We’ve spent time behind the wheel of the best luxury cars in the world, and for this article, we’re using those experiences to compile a list of the top brands. Price often remains the biggest determining factor when compiling a list of the best luxury cars. However, some brands, such as Lexus, have vehicles priced as low as AU$48,000, so it doesn’t always tell the complete story. Quite often, the most expensive vehicle in the brand’s lineup showcases luxury features that will eventually find their way into more affordable models.
To provide a balanced list, we’re using our decade of personal experience in the automotive industry to decide where each brand is ranked before explaining the features, benefits, sales figures, and overall experience that comes with driving (or being driven in) one of these vehicles. Let’s look at the best, starting with Rolls-Royce.
Best Luxury Car Brands at a Glance
Highlights from our list include the following options:
Now we’ve read our favourites, let’s check out the complete list.
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1. Rolls-Royce
Price: from AU$644,650 (Rolls-Royce Ghost)
Number of sales in Australia (Jan-June, 2024): 26 (+23.8%)
- Owner: BMW
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Founder: Rolls-Royce
- Founded: 10 February 2011, Manchester, United Kingdom
The best luxury car brand in the world is Rolls-Royce. We’ve had the pleasure of spending time with two of their latest models, Spectre and Cullinan Series II, and no brand on earth offers this level of attention to detail, quality, and comfort. The best example of this is the leather used in the cabin. It’s sourced from highland cows because mosquitos never penetrate their hides, which can cause small holes in the raw material. The leather is also sourced from cows that live in fields with no rocks, fences, or trees to prevent the leather from being damaged while the animal matures. It’s next-level stuff.
Rolls-Royce sales have increased in Australia through the first half of this year, during which the brand has delivered 26 new cars (a 23.8% increase).
This sales increase has not been driven by the Rolls-Royce Phantom sedan but by the Spectre EV ($770,000) and Cullinan SUV ($777,000). This cements new information provided by the brand that says less than 10 per cent of their vehicles are chauffeur-driven today, which is a stark difference from the 70 per cent of vehicles that were chauffeur-driven in 2018. We’d still prefer to sit in the back with our champagne flutes and Rolls-Royce whisky decanter within arm’s reach.
2. Bentley
Price: from AU$395,800 (Bentley Bentayga V8)
Number of sales in Australia (Jan-June, 2024): 102 (-7.3%)
- Owner: Volkswagen Group
- Headquarters: Crewe, United Kingdom
- Founder: W. O. Bentley, H. M. Bentley
- Founded: 18 January 1919, Cricklewood, London, United Kingdom
Bentley is the world’s second-best luxury car brand, but that’s high praise when you consider Rolls-Royce sits at the top of this list.
Owned by Volkswagen Group, you would never be able to tell that some of these vehicles are platform-shared with Porsches, Audis, and even Volkswagens because they drive incredibly well and are amongst the most comfortable vehicles on the road today. Take a seat in a Bentley, and you’re immediately overwhelmed by the smell of high-quality leather and the attention to detail, and that’s before you’ve even laid eyes on the finish of the woods.
The brand has seen a slight sales slip through the first half of this year, but that’s sure to bounce back once the new Bentley Continental GT arrives. Still, they’re in a comfortable position and sit right around Ferrari, ahead of Aston Martin, in terms of sales.
3. Aston Martin
Price: from AU$410,000 (Aston Martin Vantage)
Number of sales in Australia (Jan-June, 2024): 86 (-1.1%)
- Parent organisation: Aston Martin Lagonda Group Limited
- Headquarters: Gaydon, United Kingdom
- Founders: Lionel Martin, Robert Bamford
- Founded: 15 January 1913, London, United Kingdom
Known for making the best-looking sports cars on the planet, Aston Martin has revised its entire model portfolio under the watchful eye of executive chairman Lawrence Stroll—who invested $235 million into the company—and has transformed the brand into one of the top luxury car brands in the world.
