15 Cheapest 2021 Luxury Cars and SUVs

A luxury nameplate can be desirable, but also one that seems out of reach for most car buyers. But fear not, we have highlighted vehicles from all ranks of luxury automakers with prices rivaling other well-equipped mainstream sedans or compact SUVs. Among this list of vehicles, all models are under $38,000 include vehicles from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Infiniti, and other brands that carry a reputation for luxury.

Of course, this list doesn’t include any of the fully loaded trim levels—those don't qualify as “cheap.” But there are good deals, so if you want luxury for a reasonable price, this is the place to start. The list goes from most to least expensive, so if there isn’t anything in your price range initially, just be patient.

Thanks to its luxury counterparts seeing price increases for 2021, the 2021 Infiniti Q50 is now featured on this list. Although the Q50 doesn’t boast the sportiest attributes, it does come standard with a 300-horsepower twin-turbo V-6 engine and is offered with a 400-horsepower twin-turbo V-6. The Q50 provides a comfortable ride, but the interior of the sedan does lack a luxury feel. And it doesn’t help that the Q50’s dual-infotainment screen system is difficult to operate.

• Engines: 300-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6; 400-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6
• Cargo space: 13 cubic feet

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The Mercedes-Benz GLA-class is all-new for 2021 and this small crossover sees changes in all of the right places. A more comfortable ride, improved technology, and more crossover-like proportions boosts the GLA-class’s standing in this competitive segment. A turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four with 221 horsepower is the sole powertrain and all-wheel drive comes as an option. Although the new GLA250 feels quick, its zero to 60 mph time is over a half second slower than the 2020 model despite having more power.

• Engine: 221-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four
• Cargo space: 15 cubic feet

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The Corsair was all-new for 2020, receiving upgraded technology and a more refined interior that reflects the type of luxury Lincoln is aiming to achieve. And for 2021, the drivetrain options gain one more option: a plug-in hybrid which pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine to an electric motor. The nonhybrid powertrains remain the same: in its base trim level, the Lincoln offers a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and front-wheel drive. In order to get all-wheel drive, the more powerful turbo 2.3-liter engine, or any number of luxury features, the Corsair requires shelling out a fair bit more dough.

• Engines: 250-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four; 280-hp turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four; 2.5-liter inline-four with permanent-magnet electric motor
• Cargo space: 28 cubic feet

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The Genesis G70 is here to battle the BMW 3-series, and the new sedan's performance and cheap base price make it a deadly enemy. The Genesis comes standard in rear-wheel drive with an eight-speed automatic transmission and is offered with a six-speed manual. All-wheel drive is also offered, but only with the automatic. It' 10-year 100,000-mile powertrain warranty sweetens the deal. Worried about reliability? Check out our 40,000-mile longterm test.

• Engines: 252-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four; 365-hp twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V-6
• Cargo space: 11 cubic feet

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It isn't quite the least expensive BMW you can buy—two other vehicles with the blue-and-white roundel also reside on this list—but the 2-series coupe definitely is one of the most entertaining to drive. The base 230i model's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is eager and willing, and the rear-wheel-drive chassis makes for balanced and sprightly handling. It's even available with a six-speed manual transmission as a no-cost option.

• Engines: 248-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four; 335-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six
• Cargo space: 10–14 cubic feet

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Cadillac's newest entry-level model, the XT4 crossover, is a far cry from the first entry-level Caddy, the sad-sack, Chevy Cavalier–based Cimarron from the 1980s. The XT4 ticks all the major boxes for a small SUV with premium intentions, and its mechanical package is par for the class. There is a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four powering the front wheels; all-wheel drive is optional. The base XT4's low price is enticing, but the truth is that it's not so well equipped and getting nicer luxury features requires spending about $40,000.

• Engine: 237-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four
• Cargo space: 23 cubic feet

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The BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe is now part of this list thanks to a new front-wheel drive powertrain which comes standard on the sedan. This new option cuts the price of the 2-Series Gran Coupe by $2000; nonetheless, both the front and all-wheel drive configurations come with the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 228 horsepower. Despite sharing a name with the 2-series coupe and convertible, this four-door sedan shares a platform with Mini, a fact which often defines its driving character.

