BMW 7-Series
Price: From £51,850
For: Quick; sharp handling; one of the best big saloons to drive.
Against:Firm ride; awkward styling; fiddly iDrive control system.
We're used to the rather challenging appearance of the E65 BMW 7-Series by now, especially since the toning-down of the abstract angles and dotty details in the 2005 facelift, but the seven's still not exactly pretty. Never mind: if you want a luxury car to actually drive yourself, rather than to be driven in, then this is one of the best choices.
730i, 740i V8, 750i V8 and 760i V12 petrol-engined models all fall into tax Band G - and are thus liable for the £25-a-day London congestion charge - which makes the 730d diesel a considerably more attractive proposition (it does over 34mpg, too). Long-wheelbase models are also available.
