Are the Standard-Bearers Cutting Corners?
Luxury car brands are the standard-bearers in the world of automobiles. Alongside their incredible comfort, these vehicles offer stunning performances, beautiful designs, and usually introduce cutting-edge tech to the masses. There's a lot of prestige that comes with owning a luxury motor nowadays! But several drivers are noticing some worrying signs at the moment.
Upon closer inspection, recent models from these brands aren't up to their usual standards. And that raises a troubling question — are they cutting corners? On that note, we're going to shine a light on a few famous names right here.
Land Rover
Hands up if you're a fan of the Land Rover brand. You'll be in good company! Few manufacturers can match its luxury SUV output. But there are issues here. When it comes to reliability, Land Rover seems to fluctuate from one extreme to the other. It had a terrible rating on Consumer Reports in 2025.
Yep, out of 15 luxury brands, Land Rover came 14th. Ouch. Air suspension issues, oil leaks, and electronic problems are frequently cited by unhappy owners. Is our next entry in a better spot, though?
Lexus
As the luxury division of Toyota, Lexus has built up a pretty impressive reputation over the years. It's produced some gorgeous cars that offer fabulous performances on the road. Mind you, motorists have been left concerned in 2025. Certain models seem to be lacking the high-quality craftsmanship that you come to expect from Lexus.
Take the 2025 GX as an example. Drivers have noticed that the rough edges of the car's headliner aren't covered up now. That wasn't an issue previously. It might only be a small detail, but you can't blame Lexus fans for worrying.
Jeep
Compared to most of the other brands on this list, Jeep isn't exclusively luxury. It offers a range of mainstream models. But it does have a place in the luxury segment. The Grand Cherokee Summit is an awesome motor! So why's Jeep here? Well, owners have picked up on a very noticeable problem.
Jeep vehicles have steel hinges, while the doors are made from aluminum. That's not a good mix! When the two come into contact, it can cause galvanic corrosion over time. Oh boy.
Porsche
Do we have any Porsche fans in the house? We thought so! This brand just oozes luxury, producing some of the nicest cars on the market today. But is it perfect? Probably not. There are many drivers who have a bone to pick with Porsche in 2025. Why? Let's find out...
Simply put, folks aren't happy with Porsche's decision to embrace digital clusters in recent times. In their mind, analog gauges are a much better option. Were they dropped to cut costs?
Acura
Acura isn't a bad brand by any means. Its cars are extremely reliable and perform brilliantly on the road. Yet compared to other luxury names, it's often been accused of cutting corners in a variety of ways. For instance, the interiors are frequently bashed.
Drivers feel that the ADX and Integra, in particular, share too many interior components with other Honda models. Remember, Acura is the luxury arm of the Japanese giant. Platform sharing is another bugbear here.
BMW
There isn't much to complain about when it comes to BMW. It's one of the finest luxury brands going at the moment. But have there been any signs that the German icon is cutting corners recently? Unfortunately so. Let's start with its SUVs.
Since COVID, you've only been able to use the keyless unlock feature for the front doors. Prior to that, it unlocked every door. Meanwhile, other BMW vehicles have ditched their stitched leather airbag covers.
Audi
It's fair to say that Audi has disappointed plenty of people in recent times. As a luxury brand, it's often faced accusations of cutting corners to save money — much to the detriment of its cars' quality. The subpar interior materials come to mind here.
But that's not all. The touchscreen controls also feel like a step-down when compared to the physical dials and buttons of the past. Oh, and the less said about the fake exhaust tips, the better!
Mercedes-Benz
How can anyone hate on Mercedes-Benz? It's an incredible brand that prides itself on not cutting corners. So why's it on this list, then? Well, compromises have had to be made for certain models to make them more affordable. And it's tough to ignore.
For instance, the interior quality of those cars leaves much to be desired. They lack the kind of luxury that you'd usually associate with Mercedes-Benz. Could you stomach it, folks?
Lamborghini
Lamborghini motors certainly pass the eye-test. They're absolutely stunning! But does anyone feel that the luxury brand is cutting corners at the moment? There are people in that camp. The Urus SUV frequently comes up in the conversation, as it shares components with several other cars.
The Urus' non-flush door handles are another bone of contention for luxury car enthusiasts, too. Is that a cost-saving compromise? Other folks have also complained about the infotainment system in certain Lamborghini models.
Maserati
Maserati ticks so many boxes as a luxury brand. Its cars are stylish, powerful, and great to drive. The performances will leave your jaws on the floor! But could things be better? We'd say so. Some owners haven't been pleased with Maserati's interior quality.
In addition to that, others have questioned the infotainment systems. Do you agree with those complaints? But it isn't the only luxury brand to come under scrutiny in recent times...
Volvo
Could it be argued that Volvo has cut a few corners in 2025? You bet! The EX30 is a great example. This car doesn't have a traditional key fob, much to folks' frustration. It also has a cluttered infotainment system.
Other Volvo models have been questioned, too. For instance, the 2026 XC40 has drawn complaints for its rough and noisy B5 engine. Is that a result of cuts to the car's sound insulation?
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo is a car brand brimming with character. Its luxury vehicles look good, perform excellently, and offer a fantastic driving experience. Are there areas of concern in 2025, though? It seems so. Both the Junior and Stelvio models have come under scrutiny.
The biggest complaint is aimed at the cars' interior quality. The two cabins utilize a lot of hard plastics. Would you expect better from a luxury brand? Or could you accept it?
Tesla
On the subject of cutting corners, Tesla has faced its fair share of criticism in the past. From overall quality control to defective parts, the list goes on! But can the brand be accused of cheaping out today? Well, a new release has raised a few eyebrows.
Yep, a cheaper version of the Model Y, known as the Model Y Standard, rolled out in October 2025. And its omissions are hard to ignore. No rear-seat entertainment? No premium headliner? A Tire Pressure Monitoring System that doesn't offer specific readings? Yikes.
Infiniti
There's much to like about Infiniti as a luxury car brand. Its vehicles are stylish, reliable, and fun to drive. And while it might struggle to compete with the likes BMW and Mercedes-Benz, it does have a solid fan base now. But has Infiniti cut corners recently?
Well, it finds itself in a similar position to Lexus. Much like the 2025 GX, folks have noticed that the '25 Infiniti QX80 has exposed headliner edges, too.