We’ve spent time in the Aston Martin DBX SUV on both road and track, but the new Aston Martin DB12 stood out as one of the best luxury vehicles we’ve driven this year. The interior is gorgeous and beautifully crafted, the twin-turbo V8 produces a gorgeous sound-track, and finally, the in-house developed infotainment screen has transformed the technology inside the cabin. You can check out our video review of the new DB12 on our YouTube channel.
Aston Martin’s sales have been slow this year, with the 86 cars sold through the halfway point representing a 1.1% decrease. However, we’d expect that to change once the updated DBX arrives alongside the more affordable Aston Martin Vantage sports car and flagship V12 twin-turbo Vanquish in limited numbers.
4. Mercedes-Maybach
Price: from AU$368,500 (Mercedes-Maybach S-Class)
Number of sales in Australia (Jan-June, 2024): N/A
- Owner: Mercedes-Benz AG
- Headquarters: Stuttgart, Germany
- Founder: Wilhelm Maybach
- Founded: 1909, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany
Daimler-Benz acquired Maybach in 1960 and turned it into a stand-alone product in 2002 with the Maybach 57 (chassis code W240) and 62 (chassis code V240).
More recently, the Maybach name was merged with Mercedes-Benz in 2015 after slow sales of their bespoke Rolls-Royce rivalling vehicles. Still, the brand produces some of the highest-quality vehicles by elevating flagship Mercedes-Benz products with bespoke interiors and exterior designs.
The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class remains the flagship sedan, while the new all-electric EQS 680 SUV and soon-to-arrive SL680 convertible showcase the future of this sub-brand.
Sales-wise, Mercedes-Maybach does not disclose the number of sales of its sub-brands. However, the S-Class model line-up has struggled with sales this year, with the 15 cars sold down on the 55 sold during the same period the previous year (-72.7%). We’re still to welcome the EQS 680 SUV and SL 680 convertible.
5. Range Rover
Price: from AU$139,000 (Range Rover Sport)
Number of sales in Australia (Jan-June, 2024): 4,018 (+8.2%)
- Owner: Jaguar Land Rover (JLR)
- Parent organizations: Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Motors
- Headquarters: Whitley, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Founder: British Leyland
- Founded: 1978
Range Rover wants to challenge the likes of Bentley and Aston Martin with its flagship Range Rover, and it’s well on its way. There’s nearly limitless customisation, next-level suspension technology for comfort, and interiors that are the automotive equivalent of sitting inside a designer purse.
We visited the Range Rover by SV Bespoke suite in Coventry last year, and the attention to detail was truly next-level. Every model wearing an SV badge spends time in this facility, where the SV Bespoke team adds optional extras such as coloured badges, seat upholstery choices, wheel designs, etc.
More recently, the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) brand announced that it’s turning the Land Rover, Range Rover, and Jaguar names into four standalone brands: Jaguar, Range Rover, Defender, and Discovery. According to the brand, this will see Jaguar transform into a pure electric luxury brand with “dramatically beautiful automotive experiences that leave its customers feeling unique and rewarded,” we look forward to seeing where this takes the brand in the future.
Range Rover sales in Australia are growing every month. The brand has sold 4,018 cars through the year’s halfway point, representing an 8.2% increase in a tough market. The new Sport is Range Rover’s top-selling vehicle, and it sits just behind its stable mate, the Land Rover Defender.
6. Ferrari
Price: from AU$409,888 (Ferrari Roma)
Number of sales in Australia (Jan-June, 2024): 113 (7.6%)
- Headquarters: Maranello, Italy
- Founder: Enzo Ferrari
- Founded: 1939, Maranello, Italy
Ferrari makes the best supercars in the world, but more recently, it’s also become known for its luxury appointments, with vehicles like the Ferrari 296 GTB (pictured) and Ferrari Purosangue.
