Best in class
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
It may well be a horrendous cliche to point out that the big Merc is the best car in the luxury class, that it's arguably the best car in the world in many respects and that all of the cool and cutting edge innovations with which it is stuffed will eventually trickle down to the likes of a Focus or Golf in about twenty years. All of which has been written a hundred, a thousand times before. That doesn't make it any less true though, and the current S-Class, frankly, rocks. It's not perhaps as pretty as it could be, but you won't care about that, swishing along inside in glorious isolation. Best one: S400 Hybrid for €107,810
Also try
Range Rover
The Range Rover’s evolution from comfortable off-roader to full-on luxury car, wellies to Salvatore Ferragamo, is well documented. But it wasn’t really until the introduction of the current model that the metamorphosis was complete. The new, lighter aluminium structure allows the Rangie to really strut its stuff, and nowadays without being so thirsty and environmentally destructive as once it was. Comfort is simply off-the-scale good, but there’s still enough ruggedness underneath to make crossing uncharted territory a positive doddle.
Tesla Model S
This one is still a personal import – there is no official Irish outlet for Tesla yet, but even if it takes a bit more effort to land one here, this is a proper taste of the future. There is no internal combustion engine option – you only get a choice of electric motor outputs and battery capacities. The most full-on P85D model can go for almost 500km between recharges and can out-accelerate more than a few supercars, thanks to instant electric motor power delivery yet it costs the same to tax as a Nissan Leaf. It's quite gorgeous too, can be had as a seven-seater and has a uniquely uncluttered interior. Only a lack of real dynamic verve holds it back. Fix that and the S-Class' crown is there for the taking.
Worth waiting for
BMW 7 Series
The big Beemer has long lived in the might S-Class’ shadow, and to be honest, the next-generation probably won’t do quite enough to dispel that. We can safely expect it to be an utter tech-fest though, as BMW applies the lessons it’s learned from its electric i range to a big, luxury car. Phenomenal comfort and pin-sharp driving dynamics are to be expected, as are slinkier, sexier lines than we’ve hitherto seen on a 7. Launches: This summer
Underrated
Maserati Quattroporte
All the other cars here are big, bluff and luxurious. The Maserati Quattroporte manages to combine luxury with full-on sex appeal. This is a properly gorgeous car, inside and out, and one that looks and feels far more special than most of the competition. OK, so it’s not as good to drive as once it was and there is currently a lack of the kind of plugin hybrid options that other offer. Who cares? Nothing else here looks or sounds this good.