Sedans are the vehicle of choice for those looking for a combination of comfort and style. Over the years, some of the top luxury brands have made cars with serious staying power. While shopping luxury names can sometimes mean paying high price tags, if you look into the pre-owned market, you can find reasonable prices on some of the models that might have once been financially out of reach. If you’ve been on the lookout for used cars for sale and are specifically after a luxury sedan, there are a few solid choices that are only a few years old to check out.
When you buy a used vehicle three years old or less, you can typically find features nearly on par with the current model. If you don’t want to dip too far back in the vehicle’s history for fear of losing out on features like driver assist features and infotainment, three years is the sweet spot. Here are three used luxury sedans to consider if you want an attractive car for your life.
2020 BMW 5-Series
The BMW 5-Series has been part of the BMW family since 1972 and has always delivered a performance that impresses the spirited driver, paired with timeless style. For the 2020 model year, BMW focused on comfort, and its identity started to veer more towards a practical car than a sporty one, although as the Ultimate Driving Machine, it is still, without question, fun to drive. It was designed to be quiet, even featuring soft-close doors and a cabin that blocks out road and engine noises.
There are plenty of available luxury and convenience features. Some of these include massaging seats for those wanting to treat themselves to a little R&R on the road. That’s not even mentioning the available 20-way multi-contour seats. Being uncomfortable in those seats is nearly impossible.
The 2020 model gets in-dash navigation, too, so if your smartphone is out of juice or you’re low on data, you can still get where you’re going. Add to that the keyless passive entry, and the 2020 BMW 5-Series is a beautifully and smartly designed model that seems to streamline life’s little moments.
One of the most appealing features of the 5-Series might be the extensive menu of powertrains. The full lineup starts with the 530i featuring an I-4 under the hood that makes 248 horsepower. Stepping up to the 540i replaces the I-4 with an I-6 that makes 335 horsepower. The next step up is the M550i with its twin-turbocharged 4.4L V8 putting out an impressive 523 horsepower. At the top of the line is the famous BMW M5, which boosts that 4.4L V8 to over 600 horsepower. All of these models come with an eight-speed automatic transmission. There is also an I-4 plug-in hybrid option. Between these engines, drivers can prioritize fuel economy, breathtaking power, or a nice balance between the two.
2021 Lexus ES
The 2021 Lexus ES continues to bring the well-priced luxury that this subset of Toyota is known for. Its bold grille with striking angles, sleek body lines, and slanted headlamps make it a sight to behold.
On the inside, the luxury continues. You’ll find stunning materials and well-bolstered seats that should fight body fatigue on long drives. It’s also known for generous legroom in both rows, so feel free to load it up with adult passengers. They’ll be content. The Lexus ES also boasts a quiet cabin, great for some backseat naps or properly enjoying your music.
The ES also boasts a generous selection of powertrains. These include the 2.5L I-4 in the ES250 offering 203 horsepower, the 3.5L V6 in the ES350 boasting 302 horsepower, and a 2.5L I-4 hybrid in the ES300h with 215 horsepower. The ES250 also comes with standard all-wheel drive, giving you the traction you need on slippery roads.
Wi-Fi comes standard across all trims of the Lexus ES. Most drivers today are accustomed to being able to access Wi-Fi from their vehicle, which is one of the reasons why newer pre-owned vehicles can be appealing.
One fun feature of the ES worth mentioning is the available F Sport Black Line package. This offers a black exterior trim, a black lip spoiler, and a striking white interior. However, if more comfort and luxury are what you’re after, try to snag an ES with the Ultra Luxury package. This adds leather to the seats and steering wheel, a power rear sunshade, and a hands-free power trunk lid. Drivers who like to hit the road on the weekends for out-of-town destinations might want to find a model with the Navigation Package. This will get you in-dash navigation with voice recognition technology, so you don’t need to take your hands off the wheel to input a new location.
2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Finally, we land at possibly the ultimate luxury brand: Mercedes-Benz. The C-Class is a peppy car made for performance enthusiasts. It is even available as a coupe to give you a sense of its track-ready DNA. Today, however, we look at the sedan, the most practical of the body styles.
Mercedes delivers a generous suite of standard convenience features to the C-Class sedan. These include rain-sensing windshield wipers that automatically turn on when they sense precipitation and adjust in speed to meet the level of rainfall. It also gets heated power-adjustable side-view mirrors that can quickly melt ice away on frigid mornings and automatic LED headlights, perfect for cutting through thick fog.
The great perks continue in the cabin with power-adjustable front seats with memory. Don’t fret if a valet or family member adjusts your seat. It will go back to how you like it the next time you start the car. You also get keyless entry and keyless start, smartphone compatibility, and Bluetooth connectivity.
The standard engine, the turbocharged 2.0L I-4 with 255 horsepower in the C300, is energetic enough and paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive comes standard, but if you can find a C300 4Matic, that includes the brand’s all-wheel drive system, providing traction at all four wheels when you need it. This sedan is also praised for a generous amount of trunk space and is ready for weekend getaways. The Mercedes-AMG C63 overhauls the C-Class platform to provide the ultimate performance, including a twin-turbo 4.0L V8 producing 469 horsepower, or 503 horsepower in the C63 S.
Shop One of These Three Solid and Sophisticated Pre-owned Luxury Sedans
Buying luxury doesn’t have to mean paying luxury prices. Since the brands mentioned here are known for their high-quality vehicles, you can usually shop their pre-owned models with confidence, knowing they will perform as well as they did when they first came out. Because these models are all just a few years old, they offer many of the perks of the newer ones, so you won’t feel like you’re driving an “old” vehicle. However, you can also enjoy a serious price slash because the majority of the depreciation has already occurred. If you want a vehicle that spoils you but a real splurge isn’t in the budget, you can get everything you desire in the above three models.
