a 2010 model for around £10,000.

Volkswagen Phaeton

One of the lesser-known luxury cars of the past couple of decades has been the Volkswagen Phaeton. It might not have the same badge appeal as others on this list, but if you want something a bit rarer and at a great price, it’s a car that’s worth considering.

Heavy depreciation meant the Phaeton was never a great choice when new, but it now makes for a good second-hand buy, with used prices now starting from around £5,000. With strong engines and good quality, it’s far from being a ‘budget’ luxury car either.

Prices correct at time of publication [12/2023].