How do you define a luxury car?
Is it a matter of premium materials and build quality, technology out-of-reach to most drivers, superior dynamics, or simply exclusivity?
Can conventional sedans retake Tesla's crown?
The Tesla Model S shook up our definition of what a luxury car should be when it arrived in 2014, taking an upset win in the category and going close to winning Drive's overall Car of the Year trophy. The machine returned in dual-motor 90D form to successfully defend its crown in 2015, and it's back again in less powerful - and less expensive - 75D form.
Priced from around $135,000 plus on-road costs, Tesla prefers to advertise its cars with drive-away pricing that equates to $141,809 drive-away in NSW, or $152,249 drive-away as tested here with optional extras including metallic paint, white leather trim and "Autopilot" driver assistance.
The dearest car here features a driveline unlike any other - 193kW and 245kW electric motors at the front and rear coupled with a 75kWh battery with 490 kilometres of range and the ability to rip to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds, making the Tesla the quickest car in our quartet. It remains swift, brisk and impressive on the road.
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Near-silent at low speeds, the electric sedan is let down somewhat by intrusive wind and road noise that put it on par with diesel rivals at highway speed. The brand's innovative interior, home to a full digital dashboard and oversized tablet-style infotainment screen, impressed mightily in 2014 but came under fire this year for a lack of storage and ordinary seats - particularly in the rear.
"I've fallen a bit out of love with it," one judge said.
"These are Tesla's 'next-generation' seats, but I'd like the next-next-generation seats because these are no good. It's no more silent than the E-Class out on the road, and the ride is quite jiggly."
Tripping the scales at well over two tonnes, the Tesla is comfortably the heaviest car in its class, which hurts the vehicle's dynamics during emergency manoeuvres.
We tested Tesla's updated autopilot system on country roads and were impressed to find that the system is more capable than before, with a better understanding of its limitations. Earlier versions would happily allow you to enter semi-autonomous self-driving mode in less than ideal conditions before driving off the road, while the current spec requires you to slow down when there is a lack of lane marking, guardrails and other roadside furniture to help guide the car.
Jaguar takes a wildly different approach to luxury motoring with its XF sedan, a car that weighs around 550 kilograms less than its American rival. The new XF honours its badge with cat-like reflexes on road and track, treading lightly where other vehicles might try to pummel bumps into submission.
Powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine, the XF is impressively frugal, using just 4.3L/100km to produce 132kW and 430Nm. While that makes it the slowest car here, Jag will happily sell you more potent variants, including a supercharged V6 model that shares key hardware with the F-Type sports car.
Priced from $82,800 plus on-road costs, the Jag was criticised in our judging room for a lack of standard kit - digital radio, heated seats and a digital dashboard are optional extras - as well as dowdy interior presentation blending dark rosewood with black leather trim.
"It feels like an old man's car in this company," one judge said. "The rotary transmission controller is a waste of space, while space in the rear is ok."
Comparatively low-tech in this company, the Jaguar takes a different approach to its competitors by steering away from self-driving tech in favour of driver engagement.
Our team agreed that the XF had the sportiest character of the group, impressing drivers with its grace and agility. Mechanically sympathetic souls were more than a little concerned about the brand's two-year, 34,000 kilometre service intervals, though at least one of our testers thought that schedule was "optimistic at best".
"You will be going back to the dealer in the first two years of owning a Jag," he said.
Straddling the conceptual divide between Tesla and Jaguar rivals, the Mercedes Benz E220d combines old-school luxury with cutting-edge tech in a way few cars can match. It looks and feels like an S-Class limousine yet costs far less than the Mercedes flagship. It has the Jaguar's trim weight and focus on efficiency, along with semi-autonomous driving features to match the Tesla.
Our judges felt the Mercedes' driver aids were "pretty much at the top of its class", proving smoother and more confidence-inspiring than the Tesla or Volvo. There's a focus on safety here that its rivals can't match - world-first stuff including seats that shunt you out of the way of a side impact, and speakers that send a blast of static into the cabin to trigger an auditory reflex that can prevent hearing loss in a violent collision.
Our $92,900 E220d features a new 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine that uses 4.1L/100km to produce 143kW and 400Nm, adequate outputs that make the E-Class a rewarding proposition around town or at speed.
Judges praised the "modern meets classic cabin featuring tech in an opulent environment", that includes twin widescreen digital displays as standard, as well as new steering wheel-mounted touchpads that offer a safe and intuitive way to manipulate the car's menus and infotainment system.
Negative points included a rear seat a little short on legroom, and conservative exterior styling that could be mistaken for the brand's smaller C-Class and larger S-Class offerings.
