There are a few things that define luxury cars other than the obvious luxury features. The biggest one is a high price. If you want a luxury car fresh off the lot, you’re going to have to pay for it. However, they also lose a lot of that value shockingly fast. That means what was a six-figure luxury car just a couple of years ago could now be about the same price as a new Honda Civic. If you’re looking for a new ride on a budget, that’s flush with features, here are some of the best used luxury cars.
E38 is the code for the 1995-2001 BMW 7 series. You know the car. It’s the hulking full-size sedan that made Jason Statham into the greatest thing on four wheels in The Transporter. The first one, not the sequels. It’s the car that James Bond drove from under the rear seat in Tomorrow Never Dies. It wears classic styling that looks nearly as good today as it did when it launched. You can get your 7 in 282 hp 740i and long-wheelbase 740iL, or you can go for the real boss. That’s the silky smooth and even more powerful 750i and 750iL; the 5.4L V12 that offers up 320 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque. That one lets everybody around you know who the boss is.
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Those numbers might not be very impressive now, but they’re still more than enough to move this big sedan very quickly. And while it might not have all the bells and whistles of the latest 7, it offers a much more connected drive and feel than the modern cars can.
When the Lexus LS arrived on the luxury market, it changed everything for the German and American sedans that had been owning that segment for decades. Lexus pitched luxury, but it went even further than that. The early Lexus ads showcased an engine that was so smooth you could build a fountain of glassware that would stay standing. You could roll a ball bearing down the car’s seams and it wouldn’t stray from its channel. Lexus offered a level of quality that was rare in 1989.
The current LS continues that mission. And while the competition has mostly caught up, Lexus hasn’t exactly been sitting on its heels. The 2007-2017 LS offers all the luxury features you could want in a car, but with the early cars now 10 years old, those features can be yours for less than you might think.
The LS comes as the LS460, which has a 380 hp 4.6L V8, but if you want to save some fuel along with saving when you buy it, check out the LS 600 h, which is the hybrid version. It packs a 5.0L V8 and two electric motors. The total output is 439 hp, and it uses a CVT that makes the power delivery even smoother. If you want to drive, the LS 600h even has a limited-slip differential, all-wheel drive, and active air suspension.
It’s understated in the styling department, including the facelift models with the big Lexus spindle grille. But it’s everything you need on the inside, and that’s more luxurious anyway. After all, you don’t need to look at it from behind the wheel. Or from in the back seat.
The 2006-2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class had just about every feature Mercedes could throw at it. Panoramic roof, multiple sunshades, and 10-way power adjustable seats with heat and ventilation. You could even use both of those seat features at once. That sounds like a great way to start a tornado in your seat, but Benz says it will actually keep you warm and dry on rainy days. No more humidity for you, Mr. Luxury Car Driver. It had adaptive cruise control available, and four-zone climate control. All that on top of the fit and finish and excellent material quality you’d expect from a Benz.
There were 3.5L V6 engines available, a 5.5L V8, and even a 3.0L diesel option. But the one you want is the E63. That 6.2L V8 bellowed to release 507 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. It had a seven-speed AMG automatic transmission and sent drive to the rear wheels. No all-wheel drive available here. The E63 was designed to storm the Autobahn, and it delivered. It was like driving a living room that could power its way to the 155 mph limiter.
The AMG model also gets a much more firm suspension for carving corners, along with big brake upgrades and a subtle body kit to make sure passers-by know what you’re driving. And now they’re available for less than $20,000. Just make sure you find one that’s been well maintained, and that applies to most of this list, because with great power can come great repair bills.
If it’s absolute style you’re looking for, then look no further than the 2003-2008 Jaguar XJ. The big cat didn’t get much of a styling change for the all-new model, but there are huge changes underneath.
This model XJ is all aluminum underneath. Or should that be all aluminium since this car is coming from dear old Blighty? Chassis, body, and engine, are all from the lighter metal. That made for some impressive weight savings. The lightest XJ sold in this generation came in under 3,400 lbs. It’s a massive 600 lbs lighter than the previous generation, and lighter than some compact sedans. In a full-size luxury car. The reduced weight improves the ride, improves the dynamics, and it helps save some fuel, too.
Inside, the XJ is loaded with leather, real wood, deep carpeting, and class. Under the hood were a choice of big engines. In North America, the XJ was V8 only. The base engine was a 4.2L V8 that made 300 hp. If you wanted more purr from your sleek cat, the XJR strapped a supercharger on the engine to make 390 hp. Regular versions are available, or you can get an XJ8L if you want to add five-inches of room for rear passengers.
