BMW 730Ld takes ‘Top Chauffeur Car’ title from Jaguar XJ

The BMW 730Ld has taken the Chauffeur and Professional Driver Car of the Year for 2011 award, beating off competition from the Audi A8L and pushing the Jaguar XJ in to third place.

Last year was very much the year of the Jaguar XJ, with awards and praise oozing from every publication. But a year is a long time in the car world, and the XJ – winner of the Chauffeur Car of the Year in 2010–  has been beaten in to third place in this year’s Chauffeur Car of the Year by the BMW 730Ld.

Professional Driver Magazine awards annual gongs for the best ‘working’ cars, judged by an invited panel of chauffeurs, motoring journalists and private hire operators who drive and judge the contenders during a one-day judging event. And this year was very much a resurgence for BMW.

The panel considered the BMW 730Ld to be unbeatable with its combination of passenger luxury, driveability and low running costs. And for a working car, BMW’s excellent chauffeur programme was the icing on the cake, despite the new Audi A8L offering the only like-for-like licensed replacement car anywhere in the UK when required (others offer it just in London).

The 730Ld also took the gong for top Professional Driver car of the year with the BMW 530d Gran Turismo winning the Executive Car of the year for the second year running. Pro Driver Mag’s editor, Mark Bursa, said:

The BMW 730Ld offers an exceptional mix of comfort, rear-seat luxury and driveability. Since 2009, the 7-series has been improved, with better fuel economy now above 40mpg combined. And crucially, it’s part of a beefed-up manufacturer-backed chauffeur programme that makes it much more affordable for chauffeurs on a lease basis than either the Jaguar XJL or the Mercedes S-class.

It was a very close contest, with the new Audi A8L winning praise for its comfort and good looks, and Audi’s chauffeur programme probably edges BMW’s. Audi is the only manufacturer to offer a like-for-like licensed replacement car anywhere in the UK, not just in London. But this wasn’t enough to take the top prize from the 7-series, which was simply the best car on the day.

For drivers whose cars are their living, it’s very hard to find fault the win by the BMW 730Ld, especially when you factor in reliability, perception of the brand and cost.

Professional Driver Magazine Awards 2011

Professional Driver Car of the Year

BMW 730Ld

Chauffeur Car of the Year

1. BMW 730Ld
2. Audi A8L
3. Jaguar XJL

Executive Car of the Year

1. BMW 535d GT
2. Jaguar XF
3. Audi A6

MPV of the Year

1. Volkswagen Sharan
2. Ford Galaxy
3. Mercedes-Benz Viano

Private Hire Vehicle of the Year

1. Skoda Superb
2. Ford Mondeo
3. Volkswagen Passat