Cheap Luxury Cars That Suit Every Budget :
Luxury cars are the first place manufacturers complement their latest technology and comfort features. They have great vehicles and most have quite powerful engines as well. Unfortunately, all technology, convenience, and power are expensive, making new luxury cars difficult to buy. When you are looking for a cheap luxury car, you have to accept that you need to buy a used car. While it will give you new technology at that point, you don’t have to sacrifice the quality of driving, comfort, or engine output.
As regular car buyers at Gearhead, we think about what cheap luxury cars really are. We want a list of cheap luxury cars that are affordable, but not too cheap so you have to worry about the rust that brings them all together while you’re driving. To that end, we set a list of cheap luxury cars we have an average retail price of less than $15,000 (U.S.), but are looking for the latest model year that will meet that price point. We get the retail price we quote by taking the average between the value on kelley blue book website and the value on nada guides website for cars in “Good” condition. The sites are KBB and NadaGuides. And, without further ment, here’s our list of 15 cheap luxury cars. Additionally, the list does not have a specific order of value or quality.
1. BMW 328i 2011
Before the BMW 2-series was introduced in 2013, the 3-series was the best choice for those shopping for cheap luxury cars. Granted, series 1 is cheaper, but series 1 lacks a few things in the technology department and driving convenience.
The 328i is the lowest trim package for the 2011 model year, but still includes many of the technology features found in the higher series 3 package and some contained in the upgraded series 5. BMW provided a 3-series facelift in 2010, so the 2011 model year will look like the next model year. As a bonus, you can find a 2011 BMW 328i with a range of 75,000 miles or less sitting in the dealership’s seat for about $12,500.
2. 2010 Audi A5
Audi makes some fun cars. One of the best to look for when shopping for cheap luxury cars is the A5. To be more specific, to fit our price tag, we’re talking about the 2010 Audi A5 with 2.0T Premium trim package. This trim level gives you a coupe with a four-cylinder turbocharged 2.0L power plant and audi’s incredible AWD system that has attracted buyers for decades. Technically, the A5 is a step forward from the A4 Quattro and has many of the same features found in the 2010 A6.
On top of a pleasant driving experience and outstanding driving quality, the A5 is below our prices. You should be able to find a 2010 Audi A5 with Premium 2.0T trim with a range of 85,000 miles for less than $14,000.
3. Cadillac CTS 2010
Not a complete list of luxury cars let alone cheap luxury cars without a Cadillac. This legendary car manufacturer has built some of the best quality luxury cars in the world since its founding in 1902.
Cadillac released the CTS into the North American market in 2003. The track is powered by a great range of V6 engines, but our favourite is the 3.6. That’s why we researched the price of the 2010 Cadillac CTS 3.6 Sedan. The package features a powerful 3.6L V6, AWD, and all the standard technology and comfort features available in the CTS line for 2010. You should be able to find this model at many dealerships with 85,000 miles on it for less than $12,000.
4. Jaguar XF 2010
The Jaguar name exudes premium quality, performance and comfort. Finding one on the list of cheap luxury cars might be quite a surprise. To comply with our price guidelines, we found Jaguar XF Premium 2010.
This trim level features a thrilling 5.0L V8 combined with a durable 6-speed automatic gearbox. The XF is a highly powered family sedan with a direct injection engine that delivers 385 hp of power and 380 lb-ft of torque. To make it more attractive, you should be able to find a 2010 Jaguar XF Premium with a distance of less than 85,000 miles sitting in a used car park for just under $14,000.
5. 2012 Acura TL
We’ve all seen Acura TL and thought “Wow.” It is a sharp car and full of luxury and technological enhancement. To find the best car and keep up with the price point we set for a cheap luxury car, we looked at the Acura TL SH-AWD 2012. The AWD is used because it’s so fun to drive.
The 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD is powered by a 3.7L VTEC V6 that delivers 305 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. You also get keyless entry and start, premium sound system, backup camera, and heated/cooled leather upholstery in front. You should be able to find the 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD for less than 85,000 miles for $14,000.
6. 2011 Ford Taurus SHO
When Ford discontinued The Five Hundred in 2007, it was left without a full-size car or a model that could be considered a luxury car remotely. To solve it, Ford turned to Taurus. The Taurus has been a mid-economy car for years, but Ford made the car more spacious and added many luxury features.
We don’t want to add the Ford Taurus to our list of cheap luxury cars unless it’s a fun version. That’s why we researched sho Ford Taurus 2011. For 2011, the SHO package includes a twin-turbo V6 capable of producing 365 hp of power and 350 lb-ft of torque. The interior offers keyless entry and start, navigation system, backup camera, and parking sensors along with heated/cold leather upholstery. While that sounds crazy, you can find the 2012 SHO Taurus with less than 75,000 miles for sale in a $14,000 neighborhood.
7. 2012 Infiniti G37x
Infiniti sedans offer many amenities and are often considered too expensive to make a list of cheap luxury cars. We wanted to maximize our money, so we looked at the Infiniti G37x Limited Edition 2012.
