Luxury cars, along with large country houses or Sunseeker yachts, are often seen as the highest symbol of wealth and success. While they might seem like something only for the rich, American drivers spent about 84 billion hours driving in 2015.
Although the recent pandemic and changes in how people work may have lowered that number, many people still drive enough to feel it makes sense to own a high-end vehicle.
When we think about luxury cars, we usually picture very fancy models like Bugattis and Rolls-Royces. These are definitely high-end, but they only make up a small part of the market. The well-known luxury brands we see more often on the highway are the ones that are actually more common.
These cars offer more comfort, better craftsmanship, high-end features, and stronger build quality than regular cars, while still being within reach for many people.
With that said, the major luxury brands are listed here based on things like how much of the market they hold, comfort, safety, dependability, how well they perform, and how efficient they are on fuel (or how far they can go for electric vehicles).
Even though they are listed from the lowest to the highest rank, all of these brands are among the most favored luxury car companies, which shows they are seen as high-quality and desirable.
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Worst Luxury Car Brands
Lincoln
Lincoln became an early leader in the SUV market during the 1990s, but its long history goes back over a century. Ford bought Lincoln to act as its luxury division next to its well-known, practical vehicles.
Lincoln’s early luxury cars were once owned by President Calvin Coolidge and famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright (who had a good eye for design).
Lincoln has also been mentioned in books and movies, like Michael Connelly’s The Lincoln Lawyer. Despite its success in the U.S., this respected American luxury brand didn’t gain much ground in the valuable European market.
Today, Lincoln still makes impressive vehicles, including the top-of-the-line Navigator SUV. However, Lincoln’s total sales have gone down, with 2022 being its lowest sales year since 2013 in the United States.
There have also been some reports of mechanical problems, especially with the Navigator, including issues with its engine, electronics, and safety features. Still, there were only two recalls in 2022, and those were for small problems related to trailer brakes and running lights.
Lincoln is a luxury car brand known for making comfortable cars with great style and strong build quality.
However, perhaps because of its small target market, it holds less than one percent of the U.S. car market and is barely sold overseas. For this reason, it ranks low among its competitors, but it’s still a strong brand—if you can afford it.
Volvo
The time when Volvo was mainly known for its square, practical cars is long gone. The Swedish carmaker has greatly improved its designs in recent years, now offering stylish and well-crafted sedans and SUVs that come close to matching the high standards set by top German brands.
Because of this change, Volvo is now getting more attention among the top luxury car makers, and its vehicles are just as well-liked around the world as Ikea’s meatballs with lingonberry sauce.
The mid-size XC60 SUV is Volvo’s most popular model, followed by the smaller XC40 and the larger XC90, which is its top model. All three can be seen as luxury vehicles thanks to their comfort and upscale features. Still, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Volvo.
The XC60, in particular, has faced three recalls—one for a child seat issue, one for steering that might not work correctly, and another for battery problems that could lead to loss of power.
Even though this might worry some buyers, there’s better news to consider: in 2021, eleven Volvo models earned five-star safety scores from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), putting them among the safest vehicles available.
Still, Volvo doesn’t rank higher on this list because, when it comes to pure luxury, it doesn’t quite match up to some of its European rivals.
BMW
Known all over the world as a symbol of high-end cars, Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH—more commonly called BMW—went from financial trouble in mid-1900s Europe to becoming known for quality and class.
Its line of luxury cars and SUVs is sold across the globe, and for many years, it has been the top car exporter. Its biggest factory is located in South Carolina, USA. On the other hand, its largest market is China, which accounted for 33 percent of sales in 2022, compared to 15 percent in the U.S.
BMW’s 5 Series and 7 Series have been mainstays in the luxury car space for many years, and more recently, the X3 and X5 SUVs have made a big impact. The company produces more than just cars—it also makes sporty coupes, motorcycles, and hatchbacks.
Like all carmakers, BMW isn’t without issues. Some owners of the newest X5 and its hybrid version have reported problems with the drivetrain and transmission. There have been recalls involving the “X” series because of issues with child seat anchors and airbag inflators, but those have been fixed.
BMW remains one of the top car companies on the planet and is respected around the globe.
Despite facing a few problems over its more than 100-year journey, it is still seen as a leader in forward-thinking design, as shown by its growing lineup of hybrids and electric vehicles, including the new iX.
However, the brand has dropped in some recent rankings related to dependability and build quality, which is why it doesn’t appear higher on this list.
Mercedes-Benz
It has been almost 140 years since Carl Benz created the first motor car, and saying that it changed the world doesn’t do it justice. The “horseless carriage” became a key part of the 20th century, and Benz eventually became part of Daimler AG and then Mercedes-Benz AG.
The brand is well-known as one of the top makers of luxury cars, continuously growing with popular models like the E-Class and S-Class sedans, the GLE and GLS SUVs, and the ultra-luxury Maybach series.
In general, Mercedes has lived up to the high expectations for quality and safety that come with cars costing over $100,000, though it hasn’t been perfect.
Recently, the luxury S-Class faced concerning issues with its automatic braking system, called phantom braking, which was reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There were also some smaller electrical issues serious enough to cause two recalls.
Despite these problems, Mercedes belongs on any list of top luxury cars. It combines a rich history, comfort, style, and modern thinking, all seen in its successful motorsport division and impressive electric vehicles.
The EQ series of sedans and SUVs show where the company is headed in the future, especially with the European Union moving away from cars that use fossil fuels.
