Luxury and affordability often don’t go hand in hand when it comes to new cars. However, thanks to the sea of used-car options, luxury cars can be accessible, too. But then, there is another caveat—reliability, which is often not bundled in with the luxury experience. Most cars lose value sharply due to a lackluster reliability quotient, which is further exacerbated by the high cost of spare parts.
But this list puts the odds in our favor, as we have curated 10 used luxury cars that have depreciated sharply over the last 5 years but are surprisingly reliable. The likes of Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti are no-brainer additions here. But this list also includes surprises from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and even Maserati. The five-year-old used luxury cars on this list can be had today for a lot cheaper, some even for bread-and-butter prices.
This list is organized in decreasing order of average used prices, from the most expensive to the most affordable used luxury cars from 2020. Reliability ratings are sourced from authoritative websites, including Kelley Blue Book (KBB) and JD Power.
2020 Maserati Quattroporte
Average Used Price: $40,835
Old Maseratis are not particularly renowned for their reliability. However, the 2020 Quattroporte hits differently, with a commendable reliability rating of 4.3/5.0 from KBB. An average used price of close to $41,000 is not affordable per se, but it is a steep depreciation from its six-figure starting price when new. There is no dearth of luxury features in this Maserati.
Notable features include leather upholstery throughout, heated, ventilated, and powered front seats, soft-close doors, and a leather-and-wood steering wheel. The Quattroporte also packs brutish performance with a twin-turbo V6, producing 426 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque. Also, it looks very cool and sporty for a ride high on luxury appeal.
- Reliability Rating: 4.3/5.0 (KBB)
- Price When New: $101,485
2020 Tesla Model S
Average Used Price: $32,391
Starting a revolution early has its perks, and Tesla is one such example, enjoying them wholeheartedly. The 2020 Tesla Model S is a fierce car, even by today’s standards, packing a 100kWh battery pack, dual electric motors, and an all-wheel-drive system. It produces 417 horsepower and 485 pound-feet of instant torque, translating to a 0-60 time of just 3.7 seconds. Adding to all of its adrenaline-pumping performance is a plush side with leather-wrapped interior components, heated steering wheel and mirrors, remote keyless entry, and loads of cool electronic features that make travel feel like a chauffeured experience.
Reliability ratings are strong, with a rating of 4.6/5.0 by KBB. Also, over the past five years, there have been 11 recalls for the Model S, which the automaker has proactively investigated and addressed. The cherry on top of this package is the insane value that used 2020 models now offer for less than half the price of a then-new one.
- Reliability Rating: 4.6/5.0 (KBB)
- Price When New: $76,190
2020 Lexus ES 350
Average Used Price: $27,758
Toyota has created a worthy German rival with its luxury-loaded Lexus sub-brand. The 2020 ES 350 is a solid offering from the brand, with a robust V6 packing 302 horsepower, a sharp design, and loads of creature comforts. Notable ones include a power-adjustable driver seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, and leatherette upholstery.
Thanks to robust and reliable underpinnings, the Lexus ES is famed for its ease of ownership. It is further impressive given that it has only one recall, according to the NHTSA. For a luxury sedan that was priced at ~$41,000 when new, its current used price of under $28,000 makes this Lexus a bang-for-buck offering.
- Reliability Rating: 84/100 (JD Power)
- Price When New: $40,925
2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Average Used Price: $24,195
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has lost more than half its value in five years. Bundle its impressive comfort, luxury, and convenience features, and we have a luxury German with remarkable value. While its humble 2.0-liter four-cylinder might not be the fiercest of the lot, 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque are ample to get the E-Class moving.
Notable luxury and comfort features include powered front seats, 40/20/40-split folding second-row seatbacks, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, 64-color ambient lighting, and a power-tilting sunroof.
- Reliability Rating: 83/100 (JD Power)
- Price When New: $55,045
2020 Cadillac CT5
Average Used Price: $21,567
America also has a strong hold on the luxury sedan game with the 2020 CT5. Despite being five years old, the base Cadillac CT5 still looks sharp and modern. It scores an unreal 5/5 in reliability ratings, according to KBB. As per the NHTSA, the 2020 CT5 has had four recalls, one investigation, and 22 complaints. Luxury, convenience, and technology features are sorted here.
