Power. Space. Comfort. Prestige. These are traits that well-heeled luxury car buyers demand from their vehicles. They want something that provides a rewarding driving experience, but at the same time coddles them in executive-jet comfort.

These cars might not be a brand's best-selling vehicle, but automakers still understand the need to offer a premium large car to help satisfy the tastes of the most discerning buyers. Consumer Guide (r) identifies 11 models in this class from such nameplates such as Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Infiniti, Jaguar, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Volvo.

Unique Premium Large-Car Features

- The Cadillac DTS and Volvo S80 are front-wheel drive (though the S80 is available with all-wheel drive).

- The Jaguar XJ Super V8Portfolio is the first Jaguar sedan with a base price greater than $100,000. Also breaking $100,000 for the first time is the Volkswagen Phaeton W12.

- The Lincoln Town Car is one of the last cars to be built using truck-style body-on-frame construction instead of the more common unibody type.

Cadillac DTS

Large and in Charge
These cars are stately in power, interior space, and luxury touches. All cars in this class, except the Volvo S80, offer V8 engines. A few, including the Audi A8, BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz CL-Class and S-Class, and Volkswagen Phaeton are available with 12-cylinder engines. The S80 has a turbocharged 5-cylinder. Volvo says a redesigned version is coming for 2007, and it will be available with a V8.

The Audi A8 and Volkswagen Phaeton are available with "W12" engines. The W12 is basically a pair of VW narrow-angle VR6 engines running in tandem, connected by the crankshaft. This configuration takes up less space in the engine bay than a traditional V12 engine.

Most premium large cars accelerate like sports cars. In Consumer Guide (r) tests, the V8 versions of these cars typically run from 0-60 mph in less than 7.0 seconds. Mercedes-Benz says the 2007 S600 will do a scorching 4.5-second 0-60 mph. To put that in perspective, Porsche pegs its 911 Carrera S at 4.6 seconds.

All premium large cars use an automatic transmission. The Cadillac DTS and Lincoln Town Car make due with a comparatively pedestrian 4-speed. Five- and 6-speeds are more common, with the Mercedes-Benz CL- and S-Class offering up to seven forward gears.

Big Outside, Big Inside
Some manufacturers offer models with regular and extended wheelbases, giving these premium large cars even more passenger space.

The Audi A8, BMW 7-Series, Jaguar XJ8, and Lincoln Town Car are available like this. Rear-seat passengers benefit the most from the extended wheelbase models. While a typical midsize sedan has about 35 to 37 inches of rear leg room, the A8 L, 7-Series Li, XJ8L, and Town Car L offer up to a limousine-like 45.4 inches.

But don't discount the other cars in this class. The Cadillac DTS has 41.6 inches of rear leg room; the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has 42.3; the Volkswagen Phaeton has 43.1. Few other cars or SUVs come close.

Up front, these cars offer a lot of leg space for the driver and passenger. The Infiniti Q45 and Lexus LS 430 lead the premium large car class in this department, each at 44.0 inches.

Cargo capacity varies greatly, from 21.0 cubic feet in the Town Car, down to 12.3 in the CL-Class. Keep in mind, though, the CL comes as a 2-door coupe only. The smallest 4-door sedan is the Phaeton with 13.0 cubic feet.

Plenty of Horsepower

Though the V8 engines for any premium large car have generally impressive horsepower numbers, check out the ponies riding under the hoods of the 12-cylinder offerings.

*Audi A8 - 450 hp
*BMW 7-Series - 438 hp
*Mercedes-Benz CL-Class - 493 or 604 hp
*Mercedes-Benz S-Class - 510 hp
*Volkswagen Phaeton - 444 hp

Volkswagen Phaeton

Brimming with Safety and Luxury Features
Buyers of premium large cars demand the best, and automakers go all out to try and satisfy those needs, which include plenty of high-tech safety, comfort, and convenience features.

ABS, traction/antiskid control, and curtain side airbags are par for the course. The Lexus LS 430 and Mercedes S-Class offer additional safety systems that can sense an impending collision and respond by tightening the seatbelts and applying additional braking force.

Most models offer front- and/or rear-obstacle detection systems with rearview cameras. In addition to the rear display, the system sounds audible alerts when the vehicle is too close to an object. Available on S-Class is an infrared night vision system.

