Luxury Cars That Are Overpriced for What They Are
Luxury cars not only look amazing, but also promise the world. Once you drive them, though, you realize they’re not worth the crazy price tag. We’ve rounded up 35 luxury cars that weren’t worth the price tag. Let’s see which missed the mark completely.
Maserati Ghibli
The Ghibli looks fancy and sounds great, but it feels cheap inside. Many parts are from cheaper cars, and the tech feels old. It’s not very reliable and loses value fast. You end up paying a lot for a car that’s more trouble than fun.
Jaguar XJ
Jaguar’s XJ has style, but it’s missing the luxury tech you’d expect for the price. It’s expensive to maintain, and the electronics can be annoying. What about the resale value, you ask? That drops quickly. For a car this pricey, you shouldn’t have to ask yourself if it’ll work today.
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
The CLA is a cheaper way to get the Mercedes badge, but you can feel where they cut corners. It’s cramped in the back, the ride is rough, and interior materials don’t feel all that premium. Add a few options, and you might as well have bought a nicer Mercedes.
BMW 7 Series
Some years of the 7 Series were packed with tech that broke easily or aged poorly. Repairs cost a fortune after the warranty ends. It’s also heavy and doesn’t feel as fun to drive as older models. On top of that, it has very little resale value.
Infiniti Q50
The Q50 promised speed and sporty handling, but the steering just feels off because of its electronic system. The inside feels cheaper than German rivals, the tech is just confusing, and fuel economy is great. It’s often discounted, which says a lot about its real-world value.
Lexus LS
The LS is smooth and reliable, but it feels boring compared to other luxury cars. The design is plain, and the infotainment system is frustrating to use. For the high price, people expect a bit of excitement, not a car that feels like a waiting room.
Acura RLX
The RXL has all the basics - a roomy cabin and a hybrid option - but it never stood out. It blends into traffic, the tech feels dated, and the Acura badge doesn’t carry the same weight as other cars in this price range. It’s reliable but overpriced.
Cadillac CT6
Cadillac’s CT6 is nice to drive and light for its size, but the trim choices are confusing. Cadillac kept changing its plans for the models, and what was built feels cheaper than many other luxury cars. Paying top dollar for this gamble just doesn’t add up.
Lincoln Continental
The Continental has a big name, but doesn’t match up to European sedans. The interior and tech both feel old, and it drinks a lot of fuel. It also loses value quickly. Nostalgia alone isn’t enough to make this car worth its high price tag.
Volvo S90
The Volvo S90 looks clean and modern, but it has quality problems and very complicated tech. The four-cylinder engines sound rough when pushed, and the ride feels too stiff. Just a few added extras, and the price gets higher and higher.
Audi A8
Older Audi A8 models look great when they were new, but they age badly. Repairs on the aluminum body are expensive, and the air suspension loves to break. Like many other cars on this list, the Audi A8 loses value fast while maintenance costs stack up.
Genesis G90
The Genesis G90 offers a ton of features for less money. But it loses value fast, as the brand just doesn’t have the same luxury image. You won’t find a buyer bragging about it any time soon. It’s good, but not at luxury-level prices.
Tesla Model X
The Model X’s cool doors and speed were great at first, but early versions of the car had major build issues. The doors broke, the panels didn’t lock up, and repairs took forever. Paying so much for constant fixes ruined the experience for many owners.
Land Rover Discovery
The Discovery can go anywhere, but many owners spend way more time in repair shops than on adventures. Electronics and air suspension fail too often, and it’s also thirsty for fuel. For this price, the mix of quality issues and high running costs just isn’t worth it.
Range Rover Evoque
Range Rover’s Evoque looks like a fashion statement, but that’s about it. The backseat and trunk are tiny, visibility is bad, and reliability has been spotty. Adding options only makes it super expensive. The Evoque is style over substance.
Maserati Levante
The Levante might have a flashy badge and roaring engine noise, but the interior feels cheap. The infotainment is another issue that feels borrowed from much cheaper brands. It’s also not very reliable. You pay for the name and hope it doesn’t break.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
The Giulia is amazing to drive, but the ownership is a little, um, rough. Electronics act up, and the interior rattles and has squeaks. Finding a dealer is tough, and parts take forever to arrive. With the Giulia, you’re paying for fun but get headaches on the side.
