These Luxury Cars Lose Half Their Value Before The Warranty Expires

If you’ve ever sat in a current flagship luxury car, you know the feeling. The scent of Nappa leather, the silent cabin insulated from the outside world, and an array of technology that feels less like a normal dashboard and more like a high-end cockpit. You love that feeling of luxury and comfort, but here’s the problem, these cars easily cost six figures and your rational brain can’t justify that purchase. Spending $100,000+ on a depreciating asset is a tough pill to swallow. But here’s how you can afford one: let the first owner take the massive financial hit. The average price of a new car now sits at $52,183, and you can get some great luxury cars for that money.

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Right now, a specific group of premium luxury vehicles that are roughly 4 to 5 years old are hitting a spectacular sweet spot. They have just lost a massive chunk of their original retail price. In fact, due to steep luxury depreciation, every vehicle on this list tends to lose half or more of its value before its original factory warranty runs out. As someone who loves great deals, you can step into the pinnacle of automotive engineering for the price of a mainstream vehicle, and almost no one will know your slightly used high-end car costs the same as their brand-new family crossover. They may be half off, but the maintenance and parts are still that of a high-end luxury car. If a complex air suspension or a turbo component fails, it can be expensive.

10

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

49.5% Depreciation

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Power	429 hp
Torque	384 lb-ft
MSRP	$110,850
Avg Used Price	$49,100

We start with the S-Class, which has been the default benchmark for the global elite. It is widely understood that the tech found in an S-Class today will filter down to ordinary cars a decade from now. This is pure luxury theater. You get active ambient lighting, massaging seats, the highly intuitive MBUX infotainment system, and an active air suspension system that glides over road surfaces seamlessly.

But this is still an S-Class, and the sheer volume of individual modules inside an S-Class is staggering. Everything from the air vents to the door is motorized. When these small actuators fail, the labor cost to remove dashboard panels or door cards can get pricey. The 2022 models barely hit half-price, but with a little research and negotiation you can find them. The 2021 models with the same features have already dropped to 55%.

9

Genesis G90

50.0% Depreciation

Genesis

Genesis shook the market when it came out with the G90 that had S-Class levels of luxury and the presence of a Bentley Mulsanne. It is the ultimate dark horse of the executive sedan market. While the German brands rely heavily on their heritage, Genesis had to build its reputation on pure merit and over-engineering, while still offering a price tag under six figures. But it is still not immune to luxury depreciation.

You could have one with either a highly tunable 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 or a big, smooth 5.0-liter V8. The interior is a masterclass in quiet comfort, featuring a 22-way power driver’s seat, a 17-speaker Lexicon surround-sound system, and the latest assist features that handle long road trips with minimal effort. This was the final 2022 model of the first generation before it was replaced.

Because Genesis is the luxury arm of Hyundai, routine parts like filters, sensors, and basic brake components are surprisingly affordable. However, the active noise cancellation system and the complex adaptive control suspension components are proprietary and will cost a premium if they fail out of warranty.

8

Jaguar XF

50.8% Depreciation

Jaguar

If you want something that stands out from the typical corporate parking lot vehicles, the Jaguar XF offers gorgeous British styling and excellent driving dynamics. The XF features an aluminum-intensive architecture that makes it feel much lighter on its feet than its size suggests. The interior is clean and high quality, as you would expect from a Jaguar Land Rover product. The Pivi Pro infotainment system is highly responsive, paired with Meridian audio systems that sound phenomenal. This is a great buy for less than $30,000, but there are a few things to be aware of. Jaguars are notoriously sensitive to electrical voltage drops. An aging battery can trigger a cascade of false error codes and lights across the dashboard.

7

Audi A8

53% Depreciation

Audi

The Audi A8 is a rolling showcase of understated German luxury. It trades the flashy design of its rivals for an incredibly advanced technological platform that you can now get for half its original value. The standout feature here is the Audi Virtual Cockpit, which remains one of the best digital gauge clusters in the industry. Combined with the dual-touchscreen MMI system, predictive active air suspension, and standard Quattro all-wheel drive, the A8 feels planted and ultra-modern.

The A8 used a turbocharged V6 paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid electrical system. One thing to do is make sure the starter-generator or the associated lithium-ion battery is in good condition. This is necessary because if an issue arises, diagnosing and repairing it requires specialized diagnostic tools and deep pockets.

6

Infiniti QX80

55.2% Depreciation

Infiniti

If you need a big SUV with massive towing capacity and truck-based durability without sacrificing luxury and comfort, the Infiniti QX80 is an incredible bargain. Under the hood lives a bulletproof, naturally aspirated 5.6-liter V8 engine producing 400 hp. It features a Hydraulic Body Motion Control system that limits body roll in corners, making this massive three-row SUV feel remarkably stable.

