Did you know that there exists an entire class of cars where the back seat is far more luxurious than the front seat?
Some of these cars even go so far as to completely remove the front passenger seat to allow the rear-right passenger to fully stretch out.
The back seats in these vehicles are so opulent that it requires an entire paragraph just to highlight the minimum features you can expect from a top-tier back-row experience.
Common characteristics shared by all of the best back seats include: fully automatic adjustable seats, second-row climate control, automatic windows, USB chargers, heated seats, and an optional partition.
While these cars range from V6 models with surprising power to perfectly balanced V12s, the interiors are uniformly lavish.
Short of traveling on a private jet, these vehicles offer one of the most indulgent commuting experiences imaginable.
Listed from “least” to “most” luxurious, the following 10 cars will make you appreciate the extraordinary comfort that modern technology permits.
10. Audi A8 L
Starting with a remarkable back seat, the Audi A8 L (for “Luxury”) ranks as the least extravagant on this list.
While Audi typically reserves its most lavish experiences for its sister brand Porsche, this model offers a more understated option with luxurious features.
It’s a fantastic choice for those who want to maintain a low profile while enjoying reclining in genuine leather.The A8 L’s back seat includes a footrest, which is not standard in every luxury vehicle.
It also features dimmable reading lights, 35-degree reclining seats (25 degrees is typical for back seats, 30 degrees for first-class airplane seats), and large screens for each passenger.
A built-in middle armrest offers more storage space, and touchscreen climate controls ensure that both passengers can adjust their comfort.
The seats are spacious enough to accommodate two adults without sacrificing comfort for a child or extra passenger.
9. Porsche Panamera Executive LWB
The Porsche Panamera is the only vehicle on this list capable of reaching 200 miles per hour with minimal modifications.
However, its back seats are equally luxurious, especially in the Executive package, where no detail is overlooked.
While many luxury back seats feature adjustable headrests, the Panamera stands apart with built-in headrests that complement the plush pillows.
The car’s design emphasizes discreet, sporty luxury with many features subtly integrated into the interior.
For example, the lap trays fold in half to be stored next to the passenger under the armrest. The Panamera also includes hidden footrests, similar to the A8 L.
What initially appear to be cupholders are actually pop-up climate control dials—one for each rear seat.
Additional amenities include soft-close doors, built-in internet for streaming, and a large TV screen that can display both entertainment and dashboard information.
8. BMW 7 Series Alpina B7
The BMW 7 Series, particularly in the Alpina B7 variant, offers a more comfortable ride thanks to a longer wheelbase.
Many luxury sedans come with a panoramic sunroof, but the 7 Series features a separate sunroof, so you don’t have to worry about exposing your butler to too much sunlight when you need a little natural light.
Inside, automatic and adjustable mood lighting adds a touch of limousine luxury, while seat position memory ensures that everyone can enjoy the car without disturbing your preferred settings.
The rear seats also come equipped with a touchscreen and a free-floating remote control for media and climate.
The passenger seat can fold all the way up, allowing the rear occupant to stretch their legs fully. Additionally, it boasts one of the largest and most expansive picnic tables in the luxury car market.
The BMW ALPINA B7 has long been at the forefront of the ALPINA lineup, captivating enthusiasts worldwide with its remarkable performance and unparalleled driving experience.
After undergoing significant updates, the BMW ALPINA B7 entered a new era in 2019, offering a blend of sharpness, luxury, and performance.
Featuring an improved drivetrain, a completely revamped design, and cutting-edge driver assistance and connectivity systems, the latest BMW ALPINA B7 is poised to impress even the most discerning customers.
7. Bentley Flying Spur
The Bentley Flying Spur is the brand’s least expensive sedan, but not their least expensive vehicle.
It is just slightly more affordable than the Bentley SUV featured later on this list, yet it still maintains a prestigious position in the luxury cars world.
One of its standout features is the V12 engine, a rarity in the Bentley lineup. While it may cater more to drivers than passengers, the luxury features remain exceptional.
True to Bentley’s reputation, the Flying Spur includes removable climate and seat controls, fold-down desks, and automatic shades.
The car’s soundproofing is top-notch, ensuring a quiet ride. However, what truly sets this model apart in the back seat category is its unique foot massage option.
Additionally, a standard four-beverage fridge is included, securing its place in the middle of this elite list.
With engineering support from Porsche, a single electric motor integrated into the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and a 25.9-kilowatt-hour (net) battery pack enable the Flying Spur to deliver 771 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque.
Despite having four fewer cylinders, this is the most powerful Flying Spur ever produced by the company. The engine generates more torque at lower engine speeds, offers a higher peak torque, and provides greater power output across the entire rev range.
Thanks to this added performance, the car accelerates to sixty half a second quicker than its predecessor. While it no longer reaches 200 mph, the Flying Spur’s top speed of 177 mph remains more than sufficient for an exhilarating drive.
6. Bentley Bentayga
When you step inside the Bentley Bentayga, the first thing you’ll notice is the diamond-stitched leather that adorns every surface, signaling that this is no ordinary vehicle—riding in this SUV will cost you a small fortune.
The Bentayga boasts the widest panoramic sunroof on this list, offering an expansive view and ample headroom, making it easy to feel immersed in its luxurious back seat.
