Cars to Be Driven Around In: The Best Back Seats Money Can Buy
10 cars10 active listings
Recent sales: $3,950 – $417,000Curated by Max·Updated July 29, 2026
MaxFindsCars is a site built for people who like to drive. This list is the exception. These are the luxury sedans and limousines you buy to be driven around in, the ones where the best seat is the one behind the driver. Japanese imperial quirk, peak-era German engineering, and British old money, gathered in one place with live listings and real sold prices attached.
The short version: in an era where Tesla and friends are trying to automate the chauffeur out of a job, it is worth remembering the cars built to be ridden in rather than driven. My heavy hitters are the Toyota Century for its distinctly Japanese quirk, the E38 BMW 7 Series for its looks and its place in BMW's best era, and the Bentley Arnage for vibes that nothing else on this page can touch. Below those sits a deep bench of luxury cars for the back seat, from a W12 movie star to a mob-boss SUV.
What makes a car worth being driven in
A driver's car asks something of you. A car to be driven around in asks nothing at all. The whole idea flips: the good seat is the one behind the wheel, not on it, and every decision the engineer made was aimed at the person who is reading emails, taking a call, or quietly falling asleep on the way to the airport.
The recipe has a few non-negotiables. You want silence, the kind that makes a normal luxury car feel loud once you have climbed out. You want a back seat with real space and real theater, ideally something that reclines, heats, cools, and massages while it is at it. And you want presence, because half the point of being driven is that people notice the car before they notice you. Get those three right and the commute stops being something you survive and starts being somewhere you would happily stay parked.
The List(10)
- 1
Toyota
Toyota Century
The Toyota Century is not trying to impress you, which is exactly why it does. The V12 cars run the 1GZ-FE, the only mass-produced twelve-cylinder Japan ever built, tuned for silence rather than showmanship. It was hand-finished for THE emperor of Japan (an actual emperor), with wool seats because leather squeaks and the man in back should never have to hear his own car. You do not drive a Century. You are conveyed in one. It is the quietest flex on this entire page, and my personal favorite for exactly that reason.
- 2W222
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W222)2014–2020
The W222 S-Class is the default answer for being driven around in, and it earned the title honestly. This is the generation where Mercedes decided the back seat should be the best seat in the house, with reclining, heated, cooled, massaging rear thrones and a hush that makes ordinary luxury cars feel cheap. The S600 and Maybach cars add a 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 for silence you can feel. Built from 2013, it now sells for a fraction of its original sticker, which makes it the most rear-seat comfort per dollar money can buy.
- 3W221
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W221)2007–2013
The W221 S-Class is the one that rode out the financial crisis in total comfort. It brought the theatrical rear seat, the air suspension, and the sense of occasion that would define the modern S-Class, and the range-topping S600 carried a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12 making 510 horsepower it never needed to use. These are now genuinely cheap, which is both the appeal and the warning: buy a pampered one with records and it is a limousine for crossover money, buy a neglected one and the electronics and air struts will teach you an expensive lesson.
- 4E38
BMW
BMW 7 Series (E38)1994–2001
The E38 7 Series is the enthusiast's luxury barge, and it comes from BMW's very best era. It still looks right three decades on, restrained and correct in a way modern BMWs have left behind. The 750iL sits at the top with the M73, a 5.4-liter V12 that pushes the car along in near silence, and it was the villain-mobile of choice in Tomorrow Never Dies for good reason. These are cheap now and the V12 is a commitment, but a well-kept 750iL is one of the great ways to be driven around in analog-era German dignity.
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- 5G11
BMW
BMW 7 Series (G11)2016–2022
The G11 7 Series is the modern BMW flagship, grille and all. Yes, the front end looks like it could gnaw through a log, but climb into the back and it makes a very convincing case, with executive rear seats, a panoramic sky lounge roof, and the kind of quiet the E38 could only dream of. The M760i crowns the range with a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 making 601 horsepower, which is ridiculous for a car meant to be ridden in, and all the better for it. One of the last great V12 luxury sedans before the segment goes electric.
- 6
Cadillac
Cadillac Escalade
The Cadillac Escalade is the American answer to the whole question, and it answers with square footage. Where the Europeans obsess over wood veneer and hush, the Escalade offers a 6.2-liter V8, a third row you can actually use, and enough presence to clear a valet line by itself. It has been the semi-official vehicle of anyone with a security detail for two decades, and the current cars pair the biggest interior screens in the business with a genuinely plush rear cabin. Subtle it is not. Comfortable, imposing, and endlessly practical, it very much is.
- 7
Bentley
Bentley Flying Spur
The Bentley Flying Spur is the discreet way to get the winged badge and a hand-built cabin without the full ceremony of a Rolls. Under the hood sits the 6.0-liter W12, an engine that shoves the car to genuinely absurd speeds while the rear passengers sip something expensive in near silence. It is a saloon that can outrun sports cars and coddle a board of directors in the same afternoon. Bentley's craftsmanship is all here, from the knurled switchgear to the acres of hide, in a shape a little quieter and quicker than the Arnage that came before it.