We’ve spent hours behind the wheel of both these vehicles, and while their interiors are far from the most technology-filled on the planet – with no central infotainment screen to mirror Apple CarPlay – the leathers, fit-and-finish and use of high-quality materials place them on the same level as Aston Martin and Bentley.
The brand doesn’t break down its sales on a model-by-model basis and simply refers to them as Ferrari Coupe/Conv and Ferrari Purosangue. However, the V12-powered Purosangue “SUV” (AUD$728,000 plus on-road costs) has become a sales magnet. Meanwhile, sports and supercars have observed a 19% decline.
Ferrari stated that only 20% of its global sales will comprise the Purosangue. However, even with a sales increase, we wouldn’t expect them to reverse this decision anytime soon. Because of this, exclusivity is the hallmark of Ferrari ownership, and they maintain a healthy waitlist. Their flagship V12-powered models, such as the new Ferrari 12Cilindri (from AUD$803,500), are the best example.
If and when clients can order their Purosangue, they’ll certainly love spending time in the car. We spent three days driving around New Zealand’s North Island in one and can think of a few cars we’d rather spend time in.
7. Porsche
Price: from AU$128,400 (Porsche Macan)
Number of sales in Australia (Jan-June, 2024): 3,400 (+5.2%)
- Parent organizations: Volkswagen Group, Porsche SE, Porsche Holding Stuttgart
- Headquarters: Stuttgart, Germany
- Founder: Ferdinand Porsche
- Founded: 25 April 1931, Stuttgart, Germany
Few brands know how to combine sports and luxury, such as Porsche. Whether you’re talking about their road-legal racecars like the GT3 RS or their flagship Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, these vehicles are crafted with a perfect balance of comfort, materials, and technology, and they’re amongst the best luxury cars on the planet because of it.
We’ve spent time with nearly every vehicle in their product line-up—from the entry-level four-cylinder Porsche 718 Cayman to the flagship Porsche GT3 RS and Porsche Cayenne SUV—and what stands out is the consistent quality. Everything you touch, feel, and control is perfectly balanced in weight and quality. Few brands manage to convey this unique feeling where the car becomes an extension of you and your personality.
Sales-wise, the brand’s numbers have remained strong through the first half of this year. They’ve sold 3,400 cars while removing several petrol-powered vehicles from sales catalogues. We’d expect that number to taper off as we approach the end of the year because the brand is no longer selling its entry-level 718 series sports cars nor the petrol-powered Macan, which will be an EV-only proposition from now on. These three model lines accounted for 46.6 per cent of its sales in April, and the cars are no longer available as of June 2024.
8. Audi
Price: from AU$36,200 (Audi A1)
Number of sales in Australia (Jan-June, 2024): 8,183 (-12.4%)
- Parent organization: Volkswagen Group
- Headquarters: Ingolstadt, Germany
- Founder: August Horch
- Founded: 16 July 1909, Zwickau, Germany
Many consider Audi a notch down from Porsche in terms of luxury. However, Audi’s product line-up is more extensive and offers more luxury SUVs, sedans, electric vehicles, and even hatchbacks for more people. This is great for buyers at all ends of the luxury car spectrum because all their cars are very good. You can pick up an Audi A1, which has similar technology to an Audi A4 sedan, for considerably less money.
Audi’s sales in Australia have been challenging. Through the halfway point of this year, they’ve sold 8,183 cars, representing a 12.4% decrease compared to last year.
The biggest sales declines have been seen in the aforementioned Audi A1 (32.9% decline), Audi A4 -(-38.0%), Audi A7 (-48.4%), Audi Q7 (-58.7%), and Audi e-tron GT (-66.8%) dealing the biggest blow. Let’s see if Audi can turn its fortunes around with the Audi Q4 electric vehicle, an affordable luxury SUV that will be on sale in Australia before the end of the year.
