While most affordable modern cars have plenty of safety and comfort features and offer solid performance and ride quality, it's incredibly easy to tell that you're in a luxury car as soon as you sit inside one. Luxury cars are not only built to a higher standard and offer better ride quality, but their manufacturers also put much more thought into the comfort and designs of these cars' interiors, including the materials and technology they use. Therefore, there are undeniable benefits to buying a used luxury car over a brand-new economy car for the same price.
However, sadly, luxury cars tend to depreciate more than regular cars, especially within the first few years of ownership. Thankfully, just about anyone can enjoy luxury in a four-wheeler without having to break the bank.
But then, sieving through the tons of luxury cars in the market today to get a reliable one on a budget is not exactly easy. So, let's take a look at some of the most reliable luxury cars under $30,000 today.
10 2006 Porsche 911 Carrera S
The 2006 Porsche 911 is a sixth-generation incarnation of the rear-engined sports machine that was introduced in 1964. Porsche updated the styling, chassis, and powertrain of the 2006 Carrera S. The sweet-sounding 3.8-liter flat-six produces 355 horsepower, which is enough to push it to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds.
Besides being fun to drive, one thing most owners of the 2006 Carrera S seem to agree on is that it's very reliable. According to a driver from California, the Porsche 911 is highly reliable and doesn't require crazy maintenance costs like many other exotics. Here's an '06 Porsche 911 that goes for $30,000.
9 2009 Lexus LS 460
The 2009 Lexus LS 460 is a sedan that offers plenty of refinements, a super-smooth ride, and stalwart reliability. Lexus introduces an all-wheel-drive and passenger seat memory in the large luxury sedan that goes for roughly $12,000 on the used-car market. The 4.6-liter V8 runs with an 8-speed automatic transmission to deliver silky-smooth 380 hp and 367 lb-ft of torque.
The wheels, brakes, suspension, and engine of the LS 460 are solidly built and should last at least 200,000 miles. According to an LS 460 owner from Laguna Hills, the luxury sedan is incredibly reliable and serves as a great daily driver.
8 2011 Audi TT
The 2011 Audi TT is a sleek, hunkered-down two-door coupe that is inspired by the Audi R8. As a luxury coupe, the Audi TT comes with an upscale interior design that competes with bigwigs like the Mercedes-Benz SLK and BMW Z4. The Audi TT gets its power from a 2.0-liter EA888 turbo TFSI 4-cylinder engine with an output of 211 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque and maxes out at 152 mph.
When it comes to reliability and longevity, the Audi TT beats the Mustang, Nissan 370Z, and the BMW Z4, according to this study by iSeeCars. Although maintenance cost is quite expensive at $970 annually, the 2011 Audi TT offers an almost trouble-free ownership experience, according to the NHTSA. This neatly used 2011 Audi TT is listed for sale at $20,990.
7 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350
The E350 premium sedan was launched as part of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class lineup in 2006 and the 2012 iteration has significantly improved with a more luxurious ride, lavish cabin, and a smoother, more efficient engine. The standard 3.5-liter V6 engine gushes out 302 hp when paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission.
On the subject of reliability, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 earned a perfect rating from J.D. Power and if you use around 15,000 miles annually, the midsize luxury sedan can stick around for 200,000 miles before requiring any significant repairs. Find a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 offered at $17,999 here.
6 2013 Lexus GS 350
Lexus has been on a relentless pursuit of perfection and with the release of the all-new 2013 GS 350, the Toyota luxury division drew a lot closer to its ambitious goal. Lexus tuned up the chassis of the 2013 GS 350 and equipped it with a race-bred V6 engine with an output of 306 hp and 277 lb-ft of peak torque.
The GS 350 goes wheel-to-wheel with class-leading luxury sedans like the BMW 5-Series and Audi A6. A 2013 GS 350 owner by the name Jim praises the luxury sedan for its effortless drive and reliability. At 70,000 miles, the only services the GS 350 has required are oil and tire changes. Check out this 2013 Lexus GS 350 with over 250,000 miles on it to get a better idea of just how reliable the car is. Here is a 2013 Lexus GS 350 for $21,992.
5 2013 Infiniti G37
Although the 2013 Infiniti G37 is essentially the same premium sedan and coupe that was released in 2007, it's a blast to drive and easy to maneuver around tight corners. The 2013 Infiniti G37 houses a 3.7-liter V6 that evolved from the 3.5-liter V6 that you know and love. The engine makes 328 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque, which you will feel as soon as you step on the gas.
To know how reliable and long-lasting the G37 is, The Driver Adviser surveyed 880 units and found that 8.05% of them hit at least 150,000 miles, with a few reaching 220,000 miles. For context, if more than 3% of a brand's vehicles have over 150,000 miles, it means they are reliable. So, the Infiniti G37 having 8.05% means it is very reliable. Here's a clean 2013 Infiniti G37 with a price tag of $16,880.
4 2014 Lexus RX350
The plush ride, luxurious interior, and bulletproof reliability make the Lexus RX350 a steal for just $22,291. Under the hood lies a 3.5-liter V6 that's mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission with an output of 270 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. Analyzing over 7,292 RX350s, the average mileage falls between 200,000 and 230,000.
About 3.85% of the Lexus RX350s for this study crossed the 150,000-mile mark, and the highest mileage recorded was 250,000, which goes to prove that the midsize SUV is quite reliable.
3 2015 Acura MDX
The Acura MDX is a responsive, sharp-looking SUV with all the practicality and luxury you need in a family-sized vehicle. In this comprehensive study, over 5,067 Acura MDX were analyzed to know exactly how reliable the three-row crossover is. The results show that the average Acura MDX can last between 220,000 and 250,000 miles, and repairs take just about $571 out of your pocket every year.
Out of all Acura MDX analyzed, 7.26% crossed the 150,000-mile mark, and the highest mileage recorded was 290,000. With these mileage figures, it's safe to say the Acura MDX is more reliable than competitors like the GMC Acadia and Chevy Blazer. This accident-free 2015 Acura MDX can be yours for just $23,895.
2 2015 BMW 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series comes with superb powertrains and high-tech interior features that help it go wheel-to-wheel with the Audi A6 and Cadillac CTS. The excellent all-around luxury sedan is pretty reliable, going by this extensive research.
On average, the BMW 5 Series can survive up to 200,000 miles. In the study, 6,006 BMW 5 Series cars were tested and 210 (3.56%) of them exceeded 150,000 miles. So, if you drive, on average, 15,000 miles every year, the BMW 5 Series can live up to 13 years. A used 2015 BMW 5 Series cost about $15,000 today.
1 2016 BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series offers a confident handling dynamics regardless of the body style, and it sets the performance benchmark for other compact sport sedans. The 3 Series was built to last, even more than the 5 Series and X5.
The average BMW 3 Series has mileage between 200,000 and 230,000, and some have as much as 270,000 miles on the odometer. In the linked study, 10,395 units of 3 Series were tested and 4.36% of them had at least 150,000 miles, so the 3 Series is more reliable than competitors like the Acura TLX and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. You can get a clean 2016 BMW 328i for just $19,457.