We’ve already taken a look at the best SUVs and hatchbacks for 2024 and now we wanted to focus on saloon cars.
Saloon cars have long been the favourite of executives and company car drivers, with their spacious interiors, good fuel economy and latest interior technology. But these features also make them a great choice for those who want a roomier family car that isn't the size of an SUV or estate model.
The best saloon cars of 2024
1. Tesla Model 3
Our first pick is the Tesla Model 3, a fully electric premium saloon car that’s ideal for those who want the latest in electric technology and futuristic design.
Tesla is an electric only brand that has a reputation for creating electric vehicles (EVs) with long distance ranges and rapid charging. And the Model 3 is no exception. Depending on the model you choose, your mileage range will be up to 374 miles. The entry level model has a range of 344 miles and the Long Range 421 miles.
Whilst the exterior of the Model 3 is a classic saloon with its sleek lines and range of metallic colours, the interior's much more divisive as it’s a completely clear dashboard except for the large 15.4 inch touchscreen control centre. Whilst we think this looks great, we know not everyone agrees, and it can be a little bothersome when you want to adjust anything whilst driving.
Take a look at our Tesla Model 3 leasing page to see our current leasing deals or give us a call on 0330 221 0000.
2. Audi A6
Audi is a premium car brand that’s long been favoured by corporate drivers, especially their sleek looking saloons. We’ve chosen the A6 for our top 10 because it’s a capable all-rounder and there’s plenty of options so you can really make it the car you need.
There’s plenty of petrol, diesel and even hybrid engines available for you to choose from. On the hybrid front there’s one diesel and one petrol engine that utilise mild hybrid technology to improve your fuel consumption, and then a petrol plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that has an electric only powered range of 42 miles on a single charge.
You’ll get smooth steering, minimal road noise in the cabin and a range of seat adjustment for a comfortable ride. Audi also provide their virtual cockpit as standard, with a range of configurations for you to choose from so you can really choose the right display for you.
More affordable than some of the other premium brands, the A6 offers you a comfortable and smooth ride with all of the latest tech. Take a look at our current A6 leasing deals if you want to see how affordable we can make the A6 for you.
3. BMW 3 Series
BMW is one of the 3 big German brands known for its premium cars, so it’s little surprise there’s a few of their models that have made it into our top 10 saloon picks. The first of our BMW trio is the 3 Series.
The 3 Series has a reputation for being a sporty saloon, and this latest model highlights why, with rear wheel drive and firm suspension giving you nimble and responsive handling.
Whilst it’s sporty, under the hood the interior's what you’d expect from a saloon, with comfortable seats, including padded arm rests, roomy rear seats and useful hidden storage solutions.
Like Audi, BMW have gradually been adding hybrid technology to their classic models to support drivers with the shift to full EVs in the coming year. There’s a PHEV version of the 3 Series available, with an electric powered range of up to 37 miles.
If you want to learn more about the 3 Series, head over to our dedicated 3 Series leasing page or give the team a call on 0330 221 0000 and one of our Leasing Consultants will be happy to help you.
4. Mercedes E Class
The E Class has long been a favourite of ours at Xcite Car Leasing and we’ve chosen to include it in our top 10 saloons pick.
Again, there’s a choice of petrol, diesel and PHEV engine options. For drivers that cover a long distance regularly, the diesel engines will likely be the most efficient. However, if you typically just drive to the office and back then we’d suggest the PHEV as you can get up to 72 electric miles and with suitable home charging this'll keep most of your miles as electric ones.
There’s a 12.3 inch digital instrument panel behind the steering wheel with at 14.4 inch touchscreen central display as well which runs with the latest MBUX software, operating voice activation, ambient cabin lighting and even massaging seats depending on your car. You can also upgrade to get another 12.3 inch touchscreen for your front passenger which can run social media apps, take photos and other activities to entertain the passenger with a special filter that stops it from being visible and distracting you.
Since last year Mercedes have chosen not to lease through any other route than their own system, so we’re not currently able to offer leasing deals on the E Class. However, if you give the team a call on 0330 221 0000 they'll be able to advise on similar models from other brands.
5. Alfa Romeo Giulia
Alfa Romeo is an Italian brand that's known for creating beautiful cars. If we were to choose a saloon car on looks alone then it would be the Alfa Romeo Giulia.