9. Mercedes-Benz
Price: from AU$62,900 (Mercedes-Benz A-Class)
Number of sales in Australia (Jan-June, 2024): 9,613 (-24.1%)
- Owner: Mercedes-Benz AG
- Headquarters: Stuttgart, Germany
- Founder: Karl Benz
- Founded: 28 June 1926
Mercedes-Benz invented the automobile, so it only makes sense that they’re among the world’s top luxury car brands. While we prefer to spend time in their Mercedes-AMG sportscar, the brand has recently made leaps with its entire product line-up, and the current crop of vehicles is the best we’ve driven in years. Yes, that includes the controversial 4-cylinder hybrid C63 S E Performance, which is very good.
The material quality of the brand’s more affordable vehicles has taken a step back to keep costs down, so don’t expect top-tier luxury at the lower end of the line-up. However, the Mercedes-AMG GLC43 we drove recently (pictured above) was a perfect blend of performance and comfort and features one of the best infotainment screens in the industry in the MBUX. It’s a perfect all-rounder.
Like many luxury car brands, Mercedes-Benz sales have struggled, and the brand has observed a 24.1% decrease through the first half of this year. We think some of this could be attributed to the poor technology used in Mercs for the last half-decade, and we’d encourage any previous owners to check out their new stuff. It’s vastly improved.
10. Lexus
Price: from AU$48,000 (Lexus LBX)
Number of sales in Australia (Jan-June, 2024): 6,286 (-9.0%)
- Parent organisation: Toyota Motor Corporation
- Headquarters: Nagoya, Japan
- Founder: Eiji Toyoda
- Founded: 1989; 35 years ago
The best Japanese luxury car brand on the planet, Lexus has moved away from simply being the up-market Toyota your grandfather would like to drive into a contemporary new era. Supercars like the LFA have helped their image, as have sportscars like the LC500, and SUVs like the LX600 pictured above. Even their sensible Lexus RX 500h has been given the F Sport Performance treatment in recent years.
What we love most about Lexus is the simple attention to detail given to every one of their vehicles. They’re not full of glitz and glamour like a Mercedes-Benz or BMW, but they make infinitely more sense when trying to get from point A to point B in luxury. More recently, their technology and infotainment systems have also been upgraded, and they’re not fit for the modern era.
Lexus’s sales have been tough through the first half of this year, but they’re likely to bounce back in the second half with a sought-after GX550 off-roader now part of the product line-up.
11. BMW
Price: from AU$56,500 (BMW 1 Series)
Number of sales in Australia (Jan-June, 2024): 13,641 (+9.1%)
- Owners: Susanne Klatten, Stefan Quandt
- Headquarters: Munich, Germany
- Founders: Karl Rapp, Gustav Otto, Camillo Castiglioni, Franz Josef Popp
- Founded: 7 March 1916, Munich, Germany
Like Porsche, BMW has mastered the art of blending comfort and performance with a vehicle line-up that offers precision through its M division, ultra-luxury through vehicles like the 7-series, and some of the best electric vehicles on the market with cars like the iX3 and i4.
Sometimes, they even offer both, and we had a chance to experience this with the new BMW XM Label Red, which combines the technology and interior quality of a 7-series with the power and performance of an M car thanks to a twin-turbo V8 hybrid powertrain.
BMW makes a car for everyone, and the brand’s sales figures have reflected this, increasing 9.1% through the first half of this year.
12. Lotus
Price: from AU$189,990 (Lotus Emeya)
Number of sales in Australia (Jan-June, 2024): 102 (+96.2%)
- Parent organisations: Geely, Lotus Group International Ltd.
- Headquarters: Norwich, United Kingdom
- Founder: Colin Chapman
- Founded: 1948, Hethel, United Kingdom
Now majority-owned by Zhejiang Geely, Lotus has been reimagined as an all-electric luxury car brand, and we’d argue that their Emeya Hyper-GT and Eletre Hyper-SUV are among the best luxury cars on the planet right now at their price point.