While the engine and robust multi-mode four-wheel-drive system are highly reliable, the fuel economy is notoriously poor. Additionally, the older infotainment interface feels dated compared to its peers, though many used models have aftermarket CarPlay retrofits installed.

5

Audi Q7

55.8% Depreciation

Audi

If you need a family-friendly three-row luxury SUV that feels more like a wagon, the Audi Q7 is a great choice, just like the previously mentioned A8. It features most of the great features you’ll find in a modern Audi. You have engine choices between a robust 2.0-liter turbo and a strong 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 hybrid. It also has exceptional driving dynamics thanks to available four-wheel steering. The interior is incredibly smart with Audi’s signature virtual cockpit, power-folding third-row seats, and top-tier driver assistance tech. The 3.0-liter V6 is tightly packed into the engine bay, so gaining access to fix issues when they arise often requires significant labor.

4

BMW 7 Series

56.0% Depreciation

BMW

The BMW 7 Series is the direct German rival to the S-Class and seems to suffer a bit more in depreciation. Buying a 4-to-5-year-old 7 Series means you are paying pennies on the dollar for one of the most advanced luxury cars on earth. The “Carbon Core” frame uses carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic to shed weight and increase structural rigidity. Inside you have tech like Gesture Control, a massive panoramic Sky Lounge LED roof, and more. The B58 inline-six engine (found in the 740i) balances good power with surprising highway fuel efficiency. You can also get the V8 versions for half their original value.

While the B58 inline-six is highly reliable, the larger N63 twin-turbo V8 models are known to consume oil and run incredibly hot, which degrades plastic lines and turbo components under the hood over time. Additionally, the iDrive system can occasionally freeze, sometimes requiring modules to be hard-reset or updated by a specialist.

3

Range Rover

57% Depreciation

Land Rover

2022 was the first model year of the current generation Range Rover. Land Rover sold both the final run of the beloved L405 generation and the ultra-modern L460 generation; both are available, but the focus here is on the latest one. No matter which version you find on the used market, the original sticker will likely be around $110,000 to $140,000 with options. You can now pick great deals for close to $40,000.

You sit higher than almost any other luxury vehicle, surrounded by a minimalist sanctuary of leather, real wood, and thick acoustic glass. Base models come with a hybrid inline-six, while more powerful variants have a BMW-sourced twin-turbo V8. Both engines offer smooth, effortless power. The cabin has Executive Class Rear Seats and the advanced Electronic Air Suspension. The suspension works with the navigation to read the road ahead, preemptively prepare the dampers for potholes or sharp curves before your tires even touch them.

The full-size Range Rover is known for heavy depreciation because its complexity can catch up with second or third owners quickly. On 2022 models, the Pivi Pro infotainment screen is known to occasionally black out or drop wireless smartphone connections, requiring a full system hard-reset. More importantly, keep a close eye on the active anti-roll bars, air struts, and cooling system lines, as any fluid weeping or pressure drops can mean a four-figure visit to a specialist.

2

Maserati Quattroporte

61.5% Depreciation

Maserati

For drivers who want exotic flair, unmistakable Italian styling, and an exhaust note that sounds like a symphony, the Maserati Quattroporte is one of those cars known for massive depreciation. The crown jewel of the Quattroporte is its powertrain: Ferrari-derived twin-turbo V6 and V8 engines. It delivers an emotional, visceral driving experience that no German or Asian luxury competitor can match, wrapped in gorgeous, flowing bodywork. But it is a Maserati at the end of the day.

The interior switchgear and electronic modules are often shared with ordinary Stellantis vehicles, which can feel less premium than expected. More importantly, parts availability can be slow, and routine maintenance like brake jobs and spark plug changes requires specialist knowledge and exotic-car bills.

1

Maserati Ghibli

62.8% Depreciation

Maserati

The smaller sibling to the Quattroporte, the Ghibli is a more compact sports sedan with the exact same Ferrari-derived engine. It has sharp handling, great steering feel, and an exhaust that screams under hard acceleration. It also has a smart skyhook adaptive suspension system that alters the dampers in milliseconds to balance ride comfort and reduce body roll. The Ghibli suffers from rapid depreciation for a reason—early models had various electronic glitches. It is absolutely essential to find a well-documented service history showing that all factory software updates and recalls were done.

Sources: OEM Manufacturers, Kelley Blue Book.