Best Used Luxury Cars Under $30k for 2025
The best used luxury cars under $30k based on a data-driven analysis of each vehicle's reliability, resale value and safety.
Many lists ranking used luxury cars under $30s may already exist, but those depend mostly on subjective editorial criteria. iSeeCars' Best Used Luxury Cars Under $30k are ranked using a data-driven and objective methodology. By applying data science to over 330 million vehicles, iSeeCars analyzes each car to understand its reliability and how long-lasting it is, its safety, and how well it holds its value over time. Each used luxury cars under $30 is compared to others within its own category, and the best one in a given category is the model with the best ratings across these three key areas, summarized by the iSeeCars Quality Score. Here are the top models in each used luxury cars under $30 category:
The best used luxury small and compact car under $30k is the 2018 Lexus IS 350 (9.1 quality rating), with the 2018 Lexus ES 350 being the best used luxury midsize car under $30k (8.7 quality rating). The 2018 Acura RLX ranks #1 for the best used luxury large cars under $30k (8.3 quality rating).
The best used luxury hybrid car under $30k is the 2018 Lexus ES 300h (8.7 quality rating) and the best used luxury plug-in hybrid car under $30k (PHEV) is the 2019 Volvo S60 (Plug-in Hybrid) (7.6 quality rating). Topping the list for the best used luxury electric cars under $30k is the 2023 Tesla Model 3 (8.3 quality rating), while the 2018 INFINITI Q60 ranks first for the best used luxury sports cars under $30k (7.0 quality rating).
The best used luxury convertible under $30k is the 2018 Audi A5 (convertible) (7.7 quality rating), with the 2018 BMW 3 Series (wagon) being the best used luxury wagon under $30k (8.5 quality rating).
How We Rank These Cars
iSeeCars Best Used Cars Under $30k Rankings are calculated based on the latest research by our data science team and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
We analyze data from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with the NHTSA's Safety Ratings to give you an unbiased guide to the best vehicles in each segment.
After being evaluated, vehicles with the highest average scores earn a spot in the iSeeCars Best Car Rankings. (No final score is given to vehicles missing a score in any of the categories, but scores for other categories are still shown.)
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).
