10 of the Best Executive Cars to Buy in 2026

Best luxury executive cars

The definition of executive car might be pretty elastic nowadays, given that the term ‘executive’ covers pretty much anyone working in an office. For the sake of clarity, we are talking about cars that are mainly bought or financed with company money, and whose users might need to visit customers or clients in their chosen vehicle.

So we are looking at tax efficiency, good resale values, prestige and long-distance comfort. Traditionally, executive cars are also based around the classic three-box saloon shape, though there is no reason not to also consider an SUV (and many do).

With such a fierce market, our list features some of the very best and demonstrates why they have been chosen, along with quirks and features of that particular model.

• BMW i5
• Lotus Emeya
• Audi A6 e-tron
• BMW 5 Series
• Genesis G80
• Volkswagen ID.7
• BMW i4
• Mercedes-Benz C-Class
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class
• Audi A8

BMW i5

Private buyers might still be making their minds up about electrification, but for anyone paying BIK tax the advantages are hard to ignore. And why would you want to ignore them anyway, if the BMW i5 is an option?

Available as a Saloon or Touring estate, with an 81.5kWh battery that gives a range of up to 356 miles, the i5 takes all the things that have made the 5 Series the default option for so many senior managers and brings them into the electric era.

Choose between the rear-wheel drive eDrive 40, which accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 6.0 seconds, or the all-wheel drive M60 xDrive, which hits the same performance benchmark in 3.8 seconds but offers slightly less range. Settle into the luxurious interior and all your infotainment is presented in BMW’s touch surface Curved Display, and even the entry level model features adaptive LED lights, a Harman Kardon stereo, Veganza artificial leather trim, dual-zone climate control, a reversing camera, and sat-nav.

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Lotus Emeya

Half EV supercar, half tax-friendly luxury four-door saloon, the Lotus Emeya has a lot going for it.

Lotus forged its reputation back in the 1960s as a maker of lithe, fast and rewarding sports cars, following the mantra of its founder Colin Chapman: ‘just add lightness’. That is not so easy when you have to accommodate the weight of a substantial battery, but the Emeya still upholds the Lotus reputation for fabulous handling and driving enjoyment, aided by adaptive dampers and air suspension.

Two versions are offered, the 600 and 900, each nameplate being the approximate power output of that model. Quoted range is 379 miles for the 600, and 301 miles for the 900, while the latter can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in just 2.8 seconds. In one respect, the Emeya begins a new Lotus tradition of its own, however – it is lavishly equipped and built to the highest quality standards.

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Audi A6 e-tron

Audi’s contender for the upper manager’s company car budget comes in a choice of two bodystyles, two battery sizes and a number of trim levels.

The Avant is a stylish and practical estate, while the Sportback sacrifices a little bootspace for a sleek and slippery outline. Either way you will enjoy a state-of-the-art battery-powered executive saloon, based on Audi’s new 800-Volt PPE platform. This allows you to charge the battery from 10 to 80 percent in just 21 minutes, an important consideration for high mileage drivers.

The A6 e-tron is offered with a choice of rear- or Quattro all-wheel drive; depending on the version you choose the range is up to 463 miles – this figure is for the rear-wheel drive A6 e-tron Performance, which has the larger 100kWh battery.

Inside the spacious and well-equipped cabin there is Audi’s latest Virtual Cockpit driver instrumentation at 11.9 inches wide, with a central 14.5-inch touchscreen for infotainment and navigation. Another standout feature is the panoramic sunroof, which has nine individual segments that can each be darkened or made transparent to create the right balance of light and shade inside.

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BMW 5 Series

Not ready for the switch to electric power yet? Not to worry, BMW’s award-winning 5 Series is also available with petrol or plug-in hybrid power in both Saloon and Touring (estate) bodystyles.

