2011 Bmw 730Ld receives the 2011 Professional Driver Car of the Year award

The BMW 730Ld was recognized as the Professional Driver Car of the Year for 2011, to reclaim the crown it lost to the Jaguar XJ last year. It was also named the Chauffeur Car of the year, beating the new Audi A8L and the Jaguar XJ. For the second straight year, the 530d Gran Turismo was named the winner of the Executive Car of the Year category, doing better than the Jaguar XF and the new Audi A6. The Private Hire Vehicle of the Year category was won by the Skoda Superb while the VW Sharan triumphed in the MPV category, beating Ford’s Galaxy.

Professional Driver editor Mark Bursa said that the BMW 730Ld provides a combination of “comfort, rear-seat luxury and driveability.” The 7-series has received upgrades since 2009; its fuel economy was boosted to now rate at above 40mpg when combined. Bursa added that BMW offers an enhanced manufacturer-backed chauffeur program that appeals to chauffeurs since it becomes more affordable for them on a lease basis than either the Jaguar XJL or the Mercedes S-class.

He added that the competition was “very close,” explaining that the new Audi A8L is praised for its comfort and appearance but that Audi’s chauffeur program possibly edges BMW’s. Audi is the only automaker to offer a like-for-like licensed replacement car not only in London but at any location in the UK. But then, the BMW luxury saloon beat all of them since it’s “simply the best car on the day,” according to Bursa.