5 Luxury Cars You Buy For The Badge vs. 5 You Buy For The Drive
There are a few good reasons to buy luxury cars. You buy them for the on-road nods of respect, the lush cabins, the generally hefty powertrains, or the track DNA spliced into them. Some luxury cars are better for on-road comfort and for being admired by other green-eyed road users, while some are made more for pinning into an apex.
Whatever your reason for buying a luxury car, these are ten you should keep an eye out for. Five are better for badge appeal; the other five are made to be driven.
2023–2025 Mercedes-Maybach S 580 4MATIC
Buy For The Badge
The Maybach S 580 is perhaps one of the fanciest cars to ever come out of Germany. Based on the already exceptional S-Class, the Maybach S 580 is longer and serves as a very expensive and exclusive limo. Under the hood is a mild-hybrid 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 paired with a nine-speed automatic and 4MATIC AWD. Horsepower is kicked out to the tune of 496 at 5,500 rpm and torque output is 516 pound-feet at 2,000 rpm.
0–60 mph times are in the 4.7-second range, which is rather good for something that is 215.3 inches long and weighs 5,137 pounds, but you’ll want to buy one for the interior. Up front is a 12.3-inch 3D instrument cluster paired with a vertical OLED touchscreen, MBUX High-End Rear Seat Entertainment (which includes dual touchscreens), a 30-speaker Burmester surround-sound system, a refrigerated champagne cooler, Nappa leather upholstery, and power-closing rear doors.
2022–2024 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
Buy For The Drive
According to Kelley Blue Book, the average used price of a 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is $73,200; for a 2023 model, $79,000; and for a 2024 model, $85,200. That may sound like a lot of money, but you will likely be happy to part with it thanks to a 0–60 mph time of between 3.4 and 3.7 seconds, a top speed of 205 mph, the old-school RWD configuration, and the 668-horsepower/659-pound-foot 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 V8 under the hood.
As standard, the CT5-V Blackwing is equipped with a six-speed manual with no-lift shift and active rev matching, Magnetic Ride Control, an electronic limited-slip rear differential, and Brembo brakes (15.7-inch front rotors and 14.7-inch rear rotors). Out of the 12 owners who left a review on Kelley Blue Book, 100 percent of them recommend it, while rating it 4.9 out of 5 for performance, and 5 out of 5 for value, quality, reliability, comfort, and styling.
2022–2024 Bentley Bentayga V8
Buy For The Badge
Bentley offers some of the most illustrious cars and SUVs there are, and the 2022–2024 Bentley Bentayga is probably one of the most luscious ways you can spend between $123,000 and $166,000. Rated 5 out of 5 overall by owners on Kelley Blue Book, the Bentayga V8 is equipped with a beast of a 542-horsepower twin-turbo V8 that shifts it to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds.
The badge alone demands respect, but the top speed of 180 mph, the heated and ventilated power-adjustable seating, rear control tablet, massaging front seat functions, hand-stitched hide leather, high-gloss or open-pore wood veneers, and originally optional Bentley Diamond Illumination ambient lighting are why it is worth looking at.
2022–2024 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS
Buy For The Drive
As the performance sweet spot of the 2022–2024 Porsche 911 lineup, the 911 Carrera GTS is equipped with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six good for 473 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 420 pound-feet of torque at between 2,300 and 5,000 rpm, either an eight-speed PDK DCT or seven-speed manual box, and available AWD. 0–60 mph times for PDK-equipped models with AWD are 3.1 seconds; for the RWD PDK-equipped 911 models, 3.2 seconds; and with the purist manual transmission, 3.8 seconds.
Top speeds are around 193 mph, and the PASM sport suspension provides millisecond-fast adaptive damping, reduced body roll through fast corners, proper road feedback, and, alongside helper springs at the rear axle, consistent tire contact at speed. There are some legendary 911 models out there, and while the Carrera GTS may not be the fiercest track weapon out of them all, it is still an animal around a circuit, and it can be used very convincingly on back roads.
2022–2024 Range Rover P530 Autobiography
Buy For The Badge
As luxury SUVs go, the 2022–2024 Range Rover P530 Autobiography can be found on the used market for between $60,000 and $123,000. While that is still a lot of money, Range Rover depreciation, according to CarEdge, is around 74 percent after five years, and it is much cheaper than the original MSRP of between $152,000 and $171,875.
If you opt for the Range Rover Autobiography, not only do you get a 4.4-liter V8 that makes 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, but also a decent amount of standard off-road equipment in the shape of Terrain Response 2, All Terrain Progress Control for slow-speed crawling, electronic air suspension, and Wade Sensing, which allows you to cross water up to 35.4 inches deep.
In the cabin, you get 24-way heated, ventilated and massaging seats, power-reclining rear seats, a 13.1-inch curved floating Pivi Pro touchscreen, a 13.7-inch driver display, available 11-inch rear seat touchscreens, a Meridian Signature Surround Sound System, and perforated semi-aniline leather upholstery.
