Business class: top 5 cars delivered from the U.S.

Notions of what makes a business-class car are different here and across the pond. For some of our folks, Toyota Camry is a «top shelf» vehicle, while this car is considered an ordinary family sedan in the States. Nonetheless, it is business class after all, just a hair off being luxury. What are some other cars of the mentioned category that are delivered from the United States the most?

Columbus experts, after examination of company’s inner stats of the last three years, came up with a Top-5 of the most popular «Executive cars», which relocated from America to Europe.

As always, we looked into three-year-old cars of 2019-2020 years (as the most profitable in terms of re-sale value) with minimum damage.

1. BMW 750i (2019)

• Engine: 2.0 L, 3.0 L, 4.4 L, 6.6 L, 320 – 601 hp.

• Gearbox: Automatic

• Drive: RWD, AWD

• Fuel consumption: 8.1 – 18.1 liters per 100 km (highway-city)

BMW 7-series is comfortable in motion, has sporty driving chops, powerful engines, and first-class interior. Car’s media system lets you answer phone calls and adjust stereo volume with, literally, a sway of a hand; both rows of seats provide passengers with abundance of room and additional comforts like installed massage and ventilation.

In 2019, sedans of this series came out in five builds: 740i, 740e iPerformance, 750i, Alpina B7, and M760i. Basic build is well-equipped, hence the main reason to look into variations is a selection of more powerful engines and some specific functions.

Each configuration has a powertrain of its own. Basic 740i comes with a 3-liter turbocharged in-line V6 engine. The 740e switch-on hybrid has a 2-liter engine + electric motor with combined 322 horsepower. The 750i model is fitted with a 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 of 445 hp; Alpina B7 has the same V8, but with twin-turbo resulting in 600 hp. The top-of-the-line M760i comes with a 601 hp V12 engine. Gearbox is universal for every configuration – an 8-speed «smart» automatic transmission.

BMW’s all-wheel drive system, xDrive, is optional for 740i and 750i, and mandatory for every other build.

750i is considered «middle-of-the-road» in terms of horsepower and fuel consumption (9 to 13 liters per 100 km), and in terms of equipment onboard. Among other standard options available in 740i as well – like air suspension, 10.2-inch touchscreen, navigation, Wi-Fi access point, wireless charging for gadgets, keyless access, panoramic sunroof, and much more – 750i has Nappa leather upholstery, 20-way power-adjustable front seats, and larger alloy wheels. Also, 750i is the first configuration to offer power rear seats and footrests, a folding table with cup holders, and 7-inch passenger entertainment system screens.

Among the drawbacks of BMW 7-series are high cost of ownership and lack of some useful technical features (Android Auto support, for instance). Speaking of the posh interior, it is luxury indeed, although there’s no shortage of cars in America that can make BMW bite the dust in terms of rich interiors.

Price with delivery from the U.S. including preferential customs: from $37,500

2. AUDI Q8 (2020)

• Engine: 3.0 L, 4.0 L, 335 – 591 hp

• Gearbox: Automatic

• Drive: AWD

• Fuel consumption: 11.2 – 18.1 liters per 100 km (highway-city)

The 2020 Q8 SUV has a top-notch interior with enough room for five adult passengers despite the low sloping roof line. Q8 is a mix of comfort and agility. Adaptive suspension offers smooth motion even on worn-down tarmac; steering is on point, and horsepower of the basic powertrain is more than plenty. For those feeling 335 hp doesn’t quite cut it, there are Audi SQ8 and Audi RS Q8, with 500 hp and 591 hp, respectively, and 0 to 100 km in 3.7 seconds.

Audi made the regular 2020 Q8 available in three configurations: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. All three have the same engine, a 335 horsepower V6, and Quattro all-wheel-drive. Audi SQ8 and RS Q8 only come in Premium Plus and Prestige packages, and are fitted with twin-turbo V8 engines.

Basic build is an excellent choice for the majority of customers, since it’s richly equipped and is significantly cheaper in comparison to other configurations.

Premium comes with 10.1-inch and 8.6-inch touchscreens, digital dashboard (Audi Virtual Cockpit), navigation, 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, HD-radio, Bluetooth, 4 USB ports, three-zone automatic climate control, keyless access, leather upholstery (heated seats), electric powered tailgate, panoramic sunroof, adaptive air suspension, and alloy wheels.

Audi engineers did not forget about the trademark security systems Audi Pre Sense Basic and Audi Pre Sense Front, as well as rearview camera, automatic headlights, and «all-round» parking sensors.

What does bring a Q8 owner down is fuel consumption and modest trunk. Other than that, this luxurious mid-size SUV is impeccable.

Price with delivery from the U.S. including preferential customs: from $50,000

3. LEXUS LS (2019)

• Engine: 3.5 L, 354 – 416 hp

• Gearbox: Automatic

• Drive: RWD, AWD

• Fuel consumption: 7.1 – 13.1 liters per 100 km (highway-city)

In the U.S., Lexus LS sedans earned a reputation of a reliable premium-class car with decent price-quality ratio. This model has a pretty powerful 3.5-liter basic engine (hybrid version available for those into economical spending), stylish and thought-out interior with comfortable seats, and countless functions.

The 2019 Lexus LS was made in three configurations: LS 500, hybrid LS 500h, and LS 500 F Sport.

All three come with a 354 hp twin-turbo V6 engine, and 10-speed automatic transmission. The LS 500h hybrid powertrain supplements the V6 motor with two electric engines (total output of 416 hp), automatic gearbox replaced by stepless variator. Rear-wheel drive is standard, AWD is optional.

With all LS configurations being so well-equipped, the question is: what’s better, gas or hybrid? At the same time, there’s really no point in buying the F Sport build – it varies little from the basic model (sport elements of trim, refined steering, more powerful breaks etc.). Moreover, you can’t have some of the options available for the other two configurations.

