Best executive cars to buy 2024

The A6 feels agile on the move, thanks to the extensive use of aluminium in its structure, while the nimbleness is aided further still with the optional four-wheel steering. That said, the steering can’t match that of the BMW 5 Series, but it remains a precise and good car to drive. The A6 is set to be replaced by the incoming electric Audi A6 e-tron, though, so the clock is ticking if you’re planning to buy one.

What is an executive car?

This was once a very straightforward question to answer. You had your executive saloons, such as the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class, then you had your compact executive saloons, such as the BMW 3 Series. Today, the variety of options has multiplied.  

Cars such as the Peugeot 508 and Skoda Superb all have aspirations of upsetting traditional executive car offerings such as the Mercedes E-Class and BMW 5 Series. The best of these models offer most of the necessary quality and tech, and only really lack the premium badge.

Even without dipping into the SUV class, where executive-car buyers will increasingly find tempting options, there are more body styles available to executive-car drivers than ever. As well as the traditional saloons, there are the usual estate versions on offer, and beyond that things start to get interesting.

Two-door coupés such as the BMW 4 Series offer similar engine ranges to their saloon counterparts for similar tax and running costs, while looking and driving that bit sharper. Many also come in convertible guise for open-air motoring. Then there’s the rise of the four or five-door coupé, typified by cars such as the Audi A7 Sportback and BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé.

The usual cohort of German executive-car manufacturers now has plenty of other challengers to face, especially the incoming wave of pure-electric models that qualify for executive-car status, such as the Tesla Model 3. 

With the executive-car market so strongly reliant on business and company car buyers, EV powertrains are a huge draw because of the lower associated Benefit-in-Kind company car tax. Diesel and petrol powertrains are still popular for private buyers, but plug-in hybrid and electric sales are starting to really gain momentum. If you’re willing to take the plunge into EV territory, the BMW i4, Polestar 2 and Tesla Model 3 offer sports car-rivalling straight-line performance, acres of space and very low everyday running costs.

Searching for something a bit more special? Read our list of the best luxury cars…