Cheap luxury cars 2024
We all enjoy a little luxury from time to time. Maybe it's an upgrade to a hotel suite when you booked a standard double. Or fine dining instead of the usual takeaway. But what if we told you a luxury car was within your reach?
It's true. While we can't offer you a new Rolls-Royce or Bentley on the cheap, we can suggest a few affordable alternatives. Whether you're after a stylish saloon, a sumptuous SUV or a classy coupe, the cars on our list will make you feel like a million dollars without spending more than you need to.
The thing about proper luxury cars is that they come with running costs to match their extravagant price tags. Not so with our cheap luxury cars, because they shouldn't cost more to run than a humdrum hatchback or run-of-the-mill SUV. Indulgence yourself.
Cheap luxury cars
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Peugeot 308
The latest Peugeot 308 isn’t the roomiest car of its type, but its cabin is one of the best, with a much more upmarket feel than you might expect. The materials are tip-top with lots of soft touchpoints and a suede-effect finish to the dashboard. Meanwhile, the design is clean and thoroughly modern, and it’s packed with the latest in-car technology. The 308 is very nice to drive too, balancing comfort and dynamism beautifully. The electric E-208 offers up to 257 miles of electric range, while you get 44 miles out of the plug-in hybrid.
Audi A1 Sportback
Audi builds some of the best luxury cars in the world, but they don’t exactly tick the ‘cheap’ box. Fortunately, the Audi A1 Sportback is more affordable, with prices starting from around £23,000. Granted, it’s not as lavish or spacious as a larger Audi saloon or SUV, but you get the same badge on the front and an enhanced feeling of quality versus rival superminis. All versions get LED headlights, LED rear lights, dynamic rear indicators, a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system and 10.25 digital instrument cluster. The lavish Black Edition model boasts the luxuries of a larger car.
Skoda Superb
While a luxury car should boast the plushest materials and the latest tech, it should also be extremely spacious and comfortable, which is why we recommend the Skoda Superb. Not only does it offer limousine-like legroom and boot space, but it also feels positively plush in Laurin & Klement trim. Highlights include three-zone climate control, a two-spoke heated steering wheel and full LED matrix headlights, along with an optional massage function for the driver’s seat, a panoramic sunroof and 19-inch alloy wheels. A top-spec Superb hatchback should cost around the same as an entry-level Audi A6. Makes you think, doesn’t it?
BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe
If you fancy the idea of owning the sporty, rear-driven BMW 2 Series Coupe, but you need the convenience of rear doors, the 2 Series Gran Coupe is the answer. Look beyond the challenging styling and you’ll find a car with frameless doors, a pair of 10.25-inch digital screens and a range of impressive petrol and diesel engines. Pick of the bunch is the six-cylinder M235i xDrive, which adds the reassurance of four-wheel-drive and a slick eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s based on the same platform as the BMW 3 Series and 4 Series, so you’re getting a little extra for your money.
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Volvo XC40
The Volvo XC40 was named Car of the Year at the Honest John Awards in 2019, so it comes highly recommended. Four years on, the XC40 is as desirable as ever, especially as it’s now available with an electric powertrain. We could discuss the trim levels, equipment, engines and superb safety credentials, but what matters here is the way the XC40 feels. Take the interior, which oozes Swedish sophistication and charm, with a level of quality that’s a match for anything in the compact SUV class.
Mercedes A-Class Saloon
The A-Class is the most affordable Mercedes you can buy, but why have we chosen the four-door version? Well, it feels like a smaller take on Mercedes’ large and luxurious saloons, so it’s like buying into something special. All versions feature an impressive 10.25-inch touchscreen media display and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. Add a few desirable options and you can create your perfect luxury saloon, albeit in a more compact form. The plug-in hybrid model offers up to 53 miles of electric range, too.
Lexus UX
Lexus doesn’t do brash, tasteless or chintzy. Instead, its cars are classy, understated and supremely well engineered. The UX SUV is the smallest and most affordable Lexus you can buy, with prices starting from around £35,000. Build quality is as high as you’d expect from Lexus, with even the entry-level version boasting a long list of standard equipment. The UX is also available as an all-electric 300e, which boasts near-silent running and a range of up to 279 miles from a fully charged battery.
Volkswagen Arteon
In truth, the Volkswagen Passat does a passable impression of a luxury car and is a genuine alternative to saloons such as the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class. The sleeker Arteon looks and feels even more premium, though, with a high quality interior, impressive space and elegant styling. It would be wrong to call it a four-door coupe version of the Passat, because it feels more special than that. The Discover Navigation Pro touchscreen is a standout feature and comes with a fancy glass surround. You also get a digital instrument cluster as standard.
Vauxhall Corsa Ultimate
Wait, what’s a Vauxhall Corsa doing on a list of cheap luxury cars? We’re not going to pretend a Corsa is a rival to even the most tired used Mercedes S-Class you can find. However, you might be surprised to discover the equipment you get with Ultimate trim. A heated driver’s seat with massage function, LED matrix headlights, keyless entry and start, adaptive cruise control, a 10-inch touchscreen display with navigation and perforated leather seat inserts are just some of the highlights. These are in addition to everything you get on the GS. The Corsa might be compact, but it’s fully loaded.
Genesis GV70
The Genesis GV70 is a luxurious alternative to SUVs like the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC. And we do mean luxurious, with the GV70 boasting Bentley-like styling, a plush interior and a long list of equipment as standard. Even the entry-level Premium has an impressive 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, LED headlights, LED rear lights, dual-zone climate control and stylish 19-inch alloy wheels. All Genesis models come with a five-year warranty plan, which includes servicing, European roadside assistance and a concierge service.
What’s the best luxury car in the world?
The Rolls-Royce Phantom is probably the best car in the world. The level of craftsmanship is second to none, while the interior is every bit as sumptuous and silent as you’d expect. For an SUV equivalent, Rolls-Royce also makes the excellent Cullinan. Step down a level and you’ll find the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which is both an engineering and technological masterpiece, albeit in a slightly less grandiose style than a Rolls-Royce. Even the extravagant Maybach version of the S-Class is significantly cheaper than a Phantom. It’s all relative.
What’s the most expensive luxury car in the world?
The most expensive luxury car in the world is the £20 million Rolls-Royce Boat Tail. This one-off coachbuilt model was reportedly built for Beyonce and Jay-Z and was, as its name suggests, inspired by luxury yachts. You won’t find many cars with a retractable parasol, cocktail table and two large fridges. There’s even a picnic hamper filled with custom engraved silverware. Perfect for an impromptu picnic in a layby. Probably.
Should I buy a cheap used luxury car?
The idea of buying a cheap used luxury car is seriously tempting. Somebody else has taken the depreciation hit, which on top-end cars is almost always considerable, so you could save yourself anything up to £100,000 on the list price. That said, although the value might have disappeared, the running costs remain – especially if the car has covered a high mileage. You’ll therefore need to budget for expensive repairs and maintenance. Other factors worth considering include insurance, fuel bills and finding somewhere to park a large car.
Is there a way to check used cars for the luxury car tax?
