Luxury car brands usually command premium prices.
Well, anyway, more than most Americans can afford to spend on a new vehicle.
For example, it might be difficult to imagine purchasing a Jaguar, Tesla, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz or a few other luxury brands on a mainstream budget.
But that calculation is changing as luxury, or premium, brands go for more mainstream consumers.
The XE is one of two Jaguars among affordable cars from luxury brands.
With the current average transaction price soaring past $36,500, according to Kelley Blue Book (KBB), some premium brands are running against the current by offering models starting under $40,000 manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), and some for even less than $35,000.
In an unscientific study, we looked for affordable models (under $40,000) from so-called luxury brands. We did not include luxury vehicles from brands considered more mainstream.
So, for example, while the Toyota Avalon XLE may be a premium model, Toyota offers mostly mainstream vehicles from the Yaris with a $16,530 starting MSRP, according to TrueCar.com, to the Corolla, Camry, RAV4, Tacoma, Tundra, Sienna and others between $20,000 and $36,500.
You also won’t find Nissan, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Chevrolet or Ford models on the list even though they offer many well-regarded mainstream vehicles.
(Of course, Porsche, Aston Martin, Maserati, Bugatti and Lamborghini don’t appear on the list, either.)
Here are the 26 mainstream vehicles – 27 if you count the Mercedes-Benz Metris passenger van – which provide affordability from brands typically associated with luxury.
The 10 brands represented are listed alphabetically, then from lowest to highest starting MSRP.
Affordable luxury
(Starting MSRPs from TrueCar.com)
Audi
Audi A3 – $33,495
Audi Q3 – $33,875
Audi A4 – $38,395
BMW
BMW X1 – $35,945
BMW 2 Series – $36,295
BMW X2 – $37,395
Cadillac
Cadillac XT4 – $35,790
Cadillac ATS – $39,990
Infiniti
Infiniti QX30 – $31,245
Infiniti Q50 – $36,645
Infiniti QX50 – $37,545
Jaguar
Jaguar XE – $37,990
Jaguar E-PACE – $39,895
Lexus
Lexus UX – $33,175
Lexus NX – $37,510
Lexus IS – $39,585
Lincoln
Lincoln MKC – $34,990
Lincoln MKZ – $36,990
Lincoln MKX – $39,960
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz Metris – $31,845
Mercedes-Benz A-Class – $33,495
Mercedes-Benz CLA – $34,095
Mercedes-Benz GLA – $34,945
Tesla
Tesla Model 3 – $36,200
Volvo
Volvo XC40 – $34,695
Volvo S60 – $36,795
Volvo V60 – $39,895
KBB highest rated
About half the vehicles above got at least a four-star expert rating out of five from Kelley Blue Book, and all but one received at least a four-star consumer rating.
- Volvo XC40 – $34,695
- Audi A4 – $38,395
- Audi A3 – $33,495
- Mercedes-Benz CLA – $34,095
- BMW X1 – $35,945
- BMW 2 Series – $36,295
- Infiniti Q50 – $36,645
- Lexus IS – $39,585
- Infiniti QX30 – $31,245
- Lexus NX – $37,510
- Infiniti QX50 – $37,545
- Mercedes-Benz GLA – $34,945
- Lincoln MKC – $34,990
- Cadillac ATS – $39,990
This list provides a lot of good options to consider if your heart is set on purchasing a vehicle from a luxury brand even if you have a mainstream budget.
And more than a dozen even if you’re determined to stay under the average vehicle price.
It’s a lot of luxury for the price.
