Depreciation is one of the cruelest forces in the automotive world — and for luxury car buyers willing to play the long game, it’s also one of the greatest gifts. Flagship sedans like the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class shed value at a staggering rate, turning yesterday’s six-figure status symbols into today’s used-market bargains. And the good news is that you don’t have to settle for a budget-friendly compact luxury car to get in on the action.
Buying used is almost always the smarter financial move — but it comes with a catch. Maintenance and repair costs on luxury vehicles can be eye-watering, and they don’t disappear just because the purchase price did. Total ownership cost is every bit as important as the sticker price when shopping in this segment.
Here are some heavily depreciated luxury cars that cost a fraction of their original MSRP values.
The Lexus LS is one of the most reliable luxury cars ever made. Packing a remarkably dependable V-8 under its hood, the LS 400 was a luxurious wolf in sheep’s clothing. Beyond its understated styling and capable powertrain, the LS excels where it counts most: interior quality. We’ve mentioned the “current resale value” unlike other entries in this list because KBB doesn’t have a fair purchase price for this model.
|
Engine |
Naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V-8 |
|
Transmission |
5-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
290 hp |
|
Torque |
300 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
RWD |
|
0-60 MPH |
6.4 seconds |
|
Top Speed |
155 mph |
Scattered across the cabin are leather and walnut wood surfaces fit for royalty. The LS 400 also features automatic climate control with a dedicated filter to trap dust and pollen. Safety credentials are equally solid, with front and side airbags, a rigid chassis, and an advanced traction control system that can automatically apply the brakes in an emergency.
To this day, the Porsche Cayenne remains one of the best performance SUVs you can buy. If a six-figure new example is out of reach, the first-generation Cayenne Turbo makes a compelling case for itself — early-2000s examples regularly trade hands for well under $10,000.
|
Engine |
Turbocharged 4.5-liter V-8 |
|
Transmission |
6-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
450 hp |
|
Torque |
457 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
AWD |
|
0-60 MPH |
5.0 seconds |
|
Top Speed |
165 mph |
This Porsche SUV rockets from 0 to 60 mph in five seconds flat, is genuinely off-road capable, and packs a boatload of luxury features. In true flagship fashion, the Cayenne Turbo’s cabin is swathed in leather with alloy trim accents, heated seats, and a Bose premium sound system. As an all-rounder, few vehicles at this price point come close.
Believe it or not, you can buy a genuine Mercedes-Benz luxury car without selling a kidney. For less than $10,000, you can own one of the most reliable Mercedes models ever produced: the W212 E-Class. While you could save a little cash and opt for a Mercedes-Benz E 300, the E 350 is worth the modest premium — the step-up in performance and standard equipment is well beyond what a few hundred dollars typically buys.
|
Engine |
Naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 |
|
Transmission |
7-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
302 hp |
|
Torque |
273 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
RWD |
|
0-60 MPH |
6.5 seconds |
|
Top Speed |
130 mph |
The E 350 may not be as dramatic as an E 63 AMG, but it still delivers more than 300 horsepower without sacrificing ride comfort. As you’d expect from a car wearing the Three-Pointed Star, the cockpit is wrapped in leather and wood trim, and a suite of tech features — including a digital infotainment system — keeps daily driving effortless.
Like the LS 400 before it, the more modern Lexus LS 460 is another affordable, dependable luxury car. Despite trading for under $10,000 and being perceived as a step below European rivals like the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the LS 460 holds its own — and does so with a far stronger reliability record.
|
Engine |
Naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V-8 |
|
Transmission |
8-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
380 hp |
|
Torque |
270 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
RWD |
|
0-60 MPH |
5.4 seconds |
|
Top Speed |
155 mph |
What makes the LS 460 even more impressive is the breadth of standard equipment it carries despite its age. Every example comes with self-leveling headlights, a 10-speaker audio system, and a power-operated moonroof — all of which sit atop an already well-appointed cabin.
As previously mentioned, the BMW 7 Series is one of the luxury cars most prone to depreciation. Considering these flagship BMWs carried enormous MSRP stickers when new — along with the possibility of expensive repair costs and steep depreciation — many owners walked away after their lease or warranty period expired, whichever came first.
|
Engine |
Naturally aspirated 5.4-liter V-12 |
|
Transmission |
5-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
326 hp |
|
Torque |
361 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
RWD |
|
0-60 MPH |
6.6 seconds |
|
Top Speed |
155 mph |
Fortunately, that means the used market is filled to the brim with affordable, older BMW 7 Series options to choose from. And when it comes to value for money, it’s hard to beat the E38 750iL. The long-wheelbase 750i came with a mighty V-12 engine and an interior worthy of a Rolls-Royce, with heated front and rear seats and a premium sound system standard in a leather-drenched cabin.
