Alex Kwanten, Andrew Wendler
Editor, Deputy Editor
Updated: Aug 11, 2023
Forbes Wheels independently tests and reviews cars and automotive accessories. We may earn an affiliate commission from links on our site. The analysis and opinions are our own.
Big, traditional luxury sedans might not be as popular in the U.S. as they once were, but to global automakers their importance hasn’t changed. Just as they have for decades now, these flagships are meant to be the best of the best, rolling showcases of their talents at comfort, design, performance and cutting-edge technology. All are fast and feature-packed, and rolling up in one is still a sure-fire symbol of success. They are big, it’s the market that got small.
Like all sectors of the U.S. car market, SUVs have taken a big bite out of sales, and traditional gas-powered luxury cars also face new electric competitors, which we rank separately. For the first time, in 2023 both BMW and Mercedes-Benz, long dominant in the luxury liner universe, both offer electric analogs to their traditional gas-powered flagships, the i7 and EQS to the 7 Series and S-Class.
But these models are global flagships and still very popular in certain markets, particularly China. That country’s tastes have shaped the last decade of luxury sedan evolution and led to increased competition—always good for consumers looking for the newest, latest and coolest machinery.
Though introduced as a midsize model in 2017, Volvo added a long-wheelbase version of the S90 sedan just for China that same year, only to have it supplant the standard-size car in the U.S. in 2018. The S90 is the smallest car on this list, but it’s also the most affordable. Porsche’s Panamera also got a long version for China which was then offered elsewhere. For 2023 the BMW 7 Series comes only in long form all over the world.
Since most luxury automakers seem committed to electrification by 2030 and EVs are a much bigger piece of the pie in China, it’s likely that the current generations of these big cars will be the last ones powered by petroleum. This has not stopped automakers from raising their game, and along with this year’s new BMW 7 Series, there’s also the sleek new Genesis G90, which has gone from staid to svelte in a single bound. We also expect its score to rise once crash test data comes in later this year.
Our list of the best luxury cars for 2023 contains a mixture of 2022 and 2023 models due to supply chain and model introduction delays, but beyond Genesis and BMW, most entries in this class get only modest changes for 2023.
To compile our entries, we utilized our standard criteria as detailed at the bottom of the list along with considering the quality of materials and level of workmanship, brand cachet and legacy, available tech, performance and luxury features. As we rank midsize luxury cars separately, all models had to fit our full-size criteria and be longer than 197 inches.
Read Less Read More
Show Summary
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class The Historic Gold Standard Of Traditional Luxury Sedans
- 2023 Bentley Flying Spur As Fast And Satisfying As It Is Expensive
- 2023 BMW 7 Series After Decades Of Aiming For the S-Class, BMW Hits The Bullseye
- 2023 Genesis G90 The Upstart That Plays To Win
- 2023 Volvo S90 Full-Size Luxury At A Midsize Price
- 2022 Porsche Panamera A Supersedan To Be Driven, Not Driven In
- 2023 Audi A8 The Classic Q-Car
- 2023 Lexus LS Affordable And Assuring, But Compromised
2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Price Starting From
$114,500
via CarsDirect
Read Review
Why We Picked It
Long the standard against which other full-size luxury sedans are measured, it’s highly unusual to see the S-Class anywhere but at the top of the pack, but its victory this year is a very narrow one. BMW’s new 7 Series wows with similar comforts and performance but some truly unique features at a lower price and though it leans heavily on style and value, so does Genesis. In many respects though, the S-Class is still the gold standard of this class. ‘Twas ever thus. While both BMW and Mercedes layer on loads of technology features, the latter’s MBUX infotainment system is easier to use. Both offer six and eight-cylinder power, but the base-model S 500 is quite a bit more powerful than the 740i, and faster overall. Both offer sybaritic confines, but the S-Class has fractionally more room and a prettier styling inside and out. (though that last point is in the eye of the belolder). Genesis’ new G90 offers iconoclastic style and lots of standard gear, but both Germans offer more speed and much larger back seats. The S-Class, as usual, just does everything exceedingly well even if the price is pretty steep at nearly $115,000 to start. Notably though, BMW offers three years of compimentary maintenance and Genesis a decade-long powertrain warranty, among other extras. Both the S 500 and S 580 are dynamic to drive despite their weight and plenty fast, with one of the comfiest and plushest interiors on the market. If that’s not enough though, later this year the all-conquering Mercedes-AMG S 63 hot rod will return after a two-year absence, upping the S-Class’ game once again albeit at a towering $200,000+ price.