Tesla
Tesla, like its CEO Elon Musk, often divides opinions. The company has caused controversy in its relatively short history, facing criticism over its work culture, questionable business actions, and safety concerns with its Autopilot driving system.
Despite this, Tesla cars, including the Model 3, Model Y, Model S sedans, and Model X SUV, continue to sell very well, both in the U.S. and internationally.
One major issue with Tesla cars is related to software, specifically with the Autopilot self-driving system. While many of these problems are fixed without a trip to the mechanic, they still count as recalls, and about four million vehicles have been affected since January 2022.
Even though Tesla insists no one has been hurt by these issues, the situation doesn’t look good, especially given that it’s led by the world’s richest man and has a top PR team.
So, why is Tesla still thriving? Simply put, the cars are great, offering excellent styling, features, performance, and acceleration that can compete with race cars.
The company also started at a time when environmental concerns were a major focus, playing a huge role in the electric vehicle revolution that the world needed. Maybe, for that reason alone, it deserves some grace.
Best Luxury Car Brands
Cadillac
Cadillac has been one of the most famous car brands in America for a long time. Many well-known people, like Frank Sinatra and Ben Affleck, have been loyal fans, and Cadillac has appeared in many movies and songs by artists like Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC, Rihanna, and Beyonce.
With more than 120 years of history, Cadillac has continued to build on its strong reputation as one of America’s top luxury brands, focusing mainly on sedans and SUVs.
This includes the CT series of sedans and the XT series of SUVs, but the brand is most famous for its flagship Escalade SUV. Recently, the Escalade has faced some criticism, with some questioning the reliability of the latest models due to issues found in other vehicles from its parent company, General Motors, which share similar parts.
While this isn’t great news for a leading brand, Cadillac still has a strong reputation, and those looking for a luxury vehicle as a status symbol may not be concerned by these issues.
Like Lincoln, Cadillac hasn’t done as well in international markets, with China being its biggest importer after the U.S. sales. However, this could change with the launch of the Celestiq sedan and Lyriq SUV, which may become important players in the electric vehicle market.
Audi
Germany is known for making some of the best luxury cars in terms of performance, quality, and features, and Audi is at the top of that list.
While Audi may not have the same long history as Mercedes or the popularity of BMW, it has never stopped aiming for the highest standards and is known for its quiet, luxurious vehicles.
If you’re looking for comfort, practicality, and a sense of luxury without being too flashy, Audi might be the right choice. The “A” series of sedans and the “Q” series of SUVs are made with great German quality and design. The A7 sedan, in particular, is praised for its fuel efficiency and large trunk.
These cars are still high-end, but they offer practicality with four doors, plenty of trunk space, and the ability to handle track racing. Audi’s SUVs, especially the Q7, are also admired for their performance, variety, and value.
No car brand is perfect, and the Audi Q5 SUV has had some reported issues. But when it comes to build quality and dependability, Audi is only outdone by Japanese luxury brands that have proven records along with their more affordable models.
Acura
Acura is Honda’s luxury brand, which benefits from Honda’s extensive experience and resources. Acura makes the Integra sport compact, the TLX sport sedan, and the RDX and MDX SUVs.
By combining comfort, performance, safety, and advanced technology, Acura has made a name for itself in the luxury car market. Its MDX luxury SUV, in particular, stands out for its reliability, ranking very high on car review sites.
One thing that sets Acura apart is that it only offers four main models, each with different versions and features that can raise the price.
This allows the brand to focus on making those few models really great. Compared to other American luxury brands, Acura is more affordable, with its latest top model priced under $50,000.
While there have been reports of steering problems with the 2023 Integra sedan, Acura is still considered one of the most reliable luxury brands and deserves its high position on this list.
It’s also important to note that when problems do happen, the cost of repairs is usually much lower than what you would pay for a Mercedes or Cadillac. For people looking for good value, Acura is a great choice.
Infiniti
While we usually don’t think of Nissan as a luxury brand, its Infiniti line is exactly that. Infiniti takes Nissan’s foundation and adds luxury, offering more unique designs and detailed interiors.
Infiniti currently offers six models, including two sedans, two crossovers, and two SUVs. All of these vehicles have excellent build quality and materials, but the higher-end models, like the Q60, are in direct competition with other luxury brands such as the Lexus RC 350 and BMW M4.
Recently, Infiniti has had only one recall, related to a faulty seat track, and the brand generally does well in reliability tests.
If you’re buying a luxury car to show off to your neighbors, you might prefer a German or American brand. However, if you want a car that offers great value for money, durability, and comfort, Infiniti is a strong option. That said, there is one brand from Japan that might be a little better.
Lexus
Lexus is a well-known luxury car brand, even though it was founded relatively recently, in 1989.
While it may not have the long history of some American or European brands, it combines luxury with the reliability and build quality that people expect from its parent company, Toyota. This long history goes back to 1926 in Japan.
Lexus offers a wide range of cars, with ten SUVs and six sedans, and nine of them are available as hybrids. Its cars are known for having distinctive large trapezoidal front grilles, which give them a unique look compared to other brands like BMW.
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Although some recent models have faced complaints about noise and vibrations, these issues aren’t dangerous. All things considered, Lexus balances style, function, and luxury, and offers great value for money.
When considering the best luxury car brands, factors like history, design, performance, features, quality, reliability, and value come into play.
Lexus checks all these boxes with its broad range of vehicles, which is why it deserves to be at the top of this list. While other brands have great cars, Lexus stands out as the best of the best.