- 8
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Phantom
The Rolls-Royce Phantom is the top of the mountain, the car every other name on this list is quietly measured against. The nameplate dates to 1925 and still means the same thing it did then: the most luxurious way to travel by road, full stop. The modern cars run a 6.75-liter V12 whose job is not speed but total, unshakeable calm, delivering what Rolls famously calls a magic-carpet ride. Coach doors, a starlight headliner, and a rear seat built for someone who is used to being waited on. If you have to ask what it costs to run, the Phantom was probably never going to be your car.
- 9D3
Audi
Audi A8 (D3)2003–2010
The D3 Audi A8 is the understated one, the luxury sedan that did its best work in the passenger seat and on screen. In top W12 trim it ran a 6.0-liter twelve-cylinder making 450 horsepower, wrapped in aluminum bodywork and the kind of anonymous good looks that let it play Frank Martin's getaway car across the Transporter films. The A8 L stretches the wheelbase for a genuinely limousine-grade back seat, and quattro all-wheel drive means it will do the airport run in any weather. It is the sleeper of the luxury set, and priced like the world has forgotten it exists.
2 past listingsView listings
- 10
Bentley
Bentley Arnage
The Bentley Arnage is the early 2000s pop star vibes pick on the list. Hand-built in Crewe from 1998 to 2010, it runs the legendary 6.75-liter V8, an engine with roots going back to the 1950s, here twin-turbocharged and making around 450 horsepower of effortless, torque-rich shove. Everything about it is old-world: the deep hide, the milled metal, the sense that it was assembled by people rather than robots. It has ferried around everyone from Arnold to David Beckham to Vince Carter. It is a maintenance commitment... but nothing else on this page feels quite so much like a rolling night club.
At a Glance
| # | Model | Years | Power | Avg Sold | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota Toyota Century | — | 276 hp · 5.0 V12 | $12,679 | A car made for THE emperor, seriously |
| 2 | Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W222)(W222) | 2014–2020 | 523 hp · 6.0 V12 (S600) | $38,366 | A back seat that would make La-Z-Boy jealous |
| 3 | Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W221)(W221) | 2007–2013 | 510 hp · 5.5 V12 (S600) | $12,750 | The recession-era S-Class for those clever enough to short the housing market |
| 4 | BMW BMW 7 Series (E38)(E38) | 1994–2001 | 322 hp · 5.4 V12 (750iL) | $15,769 | From the golden era of the Ultimate Driving Machine |
| 5 | BMW BMW 7 Series (G11)(G11) | 2016–2022 | 601 hp · 6.6 V12 TT (M760i) | $32,478 | The beaver-toothed modern era of BMW luxury |
| 6 | Cadillac Cadillac Escalade | — | 420 hp · 6.2 V8 | $37,899 | For the mob boss too busy to drive himself |
| 7 | Bentley Bentley Flying Spur | — | 552 hp · 6.0 W12 | $66,000 | A modern Bentley grand tourer with presence hard to match |
| 8 | Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce Phantom | — | 453 hp · 6.75 V12 | $162,910 | The flagship of Rolls-Royce, still the epitome of luxury a century on |
| 9 | Audi Audi A8 (D3)(D3) | 2003–2010 | 450 hp · 6.0 W12 | — | The Transporter's W12 movie star |
| 10 | Bentley Bentley Arnage | — | 450 hp · 6.75 V8 TT | $25,675 | Ridden in and driven by pop-culture royalty, from Arnold to Vince Carter |
The best chauffeur cars, by flavor
Japan built the quiet flex. The Toyota Century is the one I would pick first, a hand-finished V12 limousine built for THE emperor (like, the actual emperor, this is not a figure of speech) and almost never seen outside Japan. It does not announce itself, which is the entire point.
Germany built the engineering. The BMW E38 7 Series comes from the golden era of the Ultimate Driving Machine and still looks right thirty years on, and the modern G11 carries the torch with a face only a beaver could love and a back seat that could host a dinner party. The Mercedes S-Class, in both W221 and W222 form, is the default answer for a reason, with a rear bench that would make the executives at La-Z-Boy nervous. The Audi A8 L in W12 trim did its time as Frank Martin's ride in The Transporter, which is the most that can be asked of any luxury sedan.
Britain built the mood. The Bentley Arnage and the Rolls-Royce Phantom are the old-money end of the list, hand-built cathedrals of wood and hide where the engine is felt more than heard. The Bentley Flying Spur is the slightly more discreet way to get the same wing badge with a W12 up front. And then there is the Cadillac Escalade, the American answer, which trades wood veneer for sheer square footage and remains the semi-official vehicle of anyone who does not have time to drive themselves.
The back-seat case
Here is the argument for buying the passenger's car instead of the driver's. Depreciation is brutal on flagship luxury sedans, and brutal depreciation is your friend when you are shopping used. A ten-year-old S-Class or 7 Series cost six figures new and now sells for the price of a modestly optioned crossover, and every one of those original dollars went into the seats, the silence, and the sheer sense of occasion, none of which expires on a schedule. You are buying the most car per dollar that exists, provided you are content to enjoy it from the back.
