A Shifting Line Between Comfort And Excess
Luxury in cars has always been a moving target (no pun intended). What felt extravagant in the 1960s now feels downright ordinary, whether that’s power windows, leather seats, or a little chrome on the dash. But sometimes a car hits the market like a meteor, changing the very definition of comfort, status, and performance. It isn’t always the most expensive model. Sometimes it’s a quiet revolution in suspension or a detail no one notices until they can’t live without it. Here are twenty cars that were audaciously luxurious in one way or another.
1. Rolls-Royce Phantom VII
When the Phantom VII rolled out in 2003, it didn’t care about restraint. It was unapologetically massive and square-framed, the equivalent of wearing a tailored three-piece suit to buy milk. Even the umbrellas hidden inside the rear doors felt like a taunt to other manufacturers.
2. Mercedes-Benz S-Class W140
Back in the ’90s, the W140 S-Class was mocked for being too big, too heavy—excessive in every way. And yet, ironically, it became the template for luxury with its double-glazed windows, self-closing doors, and rear seats like armchairs. It set the standard for every executive sedan that followed.
3. Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz 1957
This car looked like something Elvis might step out of in his sequined jumpsuit. It had it all: tailfins, polished chrome, broad bench leather seats. The Biarritz’s luxury features were not subtle and celebrated every over-the-top addition as the American way.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA on Wikimedia
4. Lexus LS400
In 1989, the LS400 showed up and embarrassed the Europeans with its whisper-quiet cabin, obsessively precise panels, and an engine so smooth it defied logic. This wasn’t about ostentation. This was about humbling Mercedes and BMW by showing the world the Japanese could build something revolutionary.
5. Bentley Continental GT
When Bentley dropped the Continental GT in 2003, they refined the concept of a luxury coupe. With its twin-turbo W12, hand-stitched leather, and a shape that looked sculpted by the gods, it stunned the market. Because VW’s money was behind it, the quality finally matched the price tag.
6. Lincoln Continental 1961
The ’61 Continental didn’t just redefine American luxury, it froze it in time. With its understated slab sides and iconic rear-hinged doors, it felt like the kind of car you’d half-expect Sinatra to step into after a show. Its interior felt less like that of a car and more like a lounge in Palm Springs.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA on Wikimedia
7. BMW 7 Series E38
If you grew up in the ’90s, this was the car you saw in every movie about gangsters, CEOs, or secret agents. It was a sleek, no-nonsense luxury vehicle, which seemed like a contradiction in terms until you climbed inside and saw the leather, wood, and onboard tech that would eventually become standard across all vehicles.
8. Jaguar XJ6 Series I
The first XJ in 1968 was so smooth it made other luxury cars feel clumsy. It was long, low, and elegant, pairing refinement with a level of sporty athleticism. Driving one felt like gliding, but with a powerful growl underneath the hood that could quickly turn into a roar.
Rutger van der Maar on Wikimedia
9. Tesla Model S
No engine noise or gears in this one—just silent, instant acceleration that threw your head back with its surprising velocity. The Model S wasn’t the first electric car, but it was the first to make people see electric cars as luxuries. The giant touchscreen inside felt like it belonged more in a spaceship than a sedan.
10. Audi A8 D2
In 1994, Audi made a luxury sedan out of aluminum when everyone else was still designing in steel and wood. The A8 felt like a glimpse of the future with its lighter frame, sleek lines, and Quattro grip. Its interior smelled of leather and quiet ambition.
11. Porsche Panamera
People laughed when Porsche launched a four-door model. And yet, once you’ve had the opportunity to sit inside and marvel at its low-slung seating and fighter-jet dash, you understand that this is a luxury sports car with the practical benefit of having space for your friends.
12. Maybach 62
At nearly 20 feet long, the Maybach 62 was more yacht than car. With its reclining rear seats with footrests, champagne flutes, and curtains on the windows, it went beyond being a vehicle to being an experience. Years later, it’s remembered as the wildest statement of luxury excess in the 2000s.
13. Range Rover Classic
In the 1970s, Range Rover made a strange promise: you could enjoy the rugged utility of an off-roader while enjoying the luxury of a leather interior. Suddenly the SUV was no longer just for farms or safari but for city-slickers looking to feel adventurous on their commute.
14. Aston Martin Lagonda
The Lagonda looked like something from a sci-fi film, with its wedge design and digital dashboard. Was it reliable? Not at all. Was it luxurious? In its own eccentric, British way—absolutely. Owning one was a statement, not of taste necessarily, but of pushing the boundaries of conventional taste.
15. Mercedes 600 “Grosser”
The Grosser Mercedes transcended its status as a car to become a symbol. Heads of state loved it. Dictators too. Everything from the seats to the windows to the trunk was hydraulically powered. You didn’t buy one of these unless you needed the world to know you were someone important.
16. Lexus LC500
Few cars look like they were designed with an artist’s brushstroke, but the LC500 pulls it off. Inside, you get origami stitching, perfectly weighted knobs, and leather so soft you find yourself lingering at your destination because you don’t want the ride to end.
17. Maserati Quattroporte III
Launched in the late ’70s, the Quattroporte III was part limousine, part opera singer, with its V8 engines that gave off a high-pitched, musical exhaust note when it revved. It wasn’t always the most reliable, but when it worked, it worked.
18. Chrysler Imperial LeBaron 1964
Think generous chrome, push-button transmission controls, and interiors cushier than your grandmother’s sofa. It wasn’t as famous as Cadillac or Lincoln, but for a moment the Imperial LeBaron was Chrysler demonstrating that they could keep pace with some bigger players.
Vitali Adutskevich on Unsplash
19. Ferrari 456GT
More than luxury, Ferrari is usually about speed, noise, and performance. Somehow the 456GT from the ’90s managed both. It came equipped as a front-engine grand tourer with seats comfortable enough for long drives, yet a V12 under the hood.
Original uploader was Davidhanley at en.wikipedia on Wikimedia
20. Infiniti Q45
The Q45 was supposed to be Japan’s big challenge to Europe and America with its active suspension, powerful V8, and minimalist interior design. It didn’t quite succeed commercially, but it showed that Japan was willing to compete and challenge the status quo.
