Best cheap luxury cars in 2025

Looking at Audi’s line-up today, it’s hard to believe that the brand only offered one SUV back when the Q7 hit the market in 2006. It was intended to take on the BMW X5 and Range Rover Sport, but it had an ace up its sleeve. It was, quite simply, huge.

All Q7s came with seven seats, while those up front got to enjoy a genuinely luxurious (and incredibly spacious) cabin. Finally, buyers looking for a luxury car with a high seating position had an alternative to a Range Rover. The same is true of the second-generation version which arrived in 2015, early examples of which can now be picked up for city car money. 

You’ll find that most Q7s are powered by the 3.0-litre TDI diesel engine - which is fine, as it’s the one to go for. 

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is arguably the best car on sale. Full stop.

It’s loaded with technology, surprisingly good to drive (given its enormous dimensions) and probably won’t cost an absolute fortune to run, provided you opt for one of the diesel models. OK, the maintenance costs might be a little more than a Ford Focus, but that’s the price you pay for driving around in a flagship Mercedes-Benz.

The previous-generation version arrived in 2014 and is the one to go for in terms of balancing low purchase price with modernity. This or an Audi A8? That’s a tough one...

If it was good enough for the Prime Minister (up until the end of the Johnson administration, at least), it’s good enough for us. The Jaguar XJ was the British brand’s flagship limo and it was significantly overhauled in 2010, making it a strong competitor to German alternatives like the BMW 7 Series or Audi A8.

It wasn't quite good enough to beat any of the German competition, but they're so cheap on the used market, that we'll happily overlook this. Less than £15,000 will get you a decent example from after the mid-life facelift. Improvements include LED headlights and a new InControl Touch Pro infotainment system.

The 3.0-litre V6 diesel is a good middle ground in terms of performance and economy but, if you don’t cover many miles, we’d recommend the supercharged V6 petrol. Or if you don't mind frequent trips to the pumps, the supercharged V8. 

If you’re after a luxurious car but also want to drive into a city centre guilt-free, a Tesla Model S is the choice for you. It’s an electric car, capable of travelling up to 242 miles on a charge (and that’s for the most affordable 60kWh model). 

It’s not quite as opulent as some of the cars featured here (you sense that the budget’s been spent on the powertrain rather than the interior), but it does have switchgear sourced from Mercedes-Benz.

It’s also incredibly relaxing to drive. There’s no engine noise, obviously, yet it’s quick. Even facelifted models can be picked up inexpensively on the used market now. 

Out of all the luxury cars to feature here, the Audi A8 is probably the one you should actually spend your money on. It just doesn’t mess about - with classy looks, a superb interior and reasonable running costs (especially the 3.0 TDI).

It really takes the pain out of a long journey thanks to its superb range of super smooth engines and adaptive air suspension. With an aluminium body, it’s surprisingly light for its size, meaning diesel models can return more than 40mpg in the real world.

Of course, the A8 wouldn’t be featured here if it didn’t also represent a bargain on the used market. You’ll pick up a five-year-old example for a fraction of its original list price. 

For those after a luxury car that's great for people in the driver's seat as it is for the VIP on the rear bench, the BMW 7 Series is the one to go for. The model reached new heights of luxury with the launch of the sixth-generation 'G11' 7 Series in 2016, which is now long enough ago that depreciation has whittled the values down nicely.

To qualify as 'cheap' it'll need to be the pre-facelift version, but one of these examples will still be loaded to the hilt with tech, and come with a less ostentation kidney grille design than the later cars. The 730d is the sensible choice, but there's a wide range of engines if you'd prefer something else, from four and six-cylinder plug-in hybrids to a V8 and even a V12 in the M760Li. 

Of course, you can pay a lot less and buy the generation before, the F01. You can pick one up for as little as £2,000, although that requires quite a bit of bravery. And a big contingency budget.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class a bit big for you? Here's some good news - the smaller Mercedes E-Class has gotten so good over the years, that it pretty much feels like a baby S-Class. Perhaps its biggest leap forward came with the previous-generation version launched in 2016 (referred to as W213, if you're geeky enough to know your Mercedes chassis codes). 

There are used 2016-on used Mercedes-Benz E-Class examples available on heycar from just £15,000, getting you into a plush-feeling luxury car for the price of a Dacia Spring. For that kind of money, it'll likely be an AMG Line-trimmed car, but you shouldn't have to spend drastically more to get something like an AMG Line Edition E-Class stacked full of kit including an excellent Burmester sound system.

Whatever kind of powertrain you want, there'll be something suitable, from small inline-four petrols to the snarling twin-turbo V8 of the AMG E 63, and there's even an extremely versatile plug-in hybrid diesel.

Launched in 1969, the Range Rover is the original and best luxury SUV. It was truly pioneering in its time, arriving decades ahead of cars like the Bentley Bentayga.

The previous-generation model was launched in 2013 and remains hugely desirable despite a replacement arriving in 2022. It’ll make you feel like a lottery winner - with huge, comfortable seats and a seating position which lords over other drivers.

Most on the used market will be powered by the 3.0-litre TDV6 diesel engine, which’ll be sufficient for the majority of buyers. Hunt out a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 for a distinctive burble (provided you’re not fussed about huge fuel bills).

It’s quite astounding how the Porsche Panamera blends the handling prowess of a sports car with the refinement of a luxury saloon car. If you aspire to own a Porsche 911 but need a bit of versatility or crave a bit more comfort, the Panamera is a superb choice.

A new Porsche Panamera starts from over £80,000 but you can pick up an early second-generation car for less than half that. There’s a wide range of engines available - even diesels, which actually make a lot of sense if you’re planning on exploiting the Panamera’s continent-crushing abilities. The diesels weren't on sale long, though, so choice on the used market will be limited. 

Of course, it’s fair to say that the running costs of a Panamera will be slightly higher than a more mainstream alternative. But it’s also a Porsche, and will put a smile on your face every time you drive it...

The Audi e-tron is the newest car here, so you might think how it qualifies as 'cheap'. The answer is steep depreciation - as we've seen with a lot of second-hand electric cars, particularly ones from premium brands, used e-trons has shed a significant amount of their original value. 

As such, we've seen some for sale as low as £15,000, while a budget of £20,000 should give you plenty to choose from. Inside, it features the same layout as many current luxury Audi models (including the Audi Q8 e-tron, the renamed, facelifted version of this car), with a trio of screens. There's one for the infotainment, one for the climate controls and one forming the instrument cluster.

The downside of these cars is the fairly limited range, which in some models is as low as 191 miles. Even the 55 only manages 252 miles according to official figures, and in reality, you won't get anywhere near that. But if you're unlikely to be doing long trips particularly often, these are an absolute bargain and are worth a look.