We know from time to time you imagine yourself driving through the city in your dream car. Guess what? So have we. Now is the time to drive in style and manifest thoughts into reality with these six luxury automobiles Car and Driver magazine has named 2022-2023’s best-performing vehicles.
Consider one of these ultra-chic, timeless and smooth rides to splurge on this holiday season.
2022 Audi A8
Audi’s answer to the Mercedes-Benz S-class is the 2022 A8 sedan, which is also an Editors’ Choice winner. It offers a spacious interior and every conceivable luxury and convenience feature, which helps justify its nearly six-figure starting price. The A8’s styling is expertly rendered to look ritzy but restrained, and fans of the smaller A4 and A6 sedans will find the A8 handsome. Its cabin, however, is far more comfortable than those four doors and offers similar space and features as the S-class and the BMW 7-series, the Audi’s other natural rival. Massaging seats for both front and rear passengers are available and Audi also includes a host of driver-assists as standard. Drivers looking for more oomph should consider the performance-oriented S8 model, which we review separately.
2023 Ferrari Purosangue
With transcendent driving traits and terrific twin-turbo flat-six engines, the 2022 Porsche 911 is a nearly flawless sports car, and it’s an obvious Editors’ Choice winner. Apart from being too expensive for most enthusiasts, Porsche’s iconic two-plus-two-seater is as immersive as it is versatile. Along with the aforementioned flat-six which produces a distinctive snarl and makes between 379 and 473 horsepower–we review the higher-powered GT3 and Turbo variants separately–the lineup offers a quick-shifting dual-clutch automatic or a manual transmission and rear- or all-wheel drive. The latter ensures its incredible performance can be enjoyed in all four seasons. The 911 comes in coupe, cabriolet (read: convertible), or quasi-convertible Targa body styles. The beauty of the 911 is that its athleticism doesn’t diminish its livability. Its ride is surprisingly civil considering its cornering limits and race car-like steering feel. Its interior is roomy up front and can be lavishly appointed. And its driver is treated to a satisfyingly low seating position but also excellent outward visibility.
2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
There are sportier alternatives to the 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-class, but few are as seamlessly high-class and high-tech. While the behind-the-wheel experience isn’t as exciting as that of its AMG-tuned twin–the separately reviewed 429-hp E53–the regular E is subdued and serene. Its cabin is beautifully appointed, remarkably quiet, and fitted with flashy tech features such as the dual displays embedded in its dashboard. The E350 sedan is powered by a common-for-the-segment turbo four, but the E450 enjoys a sweet turbocharged straight-six. This strong, smooth mill is available in the sedan and standard on the coupe and cabriolet. Regardless of the powerplant, all body styles supplement their classy interiors with a cushy and composed ride.
2022 Porsche 911
With transcendent driving traits and terrific twin-turbo flat-six engines, the 2022 Porsche 911 is a nearly flawless sports car, and it’s an obvious Editors’ Choice winner. Apart from being too expensive for most enthusiasts, Porsche’s iconic two-plus-two-seater is as immersive as it is versatile. Along with the aforementioned flat-six which produces a distinctive snarl and makes between 379 and 473 horsepower–we review the higher-powered GT3 and Turbo variants separately–the lineup offers a quick-shifting dual-clutch automatic or a manual transmission and rear- or all-wheel drive. The latter ensures its incredible performance can be enjoyed in all four seasons. The 911 comes in coupe, cabriolet (read: convertible), or quasi-convertible Targa body styles. The beauty of the 911 is that its athleticism doesn’t diminish its livability. Its ride is surprisingly civil considering its cornering limits and race car-like steering feel. Its interior is roomy up front and can be lavishly appointed. And its driver is treated to a satisfyingly low seating position but also excellent outward visibility.
2022 Lexus ES
The Lexus ES mid-size luxury sedan excels in comfort and offers buyers a much lower starting price than ostensible competitors like the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-class. That’s because it’s a Toyota Camry underneath, with sleeker styling and posh interior furnishings. In our testing, we’ve found its performance and driving character underwhelming and called it a “rolling Xanax pill”—a backhanded compliment of sorts for the way it isolates its driver and passengers from the bumps, thumps, and harsh noises of the outside world. The ES’s cabin is one of the more comfortable in the segment, its powertrains are silken and quiet, and its ride is soothingly smooth. It’s simply not a car for people who love to drive. But it can be a car for people who love to save fuel: the 300h hybrid model returned 45 mpg on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test.
2023 Maserati MC20
With a carbon-fiber structure, a hellacious 621-hp twin-turbo V-6, and neck-wrenching cornering power, the 2023 Maserati MC20 is an exotic street car that smacks you in the face with a race-car driving experience. Its slinky Italian-esque supercar shape and butterfly-style doors have passers-by staring at it just like they do at Ferraris and Lamborghinis. The new Cielo spyder allows for open-air cruising—and being seen—at the touch of a button. Like many a supercar, though, the MC20 comes with its own specific set of drawbacks. While its suspension is compliant enough for the occasional road trip, the car’s cargo capacity is minuscule; you’ll need your administrative assistant to follow you with your luggage. Maserati also offers virtually no driver-assistance features on the MC20; there’s no adaptive cruise control or lane-keeping assist. So be it. From the view out the windshield to its cacophony of wild engine sounds to its butt-kicking performance, the MC20 is made for hard-core enthusiast drivers with the money to indulge themselves in a car with overwhelming character.
*Automobile details provided by caranddriver.com
