Executive Reviews

Top Gear’s guide to: Executives

A saloon with a premium badge, generally better quality… and the associated weighty price hike

What you need to know

Check spec

A better badge means you pay more for less obvious toys. So be careful totting up

Driving

A proper executive saloon should really deliver driving pleasure. If not, ditch it

Speed

Some of the Execs really are very fast indeed. Some of the large diesels especially so

Eco versions

BMW’s ‘Efficient Dynamics’ has made it cool to be efficient; look out for clean variants

Service

If you’re shelling out, a dealer should treat you with respect. Make sure that they do

Residuals

Exec saloons tend to have very good residual values. Good news when you come to trade
Found 11 results
9/10
Jaguar

XF

£32,295 – £49,845

It’s a tough call, but the XF is probably the new class leader

8/10
Volvo

S90

£34,250 – £47,700

Goes in a different direction to the German alternatives, with convincing success.

8/10
BMW

5 Series

£35,620 – £50,515

Typically BMW for its sheer composure on the road and fine refinement.

8/10
Mercedes-Benz

E-Class

£35,810 – £106,325

Mercedes has thrown everything it knows into the new E-Class. You can tell.

7/10
Audi

A6

£32,945 – £59,305

A good exec but others in the class sparkle more.

7/10
Audi

A5 Sportback

£29,835 – £47,995

Beautifully built and beautiful to look at. But the A4 is 98 per cent as good, cheaper and less pretentious.

7/10
Maserati

Ghibli

£49,620 – £72,020

Credible alternative to the establishment, without being quite as talented as the key players.

6/10
DS

5

£28,265 – £34,495

An extraordinary piece of design marred by sub-par mechanicals.

5/10
Infiniti

Q70

£43,760 – £47,860

Interesting, but there are much, much better cars available for the same money.

5/10
Lexus

GS

£35,940 – £73,425

If you (or your fleet manager) can live without diesel, this is a smart A6 alternative.

4/10
BMW

5 Series GT

n/a

A car in search of an identity. If it keeps you out of the thuggish X5 or X6, then by all means go for it. But why not a 5-series Touring?