Depreciation is the great equalizer between staples and luxuries, and in the automotive world, that means that the gap between luxury cars and their mainstream counterparts begins to narrow as soon as a vehicle’s wheels drive off the dealership’s lot. With their higher sticker prices and loftier profit margins, luxury vehicles take the steepest early hit, quietly transforming yesterday’s premium rides into today’s bargains.
In many cases, a lightly used luxury vehicle (often just a year old) can be had for the same cash outlay as a brand-new mainstream model. Technology moves at a rapid pace, and premium buyers want the latest and greatest, often parting with a luxury car that’s still under factory warranty. If you’re looking to spend less than $50,000, look no further than these examples of luxury vehicles that will give you much more than the new model you set as your affordable benchmark.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources, including Kelley Blue Book, J.D. Power, and Edmunds. The models below are presented in descending order based on their KBB Fair Purchase Price.
2020 BMW M4 Convertible
Starting Used Price: $45,094
The 2020 BMW M4 Convertible carries forward a legacy of high-performance open-top motoring spanning decades of M-division pedigree. New, it commanded a high MSRP that placed it among the upper echelons of sports convertibles, but over the years, its depreciation cost it roughly 45 percent of its original value. Part of the reason is the change in generations for the 2021 model year, though a well-kept 2020 BMW M4 Convertible is far more exciting than many of today’s new cars.
J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 85/100
J.D. Power’s Quality & Reliability surveys don’t often isolate BMW M4 variants, but the 2020 BMW 4 Series family (on which the M4 Convertible is based) earned a score of 81/100 Overall in 2020, with initial quality and reliability offsetting average owner rankings for Dealership Experience and Resale Value. Further, the BMW brand has ranked among the more reliable luxury marques in past J.D. Power studies.
2023 BMW X3 M40i
Starting Used Price: $45,333
The 2023 BMW X3 M40i continues the performance-oriented direction of BMW’s popular compact SUV line, combining track-ready driving dynamics with daily practicality. The X3 lineup is known to command a premium over most of its rivals, strictly based on the BMW badge, and the M variant further heralds. According to Kelley Blue Book, the 2023 X3 M variant has depreciated about 25 percent in two years, which is better than the average of most luxury brands.
J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 82/100
As for reliability, J.D. Power rates the 2023 BMW X3 at 80 out of 100 overall, placing it solidly in the “Great” category across all the breakdowns, including 80th percentile ratings for Driving and Dealer Experiences. That suggests that owners report relatively few mechanical issues on average, and enjoy BMW’s engineering and dealer support. Still, M40i drivers tend to push their vehicles to higher demands, which tends to magnify latent faults.
2024 Audi Q5
Starting Used Price: $43,403
The 2024 Audi Q5 builds on its excellence in the luxury compact SUV segment, having been introduced for the 2009 model year. It’s well respected for its blend of minimalist style, quality build, refined presence, cutting-edge tech, and everyday utility. The base MSRP for the 2024 Q5 was $46,495, and stretched to near $70,000. As one-year-olds, Audi Q5s have depreciated, on average, less than 10 percent (according to KBB), which is quite good for luxury models.
J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 74/100
On reliability, J.D. Power owner surveys peg the 2024 Audi Q5 Quality & Reliability at 74/100, placing it solidly in the “Average” bracket. That means owners report a typical number of defects, malfunctions, and design glitches, which means it’s common for the overall market, but luxury brands are usually held to a higher standard, and most luxury vehicles end up in the “Great” to “Excellent” brackets.
2023 Volvo S60 T8 Polestar Engineered
Starting Used Price: $42,703
The 2023 Volvo S60 T8 Polestar Engineered is the plug-in hybrid version that sits at the top of Volvo’s midsize luxury sedan line. It uses a turbocharged AND supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine further enhanced with electrification, so torque is never lacking. New, it clocked in just shy of $70,000, but now is fairly priced by KBB at just under $43,000, realizing a depreciation rate of 38 percent (which is steeper than most of its rivals).
J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 71/100
According to J.D. Power, the 2023 Volvo S60 family is “Average,” rated at 73/100 Overall, and pretty much stable across other owner-surveyed categories. There were no glaring problems, with owners reporting defects and design flaws typical of high-feature vehicles. Most of the issues related to electronics, infotainment, or hybrid system components were generally addressed through warranty or routine maintenance.
2024 Lexus UX 250h F Sport Handling
Starting Used Price: $39,116
The Lexus UX subcompact luxury crossover is the entry point to the Lexus lineup, introduced in 2019 and refreshed as a hybrid-only model in 2023. The 2024 Lexus UX 250h F Sport Handling sits at the top of the lineup and has depreciated just 11 percent from its original MSRP of $44,120. That’s a result of the combination of Lexus’s reputation for refinement, Toyota’s hybrid supremacy, and the model’s sporty design cues.