2024–2026 Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid
Buy For The Drive
The 2024–2026 Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid may not be the purest Porsche ever created, but it is a beast of a modern sports car that has both badge appeal and exceptional driving manners. At the core of the E-Hybrid’s prowess is a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 paired with an electric motor integrated into the transmission. Combined horsepower is a massive 670 at 6,000 rpm and combined torque is 685 pound-feet. This translates to rest-to-60 times of three seconds (with Sport Chrono).
All-wheel drive is standard fare, as is an eight-speed PDK DCT, adaptive air suspension with PASM, and high-performance piston aluminum monobloc fixed calipers. The Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid is the kind of German car that combines track-worthy DNA and everyday comfort. Inside, it is kitted out with leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, a 12.3-inch touchscreen running Porsche Digital Interaction, a 12.6-inch curved digital display, and wireless charging.
2023–2025 BMW 760i xDrive
Buy For The Badge
As part of the seventh generation of the BMW 7 Series, the 2023–2025 BMW 760i xDrive is aggressive looking, massive, very luxurious inside, and comfortable. Today, you can pick up a 2025 model for around $114,000, down from its MSRP of $123,757 last year. The ’25 760i xDrive measures in at 212.2 inches by 86.3 inches, which allows for a lot of room inside, with 39.8 inches of front headroom, 41.2 inches of front legroom, 38.6 inches of rear headroom, and 43.3 inches of rear legroom. It is the kind of sedan that suits both the driver and whoever is sitting in the back.
The centerpiece is the BMW Curved Display, which consists of a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen set behind a glass housing; used models can also be found with the originally available 31.3-inch BMW Theater Screen, a Bowers & Wilkins audio rig, and reclining rear seats.
While it is designed for the height of German luxury driving, the 760i xDrive is also the most powerful variant in the 7 Series lineup, and is equipped with a mild-hybrid 4.4-liter bi-turbo V8 that puts out 563 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. xDrive AWD is standard kit, and you can hit 60 mph in as little as 4.1 seconds.
2022–2025 Lexus LC 500
Buy For The Drive
We can no longer buy new Lexus LC 500 models; Lexus has ceased production of them this year, so finding a 2022–2025 Lexus LC 500 is vital if you want a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter DOHC V8 good for 471 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, and a reminder of old-school sports car building.
0–60 mph times are in the 4.4 to 4.6-second range, but speed is not all you need for a proper driver’s car. Peak horsepower from the 2UR-GSE under the hood is kicked out at 7,100 rpm and torque at 4,800 rpm, so you get a very involved feel underfoot. There are no turbo interruptions to get in the way of the old-school NA V8 feel; power comes in a linear fashion, it is rear-wheel drive, and there are still physical controls in the cabin.
As perhaps one of the last true old-school sports cars on the modern market, the LC 500 is now commanding a high price. According to Classic.com, the average auction price for one is currently $109,115, with the lowest price fetched at auction being $51,500 and the highest being $163,000.
2022–2024 Lexus LX 600
Buy For The Badge
Though it doesn’t have the V8 that made the LX a legend, the 2022–2024 LX 600 is still a reliable, off-road-capable, comfortable, and plush SUV that offers both on-road kudos and a high-end feel in equal measure. Under the hood is a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 good for 409 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque; it has a body-on-frame construction, which makes it tough and capable off-road; Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select mean you can clamber around slippery slopes with ease, and you can tow up to 8,000 pounds.
The cabin makes the LX 600 the kind of SUV you want to buy for long road trips and commuting in comfort. It is equipped with heated 10-way power seats, a heated steering wheel, and a refrigerated center console cool box. You also get the massive spindle grille up front, so no one is going to mistake it for anything other than a Lexus.
Lexus models hold their value well, so a one-year-old LX 600 is still going to cost a premium, with an average fair purchase price of $110,000, but in exchange for that kind of money, alongside the classy build, iSeeCars estimates it will last for 230,502 miles with proper maintenance.
2025–2026 BMW M5
Buy For The Drive And The Badge
At the moment, the BMW M5 Touring wagon is making all the headlines; everyone has forgotten the sedan. The 2025/2026 BMW M5 is a formidable hybrid machine, with a twin-turbo S68 V8 and electric motor setup pumping out 717 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque, and 3.4-second 0–60 mph times. It comes equipped with xDrive AWD as standard, and you can switch between 4WD, 4WD Sport, and 2WD if you want something more sporty and rear-biased.
The new M5 sedan measures in at 200.6 inches by 84.9 inches, but it makes the most of rear-axle steering, Adaptive M Suspension, a double-wishbone front suspension, independent multi-link rear suspension, and staggered wheels wrapped in performance tires to provide a very stable ride. On top of that, you get a driver-focused cockpit with the BMW Curved Display, M Sport Seats, Merino leather, carbon fiber accents, a panoramic moonroof, and even 16.5 cubic feet of trunk space. The BMW badge, and the M one, carry a lot of weight as it is, but the new M5 does combine everything you’d expect from the partnership in one exclusive mid-size luxury sedan.
Sources: OEMs, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarEdge, and iSeeCars.
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