We’ve driven them all. Now it’s time to choose the best! The 2017 Digital Trends Car Awards pit the year’s strongest contenders in five different categories against each other, and crown an overall Car of the Year.
The best luxury cars in the world aren’t just cars, they’re aspirations. They serve to ferry people in comfort, yes, but they’re also status symbols, technology showcases, and catalysts for neighborhood jealousy. But what makes a great luxury car? It’s that blend of style, tech, and opulence in a singular package, and we’ve picked three vehicles that emphasize that to a T.
Volvo has gone through a staggering transformation in the last seven years. Now free from Ford’s shadow, Volvo has carved out a new identity in the luxury car space, one where it can compete with Germans head-on and actually win.
The S90 is the perfect example of that. Handsome and refined from every angle, the S90 really gets everything right, from its incredible interior, to its comfortable seats, to its quiet ride, to its intuitive technology and impressive engine power. Volvo is a trend-setter in the safety realm as well, having added animal detection with automatic braking to the S90’s list of features. In one of the most competitive segments in the industry, the Volvo stands out in a big way.
On the other end of the spectrum lies the Porsche Panamera Turbo, a luxury car that’s also a sports car. With a 550-horsepower twin-turbo V8 onboard, the Panamera was able to lap the Lime Rock track almost as impressively as our Performance candidates could, and yet, it’s one of the most tech-forward vehicles on sale today. Inside, you’ll find a customizable 12.3-inch touchscreen that houses a connectivity system called Porsche Communication Management, which controls Google Earth navigation, smartphone integration, traffic, news, flight information, and just about everything else you could want in a luxury car. There’s also night vision and a variety of safety aids on hand, so it’s no surprise the Panamera features more lines of code than a Boeing passenger jet. The future is now.
While the S90 emphasizes comfort and the Porsche packs plenty of muscle, the BMW splits the difference to become our most well-rounded luxury player. The 5 Series simply does everything well, with agile handling, a comfortable ride, intuitive features, and a smooth powertrain coming together to offer a stellar all-around package. Specifically, the 540i has a mix of precision and elegance that is simply to die for, and the result is a vehicle that will undoubtedly make the 5 Series a luxury titan once again.
The Volvo S90 wowed us at every turn this year. It doesn’t have incredible driving dynamics or a flashy personality, but rather the opposite, and we mean that as a compliment. The S90 does luxury in a classy, understated, and decidedly Scandinavian way, one where the stresses of daily life melt away as you climb inside and run your fingers over the open grain wood trim. It’s easily the best-looking of the bunch as well, so in terms of pure luxury and comfort, it was no contest.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.
Missing out on the self-driving future is a tough pill to swallow, especially as a car enthusiast. But that is what Tesla handed us on Wednesday, without a hint of mercy.
During its October 21, 2026 earnings call, Elon Musk told investors the Cybercab is meant mainly as a ride service. Further, nearly all of them will be owned and managed by Tesla.