The eighth generation 5 Series was launched in 2023 and continues to win awards and plaudits for its blend of sporty handling and refined luxury. It is available as the petrol-powered 520i, which develops 211bhp, records a time of 7.5 seconds for the 0 to 62mph dash and delivers up to 48.7 mpg on the WLTP cycle.

Next up comes the 530e plug-in hybrid, with 303bhp, 0 to 62mph in 6.8 seconds and an electric-only range of up to 63 miles. Another plug-in hybrid, the all-wheel drive 550e xDrive, develops 496bhp and 516lb ft of torque, powering from 0 to 62mph in just 4.3 seconds, with a maximum EV-only range of just under 56 miles.

The 5 Series is also the first BMW in the UK to feature leather-free Veganza upholstery as standard, while driver information and infotainment are conveyed by the fully digital BMW Curved Display and innovative BMW Interaction Bar, which runs along the base of the windscreen. Another standard feature is a Harman Kardon Surround Sound System with 12 speakers and a 205-watt amplifier.

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Genesis G80

Genesis, the prestige offshoot of Hyundai, has been quietly going about the business of producing well made, luxurious and lavishly equipped vehicles for the past 10 years. Judging by the Electrified G80, perhaps it is time they started making some more noise.

This is a very impressive all-electric saloon, a worthy rival to the usual suspects from Ingolstadt, Munich and Stuttgart. The Electrified G80 offers a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain, 365bhp and a 0 to 62mph time of 5.2 seconds. The 94.5kWh battery gives a range of up to 354 miles (WLTP tested) and on a 350kW rapid charger can power up from 10 to 80 percent charge in just 25 minutes.

Interior features include quilted Nappa leather, massage seats and a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system with Dolby Atmos. It is exceptionally refined and quiet on the move, and the Road Preview suspension uses a camera to monitor the road ahead and adjust the damping for a magic carpet ride.

Volkswagen ID.7

Volkswagen’s earlier forays into EV had a mixed reception but the reviewers are generally agreed that the ID.7 hits the bullseye. Available as a fastback Saloon or Tourer (estate), the ID.7 is a premium product that offers space, refinement and excellent value.

It is quiet, smooth and comfortable, with a supple ride and a new larger touchscreen that answers many of the criticisms of Volkswagen’s previous infotainment. There is a choice of models: Pro, Pro S and the range-topping GTX. The entry-level Pro gets a 289bhp electric motor driving the rear wheels with a 77kWh battery, the Pro S has the same drivetrain but with the larger 86kWh battery, while the GTX has the larger battery with two electric motors, one at each end, for a total output of 345bhp.

Acceleration from 0 to 62mph takes 6.6 seconds in the Pro models and 5.5 seconds in the GTX. Maximum range for the Pro S is a class-leading 424 miles. All models include massage front seats, an augmented-reality head-up display and a 360-degree camera as standard.

BMW i4

BMW’s i4 Gran Coupe may have been overshadowed recently by the launch of the new iX3, but it remains an outstanding proposition for the company car budget. It shares the same coupe-like body as the 4 Series, with four doors and an opening tailgate, but is powered by electricity, not fossil fuel.

In 2025, it received an update, with new headlights and a refreshed interior design. It also features the dual-screen BMW Curved Display setup and iDrive with QuickSelect, based on BMW Operating System 8.5. The range starts with the i4 eDrive35, whose specification includes a 290bhp rear-wheel drive motor, acceleration from 0 to 62mph in 5.8 seconds, a 66kWh battery and a range of up to 304 miles, while the eDrive40 improves on those figures with a 5.7 second 0 to62mph time, 82kWh battery and a range of 367 miles. Top of the i4 range is the M60, which has the 82kWh battery, all-wheel drive, 608bhp and sprints to the acceleration benchmark in just 3.7 seconds.

It is good looking, drives like a BMW should, has a quality interior and intuitive infotainment and costs pennies to run, especially if you are charging up off-peak. What is not to enjoy?

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Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The fifth-generation C-Class arrived in 2024, adopting many of the features of the top of the range S-Class and presenting them in a more affordable and compact package.

