As luxury cars go, it might be impossible to do better than the 2011 BMW 7-Series sedan, which offers one of the most complete and satisfying experiences of any vehicle on the road.

The only question is, where are you sitting?

If you're behind the wheel most of the time, then the base 750i is all you'll need and want, boasting a ton of features and excellent performance at a "reasonable" price (for this class of car) of $108,600. However, if you're more likely to be found relaxing in the rear seats while someone else drives, that just won't do -- you're going to want to spend an extra $8,000 for the long-wheelbase 750Li, which increases the wheelbase and rear passenger space by 14 centimetres. At that point, the 7-Series isn't just a luxury car -- it's a limousine.

Audi and Lexus also have long-wheelbase versions of their flagship sedans, the A8 and LS, respectively. However, while the redesigned A8 is an impressive vehicle, Audi's brand doesn't offer the prestige and status of BMW. As for the Lexus, it's designed more for people who want to blend into the crowd -- a stark contrast to the attention-grabbing 7-Series. The closest competitor is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which has as much star power as the BMW, but isn't as well-balanced or as good a value.

Can you do better than the 750Li? Possibly, if you're willing to spend a lot more. For an extra $15,700, the ActiveHybrid 7 brings fuel-saving hybrid technology to the 7-Series, whereas the $186,000 760Li swaps in a 6.0-litre V-12 engine for staggering performance. But the question remains: where are you sitting? While the environmentally conscious will appreciate the hybrid's 10.2-litre/100 kilometres fuel efficiency (combined city and highway), the V-12 seems a bit unnecessary for a chauffeured vehicle. It makes more sense to stick with the 750Li and also pick up a Z4 roadster, or -- if you're so inclined -- donate the extra $70,000 to a worthy cause.

I drove the latest 750Li across Los Angeles and San Diego, and came away completely impressed. It's one of the greatest luxury sedans on the market -- bar none.

- Design

The 750Li maintains the curves of its much-maligned predecessor, but steps back from the odd and unsettling proportions to take on a shape and profile more in line with past 7-Series designs. You can still see elements of the criticized Chris Bangle styling, but they no longer compromise the overall beauty of the car. Instead, they give it a slightly eccentric feel that helps it to stand out on a crowded street.

- Performance

Driving this vehicle on busy California freeways posed no issues, allowing me to pass other cars with ease.

Passengers will have little reason to complain when the 750Li is in Sport mode, but in Comfort mode it's even better, delivering unbelievable ride quality and completely soaking up bumps and potholes.

- Environment

As noted previously, the 750Li adds 14 cm to the wheelbase, all of which benefits rear passengers. The only downside is the large drivetrain tunnel that prevents a flat floor, compromising legroom for the middle passenger.

BMW's iDrive all-in-one controller gets better with every redesign and now includes dedicated buttons for oft-used functions, but the benefits are still debatable.

There are too many cool features to mention, but some of the most notable include adaptive LED brakelights that glow brighter when more braking force is applied, and options such as airplane-like reading lamps for the rear seats, the Night Vision system, massaging front and rear seats and heads-up display with integrated navigation prompts.

- Thumbs up

Superb balance of performance and comfort; extensive list of standard and optional features.

- Thumbs down

Not for the average consumer.

- The bottom line

As good as it gets -- the benchmark in this class.