In the large family vehicle segment, the line between ‘car’ and ‘SUV’ has become so blurred in many cases that it’s effectively pointless. So, as we did last year, we’ve grouped them together.
Instead, we separated large cars into mainstream and premium as that tends to better reflect how real-world car buyers look for their next vehicle. The badge and feature list tend to be more important than the body style, although customers are overwhelmingly choosing SUV-style cars instead of conventional hatchback/saloon/estate models – even if they’re no more practical and no more spacious (and have zero off-roading capabilities).
The premium category is inevitably smaller than the mainstream category, and there was inevitably debate about where to draw the line between mainstream and premium. In the end, the eligible cars this year were:
The eligible cars this year were:
Our awards recognise both the best new models launched over the last 12 months and the best overall cars in each category – because newest doesn’t always mean best.
Best new premium large car: Audi A6 e-tron
Available in both ‘Sportback’ saloon and ‘Avant’ estate bodystyles, the well-rounded Audi A6 e-tron is a lavish electric executive car that not only looks the part, but delivers a class-leading battery range and a smooth driving experience with rewarding rear-wheel drive handling.
Reviewers agree that the Audi stacks up well against rivals like the Mercedes-Benz EQE and BMW i5, and the car has also received plenty of praise for its intuitive on-board tech and straight-line performance, which make it feel worthy of its upmarket price tag.
The A6 e-tron also jumps straight to the top of the pile as our class champion for large premium electric cars.
Class champions
As of December 2025, the new Audi A6 e-tron tops our Expert Rating Index for best large premium car, but if you don’t want an EV, then you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Class champion, petrol/diesel/hybrid: BMW 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series has always been a class leader, and the current eighth-generation model is no different. Now offered with a choice of petrol or plug-in hybrid power (the electric i5 is ranked separately), the 5 Series continues to outperform its major rivals – the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6 – in almost every way.
The Car Expert Awards 2026 – all the category winners
