2010 Acura ZDX
Like our previous entry, the 2010 Acura ZDX was certainly a bold choice for the brand. Its unusual proportions resulted in limited rear space and low visibility, and the car failed to offer anything else that really set it apart. It ultimately became one of Acura’s worst-selling vehicles.
1982 Cadillac Cimarron
As one of General Motors’ oldest luxury divisions, there’s a certain kind of prestige that you come to expect when purchasing a Cadillac model. The 1982 Cimarron was the antithesis of that prestige, essentially a rebadged Chevy Cavalier that was rushed out of production and marketed as an “entry-level” luxury vehicle.
1997 Cadillac Catera
Unlike the Cimarron, Cadillac’s second attempt at entering the “entry-level” luxury market wasn’t nearly as disastrous. The Catera was a decent car, with sporty good looks and smooth handling. Unfortunately, it simply couldn’t compete with its European rivals, who proved to be far sleeker and far more reliable.
2002 Lincoln Blackwood
Ford’s luxury division wanted a pick-up of their own. With premium finishes and a plush interior, the 2002 Lincoln Blackwood was at least aesthetically luxurious. Unfortunately, it completely failed as an actual pick-up, with virtually no off-road capabilities to speak of and impractical four-wheel drive.
1989 Chrysler TC by Maserati
The collaboration between Chrysler and Maserati should have been legendary. Instead, it resulted in the dismal 1989 Chrysler TC, a “luxury” coupe that aimed to offer European flair and styling at a much lower cost. Its performance simply didn’t match the expectations set by both its luxury badges.
2001 Jaguar X‑Type
By the turn of the millennium, Jaguar had already established itself as one of Europe’s premier luxury brands, but it wasn’t as if they were among the most commercially successful. To rectify this, they released the X-Type in 2001, intended to compete with Mercedes-Benz and BMW, but at a lower price to attract new buyers. Unfortunately, the vehicle’s actual quality didn’t live up to the badge it wore.
2012 Infiniti Q70
Intended to be Nissan’s flagship model for their very own luxury segment, the Infiniti Q70 launched in 2012 to only very moderate fanfare. Aside from the fact that buyers already had so many options to choose from (including those offered by already established brands), the Q70 didn’t offer nearly as much as its rivals, and its high asking price didn’t help matters either.
2013 Maserati Ghibli
Positioned just below the ever-popular Quattroporte, the 2013 Maserati Ghibli was intended to give consumers a taste of the Maserati style at a more affordable price point. But even “affordable” luxury vehicles should pass basic reliability tests, and the Ghibli’s lack of features really stood out when compared to its competitors.
1987 Cadillac Allanté
Between the Cimarron and the Catera, Cadillac had another misfire under its belt in the form of the Allanté. While the “Flying Italian Cadillac” concept was unique, its complexity made maintenance a genuine nightmare. Additionally, there was nothing about the vehicle that made it immediately better than its cheaper, easier-to-maintain rivals.
2000 Lincoln LS
Apparently, the early 2000s weren’t too kind to Lincoln. Still, the LS wasn’t a complete and total failure; it was just mediocre, which - in the context of being a luxury vehicle - made it seem somehow much worse. It was a fine sedan, sure, but its interior lacked refinement, and its resale value was abysmal.
2005 Chrysler 300
Marketed as a “luxury muscle” vehicle, the Chrysler 300 was a huge presence on the roads, with its strong silhouette and surprising performance capabilities. Over time, however, the model began to lose some of its prestige, especially as competing models continued to evolve way beyond what the 300 could keep up with.
1989 Lexus ES
We’ve specified 1989 here, but you can really choose any model year of the Lexus ES as a substitute. The problem is not really with the ES itself - it’s a decent luxury vehicle with all the features you’d expect from a premium car. However, when you consider that Toyota (Lexus’ parent company) also offers the Camry for much less while still offering pretty much everything else the ES does, you start to wonder if it’s really deserving of its luxury status.
2015 Tesla Model X
Say what you will about Tesla and its controversial CEO, they’re ambitious, at the very least. The Model X was a futuristic-looking, feature-tastic SUV that sounded absolutely incredible on paper. In practice, however, the vehicle’s reliability instantly came into question, and many of its promised features underdelivered.
2014 Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf
Produced from 2014 to 2016, the Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf was an ultra-exclusive, ultra-luxurious sedan with an ultra-expensive price. And don’t get us wrong, it is beautiful, but we, along with most other buyers, wonder: does its “just okay” performance and overall lack of innovation really justify such a high price?
2013 Mercedes‑Benz CLA‑Class
At this point, Mercedes-Benz is virtually synonymous with precisely engineered luxury, and the 2013 CLA-Class aimed to make this available to more drivers than ever, thanks to its lower price. Unfortunately, rather than sitting in the lap of luxury, many drivers complained about the poor interior comfort and lack of refinement - it was more “affordable premium” than the true luxury they had been promised.
1975 Rolls‑Royce Camargue
The Camargue was a bold step for Rolls-Royce. It featured a distinctive and polarizing angular design that most agreed didn’t match its exorbitant price, which was a problem considering that the Camargue was the most expensive production car in the world at that time.
