Yahoo Autos I'm New-Car Shopping and Overwhelmed by Choice! What Should I Buy?
Marshall is relocating from Virginia to Minneapolis and plans on downsizing his Volvo XC60 to a nice sedan or wagon. He likes luxury features and comfort but wants to stay away from German brands. With so many options on the market, he’s feeling overwhelmed. What car should he buy?
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Here is the scenario:
Hi there! I am looking for a new car and I’m a bit overwhelmed with the available options and could use some guidance on a best fit. I’m not new to the car buying process but this is the first time I plan to keep a car past the loan maturity date so reliability plays into my decision.
I’m moving to Minneapolis as a newly single guy. I’m downsizing from a Volvo XC60 and I’d love to get into a sedan or a wagon. I commute once or twice a week and am looking for a comfortable car for weekend trips exploring the Midwest.
AWD would be nice to have in the MN weather. I’m hesitant to dive into an electric car for reliability concerns but my commute is short and I can charge at work and home. I have a soft spot for Volvos and their clean lines. I’d like to stay away from the German brands.
Overall I’m looking for a Comfortable interior, clean lines, style that ages well, and is somewhat interesting. My budget is up to $50,000
Quick Facts:
Budget: Up to $50,000
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Daily Driver: Sort of
Wants: Comfort, all-wheel drive, good styling
Doesn’t want: Anything German
Expert 1: Tom McParland - Time to Change it Up
Marshall, you like your Volvos and it does seem like a modern Swedish sedan or wagon would check all your boxes. But if the answer was as simple as “get another Volvo” you wouldn’t have submitted your case.
Putting Volvo aside and filtering out the German brands doesn’t leave a lot of options, but there is one that probably isn’t on your radar: Genesis. Hyundai’s luxury arm is still a bit of a newcomer in the premium space, but the automaker has achieved a big leap forward in style with some of its more recent models. The current-generation G80 eschews the “generic luxury car” look of the older models for something new and fresh. I would even say it could pass for a much more expensive car. Here is a 2021 G80 that is practically new with less than 9,000 miles for about $44,000. It has an original retail price of $57,000. The combination of unique style, tons of features and a long warranty makes for a pretty excellent value.