One of the more underrated budget luxury cars is the Hyundai Genesis. Genesis has since become its own standalone brand, but at the time, Hyundai marketed its premium models under the Genesis name. Don’t let the mainstream badge fool you — the Genesis sedan is about as much a Hyundai as a koala is a grizzly bear.
|
Engine |
Naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8 |
|
Transmission |
8-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
420 hp |
|
Torque |
383 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
RWD |
|
0-60 MPH |
5.3 seconds |
|
Top Speed |
145 mph |
The standard Genesis sedan comes with a 3.8-liter V-6, but stepping up to the V-8 brings meaningful performance gains along with a richer standard equipment list. All Genesis 5.0 models include dual moonroofs, a 14-speaker Lexicon audio system, and a comprehensive suite of safety features.
The flagship Mercedes-Benz luxury sedan has long been the most expensive German sedan money can buy. Because they depreciate so aggressively, used S-Class models make for tempting purchases — especially when a V-8-powered, German-built limousine with an extraordinary interior can be had for just over $10,000.
|
Engine |
Naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V-8 |
|
Transmission |
7-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
382 hp |
|
Torque |
391 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
RWD/AWD |
|
0-60 MPH |
5.4 seconds |
|
Top Speed |
130 mph |
Although the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S 550 isn’t known for reliability — RepairPal gives it a 2/5 Reliability Rating — its luxury credentials are beyond dispute. All S 550 models come with heated and ventilated front seats with lumbar support, a power-operated moonroof, and high-quality materials throughout. For some buyers, the opulence is worth turning a blind eye to its Achilles heel.
If an older BMW 7 Series feels too ordinary, consider its more exclusive sibling — the Alpina B7. Based on the F01 7 Series platform, the B7 is a remarkable used-market proposition: everything you’d find in a fully loaded 7 Series, plus more power and genuine rarity.
|
Engine |
Twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 |
|
Transmission |
8-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
514 hp |
|
Torque |
538 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
RWD |
|
0-60 MPH |
4.3 seconds |
|
Top Speed |
194 mph |
The Alpina B7’s cabin is furnished with the finest materials available, complemented by high-end features including a heads-up display, four-zone climate control, and keyless entry. When new, a 2013 Alpina B7 commanded close to $130,000. Depreciation has since taken a six-figure bite out of that figure, making sub-$20,000 examples findable today. With the Alpina B7 nameplate now discontinued, values may begin to creep upward as the cars grow more collectible.
Like the Cayenne, the first-generation Porsche Panamera is an excellent choice for anyone who wants luxury without sacrificing performance. The Panamera lacks the Cayenne’s off-road capability, but its interior is significantly more modern and car-like — making it the more refined daily driver of the two.
|
Engine |
Naturally aspirated 4.8-liter V-8 |
|
Transmission |
7-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
400 hp |
|
Torque |
369 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
RWD |
|
0-60 MPH |
4.7 seconds |
|
Top Speed |
175 mph |
With a sub-five-second 0-to-60 mph sprint, double-wishbone front suspension, and 400 horsepower on tap, the Panamera S has no trouble embarrassing braggers at a stoplight. The cabin backs it up with leather and metal trim throughout and an 11-speaker sound system as standard. Bear in mind that each Panamera will vary in specification, given Porsche’s extensive options list.
If there’s one luxury brand — Maserati aside — that’s become synonymous with catastrophic depreciation, it’s Land Rover. A 2013 Range Rover Supercharged Autobiography originally carried an MSRP of $130,950. Over the following decade-plus, it shed roughly 87% of that value. As tempting as that sounds, there’s a reason these SUVs fall so far so fast.
|
Engine |
Supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 |
|
Transmission |
8-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
510 hp |
|
Torque |
461 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
AWD |
|
0-60 MPH |
5.1 seconds |
|
Top Speed |
140 mph |
A Land Rover Range Rover looks stunning, performs impressively, and delivers genuine opulence inside and out — particularly in Autobiography trim. The catch is that Range Rovers are notoriously unreliable and expensive to maintain, regardless of how attractive the purchase price appears. Keep that firmly in mind before pulling the trigger.
Sources: OEMs, Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds
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