The 5+ Year-Old German SUVs You Should Buy Used

Few segments deliver used-car value quite like the German SUV market. Badges from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Porsche carry serious prestige, but the steep depreciation that comes with them works squarely in a used buyer’s favor — meaning you can step into a genuinely premium vehicle for a fraction of its original sticker price. If you’re hunting for a five-year-old German SUV that punches well above its current asking price, the models on this list are where to start.

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What’s most important to you when searching for a used vehicle? As the buyer, you want a vehicle with relatively high depreciation to help drive the price down. Although high depreciation helps your wallet at purchase, it’s equally important that the German SUV you choose is also reliable. This list is made up of vehicles from 2020 that combine high depreciation percentages with solid reliability scores, making it easier to find the right five-year-old German SUV to drive.

BMW X7

Fair Purchase Price Range: $38,632-$44,832 | Depreciation Percentage: 39.3% | Reliability Rating: 75/100

If you have a taste for luxury SUV driving, the 2020 BMW X7 should give your large family everything you want. This SUV has an easily recognizable grille and the commanding proportions required to make an impression while delivering everything you need.

Most Popular Powertrain Specifications

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Transmission	8-speed automated manual
Horsepower	335 hp
Torque	330 lb-ft
Driveline	AWD
Fuel Efficiency	20/25 mpg
Towing Capacity	7,500 pounds

Once inside the X7, you’ll notice the extremely quiet and comfortable cabin filled with upscale materials and a wealth of great features. It’s a wonderful place to spend time on the road. This is BMW’s largest SUV, and it brings everything the brand has to offer in one impressive package.

Pros

• Strong engine performance
• Smooth ride quality
• Impeccable interior

Cons

• Climate controls can be confusing to use
• Some systems don’t behave as you’d expect
• Leans too much in the corners

Mercedes-Benz GLA

Fair Purchase Price Range: $19,780-$21,306 | Depreciation Percentage: 42.1% | Reliability Rating: 78/100

Mercedes-Benz

The diminutive size and nimble handling of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA make it one of the five-year-old German SUVs that deserves a spot on your list. This is the smallest crossover from the brand, with dimensions closer to a hatchback than a traditional SUV.

Most Popular Powertrain Specifications

Subcompact luxury SUVs are a rare breed in the American market, but the GLA made the trip from Europe and brought some genuinely appealing qualities with it. It’s a particularly strong choice for drivers who spend most of their time navigating city streets.

Pros

• Strong power and sharp handling make it fun to drive
• Respectable fuel economy considering its performance
• Lots of available features

Cons

• Firm ride quality can be tough to handle on long drives
• Automatic transmission is sluggish in stop-and-go situations
• Not much legroom, headroom, or cargo room

Porsche Macan

Fair Purchase Price Range: $30,202-$57,920 | Depreciation Percentage: 42.5% | Reliability Rating: 83/100

Porsche 

Porsche performance and compact crossover practicality come together in the 2020 Porsche Macan to produce a vehicle that’s genuinely rewarding to drive every day. This sporty little crossover is more than capable of handling your SUV needs.

Most Popular Powertrain Specifications

The Macan sits among the smallest compact luxury SUVs available, but that compact footprint is precisely what makes it so agile and engaging on the road. When you want outstanding performance from a poised and polished vehicle, the Macan is hard to argue with.

Pros

• Quick acceleration, regardless of engine choice
• Most athletic and engaging SUV in the class
• Surprisingly comfortable and composed ride

Cons

• Less rear legroom and cargo capacity than many competitors
• Options and packages boost the price quickly
• Four-cylinder engine is much thirstier than in rival SUVs

Volkswagen Tiguan

Fair Purchase Price Range: $16,953-$24,353 | Depreciation Percentage: 44.4% | Reliability Rating: 77/100

Volkswagen

The Tiguan isn’t the flashiest model among the five-year-old German SUVs on this list, but it delivers the well-rounded feel you want. The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan also offers an optional third-row seat — a feature that’s genuinely rare among compact crossover SUVs.

Most Popular Powertrain Specifications

The Tiguan is the only non-luxury model on this list, yet it remains a capable and flexible everyday SUV. The second-row seats slide fore and aft and fold in three sections, giving you the cargo versatility you need.

Pros

• Ample space for passengers and cargo
• Three-row seating is useful in a pinch
• Intuitive tech interface

Cons

• Subpar acceleration and responsiveness
• Ranks low in fuel economy for the class
• Optional larger wheels make for a bumpy ride

Mercedes-Benz GLB

Fair Purchase Price Range: $24,746-$28,090 | Depreciation Percentage: 46.1% | Reliability Rating: 81/100

Mercedes-Benz

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB took a page out of the Tiguan’s playbook by fitting a third-row seat into a compact SUV. This impressive five-year-old German SUV brings genuine versatility to the road as it slots between the GLA and GLC in the Mercedes-Benz lineup.

Most Popular Powertrain Specifications

Interestingly, the larger GLC doesn’t offer a third-row seat, which puts the GLB a step ahead on the versatility ladder. The GLB arrived as a brand-new addition to the Mercedes-Benz lineup for the 2020 model year, giving buyers more choice at the compact end of the range.

