Most Affordable Luxury Cars for 2025
The most affordable new luxury cars are ranked based on our analysis of their lowest base prices, though local market conditions might push a specific model’s price above the starting MSRP for vehicles in short supply or with high demand.
The most affordable luxury small and compact car is the Acura ILX ($27,300 starting MSRP), with the Buick Regal Sportback being the most affordable luxury midsize car ($25,370 starting MSRP). The Buick LaCrosse ranks #1 for the most affordable luxury large cars ($29,570 starting MSRP).
The most affordable luxury hybrid car is the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid ($36,750 starting MSRP) and the most affordable luxury plug-in hybrid car (PHEV) is the BMW 3 Series (Plug-in Hybrid) ($45,600 starting MSRP). Topping the list for the most affordable luxury electric cars is the Tesla Model 3 ($38,990 starting MSRP), while the INFINITI Q60 ranks first for the most affordable luxury sports cars ($42,250 starting MSRP).
The most affordable luxury convertible is the Buick Cascada ($33,070 starting MSRP), with the Buick Regal TourX being the most affordable luxury wagon ($29,370 starting MSRP).
New car shoppers seeking a luxury vehicle can find the most affordable models listed here. Even in today’s SUV-dominant market, a wide spectrum of appealing luxury sedans, sports cars and convertibles are offered by a broad range of luxury brands. All of these cars include premium styling, impressive horsepower, and advanced touchscreen infotainment systems.
The cheapest luxury cars come from the small car category, with many of these entry-level models, like the Mercedes-Benz CLA, utilizing front-wheel drive and including an impressive list of standard safety features. Most are powered by four-cylinder engines and offer limited passenger and cargo space, but they still include standard convenience features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, heated front seats, and connectivity to remote services, such as automatic 911 calling if the vehicle is involved in an accident.
These compact luxury cars also offer the best fuel economy ratings, without the added cost of a hybrid powertrain, and they can usually be upgraded to all-wheel drive (AWD) for buyers in cold-weather climates. Many of these small luxury cars have a starting price below $40,000 for base models, making them the ideal entry point for first-time luxury buyers.
Luxury buyers with more money to spend can step up to midsize and high-end models like the Lexus IS and Infiniti Q50, which boast more powerful base engines, rear-wheel drive, and improved performance specs. The larger engines in these models, often with supercharged or twin-turbo technology backed by performance automakers like AMG and Porsche, suffer in terms of mpg ratings, but provide thrilling driving dynamics. These models also include more advanced driver-assist tech like blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control, all of which increases their price but also, arguably, adds value.
The most advanced, and expensive, luxury cars feature either plug-in hybrid drivetrains or are fully electric. While plug-in hybrids offer a limited all-electric driving range before the engine comes on, electric vehicles can travel hundreds of miles between charges with zero emissions. But EVs also require careful trip planning and longer “fill up” times to ensure they don’t run out of charge at an inconvenient time or location.
You can see every category of luxury car, ranked by price, below.
How We Rank These Cars
The Most Affordable Car lists rank vehicles by their starting MSRP.
Starting MSRP is the lowest MSRP across all trims for a given new car model. In the event there is a tie, we use iSeeCars proprietary rating of the overall quality of the car (iSeeCars Score) to break the tie.
The overall iSeeCars Score is an analysis of three factors: reliability, resale value and safety. It is calculated based on the latest research and analysis by our data science team. The data analysis comes from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with NHTSA and IIHS Safety Ratings.
Vehicles are scored in three categories:
Reliability
The reliability score represents an analysis of iSeeCars' proprietary research on the longest-lasting vehicles.
Value Retention
The value retention score is based on our data science team's statistical analysis and prediction of 5-year depreciation from MSRP to determine which cars hold their value best, using US Bureau of Labor Statistics data to adjust for inflation.
Safety
The safety score is calculated based on the last five years of crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and incorporates the latest Top Safety Pick information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