Pros & Cons
- Elegant exterior styling and customizable interior
- Superior engine choices
- Commanding on-road presence
- Feels as large as it is
- Well above six figures to start, and some variations can climb much higher
- Trunk is too small for such a big car (12.3 cubic-feet)
2023 Bentley Flying Spur
Price Starting From
$211,325
Read Review
Why We Picked It
Long, low and sleek, the Bentley Flying Spur is one of the most satisfying and exotic-feeling sedans money can buy. It’s extremely comfortable, it has luxury bona fides almost no other car can match, it’s lots of fun to drive and it happens to look great too. Of course, it costs the earth, as you’d expect from an almost tailor-made ultra-luxury product. Each of its trio of twin-turbo powertrains, a plug-in hybrid V6, a burly V8 and the automaker’s famous W12, offer lighting speed, with zero-to-60 times of 4.1 seconds or less and a top speed of over 200 mph, as well as silky-smooth operation. This is a luxury machine, and it cossets drivers and passengers while also handling in ways that entirely belie its huge size and weight. Inside, it’s as luxurious and roomy as you’d expect, and there’s a nearly endless list of customization choices. Of course, you’ll have to pay (very) handsomely to get it one, pay extra for driver-assist gear that some much less expensive rivals come with standard, and you’ll and pay plenty at the pump even with the PHEV. But hey, nobody’s perfect.
Pros & Cons
- Undeniably stylish, with curb appeal other sedans can’t match
- Supremely comfortable and quiet, and practical too
- Lots of fun to drive, with three great powertrain choices
- Stratospheric price
- Muscle car fuel economy
- Driver assist gear costs extra
2023 BMW 7 Series
Price Starting From
$93,300
via CarsDirect
Read Review
Why We Picked It
Arch rival to the S-Class since the 1970s, the BMW 7 Series is all new for 2023 and for the first time seems to have landed all of its punches against its Mercedes opponent. While BMW prides itself on performance and driving satisfaction, the 7 Series has to fill a dual role of sports sedan and luxury limo. To an extent, that’s always given it a very different personality and one less about all-out luxury than the Merc, but this new version matches its opponent in lots of ways while costing less. BMW’s designers have crafted the largest, most luxurious 7 Series ever without sacrificing its sporty DNA. There are two gas versions to start with, the six-cylinder 740i (375 hp) and the V8 760i (536 hp), but there’s also a fully-electric version, the i7, and a plug-in hybrid 745e will arrive this summer. While it’s not an M3, the 7 Series is a sharp driver with keen handling for a car the size of Ford Crown Victoria, and more than capable of keeping up with the S-Class. It features a huge cabin with rear seat space fit for NBA centers and only fractionally less room than the S-Class or Audi A8. It’s uncontroversially handsome on the outside and the cabin is beautiful, too, with crystal-like detailwork and wild options including a drop-down movie screen and cashmere-blend fabrics. BMW has also integrated its new curved display dashboard and iDrive 8 operating system, but if the new 7 has weak spots, they’re the complexity of these systems and that its best active-safety gear is optional. The new 7 Series also overachieves in other areas, besting Lexus’ hybrid LS in fuel economy, having much more rear seat space than Genesis and offering more cargo room than Mercedes-Benz and Audi.
