10 Best Luxury Commuter Cars

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid front three quarter ・ Photo by Acura

If commuting is unavoidable, then one of these luxury cars will make the daily slog more bearable. Investing in a quality ride makes sense on several levels. Considering how much time is spent on the road, it’s similar to investing in a good mattress.

Rush-hour traffic makes a mockery of acceleration times and top speeds, so there’s a different set of demands. The seats have to be comfortable and the stereo has to sound good. Luxury cars offer advanced driver aids and most come with partial autonomy. The idea of not kicking out so many hydrocarbons and saving on fuel is also attractive, so we’ve also made sure our selections include an all-electric vehicle and a few hybrids.

2018 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid

Whatever the weather, the RLX Sport Hybrid has remarkable grip and traction. The all-wheel drive system provided by a mix of gasoline V6 and three electric motors keeps this premium mid-size sedan to the intended line with extreme precision. Yet it’s still a comfortable and forgiving car. The cabin is tranquil, even the design of the alloy wheels was developed to reduce road noise. That’s an important consideration when driving a car every day.

The drivetrain makes a respectable 377 horsepower while managing an average of 28 mpg. And standard equipment includes a Traffic Jam Assist feature. The RLX was given a little more presence in its 2018 redesign, but it still runs “under the radar” — which can be an asset.

Photo by Acura

2018 Audi A4

Until the 2019 Audi A8 large luxury sedan comes out later in 2018, the compact A4 is the most technologically advanced Audi that’s suitable for commuting — despite the R8 often being described as a supercar you can drive every day. Fortunately, it’s a wonderful premium compact sedan with plenty of space, high style, deep refinement, a 252-hp turbocharged engine (in regular form), and all-wheel drive.

Depending on the trim level, there are many desirable features available, such as adaptive cruise control with stop/go and traffic jam assistance (partial self-driving), active lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, a loud-and-clear 19-speaker/755-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system, and the Virtual Cockpit digital driver information display. The miles will melt away.

Photo by Audi

2019 BMW 530e

The overall BMW 5 Series lineup is among the finest luxury mid-size sedans available. The 530e version is a plug-in hybrid, but BMW doesn’t inflate the price, asking the same $54,395 as for the gasoline-powered 2019 530i.

It takes under three hours to fully recharge the 530e’s lithium-ion battery at a 240-volt outlet, giving a range of 16 miles in electric mode. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 72 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) with rear-wheel drive. BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system is available, along with a Driver Assistance Plus package that includes traffic jam assistance, side collision avoidance, and adaptive cruise control — all great things to have while driving between home and work.

Photo by BMW

2018 Cadillac CT6

For a commute that includes long stretches of freeway, think about a CT6 with the Super Cruise hands-off (and feet-off) self-driving feature. It won’t allow a human driver to check out completely and start sending emails on their smartphones, but just the act of delegating most of the piloting duties to the onboard computers and electronic actuators has the effect of relaxing the shoulders and reducing overall fatigue.

That means you’ll be button-bright to attack the day’s work, or still energetic enough to spend time with the family in the evening. And who can put a price on that? The CT6 also has really comfortable seats, just some of the many things this large luxury sedan has going for it.

Photo by Cadillac

2019 Jaguar I-Pace

This list is supposed to be about 10 best luxury commuter cars and the I-Pace is technically a crossover. But it works well enough for commuting. Some states allow solo drivers in carpool lanes if their vehicle is sufficiently eco-friendly, bringing the opportunity to sail past everyone else.

The I-Pace is all-electric, with an impressive range of 240 miles and no emissions. If there are charging stations at work, an I-Pace owner might only have to use the home facilities once in a while. The rest of the vehicle is also a hit, from the styling to the way it handles. It’s expensive (from $70,495), but less so than the competing Tesla Model X.

Photo by Jaguar

2018 Genesis G80

This will get the chairman’s attention. A G80 owner could quickly gain a reputation for being smart with money and making good decisions while not following the herd. And if the chairman ever sits in it, be sure to mention in passing that the only other car company to have installed a Lexicon audio system was Rolls-Royce.

The G80 3.3T Sport comes with almost everything as standard equipment for the price of a basic BMW 5 Series (all-wheel drive is $2,000 option). That means all the usual driver aids, along with smartphone integration, free satellite radio for three years (most manufacturers offer three months’ worth), the same amount of time for free maintenance with a valet service, and many other amenities.

Photo by Genesis

2019 Lexus ES 350/ES 300h

There’s a difference between acquiring a luxury car for special occasions and buying one for everyday use. Where the latter is concerned, we might not be so inclined to splash out. Yet we want a high level of durability because commuting isn’t demanding just for the driver. On top of that, we still require comfort and plenty of equipment.

The newly redesigned 2019 Lexus ES 350 fits the bill. It’s entry-level Lexus sedan that doesn’t even try to be sporty but excels at cosseting. The ES 300h is the hybrid model. Average fuel consumption is either 26 mpg (ES 350) or 44 mpg (ES 300h). Lexus also offers a Mark Levinson audio upgrade that sounds fabulous. 

Photo by Lexus

2018 Mercedes-Maybach S 560 4Matic/S 650

Someone looking for one of the best luxury commuter cars clearly has a decent budget, and probably a reserved parking spot at work. There are commuters whose battle with the traffic lasts two hours each way, maybe more. Add up all that time and it’s a significant chunk of one’s life that might be spent more productively.

For those higher up the corporate ladder, it might be worth employing a driver, buying a Mercedes-Maybach and carrying out business in an ultra-comfortable mobile office. Or de-stressing from a tricky deal and celebrating with a bottle of champagne from the chilled compartment. An equivalent from Bentley or Rolls-Royce would be much more expensive. Pass the Moët.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2018 Porsche Panamera

The Panamera is a luxury car with a difference. Because it’s a Porsche, it has driving talents beyond those of most rivals. It feels special, whatever the trip. So there’s a sense of occasion even with the usual day-in-day-out commuting grind.

And that’s just in relation to the dynamics. Factor in the beautiful interior and the case for the Panamera becomes even more compelling. It isn’t only one of the best luxury commuter cars, but it’s one of the best luxury cars, period. Sport Turismo versions have a little extra cargo space, if that’s important. There are plug-in hybrid variants, but the twin-turbo 550-hp V8 engine is super-tempting. An adaptive air suspension is also available.

Photo by Porsche

2018 Volvo V90

Just because there are hundreds of cars on the freeway during rush hours doesn’t mean that every driver is merely an unimaginative drone in the nation’s workforce. There’s still scope to express individuality, especially in the luxury bracket.

The Volvo V90 is a wagon, which is a break from conformity right there. It brings some extra practicality for weekend pursuits and it’s also arguably the most handsome wagon ever. Most people will be delighted with the elegant and high-quality interior. Volvo’s seats are typically super-comfortable and supportive, and the V90 offers a sound-for-sore-ears Bowers & Wilkins audio system. Another plus: When there are so many distracted drivers and pedestrians, Volvo’s wide array of safety features provides a calming reassurance.

Photo by Volvo