The words “budget-friendly” and “luxury” might not inherently go hand-in-hand, but it is possible to find luxury vehicles that are available at a relatively affordable price. They might not be the cheapest cars on the market, but compared to other luxury vehicles, they could be an appealing option.
It is important to keep in mind that even if you are able to find a good deal on a luxury car, there are other ongoing costs to consider as well.
For example, it’s going to be more expensive to insure a Mercedes Benz than a Toyota Camry.
The cost of repairing luxury cars can also be more expensive because of the need for specialized parts and labor.
If you factor these costs in and decide it’s something you’d like to explore, the following are some budget-friendly luxury cars, relatively speaking.
Audi Q3
The Audi brand is synonymous with luxury, and the Q3 is a good balance between luxury and affordability.
The 2019 Audi Q3 features a longer wheelbase and a roomy interior. It has a new interior and exterior design to promote better ergonomics, and it boasts a lot of technology features that are considered cutting edge. There is a downside with that to be aware of—Edmunds says the infotainment system can be distracting.
The interior is made with high-quality materials, particularly with the Premium trim.
The Q3 was completely redesigned for 2019, and that led to more passenger legroom and cargo space.
Mercedes-Benz GLC Class
The Mercedes GLC class ranks number one in the Luxury Compact SUV category by U.S. News Cars. It also takes top spots for Luxury Crossover SUVs and Luxury SUVs with 2 Rows.
Some of the added features for 2019 include tri-zone climate control and an off-road engineering package. It also features heated front seats. Notable things to like about this luxury vehicle include the fact that the interior is roomy, it’s packed with features, and the ride is smooth, but do be aware the coupe editions have limited cargo capacity.
The base price is fairly budget-friendly, but it can go up quite a bit from there, depending on features.
Mercedes has some other good and affordable options aside from the GLC class. For example, the GLA class starts at around $35,000. It doesn’t have all the best features of some of the other more expensive Mercedes vehicles, but you do get an appealing price tag.
BMW X1
The 2020 BMW X1 starts at a base price of just over $36,000. It’s a crossover that’s practical but also has that element of luxury appeal. The car features good power and fuel-economy ratings.
For a crossover on the smaller side, you’ll get a fair amount of interior roominess, and the 2020 model of this BMW has gotten an exterior refresh.
New features include larger grilles on the front, new bumpers at the front and rear, LED lighting, and new wheel design.
It features a larger infotainment screen, as well.
The SDrive28i is front-wheel-drive, and it’s the preferred option by Car and Driver.
There are certain elements of driving this car that may feel more like a sports car, and it’s a fun but still functional vehicle.
Hyundai Genesis
The Hyundai Genesis is a mid-sized sedan that’s a great luxury vehicle at an affordable base price of $39,700.
Known officially as the Genesis G80, U.S. News named it number two on their list of the best luxury midsize cars.
There weren’t any major changes in the car in 2019, and the big downside is the not-so-great fuel economy.
This is balanced by the pros of the vehicle, including the comprehensive safety and technology features, the comfortable cabin and the warranty coverage.
If you’re someone who’s okay going outside of the traditional luxury box, but you still want that luxury quality, the Genesis G80 may be worth exploring.
Volvo XC40
Finally, the Volvo XC40 is a small luxury SUV, and changes introduced in the newest model of the vehicle include the replacement of the upholstery.
The interior is made with high-end materials, and there are well-thought-out and functional storage solutions and cargo solutions, but at the same time, for the vehicle class, some consider the cargo area small.
The Volvo XC40 features a touchscreen interface that can take some time to get the hang of too.
This is the least expensive of the Volvo SUV options, but you don’t feel like you’re sacrificing in the interior or exterior of the vehicle.
