Big car, big money. If you're after a large and imposing machine, here are some of the biggest, most upmarket cars available
By James Wilson
Going large with your car normally means spending more. That's even more true if you fancy something big that's also glitzy and upmarket. In general, the idea that size translates to expense holds true for cars, although a large car from a budget brand might cost less than a smaller car from a premium brand. In this list, though, bargain-basem*nt models have no place - we've rounded up some of the largest and most luxurious models available.
Typically some of the most desirable big expensive cars come from German carmakers - models such as the Mercedes S-Class and the Audi A8 have long been popular high-end large vehicles. That said, there are a number of impressive big expensive cars made by brands from different parts of the world, including Range Rover and Volvo, to name a few.
Search all used car deals
Buying a car on finance
While all the models highlighted below are undeniably huge and pricey, there are many reasons for the high costs. Some cars are expensive because they promise incredible power and acceleration, while others feature the latest car technology and seats comfier than most hotel mattresses. What is common, though, is that none of those mentioned will leave the driver feeling shortchanged.
While they might be big and expensive, there's no need to pay over the odds for one of these cars. Pick up a nearly new version and you can get practically all the feel-good factor of these costly cars without having to pay the full price. Depending on the car, you could even save yourself tens of thousands of pounds with a car that's covered a couple of thousand miles. Go for a slightly older model and you can save even more.
Below is our selection of some of the best big expensive cars available, which range from around £30,000 to £100,000 and all are in ready supply on the second-hand car market. Better still, to boost the feel-good factor of getting a large, costly car, you can order one online with BuyaCar and have it delivered to your door for a real sense of luxury.
How BuyaCar works
- Range Rover
- Audi RS6
- Bentley Bentayga
- Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo
- Land Rover Discovery
- Mercedes S-Class
- BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe
- Volvo XC90
1. Range Rover
Our pick Range Rover 4.4 SDV8 Vogue
Used deals from £29,999
Monthly finance from £647.29*
The Range Rover is one of the most iconic big, expensive and luxurious cars. For decades this model has offered wealthy drivers a comfortable way of getting from A to B and the latest version (launched in 2012) is a real gem. Not only are the seats super comfortable, the engines incredibly refined and the interior fit for royalty but the Range Rover is built to go anywhere. This means it is as happy crawling up a muddy hillside as it is cruising down the motorway or through the streets of London.
All modern-day Range Rovers use an automatic gearbox, which is smooth and well suited to the relaxed driving experience. There is a choice of diesel, petrol and hybrid engines with diesels being most common. If it is low tailpipe emissions you're after then a petrol hybrid is the best option for you - there are older diesel hybrids but these aren’t as refined. Meanwhile, if performance is a must, there is a potent 5.0-litre petrol version which is fast enough to out-accelerate sports cars but such pace comes at the expense of high fuel consumption.
RANGE ROVER BUYERS' GUIDE
Used Range Rover deals
2. Audi RS6
Our pick Audi RS6 4.0 TFSI Quattro
Used deals from £64,900
Monthly finance from £989.17*
The previous-generation Audi RS6 (sold from 2013 to 2018) is a high-performance version of the standard A6 Avant which is at heart an upmarket large estate car. That said, park one next to the other and it is clear they are cut from a different cloth. For starters, the RS6 has massive bulging wheel arches to hide huge wheels, more sporty styling and enormous exhaust pipes that are large enough to signal just how powerful and rapid this large car is.
Then there is the performance on offer. The RS6 uses a hefty 4.0-litre V8 engine - and it's a monster. It produces roughly the same amount of power as five-and-a-half Ford Fiestas and blasts the RS6 from 0-62mph in under four seconds. All models have four-wheel drive to help make the most of that substantial power without spinning the wheels and an automatic gearbox.
The RS6 It isn’t all about speed, though, as this Audi's interior is very well appointed and equipment is plentiful. Plus, there is space for tall adults in both rows of seats, and a substantial 565-litre boot (which is large but not the biggest available in a car of this size).
AUDI RS6 BUYERS' GUIDE
Used Audi RS6 deals
3. Bentley Bentayga
Our pick Bentley Bentayga 4.0 V8
Used deals Limited stock
The Bentley Bentayga is much like the Range Rover mentioned above - it is large, comfort-oriented, refined to drive, classy and partly built in the UK (although some of the manufacturing is done overseas). Where they differ, though, is that the Bentayga is first and foremost a road-going car, though it can still deal with a reasonable amount of off-roading. More often than not, though, we'd imagine those purchasing a Bentayga for north of £100,000 are more likely to stay on Tarmac, where the Bentayga performs extremely well.
All versions come with four-wheel drive and the bulk are powered by a potent 4.0-litre petrol engine - although an even more mighty 6.0-litre engine is available. There are a few diesel models, too, but due to UK buyers shifting away from diesel Bentley only produced them for a short while, so there are fewer used diesel models available.
On a practicality front, there are four-, five- and seven-seater models. Meanwhile, on the opulence front, the interior really is where the Bentayga shines. The materials feel of the highest quality and thanks to a vast number of personalisation options from the factory, the second-hand market is rife with unique options.
Used Bentley Bentayga deals
4. Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo
Our pick Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo 2.9 V6
Used deals Limited stock
A Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo is basically an estate version of the standard Panamera, meaning that it offers a bigger boot and easier access. Now, the standard car is something of a behemoth anyway, but when Porsche elongated the roofline to make the Sport Turismo things were taken up a notch and it feels even bigger. Simply put, if the idea of parking a car which is over five meters long - compared with just under 4.3m for a VW Golf, for example -sounds daunting then the Panamera Sport Turismo is perhaps not the best idea.