Porsche Panamera
The base model Porsche Panamera is expensive, but it feels slow and basic. To get the good features, you have to spend a ton more on options. The sloping roof is another design flaw that makes the back seat cramped. It’s a lot of money for something that doesn’t wow.
Mercedes-Benz SLC Roadster
The SLC feels old. It’s small inside, the tech is outdated, and the steering isn’t fun. The hardtop adds weight to the car, but not much excitement. This car is pricey just because of the badge, and many other cheaper convertibles offer way more fun.
Lexus GS
The Lexus GS is super reliable and drives fine, but it’s overpriced compared to other cars with better tech and style. Initial sales of the Lexus GS were slow for a reason - people want more than just “safe and solid” for that kind of money.
Infiniti Q70
The Q70 Infiniti has plenty of space and a strong V8 engine, but it just looks and feels old. The tech is outdated, and it handles badly. Don’t expect good fuel economy either, thanks to that V8. It’s just not worth what Infiniti wanted for it.
BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo
The BMW 6 Series GT confused everyone. Is it a hatchback or a sedan? It’s expensive, heavy, and not very sporty despite its name. Very few people wanted one, so resale values dropped fast. When a car’s purpose is unclear, it’s hard to justify paying premium money.
Jaguar XF
The XF was supposed to be a sporty luxury car, but it had a lot of problems. The electronics were glitchy, and the interior wore out way too soon. Some engines felt weak, and the resale dropped quickly. It’s a gamble to own.
Aston Martin Rapide
Aston Martin’s Rapide is gorgeous and sounds incredible, too. But the back seats are cramped, the ride is rough, and it costs a fortune to maintain. You’re paying for the beauty of the car and not much else since the bills make it hard to enjoy.
Bentley Bentayga
This has to be one of the most expensive cars on our list. The Bentley Bentayga feels rather boring for the price. All the good features cost extra, so paying top dollar for the “cheap” Bentley doesn’t feel great and is nothing more than a waste.
Rolls-Royce Cullinan
When it comes to luxury cars, what comes to mind? For us, it’s the Rolls-Royce Cullinan. It’s comfortable, sure, but so are other SUVs that cost way less. If you’re not buying it for the name alone, the price makes zero sense.
Audi Q7
The base model of the Audi Q7 doesn’t give you much for the price. It feels underpowered, and the third row is really only good for the kids. Yes, you can add the features you want, but it gets expensive. You might as well buy something better.
Lincoln Aviator
The Aviator looks incredible and has good power. But the early models had tons of issues. From tech and software glitches to cheap parts, the Aviator is expensive for something that has spent so much time in the repair shop. Early buyers were basically testers.
Cadillac XT6
The Cadillac XT6 came late to the SUV party and couldn’t match the quality of its rivals. The V6 engine had countless struggles, the interior felt cheap, and the tech system was messy. It’s just not worth paying Escalade-level prices for.
Acura TLK With High Trims
The TLK gets pricey at the top trims, but still feels like a regular sedan. The interior is just okay, the back seat is cramped, and the infotainment system is tricky. For that money, people expect something closer to a BMW or Audi, not an Acura.
Maserati Quattroporte
Maserati’s Quattroporte is loud and dramatic but also very unreliable. This car spends more time at the mechanic than on its owner's driveway, and the repairs are expensive. If you want to spend money on a car, choose one that is dependable and stay away from Maserati.
Porsche Cayenne
The Cayenne is pricey, sure, but it doesn’t feel like a real Porsche until you spend more money on upgrades. It’s not very powerful or well-equipped straight out of the box, and by the time you add options, you could have bought a whole new car.
Lexus LX 570
Lexus is more of an everyday car rather than a luxury vehicle. The LX 570 might be tough and last forever, but it drives like a truck. It guzzles fuel, and the tech is ancient. It’s hard to ignore how old it feels compared to other luxury SUVs.
Infiniti QX80
The Infiniti QX80 is one of those big, flashy SUVs, but it’s not as refined as others. The interior feels outdated, and the fuel economy is just terrible. It loses value quickly, too, and rivals offer much better comfort and tech at the same price.
Tesla Model S Plaid
Tesla’s Model S Plaid might be insanely fast, but most people don’t ever use that speed. The build quality is either a hit or a miss, and the steering yoke is one of those things you either love or hate. The price climbs with options, and it’s expensive bragging rights more than anything else.
