Popular Used Luxury Cars to Avoid and What to Buy Instead
Consumer Reports' experts chose these models because they deliver the reliability, comfort, and performance expected from a luxury sedan
Luxury car advertisements focus on style, status, and aesthetics. However, buying the wrong used luxury model can lead to a frustrating ownership experience due to issues such as an uncomfortable ride, maddening controls, a cramped interior, and a fortune spent on excessive out-of-warranty repairs.
To help you pick the luxury car that meets your expectations and won’t leave you fuming, the auto experts at Consumer Reports put all of the models listed below through more than 50 evaluations when they were new, so we know how they perform.
Plus, we collect data from CR members in our Annual Auto Surveys so that we can tell you how many problems a model has had compared with the average problem rate for all vehicles of the same model year. This data-driven approach identifies which used luxury cars are the most consistent performers.
This allows us to present models that are popular in their category but aren’t good choices to buy. Then we present two alternatives:
• A better choice: Another vehicle that’s widely available and reliable and has better owner satisfaction ratings.
• An under-the-radar alternative: A reliable and satisfying model that didn’t sell as well—if you aren’t concerned with following the crowd.
Consumer Reports members can also search our Used Car Marketplace for vehicles for sale in their area, sorting by the factors that matter most.