Notable features include a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an available wireless charging pad, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an eight-way power-adjustable heated and cooled front seat, dual-zone climate control, and multi-LED ambient lighting. For an average used price of under $22,000, this Caddy packs commendable value.
- Reliability Rating: 5/5 (KBB)
- Price When New: $37,890
2020 BMW 5 Series
Average Used Price: $21,327
The BMW 5 Series is a no-frills luxury sedan that is a quintessential choice for new luxury car buyers. While new ones are expensive, used ones are worth more due to depreciation. The 2020 BMW 5 Series (specifically the base 530i RWD trim) has lost its value steeply, from a then-new starting price of $56,345 to a current average used price of $21,327. For this price, you get a Beamer that scores 82/100 in JD Power ratings.
The luxury feature list is wholesome. It gets 16-way power-adjustable heated front seats with two-way power side bolsters and four-way power lumbar support. Other notable features include a 10.25-inch central touchscreen with iDrive software, GPS navigation, and Apple CarPlay, a power moonroof, and a keyless entry and start feature, to name a few.
- Reliability Rating: 82/100 (JD Power)
- Price When New: $56,345
2020 Volvo S90
Average Used Price: $21,232
This Volvo packs the unique engine of the lot. A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine powers the 2020 S90, turbocharged and supercharged, producing 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Impressively, this Volvo has had just two recalls and two complaints since its inception.
This further strengthens the Volvo S90‘s reliability quotient, which is already high on rating at 4.6/5.0 as per KBB. Notable luxury features on this Volvo include standard leather upholstery, power-adjustable and heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a nine-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, among others. Currently priced at less than half of what it was priced when new, the value-for-money quotient is through the roof.
- Reliability Rating: 4.6/5.0 (KBB)
- Price When New: $51,545
2020 Audi A6
Average Used Price: $20,997
The Audi A6 is a long-standing contender among mid-size luxury sedans. A new 2025 A6 starts from $58,100, which is apt for the luxury appeal and comfort features it offers. However, a used A6 can provide similar levels of plushness for almost a third of the price, while still offering impressive reliability.
The 2020 Audi A6, which has an average used price of ~$21,000, comes loaded with features such as three-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, ambient interior lighting, leather seats, heated and power-adjustable front seats, and a 10-speaker, six-channel amplifier and 1890W audio system. It is not too shabby on the driving and performance front, too, with a peppy turbo four coupled to an AWD system, translating to 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds and a top speed of 130 mph. Furthermore, it scores high on reliability and has relatively low recalls and complaints (when compared to other German luxury cars), as per the NHTSA.
- Reliability Rating: 4.2/5 (KBB)
- Price When New: $55,895
2020 Acura TLX
Average Used Price: $19,042
The Acura TLX is a sharp-looking Japanese luxury sedan that packs a commendable suite of features, especially on the 2020 TLX, which can be had today for under $20,000. For the price, you are treated to notable features like dual-zone automatic climate control with humidity control and air filtration, standard leatherette-trimmed interior and sport seats, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a slew of technology features, including Bluetooth HandsFree Wireless Telephone interface. Upon launch, the 2020 TLX was priced from just over $34,000.
The depreciation is steep today. But thanks to its status as a luxury subsidiary of Honda, the reliability quotient is well maintained. Furthermore, NHTSA reports just four recalls and three investigations, with Acura being prompt in rectifying the issues.
- Reliability Rating: 81/100 (JD Power)
- Price When New: $34,025
2020 Infiniti Q50
Average Used Price: $18,300
The Infiniti Q50 is a forgotten compact Japanese sports sedan that still packs commendable punch, with notable levels of lux-appeal. It surely takes the spotlight for being the most affordable sedan out there with a sporty V6 (that gives off strong Skyline vibes). But its understated luxury features clearly deserve extra attention.
Notable features include leatherette/leather seats, an eight-way power drive seat with lumbar support, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Being a luxury division of Nissan has its perks when it comes to reliability, with the 2020 Infiniti Q50 scoring 4.5/5 from KBB. Add its highly depreciated used price (of under $20,000) to this mix, and we have a solid first-time car that oozes both luxury and sporty appeal.
- Reliability Rating: 4.5/5.0 (KBB)
- Price When New: $37,425
Sources: Kelley Blue Books, JD Power, and NHTSA.