Skip to main content

These are the definitive top luxury cars in the world right now

These are the best options that luxury car brands have to offer

2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Label review
Miles Branman / The Manual

Few things in life are as enjoyable as going for a drive in a true luxury car. Cruising down the road in a Bentley is an experience that’s almost theatrical. And of, course riding in a Rolls-Royce is the epitome of high-end luxury. From the plush seats to the serene cabin, true luxury cars pamper their passengers in a way that no other vehicle can. Sure, these types of cars can cost as much as houses, but this high cost only adds to their allure.

These cars are not just expensive cars, they are the best luxury cars money can buy today.

2023 Rolls-Royce Phantom sitting on a platform on green grass in front of a stone wall.
Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce Phantom

You’ll have to have deep pockets to afford a Rolls-Royce Phantom, as the luxury sedan has an estimated price tag of over $460,000. But as far as luxury cars go, none can match the Phantom. Its classic design is offset by modern tech, while the twin-turbo V12 engine and lavish interior are qualities that are bespoke to Rolls. For the ultimate luxury experience, the Phantom’s rear seat can be converted into what Rolls-Royce calls a “Privacy Suite.” At the press of a button, you can turn the privacy screen between the front and rear seats opaque, giving you “a completely private sanctuary.” Looking for the absolute best of the best? The Phantom is it.

2023 Cadillac Escalade on a dirt mountain with the sun setting in the back.
Cadillac

Cadillac Escalade

It’s been a long time since Cadillac has made luxury cars that are in the same league as rivals from Germany, but the Escalade has consistently led the charge as the brand’s most upscale offering. The Escalade shines as America’s take on a luxury vehicle, with brash styling, a mega 6.2-liter V8 engine, and 38 inches of digital real estate, including an available augmented reality navigation feature that shows you a live street view from the front of the vehicle instead of a static map. You don’t have to be an enthusiast to identify an Escalade coming down the road.

Orange 2022 Bentley Flying Spur parked in front of mountains with cloud skies in the back.
Bentley

Bentley Flying Spur

The Bentley Flying Spur isn’t the most expensive car in the British marque’s lineup, but it’s right up there as one of its most scrumptious. Not only does the Flying Spur ooze curb appeal, but it backs that up with a posh interior that manages to preserve Bentley’s heritage for stylish designs. Thanks to an available twin-turbo W12 engine that makes 626 hp, the Flying Spur can get one-percenters to their destination in a hurry. And with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, as well as an available rear entertainment system that allows passengers to stream video and music from their phones to built-in touchscreens, they can have fun on the way.

Two 2022 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class sedans parked in front of a white mansion on a brick parking pad with sculptures in the back.
Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Maybach S-Class

For most people, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has more than enough luxury to feel special. For the few who get into an S-Class and want more, there’s the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. While changing “Benz” to “Maybach” may seem like a small change, the Maybach version gets more powerful engines, even more luxurious touches, available fancy rear VIP seats that come with their own tray tables and heated and cooled cupholders, and extra interior space. The front seat passengers also get the VIP treatment with heated and ventilated seats with an available massage feature. With those features, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class feels more like a spa on wheels than just a car.

2022 Bentley Flying Spur in front of a modern house from the driver's side angle with wild grasses in the front.
Land Rover

Land Rover Range Rover

Not many vehicles are fit for royalty like the classic Land Rover Range Rover. Queen Elizabeth IIwas fond of Land Rovers and if they were good enough for her, they’re surely good enough for you. Beyond its superb off-roading capability, the Range Rover has an elegant design that’s unlike any other SUV on the road today. Plus, its suave interior, polished powertrains, and high-tech equipment make it a proper flagship SUV. With available features like 30-color ambient lighting, heated armrests, and a refrigerated center console so you’ll always have cold drinks on hand, you’ll definitely be traveling in royal style.

2023 BMW i7 driving on the road.
BMW

BMW i7 Series

Do you want to go green, but still want to drive in the lap of luxury? Look no further than the all-electric BMW i7 Series. With a range of just over 300 miles, this car can get you just about wherever you want to go in style. And if you do need to charge while on the road, BMW has you covered there with three years of free roadside charging from Electrify America. But don’t worry, you won’t be sacrificing any style, with both the front and rear seats offering heat, ventilation, and massage, as well as an available Panoramic Sky Lounge LED roof with built-in ambient lighting will make you wonder why you didn’t go electric before.

Joel Patel
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Joel Patel is a former contributor for The Manual. His work has also been featured on Autoweek, Digital Trends, Autoblog…
Bob Seger’s gorgeous 1973 Ferrari Dino is being auctioned off right now
You can bid on Bob Seger's 1973 Ferrari Dino right now
1973 Ferrari Dino

There is just something intoxicatingly alluring about a classic Ferrari. It seems as though, over time, the visual drama of these cars somehow gets exponentially enhanced, giving them the capacity to turn non-car people into enthusiasts. Beyond that, even a Detroit-born American rock and roll star like Bob Seger could become the owner of this 1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS, which can now be yours if you have the money and act quickly before the Bring a Trailer auction is over.

Ironically known later for voicing the soundtrack to Chevrolet's thirteen-year-long "Like a Rock" marketing campaign, Seger acquired this Italian stallion from its original owner in the mid-1970s and kept it as a centerpiece of his collection until sometime in the 1980s.

Read more
Jerry Seinfeld is selling Steve McQueen’s Hero Car from ‘Le Mans’
Steve McQueen's Hero Porsche 917 is going up for auction
Porsche 917

We've all browsed through used cars in one way or another. If you're above a certain age, you might have flipped through a free magazine outside a grocery or convenience store. Maybe you glanced over at a used car lot you pass on your daily commute or even just scouted out one of the many car apps out there. But when it comes to high-end, previously owned vehicles, they make it to televised auctions for good reason.

There have been plenty of incredible Porsches built over the years, but rarely do we see a true movie star car in excellent condition come up for sale like this stunning Porsche 917. Beyond just being one of the most iconic race vehicles in the history of the autoverse, this particular car had a starring role and was driven by Steve McQueen in the 1971 film Le Mans and can be yours at Mecum's Kissimmee, Florida auction on January 18th, 2025.

Read more
A new report says these 2 car brands dominate hybrid sales
Honda and Toyota hybrids are the new and used sales leaders
2020 toyota rav4 xse hybrid review 10

When it comes to new and used cars, we all go through the same debates with ourselves. Two-door or four-door? Car, truck, or something in the middle? What exactly is a crossover anyway? Most recently, the most significant and newest question has been whether to go for an EV or ICE-powered vehicle.

Regarding that last question, it turns out that the answer might be somewhere in the middle. Hybrid vehicles offer a great mix of gasoline-powered confidence and familiarity, while the additional hybrid electrical componentry allows those fossil-fueled motors to get better fuel economy than ever before.

Read more