Purchasing a new vehicle often means having to make difficult decisions regarding how much money you can afford to spend on additional packages and standalone feature options. The following four luxury saloon cars are fresh on the market and full of features.
Scroll below to learn more about the four best luxury saloon cars for 2017.
2017 Mercedes S-class
The base trim features a 3.0-L V6 engine which comes paired with a standard 9G-Tronic Plus 9-speed automatic transmission. At the top of the list of trims, the AMG S65 model comes standard with a 7-speed automatic transmission and strong V12 engine that accelerates the car from 0 to 60 mpg in roughly 4.3 seconds.
There are many standard technological features on the 2017 S-class cars. All tech is current-generation, so features such as Mercedes’ COMAND online system won’t be missing from your dash. If you opt for the S600 trim, you can get Magic Body Control, which utilizes cameras to scan the road ahead for potential hazards, including bumps and potholes, and helps you mitigate them.
Pros and Cons
The S-class offers an extremely quiet ride and boasts numerous high-tech features that make purchasing it worth your while. Additionally, Mercedes decks the interior out in a luscious plush material that gives the S-class a truly high-end appearance. The S-class gets about 50.4 mpg combined, making it quite fuel-efficient for its class.
The S-class comes standard with helpful safety features, such as Collision Prevention Assist Plus, Crosswind Assist, and Attention Assist. The S600, S63, and S65 all come standard with the highly-inclusive Driver Assistance package.
Unfortunately, if you want the absolute best technological features, you will have to buy the top-of-the-line model, and some add-on features make the S-class even more expensive to purchase.
Price
The S-class has a starting on-the-road (OTR) price of £69,660.00 for the base trim and tops out at over £185,000 for the Mercedes AMG S65, which is the highest trim level available. Mercedes offers a whole-car warranty of 36 months and unlimited miles.
2017 BMW 7 Series
BMW’s 7 Series has struggled for years to outshine chief contenders in the luxury saloon class. Finally, the 2017 BMW 7 Series is at the top of the pack, and for some very good reasons. This year’s saloon has many exciting standard features, including a TwinPower Turbo petrol or diesel engine, a 10.25″ display screen, Front and Rear Park Distance Control, and LED headlights.
Pros and Cons
Each trim is full to bursting with standard features and technology that make the 7 Series worth its price tag. The BMW xDrive system is a popular buy since it handles well in any weather condition and has been lauded by critics as one of the best all-wheel drive systems currently available.
All trims get 40 mpg combined or better, so they will not gouge you at the pump. If you are in the market for a hybrid, the 7 Series offers a model that has a 2.0-L turbo four-pot engine and power motor. The carbon emissions on this vehicle are less than 50g/km, which is quite impressive.
The turning circle on the 7 Series is rather wide, so you will likely want to select the Integral Active Steering option for optimal turning. The interior and exterior design are made up of high-quality materials but aren’t particularly innovative in appearance. Also, for maximum comfort, you will have to spend more on upgrades.
Price
The starting price for the 7 Series’ base trim is £63,530, which is slightly more affordable than the Mercedes S-class. At the top of the line, expect to pay around £135,340.
2017 Audi A8
Another of this year’s top competitors, the 2017 Audi A8 saloon comes with either a 3.0 or 4.2 TDI quattro engine paired with an 8-speed Tiptronic transmission. Each engine comes with an automatic start/stop feature that keeps the vehicle CO2 and fuel-efficient.
All trims come standard with a HDD-based Satellite Navigation system, high-resolution screen, and Valcona leather seats with lumbar support.
Pros and Cons
If you opt for either the Black or Sport Editions, you’ll be treated by a Bose surround sound system that gives excellent quality sound throughout the car.
Standard safety equipment on the Audi A8 includes an advanced parking system with a reversing camera, a light and rain sensor package, and an electronic stability and traction control system.
The A8 unfortunately suffers from a lack of rear legroom, so taller passengers will be cramped for space. The ride quality is also not up-to-par with its top competitors. Even though it accelerates well, the handling quality has been criticized as lacklustre.
Price
The A8’s base trim starts at £63,520. At the top of the line, you can expect to pay £83,925 or more for the S8. The S8 is considerably more affordable than some of its other top-of-the-line saloon competitors.
2017 Rolls Royce Ghost II
The 2017 Rolls Royce Ghost II epitomizes luxury. This outstanding luxury saloon car features an impressive 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 engine on its base trim, getting from 0 to 60 mph in just under 5 seconds. The engine is paired with an innovative 8-speed satellite aided transmission, which holds onto a lower gear when it anticipates a bump or broken pavement in the road ahead, thereby helping to stabilize the vehicle.
Pros and Cons
The Ghost II features a pristine interior that boasts a beautiful wooden trim. If you prefer the dark side, the Black Badge is decked in black with purple interior trim and has high-gloss dark finishes on the exterior of the car. The Black Badge has better toque (840Nm) than the standard Ghost II by 60 Nm.
What this car possesses in luxury, it lacks in efficiency. The Ghost II only gets about 20.2 mpg combined and emits approximately 327g/km of CO2 per year, which is dismal compared to other cars in its class.
Price
Be prepared to spend serious money on the Ghost II. Its starting price is a whopping £225,368, blowing most of its more financially-friendly competitors out of the water.
In addition to the hefty price tag, expect to pay quite a bit for petrol since the Ghost has a petrol-guzzling engine. Also, the annual tax on the Ghost II is about £515.
Conclusion
In the short-run, spending extra money on a luxury saloon might seem like a poor decision. Some down-the-line makes and models have comparable performance abilities. However, luxury saloon cars tend to be jam-packed with more standard features, thereby offering more in terms of comfort, performance, safety, and entertainment.
If you’re in the market for a luxury saloon, go ahead and test-drive at least one of the four best luxury saloon cars available for 2017. One of them might be the right vehicle for you.
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