With interiors as high-quality and well-put-together as those of German brands such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, the driving experience also gets close to rival that of Porsche. We recently had a new Emeya on the test (pictured above), and the touchpoints, materials, and list of features easily rival those of the brands we just mentioned. Meanwhile, air suspension is a standard feature and a highlight.
Beyond the interior quality, comfort, and driving characteristics, the technology inside these new vehicles leads the new car market. Specifically, the infotainment screen is powered by Unreal Engine. This is the automotive equivalent of playing a video game, and it’s the only infotainment system that has beaten both Tesla and Mercedes-Benz in our tests.
Of course, you pay for the privilege. While Australians have come to expect Chinese-made vehicles to be as cheap as chips, the Lotus Emeya starts at AU$189,990.
13. Genesis
Price: from AU$70,500 (Genesis GV70)
Number of sales in Australia (Jan-June, 2024): 710 (-18.5%)
- Parent organisation: Hyundai Motor Company
- Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
- Founded: 4 November 2015
Genesis is more than just a luxury Hyundai because while the Korean outfit might own them, there’s no way to tell when you’re behind the wheel. Everything from the dashboard layout to the seats and exterior design differs from that of a Hyundai, even though they typically share similar underpinnings. You’d even struggle to tell what switchgear has been shared because it all looks vastly superior to that found in the Hyundai alternative.
Because of this, Genesis gives the European brands a run for their money. That said, they’re certainly not attempting to undercut brands like BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz in terms of price. Their top-of-the-range GV80 starts from AU$128,914 plus on-road costs. Meanwhile, their GV60 electric vehicle starts at AU$103,384 plus on-road costs, making it considerably more expensive than an Audi Q4 e-tron.
Genesis’s sales have been slow, with an 18.5% decrease through the first half of this year. While its vehicles are very good and sometimes better than the more expensive Europeans, it remains a niche luxury car brand that isn’t much cheaper. They’re yet to sell more cars than brands like Peugeot and Jeep.
14. Cadillac
Price: from AU$117,000
Number of sales in Australia (Jan-June, 2024): N/A
- Parent organisation: General Motors
- Headquarters: Detroit, Michigan, U.S
- Founders: Henry M. Leland, William Murphy
- Founded: 22 August 1902, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Cadillac is one of the world’s oldest luxury car brands, and today, they’re making some of our favourite all-electric SUVs. The brand recently launched in Australia with the new LYRIQ SUV. However, other markets, such as China, have cars like the OPTIQ, VISTIQ, and Escalade IQ available, too.
Sitting at the top of the Cadillac food chain is the Cadillac CELESTIQ, a USD$340,000 ultra-luxury sedan that targets the likes of Bentley and, to some extent, Rolls-Royce. Unlimited customisation options are available, and the brand will even fly you out to their headquarters in Detroit, where you can sit down with an artisan and design every element of your vehicle at Cadillac House. We had a chance to visit the facility and experience a day in the life of a CELESTIQ client, and it was similar to the experience we’ve had in Coventry with Range Rover, but on an even grander scale.
The brand is also creating some of the most beautiful concept cars on the planet right now, and vehicles like the Cadillac SOLLEI will only elevate the brand further up our list of luxury car brands should they go into production.
Alternative to These Luxury Car Brands
The top luxury car brands that we’ve listed above go above and beyond all others. However, there are still a handful of brands that we need to highlight because they’re producing some of the highest quality vehicles in the industry. They include:
- Jaguar: The spotlight is on Jaguar because they’re about to launch as an all-electric modern luxury brand with their most powerful vehicle. It will be a 4-door GT that boasts more than 700km of range and starts from £100,000 (AU$190,000), so one would certainly hope it’s luxurious.
- Lamborghini: Usually seen as an exotic alternative to Porsche, Lamborghini has traditionally focused more on track performance than luxury. However, that might be about to change with the introduction of the new Lamborghini Temerario. This car looks to blend the utmost in performance while filling the gap left by the Audi R8. It will do so with a 907HP hybrid twin-turbo V8 that revs to 10,000 RPM.
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