By Chris Bruce, Motor1.com
This is an era where the top luxury vehicles are often SUVs and crossovers. Whether it's a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Bentley Bentayga, or even somewhat lower-priced models like the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, riding in style increasingly means opting for a utility vehicle. However, there's still old-school cool about arriving at an event in a high-class sedan. You get a taste of being in the Rat Pack and rolling up to Ceasar's Palace in a big Cadillac.
You don't need to be car poor to experience the comfort and features of owning a luxury sedan, though. Even for $10,000, you can buy a high-class four-door that makes your friends think you spent twice as much or more. We have put together a list of 10 picks that offer this opulence without breaking the bank.
Since we know that many people prefer having the features and amenities that come with more modern vehicles, all of our selections date from the 2010 model year at the oldest. Some are even newer. To determine the prices, we use a combination of the Kelley Blue Book estimated value and nationwide sales listings online.
You don't need to be car poor to experience the comfort and features of owning a luxury sedan, though. Even for $10,000, you can buy a high-class four-door that makes your friends think you spent twice as much or more. We have put together a list of 10 picks that offer this opulence without breaking the bank.
Since we know that many people prefer having the features and amenities that come with more modern vehicles, all of our selections date from the 2010 model year at the oldest. Some are even newer. To determine the prices, we use a combination of the Kelley Blue Book estimated value and nationwide sales listings online.
2011 Acura RL
While it ticked all the boxes of being a luxury sedan, Acura made sure that the RL was fun to drive by offering all-wheel drive with torque vectoring at the rear axle. Plus, with $10,000 to spend, you can find one from 2011 or even later with some searching. This gets a buyer all the benefits of the refreshed RL, like a more powerful engine and a more modern cabin design.
2010 Audi A8
The Audi A8 is classy and understated, which are vital elements of a modern luxury sedan. The car isn't flashy but people looking at it can tell from the imposing size that the sedan is something special. The KBB value puts the A8 as being on the cusp for qualifying for our list. By carefully shopping around, you can find a few of them for less than $10,000.
2011 BMW 7 Series
Along with the Audi A8 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the BMW 7 Series is part of the trio of German luxury sedans that own much of the mindshare of this posh segment. As long as you look back around 10 years or so, finding a 7 Series for less than $10,000 isn't too difficult. At this price point, you're going to be seeing a lot of the 740i that uses a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six.
2013 Cadillac XTS
The Cadillac CT6 is still too new to be available for $10,000 or less, but that's not true for the older XTS, despite what the KBB estimate above suggests. There are lots of these sedans for sale online for less than $10,000, including a handful from 2014 and 2015.
2011 Hyundai Equus
Before Hyundai created Genesis as its luxury brand, the Equus was the company's range-topping sedan. The automaker packed them with features and luxuries. Buyers in the United States had the choice of either a V6 or V8 engine, too. Today, finding one for less than $10,000 is easy, and the big Hyundai offers lots of bang for the buck.
2010 Infiniti M
You might not remember the Infiniti M sedan, but that's good news for buyers because they are very easy to find for less than $10,000. The four-door is available with V6, V8, and even hybrid powertrains, so there's something to fit anyone's preference. The M became the Q70 for the 2014 model year when Infiniti renamed most of its lineup.
2010 Lexus LS
The Lexus LS is famous for being among the smoothest riding vehicles in its segment. While KBB says you can't get a 10-year-old example for less than $10,000, online listings suggest otherwise by showing several for exactly our maximum price. If you find one, enjoy a relaxing time getting around.
2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
You're right, the KBB value for a 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is not less than $10,000. However, examples of the sedan for sale online show many of them at a price to fit our criteria. Finding one might require patience and shopping around, though. The wait should be worth it. The S-Class' comfort, technology, and performance make the machine the benchmark for modern luxury sedans.
2011 Toyota Avalon
The Toyota Avalon is more of a near-luxury sedan, but it still offers owners lots of room and a comfortable ride. If you don't mind the lack of prestige from the vehicle, then this is a big four-door to take a serious look at. While KBB shows the 2011 model as the first year with prices below $10,000, there are lots of listings online for newer examples within this price point.
2014 Volkswagen CC
The Volkswagen CC, or Passat CC in the early years, was the brand's take on the then-burgeoning segment of sedans with swoopy, coupe-inspired styling. In the United States, customers could get the four-door with one of VW's venerable 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder mills or a 3.6-liter VR6. KBB indicates that you can get one as late as the 2014 model year for less than $10,000. Shop around, though, because some dealers have even newer examples in their inventory that are still less than ten grand.
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