The idea of a traditional sedan may be dying a slow and painful death, but, for many of us, it remains the quintessential shape of a car — you know, the one you’d squiggle in kindergarten. Three box-designs made up the most commonly seen outline on roads throughout the vast majority of motoring history.
Of course, that seems to have changed a great bit over the past couple of decades. Consumers like SUVs and crossovers, with the added height and versatility such body styles inevitably bring. Even luxury brands haven’t been immune to the public’s fascination with SUVs.
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But as manufacturers continue to shun the traditionalist approach, there’s still nothing that screams class and sophistication like a good ol’ three-box luxobarge. So we want you to tell us: what’s the best-looking luxury sedan out there.
To get you started, here are a few of our favorites.
BMW 7-Series E38 (1994–2001)
It may seem strange to say so now, but in the past BMW has had some absolute crackers when it comes to sedans. And in terms of top-tier luxury, the E38 7-Series stands out. Extremely well balanced, the E38 doesn’t feel the need to shout about its capabilities. Instead, it exudes an air of understated elegance, reserved rather than imposing, but leaving you with no doubt of the car’s sporting ability.
Maserati Quattroporte V (2003–2012)
The fifth-generation Maserati Quattroporte sums up just about everything we love about Italian car design. It may not have had the substance under the skin to go toe to toe with the German full-size sedans, but for sheer sex appeal, the Quattroporte is an aphrodisiac on wheels. The cab-backward design and long bonnet create a timeless silhouette. You couldn’t get that much style out of Munich, Stuttgart or Ingolstadt…
Mercedes-Benz CLS C219 (2004–2010)
OK, this one is a curveball, but hear me out. The CLS was a breath of fresh air for Mercedes when it launched. Despite being not all that special underneath (some called it a less practical W211 E-Class), those looks have aged like a fine wine, having matured in a world of sharp creases that make up modern-day machinery. Of course, Mercedes would probably never like to refer to it as a sedan, opting for their newfangled “four-door-coupe” moniker. But a sedan it was, and the CLS previewed a different design direction that many others have adopted since, as it injected a bit of life into what was considered a staid shape.
What do you think, though — what’s the best-looking luxury sedan of all time?
