10 Luxury Sedans You Should Buy Used

Looking for the best luxury sedans of the last decade? Well, stick around because we break down the best and most reliable picks from all the well-known luxury brands. Our list is composed of American, European, and Japanese models so that we can touch on all facets of the luxury market. We then picked out only the best of the best, so you could have your cake and eat it too. Usually, used luxury cars are intertwined with unreliability and high maintenance costs, but these featured models are the few exceptions that exist.

We formulated this data by taking the time to research every single luxury sedan evaluated in Consumer Reports' recent study on the reliability of used models five to ten years old. We know that 2024 is the year of the SUV, yet, we believe that there is still no vehicle more versatile than the sedan as they can offer the same convenience as their SUV counterparts while providing better fuel economy and driving dynamics. Let's face it, you don't need AWD and 15 inches of ground clearance to get to Trader Joe's safely and on time. So, without further ado, let's discuss the best luxury sedans of the last decade (or so)!

Acura TLX

Best Model Year: 2015

The first and only Acura on our list is the first generation of the compact TLX sedan, available from 2015 to 2020 with a mid-cycle refresh in 2018.

Performance Specifications

Despite being the first year of a brand-new model, 2015 managed to be the most reliable year of the first-generation TLX, scoring a 4/5 Reliability Verdict. The V-6 and inline-four engines are both known as the most reliable Honda power units of their generation. The K24 inline-four variant isn't as emotive due to its 7,000 rpm redline, so we'd stick to the J35 V-6-powered model that is plenty fast and not that much worse on gas.

Pros

• Sportier than it looks (V-6 model)
• Impressive efficiency with either engine platform (25 MPG Combined w/ V-6 model)
• Beautiful standard LED headlights and classy exterior styling

Cons

• Both transmission units have their quirks
• The inline-four version is too bland

Lincoln MKZ

Best Model Year: 2017

Performance Specifications

This 2017 facelift transformed the MKZ, which had suffered from an identity crisis and terrible exterior styling throughout the entirety of its existence. Also, importantly, a new variant of Ford's EcoBoost twin-turbo V-6 debuted the same year, which backed up the solid EcoBoost 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four found in the base-level models.

Even an efficient hybrid was also offered, showing the sheer versatility of the MKZ platform. This makes the 2017 model perhaps the most reliable modern Lincoln sedan ever, with a 4/5 Reliability Verdict. Nowadays, Lincoln only sells SUVs, so if you want the best put-together Lincoln sedan available, this is your top choice.

Pros

• The twin-turbo V-6 is the real deal
• Comfortable without being aggressive
• The best and last Lincoln sedan you can buy?

Cons

• The 6-speed auto is average
• Only the AWD model unlocks the "full" power

Volvo S60

Best Model Year: 2017

The only Volvo on our list is the second generation of the compact S60 sedan, which was available from 2012 to 2018 and refreshed in 2014.

Volvo S60 T6 Drive-E R-Design Performance Specifications

2017 was also a critical year as the top-trim T6 model's turbocharged inline-six was axed in favor of a twin-charged inline-four model. This made the 2017 model year the most reliable of its generation with a 4/5 Reliability Verdict as the S60's engine platforms were consolidated. While reliability did increase, overall performance suffered as this inline-four platform offered both less power and torque than the outgoing engine while only offering four MPG better to the gallon. We like the S60, especially in the T6 top-trim, but there is a reason it is not the best sedan of its generation.

Pros

• Comfortable, safe, looks nice
• The most reliable year of its generation
• Available in both FWD and AWD variants

Cons

• Dated interior
• Sad and small screen
• The go-fast T6 model trades performance for reliability

BMW 4 Series

Best Model Years: 2018, 2019

The first BMW on our list is the first generation of the 4-Series, specifically the Gran Coupe 4-door sedan, available from 2014 to 2019 with a refresh in 2017.

2019 BMW 440i xDrive Gran Coupe

The 2017 refresh ushered in a new generation of "B-Series" BMW engines that are still the current technology BMW is putting into its current model vehicles. If you love the styling and sportiness of the 4-Series and want the most reliable experience possible, the 2018 and 2019 model years are the best of their generation, scoring a 4/5 Reliability Verdict.

Pros

• The best engine in its class
• Still the top "sports sedan"
• The simple interior has aged well

Cons

• 6-speed manual models are too rare
• Engine start-stop is annoying (can be turned off)

Lexus GS

Best Model Year: 2015

Our first Lexus sedan is the fourth generation of the mid-sized GS, which was available from 2012 to 2020. The 2015 Lexus GS is the first model on our list to receive a perfect 5/5 Reliability Verdict, as well as a 4/5 Owner Satisfaction rating.