J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 85/100
Lexus is year-in-and-year-out one of the top performers, and usually THE top brand, in the J.D. Power rankings. The 2024 Lexus UX model earns an overall rating of 81/100 on the back of “Great” Quality & Reliability and Dealership Experience scores (85 percent and 87 percent, respectively), though owners scored it average on Driving Experience and Resale Value. Owners report relatively few defects or design flaws that are satisfactorily handled by Lexus’s dealer network.
2022 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400
Starting Used Price: $36,993
Underrated and often overlooked, the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 was the top tier in the last-man-standing of Infiniti sedans, as it became another SUV-only brand after 2025. The 2022 model made its name on the 400-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that is one of the auto industry’s gems. Originally, it carried an MSRP of $57,000 and has settled in at just shy of $37,000 as a KBB Fair Purchase value, reflecting a 35 percent depreciation rate.
J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 83/100
On reliability, J.D. Power gives the 2022 Infiniti Q50 a Quality & Reliability score of 83 percent, placing it in the “Great” category and contributing to an Overall rating of 82/100. Owners report relatively few mechanical or design issues, and a good rapport with dealers (86 percent favorable). It also contributes to an 83 percent resale rating, though the performance orientation of the luxury sedan obviously influences its driving rating (Average, at 75 percent).
2019 Jaguar F-Pace SVR
Starting Used Price: $35,364
The Jaguar F-Pace debuted in 2016 as Jaguar’s foray into the lucrative luxury crossover segment, and the 2019 Jaguar F-PACE SVR was introduced as the top-performance variant, before the line’s 2020 refresh. Originally priced at just over $81,000, the vehicle now carries a Fair Purchase Price in the mid-$35,000s, which means a 56 percent depreciation rate—excellent news for performance aficionados; not so much for resellers.
J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 68/100
With an overall J.D. Power score of 75 percent, the 2019 Jaguar F-Pace registers a resounding average rating from owners, based mostly on Driving Experience (77/100) and Resale (87/100, for a “Great” ranking). It didn’t register enough replies to compile a Dealership Experience rating, though owners did report a moderate level of defects and malfunctions, particularly around electronics (which doesn’t come as a complete surprise to Jaguar owners).
2023 Audi A6
Starting Used Price: $33,460
German manufacturers are standing by their luxury sedans, and the Audi A6 is one of the prime motivators in the midsize luxury class that balances tech, comfort, and performance. Its MSRPs ranged from $57,870 to $69,320, and current used prices will fall in the mid-$33,000 to mid-$45,000 range, translating into an average depreciation rate of 39 percent, which is probably most indicative of the desirability of luxury sedans, as segments transition toward SUVs.
J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 82/100
In terms of Quality & Reliability, the 2023 Audi A6 is considered a “Great” buy, according to J.D. Power, meaning owners report relatively few defects or malfunctions across core systems like powertrain, electronics, and safety. Average ratings for Driving Experience, Dealership Experience, and Resale combine to give the line a J.D. Power Overall Consumer Satisfaction Rating of 79/100.
2021 Mercedes-AMG A 35 4Matic
Starting Used Price: $29,070
There was only one 2021 Mercedes-AMG A-Class, and it was a good one. The smallest of AMG-tuned Mercedes sedans started at $46,900, which means it’s lost roughly 38 percent of its value in subsequent years. That translates into slightly higher depreciation than the other 2021 Mercedes-Benz A-Class, the A 220, which has a better resale value in its RWD format than the 4Matic all-wheel drive version.
J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: No Rating
Although there is no specific Mercedes-AMG A 35 4Matic rating for 2021, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class has an Overall rating of 82/100, scoring exceptionally high in Driving Experience and Resale (85 percent and 82 percent, respectively) and turning in an Average Dealership Experience score of 79/100. Owners praised the cars’ strong performance and build quality, but had concerns about higher regular maintenance costs, dual-clutch transmission, electronics, and driver-assist issues.
2022 Acura ILX Technology & A-Spec
Starting Used Price: $28,296
The 2022 Acura ILX was the last of the line, as the brand reverted to its fabled Integra nameplate. The A-Spec had set itself up as the performance variant, and the Technology Package added all the tech luxury buyers desired, so the 2022 Acura ILX Technology & A-Spec was the de facto top-of-the-line model. Originally priced at $34,295, the sports sedan has lost just 17 percent of its value in the intervening three years, making it one of the best bargains in the luxury market.
J.D. Power Quality & Reliability Rating: 82/100
The 2022 Acura ILX is designated “Great,” according to its J.D. Power Quality & Reliability score, with owners reporting few major defects. Owners also rated Acura’s Dealership Experience as Great, at 82/100, supporting dependable ownership backed by the brand’s reputation for build quality and service efficiency. Average scores of 73 percent and 70 percent were earned for Driving Experience and Resale, respectively.