For 2012, the Special Edition G37x is powered by the naturally sucked V6 3.7L. The engine is capable of producing 328 hp of power and 269 lb-ft of torque. Technology and comfort options include keyless entry and start, navigation system, Bluetooth, backup camera, heated leather seating and moonroof. Not bad if you consider that the 2012 Infiniti G37x Limited Edition with less than 80,000 miles should only make you return $14,250.
8. 2012 Chrysler 300C
The Chrysler 300 is a great choice if you’re shopping for cheap luxury cars. It is often overshadowed by the like of Cadillac and Acura, but the 300 offers many of the same amenities and similar power output.
To find the car with the most technological and convenient features for our price point, we take a look at the 2012 Chrysler 300C Luxury Series. For 2012, the car was powered by a 5.7L Hemi V8 paired with a five-speed automatic with an AutoStick. The engine produces 363 hp of power and 394 lb-ft of torque; more than enough power to exceed most other cars on the road. While you are inside, you will sit on heated/refrigerated skin. Other facilities include keyless entry and start, navigation, Uconnect, Bluetooth, premium sound system, and backup camera. This version pushed our price point, but still made about $14,500.
9. Hyundai Genesis 2012
Unless you do a lot of research, you probably won’t realize that Hyundai makes luxury cars. That’s one of the reasons why genesis luxury sedans sell sweetly and can sneak into our list of cheap luxury cars.
Specifically, we saw the 2012 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 sedan. This version of Genesis is powered by a 4.6L V8 engine capable of producing 378 hp of power and 328 lb-ft of torque. Standard equipment includes adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and start, navigation system, Lexicon premium sound system, parking sensors, backup camera, heated/cooled leather seating, and moonroof. Not too shabby, for a car priced around $14,200.
10. 2010 Volvo S80 T6
One of the best luxury cars Volvo has to offer is the S80 sedan. The S80 is usually powered by a turbo four-cylinder engine that is quite capable. We think that the six cylinders in the T6 model are better engines. The S80 has a tendency to maintain its value quite well, so we had to go back to the 2010 model to find the S80 T6 that complies with our pricing guidelines. The 2010 Volvo S80 T6 is powered by six turbocharged 3.0L paired with a six-speed Geartronic transmission. The engine produces 281 hp of power and 295 lb-ft of torque. That’s a very good number if you consider that Volvo cars have a great AWD system and are often considered one of the safest in the world.
11. 2010 Lexus GS 350
Toyota’s luxury division has been building incredible luxury cars for three decades. One of the best is the Lexus GS. Granted, the Lexus LS is a larger car and offers additional comfort and technological options, but it is impossible to include it in our price group.
Despite being a small cousin of LS, the Lexus GS offers most of the comfort and technology found in the LS line. To reach our price point, we saw the 2010 Lexus GS 350. The model is powered by a 3.5L V6 capable of producing 303 hp and 292 lb-ft of torque. That’s more than enough energy to easily handle any long journey. In addition to being powerful, the 2010 GS 350 typically features premium sound systems, navigation, Bluetooth, Lexus Enform, heated leather seats at the front, and moonroof. You should be able to find a 2010 Lexus GS 350 for $15,000 in your area.
12. Lincoln MKZ 2012
With all the excitement surrounding the return of the Lincoln Continental, the smaller Lincoln MKZ gets a little lost.
The 2012 Lincoln MKZ with Executive trim package is equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine that offers 263 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque. The output is more than enough from a car that also offers 27 mpg on the highway. If equipped with an Executive package, the Lincoln MKZ 2012 features keyless entry, THX II sound system, parking sensors, and heating/cold leather seating at the front. It also matches our price point of just $12,250.
13. Toyota Avalon 2011
Toyota Avalon often goes unnoticed when it comes to cheap luxury cars. Considered a flagship car in Toyota’s stable in North America, it’s a great luxury option that’s pretty easy on the wallet when bought secondhand.
The 2011 Toyota Avalon Limited is powered by a durable 3.5L V6 combined with a smooth six-speed transmission. The engine emits 268 hp of power and 248 lb-ft of torque, but packs toyota’s legendary reliance on each pony. Drivers are treated to keyless entry and start, JBL Synthesis sound system, Bluetooth, heated/cooled skin, and moonroof. All this is less than $14,000.
14. 2012 Volkswagen CC
Volkswagen CC is another car that went undetected when people shop for cheap luxury cars. So far it is not known that Volkswagen will replace CC after the 2018 model year.
To get the most out of our $15,000 price limit, we focused on volkswagen CC Luxury Limited in 2012. It is powered by a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine capable of 31 mpg on the highway. Facilities with Luxury Limited edition include Hill Start assistance, keyless entry, navigation system, Bluetooth, heated seats, and panoramic moonroof. You should be able to find a 2012 Volkswagen CC Luxury Limited for less than $13,000 in your area.
15. Mercedes-Benz C250 2012