The A8 and Phaeton have standard all-wheel drive. The A8 uses Audi's quattro system; the Phaeton has Volkswagen's 4Motion AWD. The S80 offers an AWD model, and soon Mercedes will introduce an S550 that uses the company's 4Matic AWD. These systems can aid handling and provide reassuring traction in wet or icy conditions. Most other premium large cars are rear-wheel drive only. Infiniti's Q45 is equipped with the automaker's Rear Active Steer, designed to improve handling by steering the rear wheels slightly.

Back inside the cabin, drivers and passengers are swathed in sheer opulence. Leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, and top-line audio systems are par for the course. Also common are heated seats for both front and rear passengers. A few entries, like DTS and S-Class, are available with cooled and massaging front seats.

Once on the road, cars like the 7-Series, LS 430, and S-Class are available with adaptive cruise control, which is designed to maintain a set following distance. The S-Class' Distronic system has the ability to completely stop the car in heavy traffic, but this requires the driver to have faith in technology. The LS 430 offers a power operation feature that closes the doors.

Luxury's Price Tag
All these comfort and luxury features don't come cheap. While some models can be had for as little as $45,000, others easily double, and in some cases, triple that figure. The A8, 7-Series, XJ, CL-Class, S-Class, and Phaeton all have models with base prices greater than $100,000.

Consumer Guide (r) chose the Audi A8 and Lexus LS 430 as Best Buys among premium large cars. Cadillac's DTS earned our Recommended label. If you're lucky enough to be able to afford one of these cars, you'll be treated to power, luxury, comfort, and exclusivity. And for many, these features are something that can't be given a price tag.

Audi A8
 Audi A8Base Price Range: $68,130-$118,190
EPA MPG Range: 15-24
Body Style: 4-door sedan
A8's central control system combines too many accessory functions into a single control, and the adjustable air suspension can't seem to deliver an optimal ride/handling balance. But overall, the A8 is a formidable adversary to any rival's flagship sedan. Audi trails BMW and Mercedes-Benz for prestige and resale value, but the A8 trumps its European competitors for interior decor, standard all-wheel drive, and base price. That qualifies it as a premium large car Best Buy.

BMW 7-Series
 BMW 7-SeriesBase Price Range: $71,8000-$118,900
EPA MPG Range: 15-25
Body Styles: 4-door sedan
Smooth, powerful, and athletic, the 7-Series has precious few dynamic flaws. It's also spacious and very comfortable--true first-class travel. How well you adapt to iDrive and other new-think controls depends on how you handle hi-tech wizardry. We'd prefer a simpler approach.
Cadillac DTS
 Cadillac DTSBase Price Range: $41,195-$47,695
EPA MPG Range: 17-25
Body Style: 4-door sedan
DTS leaves any sporting pretensions to its rear- and all-wheel-drive stablemate, the STS. The front-drive DTS aims for the traditional American-luxury-car buyer and scores. It's powerful, roomy, and refined, and matches most rivals for standard safety features. Starting in the low $40,000s, the Luxury I and II versions are particularly strong values.

Infinti Q45
 Infinti Q45Base Price: $58,000
EPA MPG Range: 17-24
Body Style: 4-door sedan
Slow sales are evidence that Q45 tends to be overlooked among premium large cars. It's competitive with the class leaders in terms of power, features, and build quality. But it can't quite stay with them for unqualified comfort and control on the road.

Jaguar XJ Series
 Jaguar XJ SeriesBase Price Range: $61,830-$115,330
EPA MPG Range: 17-27
Body Style: 4-door sedan
Ford owns Jaguar, and the British marque's special character feels watered down in the XJ. Still, this is a solid enough luxury sedan, and tends to undercut most rivals on price. The XJ8 versions are the best value within the XJ lineup. XJ8 L, Vanden Plas, and Super V8 add limousinelike rear-seat room without penalizing performance. The Super V8 Portfolio takes Jaguar well over the $100,000 line, going head-to-head with 12-cylinder models with better-established resale histories from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Lexus LS 430
Lexus LS 430Base Price: $56,525
EPA MPG Range: 18-25
Body Style: 4-door sedan
The LS 430 is priced at about the midpoint in the premium-large-car class, but matches any competitor for expected standard features and optional gadgets. Though less sporty than German rivals, this Lexus is an unsurpassed Best Buy blend of comfort, refinement, workmanship, and resale value.

