Affordable Luxury Cars: 10 Best

Just because you’re ready to move up to a luxury brand doesn’t mean you don’t appreciate a good deal.

Luxury cars all come with a higher cost of entry, sure. But some stick pretty close to the average mainstream stickers for their class, splitting the difference between the segments. You’ll still get upmarket interiors, modern tech, and the associated badge kudos, but it’ll all happen without breaking the bank.

SEE ALSO: 2020 Cadillac CT4-V Review: Softer, but Still Single-Minded

While a lot of the non-German brands have abandoned the sub-compact sedan segment, Cadillac still plays there with the CT4. This petite four-door offers up one of the best-balanced chassis in the business, and a brace of engines ranging from mild to wild. At its $34,890 ($39,373 CAD, both including destination) starting price, the CT4 can’t match the interior quality of the Germans. The high-performance V-Series models naturally require more cash, but are still the performance bargains of the luxury realm.

Looking for something focused more on comfort—and style? Mercedes‘ little CLA goes big on looks without the associated price tag. The German brand calls this a four-door coupe, which translates to a swoopier A-Class sedan. You can spec the CLA with Merc’s 4MATIC AWD system, though its front-biased setup means it can’t match the Caddy’s dynamic prowess. No matter: the CLA is all about cruising, and you’ll still find the brand’s signature cyberpunk-esque interior inside, with dual screens and funky ambient lighting. Pricing starts from $39,250 (~$46,000 CAD).