The Giulia doesn’t just look great, its style is backed up by performance. The latest models have rear wheel drive, a lightweight aluminium frame for nimble handling and there’s the option of adaptive suspension on some models.
Since it was first launched in 2016 the Giulia has had several tweaks to keep it up to date with the latest technology, style and customer preferences. Currently there’s only a petrol engine available. With an 8 speed automatic gearbox, it has responsive acceleration and an official 0 – 62 mph of 5.7 seconds.
Why not take a look at our Alfa Romeo Giulia leasing deals if you’re interested in one for your next new car?
6. BMW 5 Series
Our second BMW is the 5 Series. It’s the larger sibling of the 3 Series we’ve already looked at and offers drivers a smooth and comfortable drive, with plenty of room for all of their passengers and their luggage.
The current model's already had a facelift to give it LED headlights, a larger fronter grille and making some of the features that had been optional, standard on all models to keep up with consumer expectations.
There’s plenty of engine options and trim levels for you to choose from to really make the 5 Series the right car for you. For company drivers the PHEVs will be the best choice as they've an electric only range of up to 50 miles to give you a lower BIK rate.
If you’d like to learn more about the 5 Series then give us a call on 0330 221 0000 or take a look at our current great leasing deals
7. Skoda Superb
The Superb is a car that's deceptively spacious and offers you and your passengers a comfortable ride, plenty of cubbies for your essentials and a 625 litre boot.
Skoda is a brand known for its practicality and the Superb has plenty of features like the multiway adjustable steering wheel and digital display that can show your instrument dials or satnav and other features to have the most important information in your eyeline so you can make it the best car for you.
Find our current best Skoda Superb deals or reach out to the team to see how easy leasing one could be for you.
8. Porsche Taycan
When you think of Porsche you’ll likely think of their iconic 911 or a similar coupe sports car, however they also have a number of models in their range that are suitable for daily life. The Taycan is one such model.
The Taycan's only available as an EV and will offer you a mileage range up to 301 miles depending on the model and driving conditions.
It comes with a high price tag, but that’s to be expected of a Porsche and you’ll get a sporty and fun saloon that’s exciting to drive and to look at. Their engineers have put the weight of the battery as low as possible, giving the car a much lower centre of gravity than other EVs. This has given it excellent road grip, balance and handling on corners.
You’ll get 2 adults in the rear comfortably, and there’s enough room that it won’t feel cramped for them even on longer journeys.
For more information then take a look at our Porsche Taycan leasing page, where we answer some of your Taycan FAQs and have our current best Taycan lease deals.
9. BMW i7
Our final BMW pick is the i7, a fully electric saloon designed for comfort for the driver and all of their passengers. Some saloon models provide optimum comfort and convenience features for the driver and co-pilot passenger but don’t offer the same to their rear passengers; that’s not the case in the i7.
Rear passengers can benefit from a gigantic 31 inch touchscreen, that BMW have called the Theatre Screen, which lowers from the headlining with the touch of a button. If you choose to add this as part of the Executive Pack then it also replaces the standard rear seating with 2 massaging lounge seats, 40 speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround system and shakers in the rear seats for a fully immersive and comfortable experience. The focus on rear passenger comfort and options designed for their enjoyment makes the i7 the ideal car for those who regularly chauffeur passengers.
If we were to compare it with the other 2 BMWs explored above, the i7 would be larger, as it’s more in line with the 7 Series.
Take a look at our i7 leasing deals to see how quickly and cheaply you could get an i7.
10. Jaguar XF
The final pick for our top 10 saloons is the Jaguar XF. As a brand, Jaguar has long been favoured by drivers looking for a high-quality luxury saloon car, and the XF perfectly exemplifies this.
Originally launched in the late 2000s, the XF's been through a series of updates to make it one of the most attractive and comfortable saloons on the market. The second generation of models offers drivers a 11.4 inch touchscreen infotainment centre, mild hybrid technology to improve fuel consumption and range of different trim levels to suit driver’s needs.
The XF offers exceptional handling with the nimbleness of a much smaller model and responsive steering that really gives you confidence, even on winding country roads.
You can see our current XF leasing offers or take a look at our top deals for a more general insight into the best deals on the market at the minute. Our team's also on hand to help if you have any questions and you can reach out here or on 0330 221 0000.