Lincoln Town Car
Lincoln Town CarBase Price Range: $42,055-$50,525
EPA MPG Range: 17-25
Body Style: 4-door sedan
Town Car blends old-school American luxury, space, and isolation with surprisingly good road manners, all things considered. Cadillac's rival DTS is a far newer design with better performance and handling, but this elderly Lincoln still makes sense for some buyers.

Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
Mercedes-Benz CL-ClassBase Price Range: $95,500-$179,600
EPA MPG Range: 12-24
Body Style: 2-door coupe
CL-Class is probably the world's best all-around luxury coupe--as it should be at these prices--and it's bolstered by Mercedes' pacesetting engineering and rock-solid resale values. Still, we're not happy about some obvious cost-cutting in the interior.

2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-ClassBase Price Range: $85,400-$139,900
EPA MPG Range: 12-24
Body Style: 4-door sedan
The S-Class defines luxury motoring. Encompassing serenity and inspiring road manners are its hallmarks. Unfortunately, cars of this caliber also force the driver to interact with a diverting number of hi-tech features, many of which require far too many steps to adjust. In that regard, S-Class runs with the pack. Our pick here is the S550. It delivers such high levels of performance and luxury that it is difficult to justify $55,000 more for the S600.

Volkswagen Phaeton
Volkswagen PhaetonBase Price Range: $66,700-$101,300
EPA MPG Range: 12-22
Body Style: 4-door sedan
At first glance Phaeton has a lot going against it. Its lofty prices and limousine opulence don't fit with Volkswagen's sensible-shoes image. Most rivals offer higher brand prestige, residual values, and customer-satisfaction scores, plus the red-carpet dealer attention monied buyers expect. Those willing to give Phaeton a chance will enjoy understated refinement, benchmark materials quality, and performance that stands up to the like-priced competition, with the bonus of standard all-wheel drive. Slow sales mean discounts are available.

Volvo S80
Volvo S80Base Price Range: $37,585-$39,360
EPA MPG Range: 19-27
Body Style: 4-door sedan
S80 feels larger and more substantial than many like-priced upscale sedans, but the lack of a 6- or 8-cyl engine in this class is a major drawback. The 2.5T AWD adds the security of all-wheel drive, but is hard to recommend over AWD competitors or even Volvo's own lower-cost AWD S60.

Premium Large Car Specification Comparison
Vehicle Wheel-base, in. Length, in. Curb Weight, lb. Cargo Volume, cu. ft. Fuel Capacity, gal. Front Head Room, in. Front Leg Room, in. Rear Head Room, in. Rear Leg Room, in.
Audi A8 4-dr sdn 115.9 199.3 4288 14.6 23.8 37.3 41.4 38.0 37.6
Audi A8 L 4-dr sdn 121.0 204.4 4399 14.6 23.8 37.4 41.3 38.3 42.3
BMW 7-Series 4-dr sdn 117.7 198.4 4486 18.0 23.3 39.2 41.3 38.5 37.2
BMW 7-Series Li 4-dr sdn 123.2 203.9 4552 18.0 23.3 39.2 41.3 38.5 43.4
Cadillac DTS 4-dr sdn 115.6 207.6 4009 18.8 18.5 39.2 42.5 38.6 41.6
Infiniti Q45 4-dr sdn 113.0 200.8 4087 13.6 21.4 38.4 44.0 36.4 37.3
Jaguar XJ8, XJR 4-dr sdn 119.4 200.4 3726 16.4 22.5 38.4 43.1 38.6 38.7
Jaguar XJ8L, Vanden Plas,
Super V8 4-dr sdn 		124.4 205.3 3779 16.4 22.5 38.4 43.1 38.6 39.3
Lexus LS 430 4-dr sdn 115.2 197.4 3990 20.2 22.2 38.1 44.0 37.9 37.6
Lincoln Town Car 4-dr sdn 111.0 197.2 3490 14.4 18.5 38.8 41.3 37.5 40.9
Lincoln Town Car L 4-dr sdn 115.6 203.2 3764 17.0 18.5 39.5 42.5 37.6 41.0
Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
2-dr cpe 		120.0 196.8 3712 15.6 18.0 38.7 41.8 38.0 40.2
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
4-dr sdn 		120.0 200.1 3800 16.2 18.0 38.7 41.8 36.2 40.2
Volkswagen Phaeton
4-dr sdn 		120.0 197.7 3855 71.6 18.0 38.4 41.8 38.1 40.2
Volvo S80 4-dr sdn 114.6 212.0 4129 20.6 19.0 39.5 41.6 37.8 38.0