That wasn't the case for the Volvo S90, which boasts more rear legroom than its rivals, along with attractive proportions with exquisite detailing that arguably makes it the most handsome car here.
Large, attractive and beautifully finished, the S90 represents an intriguing alternative to the established luxury set.
Based on the XC90 SUV, the $96,900 S90 D5 Inscription here has a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine that brings 173kW of power and 480Nm of torque, along with 5.1L/100km economy.
The innovative motor uses what Volvo calls a "PowerPulse" to reduce turbo lag by sending a blast of compressed air through the turbocharger, spooling it up to improve throttle response on the road.
Devoid of athletic ambition - there's no sports mode or gear shift paddles - the S90 is confident in its ability to woo customers with its blend of style and technology. The cabin is a gorgeous place to be, with a Tesla-like tablet and digital dash combination, and exquisite touches such as yellow Kevlar speaker cones that glint away behind metal grilles.
It even smells as a luxury car should - a blend of leather, metal and glass that tickled at least a couple of our judges.
The S90 is less impressive on the road, where its ride feels a little unsettled, and its engine a little grumpier than the new 'Benz. Volvo's value feels questionable, charging extra for Apple CarPlay connectivity while Holden's bargain-basement Spark offers it for free.
That beautiful-looking stereo - a $4500 option - lacks depth compared to the standard speakers fitted to the E-Class, and Volvo's trademark safety features can feel intrusive. Our test route includes a couple of rough patches and a sharp bump that locked judges in a Kung Fu death grip as if the car believes it is flying off a cliff.
Drive Car of the Year judges rarely voted unanimously in 2016. But this category was exceptional.
Tesla's Model S and the Jaguar XF tied for third place, each receiving a mix of third and fourth place votes from our expert panel.
All of our testers rated the Volvo S90 second in the category, impressed by the sedan's design and execution, but not its value or dynamic behaviour.
And the Mercedes-Benz E-Class was the top pick for all six judges, thanks to its blend of innovation, safety, and opulence that stands ahead of the crowd.
"The E-Class is Mercedes-Benz making their next-generation luxury sedan and throwing everything they've got at it," one judge said. "It's pretty damn good."
Judges' votes:
Mercedes-Benz E220d - 6
Volvo S90 D5 Inscription - 12
Jaguar XF Prestige 20d - 21
Tesla Model S 75D - 21
2016 Mercedes-Benz E220d pricing and specifications:
Price: From $92,900 plus on-road costs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel
Power: 143kW at 3800rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1600-2800rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic, rear-wheel-drive
Fuel use: 4.1L/100km
2016 Volvo S90 D5 Inscription pricing and specifications:
Price: From $96,900 plus on-road costs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel
Power: 173kW at 4000rpm
Torque: 480Nm at 1750-2250rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, all-wheel-drive
Fuel use: 5.1L/100km
2016 Jaguar XF Prestige 20d pricing and specifications:
Price: $82,800 plus on-road costs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel
Power: 132kW at 4000rpm
Torque: 430Nm at 1750-2500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, rear-wheel-drive
Fuel use: 4.3L/100km
2016 Tesla Model S 75D pricing and specifications
Price: $134,818 plus on-road costs
Motors: 193kW front and 245kW rear electric motors
Power: 245kW
Torque: 525Nm
Transmission: Direct drive, all-wheel-drive
Fuel use: N/A
6 Comments
The current E class has a longer wheelbase than the 1980s W126 S Class sedan. It is more aerodynamic (0.23Cd) than a Prius. It is also smarter than those who don't buy one (at least those can afford one).
I'm guessing you fit into the 'can't afford one' category?
If the panel is trying to find the nicest dinosaur, then any of these fuel guzzling monsters can take the prize, but if we consider the New Generation of car, the Electric one, then Tesla still reins supreme
Once again no Japanese considered good enough. I've owned Benz's Jags but no BMWs or Audis and several Lexus' and frankly the Lexus has been by far the more economical to own over time. These comparisons make no sense when in all probability the writers do not have the wherewithal to buy one. The real proof is in long term ownership,not some short test where the writers appears dazzled by the gadgetry and name on the boot.
Once again no Japanese considered good enough. I've owned Benz's Jags but no BMWs or Audis and several Lexus' and frankly the Lexus has been by far the more economical to own over time. These comparisons make no sense when in all probability the writers do not have the wherewithal to buy one. The real proof is in long term ownership,not some short test where the writers appears dazzled by the gadgetry and name on the boot.
$141,000 and Tesla charges extra for metallic paint? Which you get free with a $16,000 Mazda 2? Lord, how these luxury brands rip people off!