Best in class
BMW 5 Series
It's another big win for Beemer when it comes to making executive cars. While it might be unkind to refer to the 5 Series as a scaled-up 3, there are mechanical connections between the two, and the pedigree is clearly obvious. Whereas previous generations of 5 Series could be decried for a too-stiff ride or not enough rear seat space, this version spends much careful time ticking the practical boxes before applying a thick veneer of BMW handling and precision on top. As with the 3 Series, the core 520d model is probably the best all-rounder in the range, although the charms of the mighty 565hp M5 super-saloon are ever-tempting. Best one: 520d M-Sport Touring estate for €55,110
Also consider
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
In spite of a facelift which tidied up the nose a bit, and brought some interior improvements too, the E-Class has just never managed to look as effortlessly cool as the 5 Series. The good news is that it’s far more practical, with much more legroom in the back and, in the case of the estate model, a truly humongous 700-litre boot. You buy a 5 Series to enjoy driving it, but you buy an E-Class to have a car you can happily live with for the rest of your life.
Audi A6
There is an all-new A6 due in 2017, but a recent update has kept the current car feeling pretty youthful and sprightly, even if in the cabin it’s really starting to show some grey hairs. Still looks sharp on the outside, mind and the new lighter Ultra model makes the best use of its 2.0-litre TDI diesel to score a genuine 65mpg in real-world conditions. The real star of the range though is the 333hp BiTurbo V6 diesel which combines sports-car crushing performance with long-range fuel economy.
Worth waiting for
Jaguar XF It may not look a whole lot different to the outgoing model (which can trace its mechanical roots back to the 1998 S-Type) but the new XF is actually quite a different beast. Much more spacious than the current model, it also has a new aluminium chassis and body to help bring its Co2 and fuel economy down, while hopefully taking the current car's excellent driving dynamics and making them ever better. And the same-again styling? Part of Jaguar's plan to make the XF more appealing to conservatively-minded exec car buyers. Launches: Autumn 2015.
Underrated
Lexus GS
It’s easy to over-look the mid-size Lexus when it comes to this segment. There are just so many shiny Mercs, Jags, Beemers and Audis to trip over before you get to it. The thing is, though, that it’s in many ways the most exceptional car here. It’s the only one sold exclusively as a hybrid, for example, and the 300h matches the 520d for emissions, but does so with a great deal more refinement thanks to its petrol engine. The cabin, a little clunky in places, is big, broad and very comfy and if the styling isn’t to all tastes, then perhaps the fact that it will likely never, ever break down might help a little.