What is most surprising about Porsche’s humongous estate is that it drives very well indeed - better than some sports cars, in fact. Porsche has achieved this by using an impressive four-wheel-drive system and a modest range of powerful engines. Moving on to the cabin, the Panamera Sport Turismo has achieved a great balance between sporty and classy elements. A large sweeping dashboard spreads out in front of the driver with the switches and screens all feeling top quality.
PORSCHE PANAMERA BUYERS' GUIDE
Used Porsche Panamera deals
5. Land Rover Discovery
Our pick Land Rover Discovery 3.0 SD6 HSE
Used deals from £22,499
Monthly finance from £407.14*
Traditionally Range Rovers were luxurious upmarket cars and Land Rovers - which are made by the same company - were no-nonsense rugged off-roaders. Over time the lines between the two have become a tad blurred and the current Discovery, which was launched in 2017, blurs it more than ever. Look at a Discovery by itself and you get the impression it is fairly large, but park it next to the majority of other cars on the road and it will become obvious that it is an absolutely huge vehicle.
What’s more, the cabin is high quality and very spacious - there is ample room for seven people. To drive on long journeys it is a breath of fresh air thanks to comfy suspension and a great automatic gearbox. The majority of models are diesel-powered but all come with four-wheel drive as standard, which helps keep them in line with Land Rover’s reputation for being ‘go-anywhere’ cars. Unlike many cars that have four-wheel drive, this one is hugely capable if you head off-road.
LAND ROVER DISCOVERY BUYERS' GUIDE
Used Land Rover Discovery deals
6. Mercedes S-Class
Our pick Mercedes S-Class S350d L AMG Line Executive
Used deals Limited stock
Mercedes only recently took the wraps off a new version of its S-Class but the outgoing model is still a fantastic large car. In fact, this S-Class, which has been available from 2013, is so good that even as production comes to an end it is one of the most comfortable and refined cars on the road. That isn’t to say that the S-Class isn’t enjoyable to drive, though, as it can be very engaging indeed on a twisty road for keen drivers. It would just have to be a large twisty road as the S-Class is over 5.1m long.
There is a broad range of engines available and none should leave motorists feeling disappointed. It is simply a case of deciding whether the better economy of a diesel engine or the better performance of a petrol engine is wanted - there are mild hybrid petrol versions which bridge the gap, too.
The list of standard equipment is impressive, to say the least, but then again Mercedes has something of a reputation for showcasing its latest and greatest technology in its S-Class. Just bear in mind that the most sophisticated kit comes as an option and the S-Class has a huge list of optional equipment. Keep an eye out for a used model with plenty of options added, though, and you can have many thousands' worth of extras for a small premium over a less well-equipped alternative.
MERCEDES S-CLASS BUYERS' GUIDE
Used Mercedes S-Class deals
7. BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe
Our pick BMW 840i Gran Coupe sDrive
Used deals Limited stock
BMW pitches its 8 Series Gran Coupe as a four-door sports car - in fact, ’Gran Coupe’ is BMW-speak for a sleek model that still offers the practicality of four doors. To many, though, a sports car is small, lightweight and offers seating for just two. The 8 Series Gran Coupe is none of these. Importantly, though, sports cars also have to be fun to drive and that is where the big BMW delivers - despite being very large and heavy.
There are three engines to choose from and they are badged 840i, 850i and 840d. The first two are powered by petrol and the 840d diesel, with the 850i and 840d also coming with four-wheel drive as standard (which BMW refers to as ‘xDrive’).
When it comes to equipment the 8 Series Gran Coupe is blessed with a long list of standard kit from an electronic boot release to a head-up display that beams driving information onto the windscreen - right in the driver's line of sight - with the idea that it's safer displaying it here than drivers having to take their eyes off the road to look at the dials.
BMW 8 SERIES BUYERS' GUIDE
Used BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe deals
8. Volvo XC90
Our pick Volvo XC90 T8 R Design Pro
Used deals from £22,990
Monthly finance from £416.10*
Just like Ferrari is associated with supercars, Volvo is associated with safe cars - and ‘safe cars’ in the 21st century not only keep you safe if you have a crash but also help you to avoid having a crash in the first place. While this is much less glamorous than being able to hit 200mph on a racetrack, it is much more important in vehicles often used by families, such as the XC90. And the XC90 is one big family car, offering seven seats and plenty of interior space.
On top of safety, the XC90 is also one of the sleekest large SUVs on sale, its cabin is of great quality and whether used to drive through town or from London to Leeds it is very comfortable, with very comfy seats and smooth suspension.
The best news is that some second-hand models are very affordable - thanks, in part, to older XC90s now being almost six years old - even if many of these were pretty expensive when new. If you want your XC90 to be reassuringly expensive, however, it is best to look at T8 plug-in hybrid XC90s. These use a combination of an electric motor, battery pack and petrol engine to deliver rapid acceleration along with the prospect of travelling up to around 25 miles on electricity alone if you charge the car.
VOLVO XC90 BUYERS' GUIDE
Used Volvo XC90 deals
*Representative PCP finance - Ford Fiesta:
48 monthly payments of £192
Deposit: £0
Mileage limit: 8,000 per year
Optional final payment to buy car: £2,923
Total amount payable to buy car: £11,926
Total cost of credit: £2,426
Amount borrowed: £9,500
APR: 9.9%
BuyaCar is a credit broker, not a lender. Our rates start from 6.9% APR. The rate you are offered will depend on your individual circ*mstances.