There are two 2.0-litre diesels, the C220D and C300D, both of which make a lot of sense for drivers who regularly clock up high mileages. Both are mild hybrids, as are the petrol-powered C200 and the C300, which are based on a 1.5-litre and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine respectively. Finally there is one plug-in hybrid model, the C300e, which combines a 2.0-litre four-cylinder with a 25.4kWh battery and a 127bhp electric motor for a 317bhp output and an impressive EV-only range of 70 miles.

Whichever you choose, you will enjoy a ride and handling set up that is more skewed towards comfort than lap times, which many feel makes a lot of sense on our crowded, pot-holed road network. Inside there is an 11.9-inch portrait touchscreen that shares dimensions and features with the S-Class, including the ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice assistant.

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Mercedes-Benz E-Class

No overview of the executive car market would be complete without the E-Class. Now in its sixth generation, it occupies the middle ground between the compact C-Class and the range-topping S-Class, with a blend of qualities that suit it perfectly to business use.

Available as a saloon or estate, the E-Class offers three mild hybrids and three plug-in hybrids, all with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The mild hybrids include the E200 with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, or if you prefer diesel power there is the E220d and the powerful six-cylinder E450d. Unusually, Mercedes-Benz also offers diesel as an option with its plug-in hybrids, which include the E300e and the diesel powered E300de. EV-only range in the plug-in hybrids is an impressive 70 miles, enough for many urban commutes to be accomplished in zero-emissions silence.

The interior is a high point too, featuring ambient lighting, a 12.3-inch digital driver's display behind the steering wheel and a 14.4-inch infotainment touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard. The proven ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice assistant is intuitive and eliminates the need to take your eyes off the road, and all models come with artificial leather upholstery, keyless entry, rear privacy glass and two-zone climate control.

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Audi A8

Audi’s luxury flagship, the Audi A8, is offered with a choice of standard or long-wheelbase bodies, the latter clearly designed for CEOs or heads of state to travel in the rear compartment, where there is ample space to stretch out. But for most, the standard wheelbase has more than enough room.

The range includes two mild hybrids, the 282bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel (50 TDI) and a 335bhp 3.0-litre V6 petrol (55 TFSI). BIK tax-paying executives will be interested in the plug-in hybrid 60 TFSIe, which combines the 3.0-litre V6 with a 126bhp electric motor for a combined output of 456bhp and an electric-only range of 36 miles.

All models come as standard with adaptive air suspension which gives a truly cosseting ride, while there is the option of predictive active suspension that anticipates road conditions. The inside is the usual Audi showcase of restrained contemporary luxury, with quality materials and faultless craftsmanship. Audi’s Virtual Cockpit places essential information clearly in the driver’s sightline, and the centre of the fascia features two high-definition touchscreens – a 10.1-inch screen on top and an 8.6-inch one below it for all infotainment controls and options.

As you would expect from a top of the range saloon, Audi’s A8 Sport comes with a plethora of standard equipment, including multi-function leather steering wheel, heated front seats, LED interior lighting pack and chilled glovebox, while the S Line adds 20-inch alloys, sportier styling, and HD matrix LED lights. Options include a panoramic glass roof, acoustic double glazing, air quality pack, double foldaway table, a cool box for the load-through facility, an extended leather pack and matrix LED reading lights.

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Which executive car is right for you?

An executive car is both a standard bearer for your organisation and a personal reward for the hard work and commitment you put into the job. So although issues such as Benefit in Kind tax, running costs and resale values are important, they do not tell the full story. You also deserve to be happy with your choice as you settle into the driving seat at the end of the day with a long drive home ahead.

At Stratstone, we get this. Our associates are passionate about helping clients find vehicles that fit their needs precisely. To upgrade to your next executive car, please contact your nearest Stratstone retailer, or browse our extensive range of executive cars to find the perfect match.