Cheap luxury cars 2022
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Buying a cheap luxury car is like being upgraded to first class at the airport check-in desk. Or perhaps booking a penthouse suite for the price of a standard double.
You could look at a used example of a luxury car like a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7 Series. But why buy something pre-owned when you can have a car unsullied by previous owners? This is where our guide to some of the best cheap luxury cars comes in.
We’re not saying that these cars will be as sumptuous as an S-Class, as palatial as a Phantom or as magnificent as a Maybach, but you will save money. With the cash you have left over, why not treat yourself to a luxury break at a five-star spa resort?
Put on your best bib and tucker as we guide you through the best new luxury cars without grandiose price tags. Spiffing.
Cheap luxury cars
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Ford Fiesta Titanium Vignale
Squint really hard and the Ford Fiesta looks like a little Aston Martin. Until recently, Vignale was a standalone trim level with an array of features designed to add a touch of luxury to this excellent supermini. Today, Vignale is essentially an option pack you can add to the Titanium, Active and ST-Line Fiesta models. We recommend the Titanium Vignale, as this features heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry and start, LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, a heated windscreen, an 8-inch touchscreen media system and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. You also get premium seats finished in Sensico artificial leather.
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 £20,000. 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, an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and Audi’s smartphone interface. The lavish Vorsprung model boasts the luxuries of a larger car.
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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?
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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. Three 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. Just make sure you opt for Lava Orange interior trim – it’s fabulous.
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Mercedes-Benz A-Class Saloon
The A-Class is the most affordable Mercedes-Benz 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 except the entry-level Sport feature an impressive 10.25-inch touchscreen media display, while the AMG Line Premium Edition adds 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 44 miles of electric range, too.
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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 less than £30,000. 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 range has been bolstered by an all-electric UX 300e, which boasts near-silent running and a range of up to 196 miles from a fully charged battery. An 80 percent charge is also possible in less than an hour.
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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-Benz 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 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 Elite Edition. The Corsa might be compact, but it’s fully loaded.
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Jaguar XF
It’s getting on a bit now, but there’s still much to admire about the Jaguar XF, especially following the 2020 facelift. Lightweight construction, sharp styling and a generous level of standard equipment combine to make this an interesting alternative to the default Germans, namely the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The fact that an entry-level XF costs less than £34,000 is the icing on the cake, with a Sportbrake (estate) version available if you require a little more space. Either way, the XF is rewarding to drive, great to look at and relatively exclusive.
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. 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, 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.
