Are you dreaming of a luxury sedan and hoping for a deal? You’re in luck: Kelley Blue Book analyzed its piles of used car data to create a list of the absolute best midsize luxury cars you can drive away in for $20,000. They all boast incredible reliability. Many of these cars, built between 2013 and 2015, had features far ahead of their time. They certainly can hold their own on modern roads. Here are KBB’S choices and then more info on each:
- 2014 Lexus ES
- 2015 Acura TLX
- 2013 Lexus GX
- 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
2014 Lexus ES 350
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At the top of KBB‘s list is the 2014 Lexus ES 350. The Lexus ES is a luxury sedan that shares a chassis with the reliable Toyota Camry and Avalon. For $20,000, you can buy a used EX from the sedan’s sixth generation (2012-2015)–the Lexus ES 350. Engine options for this FWD sedan included a V6 and a hybrid powertrain. Lexus introduced several advanced features in 2013, including blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts. It also came with pedestrian detection as well as pre-collision and lane-departure warnings. Finally, it came with a WiFi hotspot and Siri Eyes Free. Lexus did not, however, make Android Auto/Apple Carplay standard until 2020. If you want a more fuel-efficient I4 option, consider the Lexus ES 250 instead.
2015 Acura TLX
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Just like Lexus is Toyota’s luxury division, Acura is part of the Honda family. Therefore, the Acura TLX shares many components with the reliable Honda Accord. You could order this midsize luxury sedan with either a 200-horsepower I4 or a 290-horsepower V6. Honda offered the latter engine with AWD. 2015 was the first year of the Acura TLX, but so many of its components had done duty in Honda vehicles that it proved very reliable–according to Kelley Blue Book.
2013 Lexus GS
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The Lexus GS is the top trim version of the ES. So like the GS, it’s a midsize sedan that offers a spacious interior. But it offers some additional, advanced features. Lexus did not build a hybrid version of the GS. This luxury sedan is more performance-oriented. So you could get it with a V6–like the ES–or opt for the GS F with its 467-horsepower V8. If you chose the V6, the RWD variant came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and genuine leather. Lexus built the AWD GS with a six-speed automatic and, for some reason, faux leather.
2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the luxury brand’s midsize, mid-range sedan. KBB estimates that $20,000 will get you into the car’s fourth generation and recommend the 2014 model year specifically. This is partially because Mercedes completed an extensive mid-generation facelift in 2013. Mercedes offered the E-Class with more engine options than any other car on this list. Buyers could choose powerplants ranging from a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 (181 horsepower) to a 4.7-liter turbocharged V8 which made 402 horsepower. The luxury car’s extensive technology included Bluetooth, a Harman Kardon sound system, traffic sign recognition, and active seats which change shape while the car is cornering.
Next, find out which used luxury cars are still reliable after 10 years.
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