Pros & Cons
- Bigger and more luxurious than any previous 7 Series
- Deft blend of sports sedan and luxury limo without sacrificing precision or comfort
- Loads of cool features and new luxury touches
- Overly complex infotainment and control systems have a steep learning curve
- More conservative to look at that any recent 7 Series, but still an opinion splitter on style
- Getting the all the good driver-assist gear costs extra
Also Featured In
#10 in Best Plug-In Hybrids For 2023
2023 Genesis G90
Price Starting From
$88,400
via CarsDirect
Read Review
Why We Picked It
As soon as Genesis teased its new G90 in the fall of 2021 it was clear that it would have a major impact on the luxury sedan class. The up-and-coming Korean luxury brand has been churning out hit after hit for the last four years, and with its 2023 redesign, the G90 has morphed from an almost Cadillac Brougham-like traditionalist to the most stylish vehicle in the class. Sleek, muscular and extroverted, the G90 is unburdened by the traditions of past models and free to be as characterful as a Lady Gaga outfit. Like other recent Genesis models, the new G90 is strong on value, though it doesn’t undercut its direct competitors as much as the smaller Genesis cars do on price. It starts at $90,100, but for this you get concierge services, a comprehensive and lengthy suite of active-safety features and the automaker’s best-in-class warranty coverage along with all the inherent virtues of the car. Of course, style is high on the list. It looks great inside and out, and its infotainment system and controls are easier to master than those at BMW or Mercedes-Benz. There are two V6s of 365 or 409 hp and plenty of power even if the handling is more boulevardier than sports sedan. It’s also very comfy. But the G90 does have weak points. The back seat is the smallest in this class and it drinks more fuel than other big sedans. That said, this characterful car can definitely hold its own with the Germans.
Pros & Cons
- Standout styling inside and out
- Lots of standard features, including long warranty and concierge services
- Smooth and luxurious to drive
- Overall performance and fuel economy lag rivals
- Still an unknown name
- Smaller backseat than many rivals, but not “small”
2023 Volvo S90
Price Starting From
$57,000
via CarsDirect
Read Review
Why We Picked It
Technically, the Volvo S90 is a stretched version of a midsize car, and on price it actually matches up with cars like the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 and Genesis G80. But Volvo dropped the regular-wheelbase version in 2018 and hasn’t looked back. This car has a larger back seat than the Genesis G90, offers the only plug-in hybrid option in the class and has a distinctive, luxurious style of its own. Also, not for nothing, it’s a bargain. For the price of a Mercedes-Benz S 500 you can get two base-model S90s. At a pinch over 200 inches long, the S90 is smaller than all the other cars on this list except the Porsche Panamera, but it doesn’t look or feel it. With more than 40 inches of rear legroom, created at the best of chauffer-driven Chinese buyers, it’s exceedingly roomy and as luxurious inside as the Lexus LS. Though it might not be as prestigious as the BMW 7 Series or Mercedes S-Class, it doesn’t disappoint on features or style either, offering some things standard (like its hefty suite of active safety gear) that BMW makes you pay extra for. Of course, to get the speed of the other luxe cars in this set, you need to opt for the top trim. There are two powertrains, a 295-horsepower mild-hybrid-assist turbocharged four sits under most S90 hoods, but the best and fastest version is the Recharge PHEV. That powertrain belts out 455 horsepower and can rocket the S90 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. It’s closer to Genesis than BMW in how it handles, but that’s still serious speed. It’ll also do 38 miles of fully-electric range, something no other vehicle in this class can.
Pros & Cons
- Midsize car price but full-size luxury and performance
- Handsome, distinctive design inside and out
- Punchy PHEV option, lots of standard safety gear
- Some strange equipment omissions, like a powered adjustable steering column
- Base model mild-hybrid four-cylinder is the lowest-powered car in the class
- Not quite as refined as other top-tier luxury sedans
2022 Porsche Panamera
Price Starting From
$88,400
Read Review
Why We Picked It
An outlier in lots of ways, the Porsche Panamera is not only a sports sedan in a class full of wannabe limousines, it also offers the widest range of configuration and personalization choices of any car on this list. The standard Panamera sedan is the smallest car on this list, but Porsche also offers a long-wheelbase version that offers a much larger backseat for luxury-minded buyers. On top of that, it also builds the Panamera Sport Turismo, which is a hatchback-like station wagon with a much more useful cargo area and even more pleasing styling. Of course, these practical considerations are serious backseat matters in any Porsche, and what this car does best is performance. The lower-end V6 models can have 335 or 443 horsepower, rear or all-wheel drive and various stages of tune. Then there are two V8s of 473 and 620 horsepower. Not enough? Well, at the top are the E-hybrid V6 (455 hp) and E-Hybrid V8 (690 hp), with that last one capable of reaching 60 mph in a scorching 2.9 seconds. These are supersedans, and they drive and look like slinky sports cars that just happen to have four doors and luxury interiors. Porsches are expensive, of course, and fully optioning a Panamera Turbo S Executive will put you over $200,000. The lower-end versions, however, start at prices similar to other cars in this set, though with less room and fewer features. Also sadly, the long-wheelbase Executive setup is not available on the Sport Turismo and Porsche makes you pay extra for lots of features. Still, this is easily the most satisfying large sedan to drive fast, and one that stands out from the crowd in all the right ways.