In fact, you might feel as though you’ve entered an entirely different world.
The back seat of the Bentayga is equipped with a 10.2″ touchscreen tablet that controls a variety of features, including Netflix and streaming services, temperature settings, navigation, lighting, lumbar support, and the massage seats.
You can also update destinations and manage media from the tablet, ensuring that your ride is both comfortable and entertaining.
While you can keep the partition up for privacy, removing it provides more legroom, and each passenger has their own climate control system for added comfort.
5. Rolls-Royce Cullinan
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan marks the luxury brand’s successful entry into the world of modern SUVs. At a price point of $330,000, it offers all the features you’d expect from a vehicle in this price range, justifying its cost with unparalleled luxury.
Many features from the Rolls-Royce Phantom are carried over into the Cullinan, but this V12 model provides more ground clearance, headroom, and an even greater sense of exclusivity.
Automatic shades are included for all windows, ensuring privacy and comfort throughout the ride.
The Cullinan is equipped with a wine cooler, and its panoramic sunroof offers a view that will make you feel as though you’re on a luxurious vacation, even if you’re driving through a snowstorm.
The tray table is automatically lowered at the press of a button for convenience.
If you’re looking for an extra touch of class, the Cullinan offers a “Recreation” option, which includes pop-up back seats and a tray filled with fine dining essentials that a dignitary would expect.
4. Rolls-Royce Phantom
The Rolls-Royce Phantom and Cullinan share many similarities, but the Phantom is classified as a “sedan,” even if it weighs as much as an African Forest Elephant.
With its 600-horsepower V12 engine, you can be sure that the back seat experience is nothing short of extraordinary.
In addition to the usual Rolls-Royce luxury features, such as the in-door umbrella and automatically closing suicide doors, the Phantom offers much more.
The Phantom’s rear entertainment screens set it apart, enhancing the luxury experience.
Unlike the Cullinan, the Phantom is priced $100,000 higher, and it certainly justifies this with its exceptional features, including the continued use of an industry-first: star-lit ceilings.
Massage seats, the standard TV, lap tray, and wine storage are all included for ultimate comfort.
To top it off, the Phantom offers the finest sound-deadening in the industry, ensuring a peaceful, undisturbed ride. If that’s not enough, DJ Khaled himself has given it his seal of approval.
3. Bentley Mulsanne
Why does the Bentley Mulsanne cost nearly double the price of the Bentayga, with a price tag of $310,000? Is it because the Mulsanne is a luxurious 18 feet long, features a real wood finish, and includes a wine cooler that’s always lit up?
While those are certainly key factors, there are other details that explain the additional $150,000 in cost.
For one, the Mulsanne offers a convertible option that opens up a whole new world of first-class living. The car also includes automatic shades, seat memory, center storage space, and hidden screens.
As with other top-tier models, the Mulsanne offers quad-zone climate control, allowing each passenger to set their own comfort level.
Our favorite feature, and probably the most cost-effective, is the included stow-away cups that clip into hidden slots—no need for bulky cupholders.
2. Volvo S90 Excellence
The Volvo S90 earns its place on this list largely due to its impressive safety rating. This is the car we would choose if we were in a potentially dangerous situation or navigating Florida traffic.
Yet, it stands out for having one of the most thoughtfully designed back-seat setups available.
So much so that the passenger seat is permanently removed to create room for a VIP passenger, allowing them to stretch their legs a full 50 inches in front of them.
The shoe storage locker in the back is a polite request from the butler to remove your shoes before entering, and the dimmable ambient lighting can be adjusted to suit various moods and needs without relying on cheap color-changing lights.
The Volvo S90 stands out as an upscale luxury sedan with some unique features. One such feature is its size—it is priced similarly to mid-size competitors but offers rear-seat space comparable to full-size models. Another distinctive characteristic is its relative lack of refinement. D
ue to its aging platform and four-cylinder powertrains, the S90 doesn’t offer the same level of road polish as other premium sedans.
The standard B6 model comes with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 48-volt hybrid system, while the T8 offers a much more powerful plug-in hybrid powertrain. Despite its age, the S90’s exterior design and interior details remain modern and attractive.
Two long, adjustable arms hold up a touchscreen display, and a unique tray table with a special notch for your Scotch provides additional convenience.
The inclusion of glasses and a hidden sky-night-light projector gives the car an air of luxury, making it feel like a million-dollar vehicle, even though it costs under $150,000 fully loaded with these features.
1. Mercedes Maybach Pullman
The Mercedes Maybach S600 is a favorite among celebrities and the wealthiest 1%, and it’s easy to see why.
This car is equipped with all the bells and whistles one could ever want: pillows, automatic shades, three TVs, a partition, footrests, lap tables, rear panoramic sunroof controls, and automatic reclining seats.
All of this fits into the enormous 23-foot length of the car three feet longer than a Ford F-150 with the Super Cab and an 8-foot long bed!
The extra length allows for ample legroom, whether you’re an NBA player or enjoying the space with your friends and their manservants seated in the fold-out rear-facing seats.
The automatic shades ensure privacy, and a large TV screen rises above the partition for additional entertainment.
The luxury is further enhanced by hidden music controls, lap desks, and unattached diamond-stitched leather pillows, making this car the ultimate in opulence.