What to know before you buy
Each of these cars will happily bankrupt a careless owner. The V12 luxury sedans, the Century, the E38 750iL, the A8 W12, the Arnage and Phantom, pack twelve cylinders and the parts bills to match, so buy the best-maintained example you can find rather than the cheapest one you can afford. Air suspension is standard issue on the German cars and a known money pit once the bladders start to weep. The Bentleys and Rolls-Royces are wonderful and terrifying in equal measure, cars where a single control module can cost more than a running Miata. None of this should scare you off. It just means the good ones are the well-kept ones, and the sold data on this page helps you tell which is which.
Active Listings(10)
2018 Cadillac Escalade
$26,000
19,000 mi · automatic · dark granite metallic
Bring a Trailer
2009 Bentley Arnage T
$13,200
81,000 mi · automatic · beluga black
Bring a Trailer
2008 Cadillac Escalade
$26,000
3,900 mi · automatic · black raven
Bring a Trailer
2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
$6,000
68,800 mi · automatic · black
Cars & Bids
2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
$3,333
67,100 mi · automatic · black
Cars & Bids
2024 Bentley Flying Spur
$145,000
7,000 mi · automatic · british racing green 4
Bring a Trailer
2018 BMW 750i
$14,500
55,000 mi · automatic · imola red
Bring a Trailer
2020 Bentley Flying Spur
$100
24,200 mi · automatic
Hagerty
2008 Cadillac Escalade
$100
159,400 mi · automatic
Hagerty
2000 Cadillac Escalade
$0
234,700 mi · automatic
Hagerty
Recent Sales(24)
Avg $40,6751999 BMW 740iL
Sold: $10,350
86,000 mi · automatic · jet black
Bring a Trailer
2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Sold: $10,600
118,200 mi · automatic · tanzanite blue metallic
Cars & Bids
2024 Cadillac Escalade
Sold: $89,999
15,200 mi · automatic · argent silver metallic
Cars & Bids
2019 BMW 740i xDrive
Sold: $18,250
43,000 mi · automatic · arctic gray metallic
Bring a Trailer
2001 BMW 750iL
Sold: $12,750
137,000 mi · automatic · cosmos black metallic
Bring a Trailer
2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT
Sold: $25,000
48,000 mi · automatic · black raven
Bring a Trailer
2018 BMW 7 Series
Sold: $24,250
43,000 mi · automatic · magellan gray metallic
Cars & Bids
2023 Cadillac Escalade
Sold: $54,001
50,000 mi · automatic · black
Bring a Trailer
2006 Cadillac Escalade
Sold: $9,555
166,800 mi · automatic · white diamond
Cars & Bids
2015 Cadillac Escalade
Sold: $29,500
91,100 mi · automatic · black
Cars & Bids
2013 Cadillac Escalade
Sold: $30,000
53,000 mi · automatic · black ice metallic
Bring a Trailer
2001 BMW 740i
Sold: $25,250
70,000 mi · automatic · alpine white
Bring a Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best car to be chauffeured in?
For most people the Mercedes S-Class is the honest answer, because Mercedes has spent decades making the rear seat the best seat in the car. A W222 S-Class or Maybach gives you reclining, heated, massaging rear thrones and near-total silence for the price of a mid-tier SUV on the used market. If you want something rarer and quirkier, the Toyota Century is my personal pick, and if you want pure presence, a Bentley Arnage or Rolls-Royce Phantom is hard to beat.
What is the best luxury car for the back seat?
The long-wheelbase versions are the ones to chase, because the extra length almost all goes to rear legroom. A Mercedes S-Class (W221 or W222), a BMW 7 Series in L or Li trim, and the Audi A8 L all put serious space and comfort behind the driver. For the most theatrical back seat of all, the Rolls-Royce Phantom and Bentley Arnage treat the rear passenger like visiting royalty.
Are these luxury cars expensive to maintain?
Yes, 100%. The V12 cars in particular (the E38 750iL, the Audi A8 W12, the Bentley Arnage and Rolls-Royce Phantom) carry the parts and labor bills of the six-figure cars they once were. Air suspension, complex electronics, and hand-built engines all cost real money when they need attention. When buying, look for meticulously kept maintenance records. If the car is a bit rough and the owner doesn't know the last time the spark plugs have been changed, run.
What is the cheapest way into a V12 luxury sedan?
The BMW E38 750iL and the Audi A8 D3 W12 are usually the most affordable ways to get twelve cylinders and a proper luxury back seat. Both cost a fortune when new and now sell for a fraction of it, which makes them tempting, but the maintenance is where the real cost lives. A clean, well-documented example is worth paying more for. A cheap one is almost always cheap for a reason.
Rolls-Royce Phantom or Bentley Arnage: which should I be driven in?
The Phantom is the grander of the two, a car built to make an entrance whether you want one or not, with a presence that turns every arrival into an event. The Arnage is the character pick, hand-built in Crewe with an old-school 6.75-liter V8 and, in my not so humble opinion, some of best vibes of any car on this list. Choose the Rolls for occasion and the Bentley for soul. Neither is a wrong answer, but the Arnage has a certain 'early 2000's A-Lister' to it that nothing else matches.
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