Best large cars for 2024

The very best large cars are reliable, economical, practical, and far sharper to drive than an SUV. 

The large car class includes premium models – such as the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. There are also more reasonably priced mainstream designs, including the Skoda Superb and Peugeot 508.

With plenty of sleek coupés and saloons available, plus slightly more practical hatchback models, there is bound to be a large car to suit your needs and budget, provided you choose carefully.

Our lab and road tests are impartial and independent, so you can trust our reviews. Only Which? members can view our expert reviews in the tables below.

In the tables below are the very best large cars we’ve tested. These are Which? Best Buys that excelled in our lab and road tests, offering decent fuel economy and good reliability.

Log-in to see the large cars we recommend. If you're not already a member, join Which? to unlock our results - you'll also get access to our Best Buys, Don't Buys and all of our exclusive, expert car reviews.

Plus we’ve picked out the worst large car we’ve tested, so you don’t waste your money on a car that’s short on space, unreliable or drinks fuel at an alarming rate.

You can also go straight to our large car reviews if you're interested in a certain model. 

Best new large cars

Our rundown of the best new large cars suggests that high-end luxury models don't always score as well as cheaper models. 

Best used large cars

Large cars don't have to stretch your budget - find the best large cars below available used for a great price.

Our latest large car reviews

Want to find out how the newest large cars have fared in our tests? Read our latest and most-recently updated large car reviews.

What to avoid when buying a large car

If there’s one thing a large car should get right, it’s space. Whether driving or sitting in the passenger seats, no one should be short of room in a large car. 

The same goes for the boot. It should be big enough to fit a family food shop, a pushchair and an extra tyre, with room to spare.

It’s easy to assume that a large car will meet these requirements with ease, but that’s not always the case. A big boot doesn’t mean it’s well designed. 

We don’t just measure size: we also consider how easy a boot is to load. A high load lip may not seem like a huge problem – until you’re trying to lift your family’s holiday luggage into it.

A large car should be roomy and comfortable, but ample size and space don't necessarily mean that a large car will be a gas guzzler. 

Our unique testing has found large cars that manage well over 60mpg, while others fail to get over 30, despite the sometimes outlandishly high figures claimed by some manufacturers.

Lastly, don't forget about reliability, which can be the undoing of some otherwise decent and popular large car models – see our guide to the most-reliable cars for more.

Passenger space and headroom

The main reason for choosing a large car over a medium model is that they offer a greater amount of space for passengers and luggage. However, our tests have shown that just because a car takes up a lot of room on the road, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be cavernous on the inside.

For instance, you may be surprised to hear that upmarket models such as the Audi A4 and Genesis G70 are pinched for rear passenger headroom, and fitting three in the back will be a squeeze.

You needn't fork out for an ultra-luxurious car like the BMW i7 or Mercedes S-Class to get decent space, though. More sensibly priced practical models in the large car class include the BMW 3 Series, Tesla Model 3 and Skoda Superb.

Premium handling and performance

Don’t think you need to look to a sports car or compact hot hatchback for driving thrills. Some large models are amongst the best cars to drive, with responsive handling and decent long-distance comfort.

Premium German marques such as BMW and Mercedes produce particularly driver-focused large cars, though most manufacturer model ranges have a breadth of engines to suit most tastes and budgets - just watch out for expensive running costs on the most high-performance models.

Large car alternatives: consider buying an estate

Estate cars have fallen out of fashion in recent years, as family buyers turn to SUVs and crossovers for their perceived additional practicality. However, if you don’t like the image of a 4x4, or don’t want to compromise on driving dynamics, a large estate car may prove a better bet.

Estate models are often only a few thousand pounds more expensive than the equivalent saloon they’re based, but often offer much greater boot space with little or no compromise to the car’s other facets.

See our expert pick of the best estate cars.

We test cars more thoroughly than anyone else

Our tests are more comprehensive than those carried out by other organisations and, because Which? is independent, you can trust our reviews to give you the full, honest and impartial truth about every car we test.

To find out more, head to our how we test cars guide.