Pros & Cons
- Supersedan performance
- Lots of different customization choices, including long-wheelbase and hatchback variants
- A sextet of powerful engine options with up to 690 horsepower
- Towering price on higher-end models, and many options are extra cost
- Small interior and back seat on standard-wheelbase models relative to competitors
- Basic cabin design compared to rivals
2023 Audi A8
Price Starting From
$86,500
via CarsDirect
Read Review
Why We Picked It
The Audi A8 has always been the most understated, and often underrated, car in this class. The automaker’s evolutionary design approach mines styling themes that go back to the 1960s and the A8 never seems to appear to change very much even when it gets a major redesign. That last happened back in 2019, but Audi gave the A8 and its sporty S8 sister a refresh in 2022 and hasn’t changed them at all this year. Whether it’s enough to differentiate it from previous models is in the eye of the beholder, but the recipe remains largely the same. The U.S.-model A8 and S8 come only in long-wheelbase form and they have the largest back seat (by measurement) in this big class, with a massive 44 inches of rear legroom. It’s a hushed cabin, too, and as visually restrained as the exterior. It feels luxurious without being self-conscious or gimmicky, although it might be too subtle (inside and out) for some buyers who want to stand out. From a distance, it can be hard to tell the A8 apart from its smaller A6 sibling. Audi does not skimp on features, but adaptive headlights and some of the newer, fancier items on the 7 Series and S-Class are not found here, and some driver-assist gear (like adaptive cruise control) costs extra. Both optional powertrains are smooth and sweet, though the A8’s standard 335-horsepower V6 isn’t as powerful as some other base engines. The S8, however, is a rollicking good time in a business suit wrapper. The A8’s style has to fit your preferences, but it’s satisfying to drive or be driven in.
Pros & Cons
- Smooth and potent V6 and V8 engines
- Biggest rear cabin in the class
- Subtle and understated but luxurious within
- Design might be too subtle, and easily mistaken for cheaper A6
- Aging design lacks some features now found on newer rivals
- So-so fuel economy, no hybrid or PHEV versions
Also Featured In
#11 in Best Plug-In Hybrids For 2023
2023 Lexus LS
Price Starting From
$78,535
Read Review
Why We Picked It
Lexus’ longtime luxury flagship, the LS was the car that launched the Japanese automaker 34 years ago. After that, the upstart became the most conservative luxury car on the market, but sales began to fall after the great recession, so Lexus radically reinvented it in 2018. The wild wasp-waisted styling and giant spindle grille give the current-generation LS a very aggressive look, easily the most daring of the current crop of luxury limos. The problem is that the aggro visuals don’t really fit the car’s soothing personality, and sales haven’t rebounded. However, there’s still plenty to like on the 2023 LS. This year the automaker has given the big sedan it’s latest infotainment system, complete with a very useful voice assistant. Best of all, it’s the most affordable of the top-tier big luxury cars (Volvo’s S90 is really a stretched midsize). It undercuts the starting prices of its German competitors by as much as $30,000 and its best models are the entry-level ones, which come with lots of kit the Germans make you pay extra for. The best one to have is the standard twin-turbo V6. There’s a hybrid version too, but its fuel economy is no longer best in class (thanks to the BMW 740i), it’s not much fun to drive and its huge price, more than $114,000 makes it uncompetitive. The twin-turbos, however, start at just $78,835 and provide plenty of oomph.