Pros

• Spacious for both passengers and cargo
• Strong overall performance
• Exceptional ride and seat comfort

Cons

• Not particularly exciting to drive
• Engine lacks power
• Limited third-row passenger space

Porsche Cayenne

Fair Purchase Price Range: $35,248-$90,775 | Depreciation Percentage: 46.6% | Reliability Rating: 84/100

Porsche 

One of the best five-year-old German SUVs has to be the 2020 Porsche Cayenne. This impressive SUV was in the second year of its latest generation and carries a strong visual connection to the original model. Big, muscular, and surprisingly easy to place on the road, it’s as easy to admire as it is to drive.

Most Popular Powertrain Specifications

The Porsche Cayenne is one of the few SUVs that can genuinely rival a high-performance sports car in handling and outright acceleration. It pairs that dynamic ability with traditional SUV versatility in a way that feels effortless on any road.

Pros

• Truly impressive handling for a crossover SUV
• Wide selection of powerful engines
• Exquisite interior and build quality

Cons

• Gloss-black interior panels show dust and fingerprints easily
• Poor rear visibility
• Fans are weak at low speeds and too noisy at high speeds

BMW X4

Fair Purchase Price Range: $30,525-$37,015 | Depreciation Percentage: 52.4% | Reliability Rating: 83/100

BMW

Coupe-style crossovers have become increasingly popular, particularly among luxury SUV buyers. The 2020 BMW X4 is where coupe styling meets the SUV world, offering a sleek silhouette that turns heads while trading some practicality compared to the X3 it’s based on.

Most Popular Powertrain Specifications

If you’re drawn to the sportier side of the SUV world, the X4 could be the ideal vehicle for you. This five-year-old German luxury SUV is enjoyable on any road and carries just enough cargo room to handle most everyday hauling needs.

Pros

• Both available engines are smooth, powerful, and fuel-efficient
• An abundance of features
• Impressive handling for an SUV

Cons

• Sloping roofline compromises rear headroom and cargo space
• Android Auto not available
• Most driver-assist features were offered as options

BMW X5

Fair Purchase Price Range: $31,720-$40,239 | Depreciation Percentage: 55.5% | Reliability Rating: 81/100

BMW

If you want a midsize SUV with generous room for five passengers and their luggage, excellent driving manners, and real towing capability, the 2020 BMW X5 is hard to beat. This SUV can carve up the corners and cover ground quickly, or haul your boat or trailer wherever you need to go.

Most Popular Powertrain Specifications

The X5 ranks among the most appealing midsize luxury SUVs available. It has the size you need, a genuinely upscale cabin, and a long list of desirable features — including available massaging front seats and adjustable suspension on well-optioned examples.

Pros

• Strong performance from multiple available engines
• Luxurious, comfortable cabin lives up to its price tag
• Spacious cabin and cargo area

Cons

• Small mirrors and wide roof pillars create blind spots
• Limited interior storage
• Wide doorsills inhibit entry and exit

Audi Q8

Fair Purchase Price Range: $37,082-$38,405 | Depreciation Percentage: 56.8% | Reliability Rating: 80/100

Audi

The 2020 Audi Q8 is one of the largest coupe-style SUVs on the market. Its sloping roofline limits it to two rows of seats versus the three rows found in the Q7, but that trade-off delivers noticeably more comfort for rear passengers — which may be exactly what you’re after.

Most Popular Powertrain Specifications

If you want a large luxury SUV loaded with features and a generous cargo hold, the Q8 is hard to overlook. Its smooth styling and sporting character give it an aggressive presence, and like any full-size Audi SUV, it’s equally at home towing a boat or trailer.

Pros

• Comes well-equipped with many standard features
• Comfortable ride and seats for all passengers
• High-quality cabin materials

Cons

• Less practical than the Q7
• Infotainment system can be distracting to use
• Throttle response is too slow in the default driving mode

Mercedes-Benz GLC

Fair Purchase Price Range: $22,319-$32,136 | Depreciation Percentage: 57% | Reliability Rating: 79/100

Mercedes-Benz

The five-year-old German SUV with the highest depreciation percentage while still offering solid reliability scores is the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC. This compact crossover wraps you in a genuinely luxurious interior and provides a useful amount of cargo space behind the rear seats.

Most Popular Powertrain Specifications

Mercedes-Benz gave the GLC a meaningful refresh for 2020, adding new LED lighting, revised bumpers, and a restyled grille. The GLC is available in several variants, making it a straightforward choice for buyers seeking the German SUV that offers the greatest discount from its original new-car price.

Pros

• Balance of comfort and performance makes it an appealing daily driver
• Elegant design inside and out gives it a truly luxurious appearance
• Plenty of room for adult-sized passengers in back

Cons

• Less cargo space and towing capability than the competition
• Lacks driving verve
• Most driver assists weren’t offered as standard equipment

Sources: OEMs, iSeeCars, Kelly Blue Book, and J.D. Power.