1981 Maserati Biturbo
Despite its placement on our list, the 1981 Maserati Biturbo was actually a resounding success. It was the very first mass-produced car with a twin-turbocharged engine, and was many people’s first experience with Italian performance and style. Unfortunately, this great first impression was immediately hampered by the vehicle’s debilitating chronic reliability issues.
2002 Infiniti Q45
The 2002 Infiniti Q45 was Infiniti’s flagship sedan at the time, and enjoyed some promising success early on. However, it was quickly outmatched and outpaced by its European rivals - most drivers felt it simply didn’t offer anything to make it stand out from the crowd.
2009 Lexus HS 250h
The HS 250h was Lexus’ very first hybrid sedan, offering a good mix of comfort and eco-friendliness that could appeal to everyone - assuming, of course, that people were willing to pay extra for it. The HS 250h had nothing more to offer than other, cheaper hybrids - it was too bland in style, and too weak in performance.
2013 Cadillac ELR
The ELR was a luxury plug-in hybrid, offering drivers supreme style and comfort while also increasing fuel efficiency. There was just one problem: it was based on the Chevrolet Volt, a much cheaper car that offered… pretty much everything else the ELR did.
2022 Land Rover Range Rover
A true icon of the off-road, the Range Rover has been around in some form or another since the 70s. However, while past models were almost always warmly received, recent models have called into question the nameplate’s luxury status, primarily due to persistent reliability issues, high ownership costs, and steep depreciation rates.
2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
Though they’ve been around for years, VW has never been associated with luxury - they’re the people’s car company, after all. That didn’t stop them from reaching for the stars in 2004, however, with the release of the Phaeton, which was intended to compete with the likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW, but ultimately fell far, far short of its mark.
2011 Aston Martin Cygnet
When you hear the name “Aston Martin”, your mind immediately conjures up images of supreme luxury - images which the Cygnet seemingly went out of its way to contradict. Though it bore the Aston Martin name, the Cygnet was pretty much just a rebadged Toyota iQ.
2006 Mercedes‑Benz R‑Class
Mercedes-Benz don’t often miss, but when they do it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. The R-Class was a strange hybrid between minivan and SUV that fans of either category wanted nothing to do with.
2006 Volvo C30
Similar to VW, Volvo should have just stuck to its own lane instead of trying to capitalize on the luxury market. The C30 boasted premium branding and classy interior touches, but the company was clearly out of its depth when it made it, resulting in a totally underwhelming car.
2014 Infiniti Q50
Poor Infiniti can’t seem to catch a break. The Q50 was another luxury sedan that boasted decent styling and premium touches, but nobody was willing to take the chance on it when other brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW offered more of the same with stronger resale values to boot.
2015 Audi Q7
The Q7 first hit the roads in 2005, but its second-generation (launched in 2015) may have ruined the nameplate’s reputation. It featured a glitchy infotainment system and was much too cramped for most drivers’ liking.
2015 BMW 7 Series
Now, the 7 Series is BMW’s flagship, so we’d be remiss not to mention how stellar some of the previous iterations were. The 2015 model year, however, called into question the vehicle’s reliability and overall quality, with numerous failing features, overly complex mechanics, and an overall lack of refinement.
2013 Maserati Quattroporte
Like the BMW 7 Series, the Quattroporte is one of Maserati’s flagship vehicles. However, recent iterations have left a sour taste in many drivers’ mouths, mostly due to its excessively high cost of ownership combined with the vehicle’s tendency to just… break.
2009 Porsche Panamera
One of Porsche’s biggest models is also one of its most divisive. The Panamera’s luxury status is a point of contention for many, especially when you consider its high cost of ownership and excessive maintenance demands.
2007 Lexus IS 250
Like many other Lexus models, 2007’s IS 250 wasn’t necessarily a bad car; it just wasn’t a very good one, either. To this day, Lexus struggles to set itself apart from other luxury brands, which tend to offer more.
2015 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
In fairness to Alfa Romeo, the company has established a reputation for producing unpredictable (albeit stunning) cars, and the Giulia Quadrifoglio is really no different. At this point, however, many drivers have questioned whether it’s ethical for a company to release a vehicle as wild and unpredictable (see also: dangerous) as this one.
2010 Audi A7
The A7 is one of Audi’s most popular vehicles with its stunning good looks and premium nameplate. However, most drivers will agree that the vehicle is often outperformed by its rivals - it’s a car you buy for the badge alone.
2016 Volvo S90
The S90 may be where Volvo finally hit its stride in terms of luxury, but when compared to most of its rivals, it’s hard not to feel like the S90 is lacking in that secret special sauce.
2016 Cadillac CT6
We began our list with a Cadillac disappointment - it seems only right that we end with one, too. The CT6 is yet another Cadillac model that has overpromised and underdelivered. It’s definitely nicer than your average economy vehicle, but is it as luxurious as its competitors (some of which may be even cheaper)? No.
