5 Luxury Cars Mechanics Do Not Recommend
Luxury vehicles, by their nature, tend to come with high expectations and an assumption of reliability. If you’re spending that kind of money on a car, it’s reasonable to demand a level of quality commensurate with the price — but not every luxury car lives up to its hefty price tag.
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For some, reliability issues, hard-to-find parts, expensive repairs and high fuel costs can all add up to making a luxury vehicle more trouble to own than it is worth. Others are made by manufacturers that cut corners and count on their brand names to do the heavy lifting.
To help you avoid these luxury lemons, here are five vehicles that mechanics and other automotive experts say consumers ought to steer clear of.
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Audi Q4 e-tron
With a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $49,800 — thousands less than competitors like Lexus and Cadillac — this fully electric compact SUV is a surprisingly affordable entry into the luxury market. While its range and charging speed are on the lower end for similar vehicles, reviewers have praised the Q4 e-tron for its roominess and styling. It was also named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
However, one thing that may give buyers pause is that this is a new model for Audi, with the first production models hitting the sales floor in 2022.
Jacob Carter, founder of car maintenance site EngineRevUp, has over 20 years of experience as a mechanic. He warns against being an early adopter of newer models, especially with electric vehicles.
“It takes a few years to work out the kinks with new EV platforms,” he said. “Let those with money to spare test out the cutting-edge waters. … No doubt the performance will impress, but good luck affording the high-tech maintenance down the line.”
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BMW 7 Series
This full-size luxury sedan has long been considered BMW’s flagship car; and, with an MSRP starting at $96,400, the price reflects it. This makes it one of the most expensive sedans of this category — equivalent sedans from competitors like Lexus, Audi, and Genesis have MSRPs in the $70,000 and $80,000 range.
To be fair, the 7 series is packed with features and boasts the superior performance and handling that BMW is known for.
Andrew Kuttow, editor-in-chief of LamboCars, doesn’t recommend the 7 series. His reason? High maintenance costs, which he says along with the lofty price makes the 7 series just a poor value for the money.
“BMWs in general, especially the 7 series, are known for their expensive parts and labor costs,” he said. “They often require specialized care, which can add up over time.”
Jaguar XF
Another luxury sedan option from British automaker Jaguar, the XF starts at an MSRP of $49,800 if you opt for all-wheel drive — the rear-wheel drive version has a less powerful engine but will save you a bit of money. While the XF has a lot of standard features for the price, be careful, as you may end up paying much more in the long run. In fact, vehicle marketplace CarEdge ranks the XF dead last in value for luxury cars.
“Jaguars have a reputation for being unreliable, and the XF is no different,” said Leepu Da Maxim, blogger and editor at CarsAmazing. “It’s also expensive to maintain, so be prepared to shell out some serious cash if you own one.”
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Considered a subcompact luxury SUV, the Range Rover Evoque starts at an MSRP just under $50,000 — most vehicles in this class are significantly cheaper, with offerings from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz all starting around the $40,000 mark. The Evoque distinguishes itself from its competitors by having serious off-road capability, but it’s very inefficient despite its small size, with a fuel economy rating of 22 miles per gallon.
The Evoque also has a spotty reliability record.
“The Evoque may look sleek and stylish, but it’s plagued by reliability issues, with owners reporting problems with everything from the infotainment system to the engine,” Maxim said. “And for what you pay, you could get a much more reliable car from another brand.”
Tesla Model X
The Model X is a large luxury SUV with a starting MSRP of $79,990 — Tesla also offers a $10,000 upgrade to a plaid trim with higher performance. This model has a range of 348 miles on a charge, which is excellent for electric vehicles of this class. It has a huge cabin full of all of the impressive driving and infotainment tech that Tesla has become known for, and “Falcon Wing” rear doors offer a unique cool factor.
Despite their style and performance, there are some serious concerns with the safety of Tesla’s vehicles. They recently announced a recall of nearly all of their U.S. vehicles after a federal investigation of Tesla’s autopilot feature revealed it could have allowed drivers to abandon control of their vehicles.
Tesla also has a history of quality-control issues in assembly.
“Tesla’s build quality has been notoriously inconsistent, and the Model X is no exception,” Maxim said. “The falcon-wing doors may look cool, but they’re impractical and prone to problems.”
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