BMW isn’t often considered a maker of the world’s best luxury cars. That’s not because BMW makes bad luxury cars but more of a product of BMW’s own advertising, calling it the “Ultimate Driving Machine”. So it’s more considered a maker of driver’s cars than luxury cars. Despite the relative lack of love for BMW as a luxury car maker, Top Gear seems to place one BMW and two Rolls Royces (under the BMW Group umbrella) on its list of ten best luxury cars.
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What’s crazy is that the lone BMW on the list actually beats out one of the Rolls’ and even a Bentley. The only Bimmer on the list is the BMW 7 Series (interior pictured above) and it came in sixth place, ahead of the Rolls Royce Wraith, Bentley Bentayga, Porsche Panamera and Jaguar XJ. What was TG’s little excerpt about the 7er? “Packed full of tech and beautifully made, but the S-Class is still better.”
The aforementioned Wraith came in seventh place, itself ahead of the Bentley. That’s pretty impressive, because the Bentley is more expensive than the BMW 7 Series and bigger than both it and the Wraith by a huge margin. Though, I distinctly sitting in a Bentley Bentayga immediately after having driven a Rolls Royce Wraith and the quality difference was staggering. There’s no comparison, the Rolls Royce is nicer on the inside.
The other Rolls to make the list was the new Phantom, of course. The Phantom came in third place, which is actually kind of shocking that someone could think of two cars that are more luxurious than the Phantom. Especially when TG says this about the Phantom: “Nothing in life is perfect but the Phantom gets close. An imperious, impeccably engineered automotive experience.”
However, when it comes to price, the Phantom is at a bit of a disadvantage, being that it costs almost double the median cost of a home in America. So when price is factored into it, it’s not absurd to think there are better luxury cars for the money.
What cars beat it out? In second place, TG placed the Range Rover. Admittedly, the Range Rover is a great luxury car and thanks to its incredible off-road capability, it can be luxurious everywhere, all the time. It’s like off-roading in a luxury hotel room. Which car came in first place? The Mercedes-Benz S-Class and it’s hard to argue that. For the money, it’s basically impossible to find something more luxurious. In fact, to find a better luxury car, you have to spend almost four times its price on a Phantom.
[Source: Top Gear]
Mercedes Benz S Class came first place. What else is new?
Consider the source. Mercedes is a mass production fleet vehicle built by a truck manufacturer driven by cabbies. Rolls-Royce is a bespoke vehicle on a waitlist driven by chauffeurs.
considering even if bmw owns rr but it’s not a direct competitor to the s class. bmw selling target is against mercedes. that’s what their aiming for.
You have that reversed, why Daimler keep trying to revive Maybach. Unsuccessfully.
top gear put mercedes #1 for a reason. i wouldn’t say “unsuccessfully” is the word you’re looking for. i would say more like revived.
One should never consider money when it comes to RR. For it to loose out because of cost, is like taking out all the diamonds in the queen’s crown and then judging it for value.
This is clearly biased and nonsensical.
I am surprised at the 7 being there at all. Are they finally admitting they’ve been wrong about it all along?
This is very subjective, the A8 should be off the list, the same goes with Rolls, and Bentley, they are far too ugly, even Range Rover doesn’t look like a top luxury vehicle. This word “luxury” in this segment is not enough, they should have measured it in terms of exterior design, interior design, and take out some of the ridiculous elements like umbrellas, and so on. Luxury is good, but this is not a house, its a car, its luxury that makes sense. The Lexus LS should be in here, and the X7 should also be in here also. The S, and the 7 are automatic, because one goes more on eye popping style, and the other one is high end luxury with tech that makes sense, neither are equipped with items that doesn’t match the vehicle. You take a look at Range Rover exterior, it doesn’t match the interior in terms of look, and its design style doesn’t quite live up to this segment. Even the D5 A8, the Prologue looks better, and with all the bells and whistles, the reported reviews have shown transmission kickdown, is so unresponsive, and its new suspension suppose to top the two German rivals, didn’t really show up that well in real test, plus all new throw ins on their new stylistic displays, didn’t take into consideration of fingerprints, as well as far too much info cramped on their displays. Cool may be the word, but driver only wants to look cool, but how cool will that be, if he has to take his eyes off for so long in order to press the right button.
Subjectivity puts the BMWs on top, Bespoke & Individual allow for far greater individualization, the Mercedes is a fleet taxi & the Rover an off-road agricultural vehicle by comparison. Going by price & waitlists, Rolls- Royce are on top. X7 is so new it wouldn’t have been available for comparison testing. And Top Gear are very subjective. Almost British.
top gear is pretty much like ign of car magazines.
They think so. CAPS!
well top gear is pretty much of a big deal when it comes to car reviews to aren’t they? tbh in clarkson, may and hammond days.
The Phantom interior looks like a truck, eww.
A truck that, as the article points out, has a nicer interior than a Bentley. Guess youve never driven a truck if you think they’re leather- & wood-lined.
I’m sure the materials are top class, but the design is not. The huge vertical square console would have looked a little bit less out of place in a Cullinan (which I assumed it was before I read the text).
Thank gawd you have other brands to spend your half million on!
Me too don’t like the interior of Phantom.
The Phantom is at a bit of a disadvantage, being that it costs almost double the median cost of a home in America.
I can’t take –
1. S being above the RRs. Even after considering all the cost differences, the RRs are had and shoulder ( and feet) above the rest even after considering the Maybach edition. Period.
2. Jaguar XJ making a cut into this list. However cool it is, it is very long in the tooth now. It can be here if there are only 10 contenders for 10 spots. If that is the case then its fine.