The super-expensive and luxurious car class consists of large cushy limousine saloons, oversized hatchbacks, and SUVs. They aren’t everybody’s cars, since only the executives and super-rich tycoons can afford them. Their price tags justify the outstanding comfort, smooth ride, and ample performance. Only a few car brands were known to produce luxurious cars. Things took a sudden twist when supercar manufacturers like Lamborghini and Ferrari joined the luxurious SUV segment. Every manufacturer is now fighting to roll out the best performance luxury car.
However, being expensive doesn’t automatically make a luxury car emerge above the rest. Some cars in this list command a six-figure price tag but come packing awful performance, poor reliability, and below-par features. Here are five super-expensive cars that are best avoided and five that are worth every penny.
10 Avoid: Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Legends have it that a Range Rover Evoque would bypass everything on the road except a mechanic and a gas station. Yes, it’s a guzzler, but it is best avoided due to reliability issues. Things fail every now and then, prompting constant repairs. While the warranty will pay for the fixes, the non-warranty stuff still incurs owners atrociously expensive charges to fix.
Severe problems face Evoque models produced between 2012 and 2017 with the engine, turbo, brake failure, and faulty electronics and airbags. The 2020 model suffers from engine stalling, build quality problems, and fire risks.
9 Worth Every Penny: Rolls-Royce Cullinan
The Cullinan doesn’t come cheap, but the SUV’s unrivaled refinement justifies the price tag. Riding in it gives a palatial isolation chamber thrill. To extend its dominance in the ultra-expensive super-luxury category, one can personalize the interior to your desire.
The 2022 model features a 6.7-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine that pushes 563hp to all wheels via a BMW-sourced four-wheel-drive system. The Cullinan accelerates to 60mph in just 4.5 seconds, which is impressive for a car that weighs over 5,500 pounds. The SUV rides on an air suspension that automatically adjusts in response to feedback from a road-scanning camera.
8 Avoid: 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE
Don’t be fooled by the Mercedes-Benz GLE's good looks. Underneath the luxury SUV lies several problems. The 2022 GLE was Consumer Report’s least reliable car of the year. Some minor problems are experienced in the engine, climate, and electrical systems.
Compared to other high-end SUVs, the GLE has below-average features such as the car’s hardware, body integrity, and in-car electronics. When the M-Class was renamed to GLE in 2015, Mercedes only gave it a minor update instead of a significant overhaul. The W166 GLE/M-Class still features the old platform from the Daimler Chrysler days. With the GLE’s price tag, you are better off with a more up-to-date SUV.
7 Worth Every Penny: Lamborghini Urus
The Lamborghini Urus is what you get when the manufacturer of the world’s most outlandish supercars decides to make a five-door family SUV with off-road capability. With jaw-dropping track performance, the Urus is the most practical car from the Italian manufacturer.
It is powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 mill producing a stout 641hp with a deep bubbly soundtrack when idling and screams with a glorious howl at full throttle. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that conspires with an all-wheel-drive system to propel the Urus to 60mph in 3.6 seconds. Topping out at 190mph, the Lamborghini Urus is one of the fastest SUVs money can buy today
6 Avoid: Tesla Model X
It feels unfair that the Model X falls on this list, but its dependability and unreliability are a letdown. Consumer Reports gave it an awful 1/5 reliability rating, citing problems such as rusting, navigation system freezing, acceleration issues, and poor body integrity.
The ride quality is also bumpy and uneven for a car that wants to be regarded as luxurious. No doubt the falcon doors are cool and futuristic, but they should at least make them work properly – owners report the doors are heavy and sometimes take ages to open fully.
5 Worth Every Penny: Mercedes-Maybach S-Class
It’s no secret that the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class makes zero attempts to conceal its origins. The outside look resembles that of the standard S-Class, giving it a tame appeal, but hey, not every wealthy super-luxury car owner wants to draw too much attention in traffic. The stretched body gives it a comfortable interior and comes with optional reclining rear seats.
A pair of engine options are offered – a 496hp 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 augmented by a hybrid system in the S580 and a 621hp 6.0-liter V12 in the S680. A 4matic all-wheel-drive system comes as standard in all models. Other luxury features include driver assistance technologies and an advanced active suspension.
4 Avoid: 2022 Land Rover Discovery
The Discovery Sport’s excellent off-road capability, plush interior, and forced induction (turbo) engine make it a great option for a midsize SUV. However, reliability problems start kicking in as the car racks up mileage. With an overall score of 44 out of 100 on Consumer Reports, only the Tesla Model X has a worse score than the Discovery Sport.
Common problems in this SUV include leaking head gaskets, faulty cargo door latch, clogged radiator, main bearing failure, sticky ignition switch, and sticking windshield wiper switch.
3 Worth Every Penny: Rolls-Royce Phantom
No car outmatches the Phantom when it comes to exhibiting a luxurious status and automotive extravagance. The luxury experience offered looks and feels as expensive as the car is. The V12 engine under the long hood hums silently as the Phantom wafts down the road.
The factory offers almost endless customization features. A pothole-spotting camera sends feedback to the suspension that adapts in real-time to road conditions. Prodigious power is delivered by a silken 563hp twin-turbocharged V12 engine coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission and a rear-wheel-drive system. Rolls-Royce claims a brisk 5.1 seconds acceleration from 0-60mph for the ultra-luxurious Phantom.
2 Avoid: 2020 Mercedes-Maybach GLS
Spending $160,500 on a 558hp SUV is the first warning sign you should steer clear of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS. The car is underwhelmingly slow compared to other super-luxury SUVs, and the boxy shape doesn’t come to its aid either. Sure, it takes the accolade of the first SUV from Mercedes-Maybach, but should be last on your list of the best luxurious SUVs.
The car’s interior is not badly off as its exterior – it has a smooth ride and an elegant, technologically advanced interior. But these are features you’d get on a more discrete Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. For an SUV, the Mercedes-Maybach GLS’s interior is a little bit cramped; seats only four, and the rear seats aren’t foldable for additional cargo space
1 Worth Every Penny: 2023 Bentley Bentayga
Do you want a practical daily drive luxury car that can haul a family of five? The Bentayga is the answer. The British automaker added an extended wheelbase body for the 2023 lineup, providing extra space in the rear seats. If that comfort isn’t enough, the back seats can recline to 40 degrees and come with an optional massaging function, middle seat, or a center console.
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With the Bentayga, you need not worry about tight space parking; it features a rear-wheel steering system that shrinks the car’s turning radius. This super luxury car offers three powertrain options: a 443hp 3.0-liter V6 with a hybrid arrangement, a 542hp twin turbocharged V8, and a 626hp W12. Eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive system come as standard in all models. With a top speed of 190mph and doing the 0-60mph sprint in the sub-4 seconds, Bentley claims that the Bentayga is the world’s fastest SUV.