5 Best luxury flagship sedans

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Talk luxury cars and most envision an opulent ride with a herd’s worth of the finest leather lovingly wrapping the cabin, along with fully articulated seats complete with a multi-stage massage function.

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We agree, that’s luxury all right, but so many automakers in this segment are also offering so much more in their premium sedans.

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Here are the very best luxury flagship cars with lavish fixtures and fittings, plus a healthy side of performance. These are truly the finest executive super-sedans — there are models that get more aggressive and sporty, but these find that perfect blend of grace and pace. The key here is that when enough is not quite enough, there’s always an alternative!

Driving.ca’s top five executive super-sedans are distinctly different, yet very much the same. As such, it was a very difficult task — in many instances it boiled down to the nittiest of nit-picking!

Cadillac CT6

With Cadillac seemingly putting more emphasis on the crossover side of its portfolio, the CT6 Platinum ($104,198) is the shining beacon on the luxurious side of its luxury car ledger. The top-line model arrives with a host of high-end technology including Cadillac’s semi-autonomous Super Cruise control; comfort seating with no fewer than 15 massage functions; and an outstanding 34-speaker Bose Panaray sound system.

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This model also ditches the 3.5L twin-turbo V6 found in the other CT6s and picks up the 4.2L Blackwing V8 with twin turbochargers. It fires 500 hp and 574 lb.-ft. of torque through a 10-speed automatic and all four wheels to produce a 4.2-second run to 100 km/h.

In this business, there has to be an exception to make the rule and the CT6-V is just that — it cedes some of the ultimate luxury found in the Platinum and focuses on performance. With 550 hp, 640 lb.-ft. of torque and a 3.8-second run to 100 km/h, all for $98,898, it is a steal of a deal.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

While many have tried, few have managed to rival the Mercedes-Benz S-Class as the spiritual leader of the luxury brigade. The superb build quality and soft leather on both the dash and seats highlights the luxury side of life, as do the optional Drive Dynamic Multicontour front seats. The two 12.3-inch reconfigurable screens and the easy access they give to the key functions speak to the level of technology at play.

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The S 560 ($118,000) arrives with a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 that wafts 463 hp and 516 lb.-ft. of torque through a nine-speed automatic and 4Matic AWD. The combination is both smooth and swift — 4.6 seconds to 100 km/h. If space is a consideration, there is the long-wheelbase S 560 ($127,600) with the same specification.

However, if you really want to emphasize the sporty side of the S-Class, the AMG S 63 has to be the ride of choice. Yes, it comes in at $171,400, but 603 hp, 664-lb.-ft. of torque and 3.5 seconds say it all!

Audi A8

The Audi A8 L 60 ($121,950) debuted last year with an all-new infotainment system and even more luxury. In a hectic world, this executive sedan can be the haven that shuts out the hustle and bustle of life or embrace it through advanced connectivity. From the reconfigurable Virtual Cockpit instrumentation to the dual-screen infotainment setup, it is a technological sophisticate. The stretched wheelbase also means the rear seat riders are just as pampered as those up front.

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The A8 L 60 arrives with a 4.0L turbocharged V8 with a mild hybrid system. The combination produces 453 hp and 487 lb.-ft. of torque. Fire that through an eight-speed automatic transmission and quattro AWD, and you have a run to 100 kilometres an hour in 4.4 seconds. The more arrives in the form of the $151,600 S8. It has 563 hp, 590 lb.-ft. of torque and a 3.9-second sprint to 100 km/h.

BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe

The M850i Gran Coupe ($122,100) is both a toned athlete and a luxurious grand tourer that does a night at the opera as well as any luxury car. It is richly appointed, spacious and it has right level of technology. From the superb seats to an elegant cockpit that puts everything in the right place, it works to deliver the pomp and pampering demanded of the breed.

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It is also a track-ready missile with a 4.4L twin-turbo V8 that pushes 523 hp and 479 lb.-ft. of torque through an eight-speed automatic and xDrive AWD. The fact it dances its way through a corner like a prima ballerina and romps to 100 km/h in 3.9 second seals its appeal. However, when enough is not quite enough, there’s always the full-bore M8 Competition Gran Coupe ($161,000). With 617 hp and 553 lb.-ft. of torque, it sprints to the metric ton in just 3.2 seconds.

Porsche Panamera

Since its introduction, the Panamera has been viewed by many as the Porsche of the luxury sedan segment. It is dynamically blessed when the road takes a turn for the better, yet it still manages to pamper the riders when prowling suburbia. The most balanced ride in the Panamera stable is the GTS ($147,400) — it more than holds true to its Gran Turismo moniker. Where Porsches once arrived with the barest of interior essentials, the Panamera has upped the ante to blend superb sport bucket seats with the technology and connectivity demanded today.

The 4.0L twin-turbo V8 fires 453 hp and 457 lb.-ft. of torque through an eight-speed twin-clutch gearbox and an active all-wheel-drive system. The combination delivers a spirited run to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds. The more is found in the Panamera Turbo. The $174,200 price tag brings 550 hp and 568 lb.-ft. of torque, which drops the acceleration time to 3.6 seconds when the Sport Chrono package is aboard.