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Six of the best: Executive cars

10 August 2007

Executive cars need to be comfortable, quick, luxurious, with room for the golf clubs.

But they don’t all have to look the same. Adrian Hearn looks at six of the best executive motors for UK buyers to consider.

BMW 5 Series

The 5 Series is the benchmark executive car for many reasons. The range includes an entry-level 147mph model for under £30,000 and goes up. The brilliant 3-litre diesel accelerates from 0-60mph in 6.8 seconds, has a top speed of 155mph and still manages a combined 40mpg. And then there’s the M5, which – with its restrictor removed – will hit 205mph while transporting four with unrivalled refinement.

Chrysler 300C

From every angle, the imposing 300C says no to conventionalism. Favoured by footballers and hip hop stars this is the motor to be noticed in. The 300C shifts as well. Sharing many components with the last Mercedes E-Class, the entry-level 3-litre diesel has a top speed of 143mph, while the range-topping 6.1-litre SRT-8 rockets to 60mph in five seconds and hits 168mph.

Land Rover Range Rover Vogue

Boasting luxury and superb off-road ability, the Range Rover Vogue is a serious choice for anyone considering an executive car with a difference. Using a 4.2-litre supercharged V8 engine, the 390bhp off-roader glides from 0-60mph in 7.1 seconds and has a top speed of 130mph. Inside, the serene SUV features swathes of leather and wood. An unlike the other executive motors, the Range Rover is as able off the road as it is cruising on it.

Lexus GS450 Hybrid

Buying a hybrid doesn’t mean you should sacrifice fun. With the GS450, Lexus have built a ’performance hybrid’ which uses an environmentally friendly electric motor in built-up areas. But on the open road it’s a different beast. Accelerating from 0-60mph in six seconds, the GS450 has a limited top speed of 155mph. And it’s exempt from the Congestion Charge. With other cities looking to follow in the footsteps of London and charge drivers, expect the GS Hybrid to become a bigger fixture on Britain’s roads.

Saab 9-5

The 9-5 is an excellent, but underwhelming car. It’s practical, safe and handles impressively. Inside the car’s leather trim is of good quality and the instruments are all refined. And with all Saabs, it is available as a biofuel choice, which is better for the environment, while injecting a bit more oomph into the Swedish car’s performance.

Volvo S80

While BMW went all out when they designed the provocative 5 Series, Volvo played it safe with the S80. But while it’s not the biggest head-turner, the Swedish executive motor is comfortable and practical. As you would expect from Volvo, it has class-leading safety features such as the Blind Spot Information System where a camera is mounted under each wing mirror to detect vehicles in the driver’s blind spot. And there is a wide choice of engines ranging from a frugal 2.4-litre diesel to a monstrous 4.4-litre V8.

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