My mate James got promoted last year. Senior partner at his firm. First thing he did? Rang me up asking which car he should get now that he’s “proper exec material.” I laughed. Told him half the senior managers I know drive three-year-old Skodas while the junior consultants lease brand-new BMWs they can’t afford.
But here’s the thing about cars for executives. They’re not just about flash. Yeah, you want something that looks the part when you’re pulling up to client meetings. But you also want comfort for those three-hour motorway slogs. Tech that actually works. Running costs that won’t have your accountant ringing you at midnight.
So let’s talk about what’s looking good for 2026.
BMW i5: The Electric Exec Done Right
The BMW i5 isn’t pretty. Let’s get that out there. The massive grille looks odd on an electric car that doesn’t need cooling. But get past that, and you’ve got one of the best cars for executives on the market.
It drives like a proper BMW. Which sounds obvious, but loads of electric saloons feel disconnected and floaty. The i5 doesn’t. Sharp steering. Body control that makes you forget it weighs two tonnes. I drove one from London to Edinburgh last month,h and it never felt like workThe rangege is about 360 miles, realistically. Fast charging at 205 kW means you’re not spending ages at services. The cabin’s brilliant,t too. Loads of space. Properly comfortable seats. That massive curved screen setup takes a bit of getting used to, but at leastit’s responsive, ve unlike some systems.
Company car tax? Three percent for 2025/26. That’s basically nothing compared to what you’d pay on a diesel.
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Tesla Model 3: Still the Benchmark
The Model 3’s been around for years now, but it’s still one of the best executive cars you can buy. Especially if you’re doing serious miles.
Long Range version nets you an official 436 miles. You are actually getting about 350 to 380, depending on how you drive. But that’s still massive. And the Supercharger network is reliable, which can’t be said for most public charging stations.
Indoors, it is minimalist to the point of being weird. Everything runs through that single touchscreen. No proper buttons anywhere. Some people love it. Others find it infuriating. I’m somewhere in the middle. The screen’s fast and slick,k but I’d kill for a few physical controls.
Best luxury executive cars usually mean German badges, but Tesla has made itself a player here. The Model 3 costs less to run than pretty much anything else in this class.
Mercedes E-Class: Comfort First
If you would like the most comfortable car in this group, get the E-Class. Simple as that.
The ride quality’s brilliant. Seats are exceptional. Noise levels are lower than anything else here. It’s not as sharp to drive as the BMW, but that’s not really the point. Sitting behind the wheel of an E-Class is all about comfort on long trips.
Company car drivers might want to consider the E300e plug-in hybrid. Decent electric range for city commutes. Petrol engine for longer trips. BiK rates aren’t as good as pure electric,c but you’re not dealing with range anxiety.
That MBUX infotainment system with the Superscreen option is properly impressive. Basically turns your entire dashboard into a massive display. Looks ace. Works well too, which is rarer than you’d think.
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Skoda Superb: The Accountant’s Choice
Look, I know what you’re thinking. A Skoda? As an exec car? But hear me out.
The Superb is massive inside. Bigger than most cars, costing twice as much. Boot’s enormous. 690 litres in the estate. You can actually use it. The plug-in hybrid version gets 75 miles of electric range. That’sproperlyr useful for most people’s daily driving.
Yeah, it’s not got the badge appeal of a Merc or BMW. But it’s got tortoiseshell trim in the Laurin & Klement spec that looks dead posh. And when you’re sitting in the back with acres of legroom, who cares what badge is on the front?
Used cars for executives make sense here, too. Three-year-old Superbs are going for half what they cost new. Still loads of warranty left. None of that first-year depreciation hit.
Audi A5: The New Kid
Audi replaced the A4 with the A5. A bit confusing, that. But the car itself is solid.
It’s not the most exciting thing on this list. But it’s competent. Good build quality. Nice cabin. Drives well enough. The 2.0 TFSI petrol with 150 hp is probably the sweet spot. Quick enough without costing the earth to run.
The S Line spec is what most people go for. Looks smart. Good kit levels. Depreciation’s better than you’d expect, which matters if you’re buying rather than leasing.
BMW 3 Series: The Compact Choice
If the i5s are too big or too expensive, the 3 Series is brilliant. Been the benchmark in this class since the 70s. Still is.
The latest one drives beautifully. Comfortable enough for long trips but still fun when the road gets twisty. Cabin’s well put together. Tech’s good. Space is decent front and back.
Or go for the i4 if you want electric. It’s basically a 3 Series with batteries. Handles even better than the petrol version somehow. That instant electric torque makes overtaking dead easy.
Lexus NX: The Reliable Option
If you want something that absolutely won’t break down, get a Lexus. They win reliability surveys every single year.
The NX is an SUV rather than a saloon, but it’s proper executive territory these days. Sharp styling. Solid cabin. That plug-in hybrid powertrain gives you 40 miles of electric range.
Lexus dealer service is exceptional, too. None of that attitude you sometimes get from German dealers. They actually want to help.
Porsche Panamera: When Money’s No Object
The Panamera’s what you get when a 911 has a growth spurt. Brilliant to drive. Proper fast. Still comfortable on long trips.
Yeah, it’s expensive. But if you’re looking at luxury cars for executives and budget isn’t the main concern, this is hard to beat. The V8 GTS models are properly quick. The E-Hybrid versions make slightly more sense for company car tax.
It’s a driver’s car that happens to have four doors and a decent boot. Not many cars can say that.
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Volkswagen ID.7: The Value Electric
The ID.7 doesn’t get talked about enough. It’s a brilliant electric saloon that costs less than the BMW or Merc equivalents.
Up to 424 miles of range in the top spec. Even the base model does over 300. Boot’s massive at 605 litres. Loads of space inside. Quiet on the motorway.
It’s not as engaging to drive as the i5. Feels a bit too big on narrow roads. But as a relaxed motorway cruiser, it’s spot-on.
Hyundai Ioniq 6: The Odd One
The Ioniq 6 looks like nothing else. Designed to look like a 1930s train, apparently. I think it looks quite cool. Others think it’s weird.
But it’s quick, comfortable, and loaded with tech. Good range too. The only problem is that the Ioniq 5 does basically the same job whilst being more practical. Still, if you want something different, this works.
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What Actually Matters
Right, so those are ten solid options for cars for executives in 2026. But here’s what I’ve learned helping mates choose exec cars over the years.
First, ignore badge snobbery. Yeah, the German marques still dominate. But Skoda, Lexus, and even Tesla make brilliant exec cars now. Sometimes better than the traditional lot.
Second, think about your actual needs. Doing 500 miles a week? Range matters. Mostly city driving? A plug-in hybrid or EV makes sense. Carrying clients? Backseat space beats a flash badge.
Third, company car tax is huge if you’re going through a salary sacrifice scheme. Pure electric cars are taxed at three to five percent. Petrol and diesel? You’re looking at 25 to 37 percent. That’s the difference between £200 a month and £800 a month.
And finally, second-hand cars for executives make loads of sense. Let someone else take the depreciation hit. A three-year-old best executive car UK model with 30,000 miles costs half what it did new. Still plenty of life left in it.
James ended up getting a two-year-old BMW i5. Saved himself about £25,000 compared to new. Still looks the part at client meetings. Still comfortable for his weekly trip to Manchester. And the company car tax doesn’t make him wince every month.
That’s really what executive cars are about. Looking professional without being daft about money. Because the truly successful people? They’re not the ones showing off. They’re the ones making smart choices.
Even if those smart choices happen to come with a nice badge on the bonnet.