Performance Specifications

This is the last generation of the GS model, so if you are looking for the most reliable model of the generation, all GS models after 2014 receive the more efficient and reliable 8-speed automatic transmission. The tried and true 2GR V-6 was also updated in 2016 to its latest and most developed spec in the GS sedan, which is still found in certain Lexus models today.

Pros

• Smooth, quiet, and supple
• The last generation of the GS
• An interior that is hard to complain about

Cons

• Lexus Remote Touch is rough
• Sacrificing some reliability for the hybrid model's 31 Combined MPG

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Best Model Year: 2018

Mercedes-Benz E 300 Performance Specifications

In the 2019 model year, Mercedes introduced their new mild hybrid tech and reliability suffered massively as the 2019 E-Class received a 1/5 Reliability Verdict. The 2018 model was the last to utilize the non-hybridized turbocharged inline-four in the E 300 and the last of the non-hybridized twin-turbo V-6 E 400, 450, and E 43 AMG models. This is why 2018 is the only year in the available data where a Mercedes sedan received a 5/5 Reliability Verdict.

Pros

• The last of many Mercedes staples
• A gorgeous interior that still feels brand new in 2024
• It drives even better than it looks

Cons

• Less plush than the previous generation
• You'd think there is more storage considering its size

BMW 3 Series

Best Model Year: 2022

Our last BMW on our list is the seventh generation (G20) of the iconic 3-Series, available from 2020 to the present day with a facelift for the year 2022.

G20 M340i Performance Specifications

The largest change to the LCI (facelift) model is the complete overhaul of infotainment, as "BMW Curved Display" became standard across all 3-Series models. If you are going to force upon us a massive screen, we hope it is the best screen possible, and BMW did a great job on it (we hate to admit it). This makes the 2022 BMW 3-Series stand alone as the only BMW sedan that received a 5/5 Reliability Verdict of all the available data.

Pros

• Continues to be the sport sedan to beat in its seventh generation
• The signature M3 model with the S58 engine is dangerously fast and has 4-doors
• The B58 engine continues to be world-class well into its lifespan

Cons

• We can't tell what is a 3-Series is or a 5-Series anymore
• The 6-speed manual 3-Series is now extinct
• The 330i model is not as enjoyable or impressive as more premium variants

Audi A4

Best Model Years: 2019, 2023

Our first and only Audi sedan on the list is the fifth-generation (B9) of the A4, available from 2017 to 2025 with a refresh in 2020.

2023 Audi A4 45 Performance Specifications

The pre-facelift 2019 and post-facelift 2023 model years achieved the perfect 5/5 Reliability Verdict, but the 2023 model beats out the 2019 with a 4/5 Owner Satisfaction Rating compared to the 2019's 2/5 rating. The 2023 model is also more desirable, because in 2022, Audi introduced the most revised variant of their staple EA888 turbo-four engine, their most reliable platform to date.

Pros

• Doesn't cheap out in its overall performance capability
• Updated top-in-class infotainment options
• Better than advertised fuel economy

Cons

• The entry-level 40 TSFI model is underpowered
• Virtual Cockpit only available with Premium Plus trim
• Deserves a more responsive steering feel

Lexus ES Hybrid

Best Model Years: 2015, 2019, 2023

The first and only true hybrid model on our list is the sixth (2013-2018) and seventh generation (2019-present) of the mid-sized Lexus ES sedan.

2023 Lexus ES 300H Performance Specs

We can't begin to explain how difficult it is for a hybrid-only model to compete in standards of reliability with gas-engine models and this is what makes the ES Hybrid so special. Both generations of the ES Hybrid have not just stellar reliability but also impressive consistency year-to-year, a feat not often seen. This makes the Lexus ES Hybrid the top choice for the most reliable hybrid luxury sedan on the used market with 5/5 Reliability Verdicts for the 2015, 2019, and 2023 model years.

Pros

• As practical as a luxury sedan could possibly be
• Unrivaled efficiency in its class
• Stunning year-to-year consistency in reliability

Cons

• Is it fun to drive? No, and it doesn't have to be.
• Why spend more on something that isn't as good as this

Lexus ES

Best Model Years: 2013-2018 (sixth-gen), 2019-2023 (seventh-gen)

Seventh-Generation Lexus ES Powertrains

Is the Lexus ES the sexiest luxury sedan on the market? Few would agree. What about the best performer? Not even close. What defines the Lexus ES down to its core is one word: consistency. Which ES sedan model year is the most reliable of all the available? All of them, because from 2013 to 2023, for a decade straight, the Lexus ES scored a perfect 5/5 Reliability Verdict. When speaking about luxury sedans, the Lexus ES is simply "built different" and if you are looking for reliability, look no further.

Pros

• The most reliable luxury vehicle of the last decade
• Unprecedented consistency across model years
• The perfect Lexus sedan?

Cons

• Not fun to drive despite being more "sport" than its predecessor
• Sixth-gen's 6-speed automatic is outdated and average