Pros & Cons
- Reassuringly well made and luxurious
- Quiet and refined, but fairly fun in F-Sport form
- The least expensive of the top-tier luxury sedans
- Notas opulent as the alternatives, and no V8 or true performance option
- Aggro =styling at odds with smooth personality, luxury mission
- Absurdly expensive hybrid gets only okay MPG and isn’t much fun to drive
At a Glance
Cars Price Mileage Rating
2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Price
$114,500
Mileage
21 (2022) City / 30 (2022) Hwy
Rating
87 /100
2023 Bentley Flying Spur
2023 Bentley Flying Spur
Price
$211,325
Mileage
15 City / 22 Hwy
Rating
86 /100
2023 BMW 7 Series
2023 BMW 7 Series
Price
$93,300
Mileage
25 City / 31 Hwy
Rating
86 /100
2023 Genesis G90
2023 Genesis G90
Price
$88,400
Mileage
18 City / 26 Hwy
Rating
84 /100
2023 Volvo S90
2023 Volvo S90
Price
$57,000
Mileage
23 City / 32 Hwy
Rating
83 /100
2022 Porsche Panamera
2022 Porsche Panamera
Price
$88,400
Mileage
18 City / 24 Hwy
Rating
81 /100
2023 Audi A8
2023 Audi A8
Price
$86,500
Mileage
19 City / 28 Hwy
Rating
80 /100
2023 Lexus LS
2023 Lexus LS
Price
$78,535
Mileage
18 City / 28 Hwy
Rating
77 /100
Methodology
Our evaluation
We sorted our luxury cars by their overall rating as assigned by Forbes Wheels team of experts. Due to supply chain and vehicle availability delays, our list contains a mixture of 2022 and 2023 models. Our rating methodology expanded from five to seven categories for 2022 and remains unchanged for 2023.
For 2023, our ratings categories are:
- Performance
- Fuel Economy
- Safety
- Infotainment
- Comfort & Room
- Cargo Space & Storage
- Style & Design
Overall: 100 points
- Performance (15 points) The Performance score is a subjective assessment of a vehicle’s handling, braking, acceleration, ride quality and other qualitative performance measures such as horsepower, torque, zero-to-60 time and top speed. Towing capability for trucks and SUVs also is considered. Performance of the vehicles is compared against the identified competitive set. While driving, reviewers look for attributes relative to the expectations set by the manufacturer and by consumer expectations.
- Range, Energy Use & Charging (15 points) The Fuel Economy score is based on the combined mpg estimate for the entire model lineup and how that figure measures against the identified competitive set. The mpg estimates are based on EPA data or the manufacturer if no EPA data is available. Scoring for pure electric vehicles will be based on kilowatts consumed per 100 miles and the comparative mile per gallon equivalent, or MPGe.
- Safety (15 points) The Safety score is based on crash test results from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Vehicles not yet rated by either agency receive zero points. Also included in the safety rating are points awarded for certain advanced driver-assistance safety features offered as standard equipment on the base trim. There are nine safety features Forbes Wheels considers mandatory for the standard offering: forward emergency automatic braking, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning or one its higher-level variants, lane keeping assistance or lane centering. Vehicles must have at least four of these in their standard offering to receive points. Vehicles that offer a Level 2 self-driving system, (a combination of adaptive cruise control and lane centering) are eligible for a bonus point.
- Infotainment (15 points) The Infotainment score is based on points awarded for certain features offered as standard equipment on the base trim. Forbes Wheels identifies certain features that are growing in popularity and therefore have been adopted by both premium and mainstream automakers. Some of these features include a minimum 7-inch touchscreen (or premium vehicles that use a rotary knob, touchpad or other mechanism to control a non-touchscreen display), wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a customizable, digital driver information display or instrument panel and at least 2 USB ports. Additional points are awarded for popular features that haven’t been widely adopted in mainstream vehicles such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and wireless charging capabilities.
- Comfort & Room (15 points) The Comfort & Room score is based on points awarded for the reviewer’s assessment of the vehicle’s comfort, ergonomics and overall interior feel as well as effective use of space. Points also are awarded for the measurement of rear-seat legroom and how it compares with the identified competitive set. Vehicles that offer a segment-best legroom in either rear seat or optional third row are eligible for a bonus point.
- Cargo Space & Storage (15 points) The Cargo Space & Storage score is based on points awarded for the reviewer’s assessment of the vehicle’s large and small cargo spaces (as well as small-item storage) and how well they serve their purpose and effective use of space. Reviewers also consider innovative storage solutions and flexible loading features. Points also are awarded for the cargo space measurements for rear cargo hold or trunk and how it compares with the identified competitive set. Vehicles that offer a segment-best cargo or trunk space are eligible for a bonus point.
- Styling (10 points) The Style score is a subjective assessment of a vehicle’s overall styling and design, inside and out. Reviewers also consider the configuration of the interior and how well the design plays into the function. Build quality also is a consideration.