The standard equipment of the LS 500 includes leather upholstery, heated, ventilated and 16-way electrically adjustable front seats, heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, sunroof. Infotainment system is equipped with a 12.3-inch display controlled by a touchpad Remote Touch, located near the automatic transmission selector (convenience of its use is questioned by many automotive experts), and supports voice commands.

On top of that, car has a fitted 12-speaker premium-class audio system, navigation, Wi-Fi access point, Apple CarPlay support option, Amazon Alexa integration, and Lexus Enform app package with a free 10-year subscription, which includes emergency button (SOS), automatic collision and car theft notifications.

Standard active safety systems include a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, front collision warning, pedestrian detection, autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams.

Price with delivery from the U.S. including preferential customs: from $40,300

4. AUDI A8 (2019)

• Engine: 3.0 L, 335 hp

• Gearbox: Automatic

• Drive: AWD

• Fuel consumption: 8.7 – 12.4 liters per 100 km (highway-city)

The 2019 Audi A8 luxury sedan comes in a single configuration equipped with a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 motor, 8-speed automatic transmission, and Quattro all-wheel drive. Even though some competitors have engines with more horsepower, the A8 does just fine without the extra «muscle» – the car is designed for smooth and comfortable transportation. Moreover, a hybrid «stop-start» system, which ramps up the torque for Audi’s more dynamic acceleration, is integrated into the car.

Standard all-wheel drive provides excellent traction. Steering in this Audi model is relaxed. The car is comfortable even on the flawed surfaces.

The only thing that can be considered as disadvantage is its long wheelbase, which makes it rather tricky for a driver to maneuver within limited spaces. However, Audi got a trick up their sleeve that helps reduce the turning radius – steering with all four wheels.

Car’s interior is stylish and comfortable, finished with high-end materials. Seats are upholstered with genuine Valetta leather, fitted with heating and 18-position electric adjustment controls. Four-zone automatic climate control, along with sunshades for side and rear windows (with electric drives).

The A8 comes with a panoramic sunroof, keyless access, power tailgate, rain-sensing wipers, a 12.3-inch digital dashboard and a dual-screen infotainment system. A Bang & Olufsen premium audio system with 17 speakers, HD radio, satellite radio, navigation, Bluetooth, USB port, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support are installed.

Standard active safety and driver assistance systems include front and rear parking sensors, rearview camera, automatic high beam, frontal collision warning and autonomous emergency braking.

The A8 can also be equipped with one of the option packages - Executive, Luxury, Executive Rear Seat Comfort and so on, a cold weather option package or additional driver assistance systems. The packages may include ventilated and massaging front seats, heated and massaging rear seats, projection display, surround-view parking camera system, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping and lane departure warning.

Price with delivery from the U.S. including preferential customs: from $44,000

5. LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER VELAR (2019)

• Engine: 2.0 L, 3.0 L, 180 – 380 hp

• Gearbox: Automatic

• Drive: AWD

• Fuel consumption: 8.7 – 13.1 liters per 100 km (highway-city)

The mid-size Land Rover Velar has great off-road qualities, and is dynamic on regular tarmac regardless of the engine onboard. There are four motors for your choosing: 2-liter turbocharged with 247 hp (not the most powerful, yet providing enough dynamic), 3-liter turbocharged V6 with 340 hp and 380 hp. Finally, the least powerful (180 hp), but tractive and economical 2-liter diesel. Interior is finished with high-end materials, and is equipped with soft, comfortable seats for driver and passengers.

The 2019 Range Rover Velar comes in four configurations: the Velar (basic), S, R-Dynamic SE, and R-Dynamic HSE. All feature all-wheel drive and a smooth-running 8-speed automatic transmission. 

A fairly fuel-efficient 247-horsepower, 2-liter motor was the default motor, and was standard for all configurations except the HSE, which was equipped exclusively with a 380-horsepower V6. For the S and SE builds, 340-horsepower V6 was available as an option, and for the S configuration, turbodiesel was also on offer.

As you can see, the S build offered the greatest choice of powertrains (three), making it the most optimal choice when eyeing a Land Rover to buy. 

Thanks to the standard adaptive suspension, Velar has no problem overcoming worn-down roads, and handles turns with much vigor and very little tilt.

Off-road performance is among the best in the class, although Velar is not the most «gifted» Land Rover model in this regard. Nevertheless, all-wheel drive, hill descent control and terrain response system – with modes «Eco», «Comfort», «Grass-Gravel-Snow», «Mud-Paved», «Sand» and «Dynamic» – are standard for this model. 

Optionally available were such off-road functions, as a rear lockable differential and modernized Terrain Response 2 system, which automatically monitors road conditions and adjusts the SUV’s movement mode accordingly.

In general, this car is excellent in every respect; the only thing spoiling the impression is significant cost of its operation.

Price with delivery from the U.S., including preferential customs: from $44,000

Columbus Note

ECE light vehicles classification

The Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) classification focuses on segmenting the target market rather than describing any specific vehicle characteristics; the boundaries between segments are blurred and are not limited to parameters such as size or weight. Segmentation factors also include parameters such as price, type, options and other parameters.

In general, the passenger car market is divided into the following segments.

• A: Mini cars (European especially small class; micro cars)

• B: Small cars (European small class; compact class)

• C: Medium cars (European lower middle class; golf class)

• D: Larger cars (European middle class; family class)

• E: Executive cars (European upper middle class; business class)

• F: Luxury cars (European upper middle class; executive class)

• J: Sport utility vehicles (SUVs)

• M: Multipurpose cars (minivans and SUVs)

• S: Sport coupe.

Sources: Cars.usnews.com, Edmunds.com