Luxury sedans have long been designed with comfort as their primary focus, featuring lavish interiors with soft leather upholstery, wooden dashboards, and solid metal accents. While these features remain, modern luxury sedans must also offer impressive performance to stay competitive, often rivaling sports cars in speed and power.
Historically, these vehicles housed large engines, but their output wasn’t always groundbreaking. However, by the 1990s, manufacturers recognized the need for powerful engines to complement their opulent designs, leading to models like the Mercedes-Benz S600 with a 400-hp V12 and BMW’s performance-oriented 7-Series.
As competition intensified, luxury sedans became increasingly powerful, with brands constantly attempting to outdo each other. This resulted in high-performance models like the twin-turbocharged Audi S8 and, more recently, the Lucid Air, which combines top-tier luxury with hypercar-level power.
Today, the market is flooded with performance-focused luxury sedans, making it incredibly challenging for buyers to choose the perfect one. With so many options available, selecting the best luxury sedan can be as daunting as learning to defuse a bomb.
1. 2012 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class represents peak luxury with advanced technology and supreme comfort. Mercedes handed it to AMG, which transformed it into a high-performance beast by adding a twin-turbo V12. This powerhouse delivers 604 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque, making it a luxurious yet thrilling ride.
The immense power means the rear tires struggle for grip, adding excitement to the driving experience. This AMG-tuned S-Class blends opulence with extreme performance, making it a unique luxury sedan that appeals to both comfort seekers and motoring enthusiasts.
2. 2021 BMW M760Li
To outdo the Mercedes S65 AMG, BMW created the M760Li, a twin-turbo V12 luxury sedan with a 6.6-liter engine derived from Rolls-Royce’s 6.75-liter V12.
Producing 604 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, it features all-wheel drive and exclusive luxury touches. Unlike its rival, the M760Li balances performance with refinement. Unfortunately, the V12 didn’t carry over to the latest 7 Series—perhaps a fitting end, given its polarizing front-end design.
3. 2017 Audi S8 Plus
The Audi A8 is VW Group’s answer to the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7-Series, offering luxury with a sporty edge. For those who prefer driving themselves, the S8 features a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 from the RS6 and RS7 in a refined package.
The S8 Plus boosts performance to 605 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. ABT further enhanced it into a true sports sedan, adding aggressive styling that makes it look like a supervillain’s perfect ride.
4. 2019 Jaguar XJ-R
The Jaguar XJ is no more, as Jaguar scrapped its planned electric successor due to financial issues. This leaves the previous generation XJ, with the XJR being its ultimate version. Powered by a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 from the F-Type R, it delivers 575 hp.
The XJR features a sportier body kit, upgraded wheels, and an enhanced interior with R branding. As a result, it remains a compelling alternative to the BMW 7-Series, Mercedes S-Class, and Audi A8.
5. 2023 Rolls-Royce Ghost II
The Rolls-Royce Ghost II is the best iteration of the Ghost nameplate, standing apart from its predecessor, which was essentially a cheaper Phantom. Unlike before, the Ghost II is its own distinct model, featuring a powerful 6.75-liter V12 and, for the first time in a Rolls-Royce sedan, all-wheel drive.
Its development focused on refinement, even addressing excessive cabin silence that made passengers ill. Rolls-Royce resolved this, and Brabus took it further by adding a sportier exhaust, perfectly balancing luxury and performance.
6. 2023 Bentley Flying Spur Speed
The Bentley Flying Spur Speed perfectly combines ultra-luxury with supercar-rivaling performance, making it the fastest sedan in the world.
Nearly as opulent as a Rolls-Royce, it features a 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 producing 626 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque, sent to all four wheels through Porsche’s 8-speed PDK transmission. Thanks to this exceptional engineering, the Flying Spur Speed reaches a top speed of 211 mph, offering an unmatched blend of comfort and high-speed capability.
7. 2023 Porsche Panamera Turbo S
The Porsche Panamera is Stuttgart’s vision of a four-door sports sedan, though it’s technically a liftback and also available as a wagon. The top-tier Panamera Turbo S e-Hybrid pairs a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with electric power, delivering an impressive 690 hp and 642 lb-ft of torque.
While the original Panamera was criticized for its looks, its performance rivaled the best. Porsche refined the styling in the second generation, making it more elegant and appealing to a broader audience.
8. 2011 Maserati Quattroporte V
The Maserati Quattroporte is the closest thing to a four-door Ferrari, with past models based on GTs and the BiTurbo. The fifth-generation Quattroporte stood apart, featuring a Ferrari-built V8. This Italian masterpiece blends stunning design, complex technology, and notorious reliability issues, with service costs that would make even Jay Leno think twice.
However, the GTS model’s incredible exhaust note and sharp handling make up for its flaws, delivering a thrilling driving experience while still offering a comfortable and luxurious ride when needed.
9. 2023 Lucid Air Grand Touring
When former Tesla engineers, frustrated by overwork, left to create something better, they founded Lucid Motors. Their debut model, the Lucid Air, is a groundbreaking electric sedan with a somewhat unusual name but incredible performance.
With power ranging from 600 to 1,200 hp, it offers both luxury and track-worthy speed. Whether cruising in comfort or setting blistering lap times, the Air excels in all aspects, earning its place as the electric equivalent of the BMW M5. Lucid Motors proves that innovation thrives when talent is given the freedom to push boundaries.
10. 2001 BMW 750i
The BMW E38 7-Series may seem like an odd choice, but it’s widely regarded by enthusiasts, engineers, and designers as one of the best sedan designs ever. Surprisingly, the V12-powered 750i is the most reliable engine option, adding to its desirability.
While it lacks the luxury and technology of modern counterparts, its affordability on the used market makes it a bargain. The E38 looks classic rather than outdated, and the M-Sport model, with sporty bumpers and double-spoke wheels, remains effortlessly cool.
Luxury sedans have become the perfect fusion of comfort, style, and performance, offering everything from handcrafted interiors to supercar-level speed. Whether it’s the timeless appeal of a Rolls-Royce, the brute force of a Bentley, or the innovation of an electric Lucid, these cars cater to drivers who demand both refinement and power.
As technology progresses and competition grows fiercer, luxury sedans will continue to evolve, setting new benchmarks in design, engineering, and driving experience while maintaining their status as the ultimate expression of automotive excellence.
Also Read: 10 Cars That Are Known for the Most Expensive Repairs and Costly Long-Term Maintenance