• Engine: 228-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four
• Cargo space: 15 cubic feet

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The BMW faithful cried foul when the second-generation X1 arrived for 2016. To them, it was bad enough that the X1 was an SUV, but the crossover's transversely mounted engine and standard front-wheel drive marked an even greater offense. Skip past that noise, though. The X1 is a practical and enjoyable small crossover, with lots of space inside and energetic driving dynamics. We named it as the Best Subcompact Luxury Crossover in our 2018 10Best Trucks and SUVs awards, and the attractive base price is just the cherry on top of an already appealing package.

• Engine: 228-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four
• Cargo space: 27 cubic feet

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Audi’s Q3 enters the 2021 model year with one big change, at least when it comes to this list: it shaved $600 off the starting price. This change comes thanks to a new base engine, a turbo 2.0-liter inline-four with 184 horsepower. The Q3 is now also only offered with two trim levels, Premium and Premium Plus; the old 228-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder is offered on both trims under the “45” moniker. The Q3 also adds more optional tech to make it an even more compelling buy, including a new 12.3-inch instrument cluster screen and a 10.1-inch infotainment screen.

• Engines: 184-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four; 228-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four
• Cargo space: 24 cubic feet

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Volvo's smallest SUV has a cute and distinctive personality all its own, with chunky styling and a variety of interesting color and trim choices. Recently, Volvo added a value-oriented T4 trim to the Volvo XC40 lineup, bringing the base price below $35,000. It comes with a less powerful, 187-hp version of the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that powers the costlier T5 model, and it is only offered with front-wheel drive. If you're willing to spend a little more, the T4 can be had in the better-equipped R-Design and Inscription trims instead of the base Momentum spec.

• Engines: 187-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four; 248-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four
• Cargo space: 21 cubic feet

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The A-class is the smallest Mercedes-Benz you can buy. It also is the cheapest, starting at only $34,700. Unlike Benz's first experiment with a low-cost sedan for the U.S., the CLA-class, the A-class truly feels like a Mercedes, only smaller. Whereas the original CLA-class suffered from mediocre interior materials and at-times unrefined driving qualities, the A-class features premium materials inside and sports a slick new infotainment system.

• Engine: 188-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four
• Cargo space: 9 cubic feet

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Now in its second year, the 2021 Cadillac CT4 is the entry-level Caddy and one of two sedans from the luxury automaker. The CT4 has sharp exterior styling and a finely tuned chassis that answers the needs of any enthusiast, particularly when equipped with the optional turbocharged 2.7-liter inline four with 307 horsepower. The CT4’s refinement doesn’t extend to the interior, where the quality of materials is outmatched by many of its competitors.

• Engines: 237-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four; 307-hp turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four
• Cargo space: 11 cubic feet

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Hey, we said luxury badges, not luxury vehicles! The smaller of Mercedes-Benz's two cargo vans available stateside, the Metris, wears the three-pointed star just as proudly as any other Benz. It might not look so stylish rolling around with its standard steel wheels and unrelentingly boxy body, but it surely is the most practical vehicle on this list. The base Metris is a work-oriented cargo van with rear-wheel drive and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. A passenger version is offered, too, but it starts above $38,000.

• Engine: 208-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four
• Cargo space: 38 (passenger) 183–199 (cargo) cubic feet

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The positioning of the new Lexus UX might be confusing, considering that Toyota's luxury brand already sells the slightly larger NX that competes in the same market segment (subcompact luxury crossovers). But this new model strikes us as a replacement for the old CT200h hybrid hatchback, something affordable for Lexus dealerships to dangle in front of new and entry-level customers. The cheaper UX200 comes standard with front-wheel drive and a four-cylinder engine with 169 horsepower, while the slightly more expensive UX250h hybrid's gas-electric powertrain packs 181 horsepower and all-wheel drive.

• Engines: 169-hp 2.0-liter inline-four; 143-horsepower 2.0-liter inline-four, AC electric motor, 181 combined horsepower
• Cargo space: 22 cubic feet

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Acura's smallest offering, the ILX, rolls over for 2021 mostly unchanged. Its price is now just above $27,000, which still places it at the top of this list as the least expensive luxury-branded vehicle on sale in the U.S. by our measure. The styling update it received in 2019 still gives it a snappy, fresh look next to its luxury competitors, but its infotainment is getting outdated. And although its performance is lackluster, the price makes it a compelling sedan.

• Engines: 201-hp 2.4-liter inline-four
• Cargo space: 12 cubic feet

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