On the road the Phantom is unbelievably quiet and comfortable, as you would expect, but should you find yourself in the driver’s seat, you will have a mixture of features to make sure you enjoy your time there.
Firstly, there is four-wheel steering to aid in low-speed manoeuvres and high-speed stability, then there is the air suspension and active roll management to prevent unwanted lurching of the body through the corners, all of which make this enormous car a lot easier to keep under control.
There really isn’t anything to compete with the Phantom. Bentley no longer sells the Mulsanne, and a Mercedes-Maybach S-Class just isn’t in the same league.
10. Porsche Panamera
Prices from £89,500
Best driving experience
Pros |
Cons |
| Outright speed | Pricey to buy |
| Ride and handling balance | Expensive options |
| Luxury feel | Modest boot capacity |
The third-generation Porsche Panamera follows a very similar formula to its predecessors, but that’s no bad thing as this flagship model is a careful blend of luxury combined with Porsche’s typical sporting flavour.
Many of the cars on this list are well-suited to those who have a chauffeur at their disposal, but the Porsche Panamera is a luxury car that’s best enjoyed by those who are sitting behind the wheel.
Even the entry-level model has a 348bhp twin-turbocharged V6 under the bonnet, so there’s a steady amount of performance punch on offer. The Panamera’s sophisticated chassis means it can handle itself with real composure in the corners, too, making it genuinely fun and exciting to drive.
The trade-off for this level of driver engagement is a firmer and less refined ride than most other luxury cars on this list, but that’s not to say that the Panamera is without its fair share of plushness. Step inside and there’s plenty of room for four passengers, along with lashings of high-quality materials and technology that’s bang up-to-date.
The Porsche Taycan fulfils a similar role in the maker’s range, just with electric power, while sporty versions of models like the Mercedes E-Class and BMW 5-Series also nip at the Panamera’s heels.
“Unless you’re craving that extra sportiness, the base Panamera ticks all the right boxes, while the GTS version offers more than enough of a sharper edge.” – Alex Ingram, chief reviewer, road tested the Panamera in the UK.
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