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An overwhelming majority of car makers have craved the return of incentives to boost demand for electric cars in the UK with ever-greater desperation since the start of 2024.

The government’s ZEV mandate, introduced 18 months ago, meant manufacturers faced significant fines for not selling enough EVs, and barely an interview with a top UK exec from a legacy car maker has gone by without them saying they need government help to hit those targets because there is not enough true market demand for EVs.

To date, car makers have complied with the mandate and avoided fines. Yet it has come at a huge cost, with their own discounts to tempt buyers into new EVs totalling £6.5 billion, according to Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders data.

Against £6.5bn of discounts, the £650 million now put aside by the government for the Electric Car Grant (ECG) looks like loose change. No wonder one senior industry official said the scheme would “divide opinion”, and not only for the sums involved.

The ECG is banded with discounts of £3750 or £1500, depending on complex criteria around the intensity of CO2 in the national grid of the country of manufacture of both an EV and its battery, as detailed by correspondent Nick Gibbs.

If all the discounts were only the smaller £1500, the ECG would cover subsidies towards just over 430,000 new EVs. Some 225,000 EVs were sold in the first half of this year in the UK, and given that the ZEV mandate’s target ramps up each year, the ECG money is likely to run out well before the 2028-29 financial year until which the scheme is currently due to run, even allowing for a significant number of EVs being excluded from it.

Many of those who have welcomed the grant for now have used the opportunity to call for further investment and support, to build better infrastructure and support the growing number of EVs already on the road.

More fun and games are to come, then, but in the short term the ECG will at least have the desired effect by providing a boost to EV sales in the UK. The government will call it a success as a result, while car makers will get a helping hand towards ZEV mandate compliance.

“There is no country where EVs don’t depend on incentives,” said Jato’s senior analyst Felipe Munoz, in reference to concerns about price, range, infrastructure and residual values. That’s true even in the EV utopia of Norway, and it’s true in China where, said Munoz, EV/PHEV buyers “are getting their licence plate faster and at lower rates”. He added: “Without the active role of the governments, EVs can’t go on by themselves.”

The luxury car sector has often centred around two stalwart models: the BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes-Benz S Class.  

While these plush saloons are still considered by many to be the peak of automotive decadence, the definition of a luxury car has evolved significantly over the past few years. 

Saloons do remain reasonably popular in the rich man’s world, but the increasing prevalence of SUVs means that the traditional view of what constitutes a luxury vehicle has shifted dramatically.

Regardless of whether it's a saloon or an SUV, a luxury car is a premium model that excels in performance, technology and comfort for all occupants. These vehicles boast lavish interiors, offer a quiet ride and demonstrate impressive noise reduction compared with other model types.

For many, they also serve as status symbols, powered by diverse powertrains ranging from large-capacity diesel engines and V8s to electric and plug-in hybrid systems.

To help you choose, we've put together a list of the top 10 best luxury cars out there right now.

Despite the rise of SUVs, our top pick is the BMW i7, the electric version of the latest 7 Series. It's super comfortable, great to drive and seriously practical.

It's worth noting that some prominent luxury brands may not appear on this list. For even pricier models, including those from Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Mercedes-Maybach, we have a separate list of the top 10 best super-luxury cars.