2011 BMW 7 Series 750Li xDrive

The 7 Series is BMW's flagship luxury sedan, the one you cross-shop with the Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8. Even in base form it feels eager and precise, with a ride that's firm enough to keep the body flat through corners. Inside, the cabin wraps you in soft leather and wood, and the rear seats offer limousine-like legroom in the long-wheelbase models. The iDrive system controls navigation, audio, and climate through a central knob, and it's easier to use than earlier versions. The 750Li xDrive is the long-wheelbase, all-wheel-drive version of the 750i, adding grip for slippery roads and extra rear legroom over the standard-wheelbase 750i xDrive. Its 4.4L V8 makes 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, routed through a six-speed automatic to all four wheels, and it returns 16 mpg combined. The long wheelbase gives rear passengers limousine-like space, but the added length and weight make it feel a touch less eager in tight corners than the standard-wheelbase cars.