If you’re looking for something that’s a little more plain, we can help you there, too. The Toyota Avalon is the king of understated luxury. It doesn’t look like much on the inside, especially the 2005-2012 generation, but don’t let its looks fool you. It still counts as one of the best used luxury cars in our books.
This car offers a leather interior, dual-zone climate control, and a 12-speaker JBL audio system. It’s even got a 268 hp V6. But that’s not why you buy an Avalon.
The Avalon does old-school luxury. The kind that Buick and Cadillac became famous for. It’s the kind of car that can whisk you quietly and smoothly across the US, and probably before you ever realize you’ve left.
If you want a car that is nearly silent on the highway, this is it. If you want a car that eats potholes for breakfast, this is it. If you want a car that’ll need scheduled services and that’s about it? Then this is the car you want. And isn’t effortless the true measure of luxury? Well, it’s a pretty good one, at least.
The Volkswagen group was a little strange in the early 2000s. They were riding high on ever-expanding sales, and the purchase of Bentley. VW Chair Ferdinand Piech wanted a new VW flagship. He wanted something from Wolfsburg that would compete with the likes of BMW and Mercedes. Forget the fact that Audi already did that, and that Bentley surpassed them, Piech wanted a piece of Benz. Maybe because MB went after VW with the low-cost and small A-Class.
Whatever the reason, the Phaeton was one heck of an effort. Based on a VW Group large-car chassis, the Phaeton was essentially a Bentley Continental chassis with slightly less luxurious bits attached to it. Aimed at the S-Class, and letting Audi chase the sporty BMW 7, this was a six-figure VW when new.
One of its famous design targets was its ability to handle a full day of 186 mph at an outside temperature of 122°F, while keeping it 72°F inside. Engine choices include a 4.2L 330 hp V8, and a 6.0L 414 hp W12. Yup, that’s a W. Pick the V8 if you want the economical (at the pumps and at the service center) choice, and the W12 if you want to be unique. Either way, this car can be a massive luxury bargain. It might just look like a big Passat on the outside, but for a lot of people that’s a plus. And on the inside, it’s loaded with leather and wood trim.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom was the pinnacle of luxury cars when it launched in 2003. Buyers could choose from 44,000 paint colors. The rear-hinged doors had umbrellas hidden inside them, and the doors could power themselves closed so you didn’t have to.
The Phantom uses 60 pieces of real wood for the interior, and 500 pieces of leather from the hides of 18 cows cover the vast majority of the cabin. These are some of the finest hides available in any car. The rear seats have footrests that come from the floor, along with tray tables, and the rear seats can recline.
The hood ornament alone has more class than most entire cars. It stows under the bonnet when you don’t want it displayed, and it can automatically pop back in in case of impact or attempted theft.
This is a big car, too. Weighing in at around 5,600 lbs, it’s longer than a Ford Excursion. That means it has plenty of room inside for rear passengers and loads of luggage.
The engine was a 6.8L V12 borrowed from the BMW 7 Series. In the Phantom, it made 453 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque, with almost all of that torque available from just 1,000 rpm. Look at the dash and you’ll see a power reserve gauge instead of a tachometer. The gauge tells you how many of your horses are being left in the barn. Until you (or your chauffeur) plant your right foot. As Rolls famously labled their cars for years, power was “sufficient.”
When it was new, the Phantom started to sell at well over $320,000. Now, though, one can be yours for well under $100,000. And while they remain hand-built, they come with BMW reliability.
Hyundai’s first shot at a real luxury sedan in North America was the Equus. This was also the brand’s shot across the bow at Mercedes and Lexus. This car targets those two firmly, especially the Lexus LS. It’s loaded with wood and leather, and a massaging driver’s seat comes as a standard feature.
Make sure you opt for the Ultimate trim. Why not, if you’re shopping pre-owned? Plus, the rear seats get that massage feature too (your passengers will thank you). It also comes with a retractable footrest, power headrests, and a fridge in the center console.
Since this was a Hyundai, it undercut the competition by thousands when it was new. This car is the reason why Hyundai eventually changed course and rebranded their luxury cars under the Genesis badge. They realized the cars were good enough to command a premium brand and a more premium price. As a used car, this can be an even bigger value. That’s because lots of luxury shoppers, even used ones, are looking for the prestige of the bigger brands. Sit behind the wheel of this one, and it’ll be your little secret.
These are some of the best used luxury cars you can buy, and we’ve picked cars that fit into a range of budgets. Like one on the list but want something a little newer? You can get a newer generation and spend a bit more to get it. Want to spend less? That’s easy too, because an older generation of most of these cars is still going to be a great choice. Just expect that you’ll lose out on some of the latest tech features like ventilated seats, voice control, or navigation.
So happy motoring, and have fun car shopping. Enjoy those test drives!
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