10 Most Reliable Luxury Cars

2019 Lexus ES front three quarter ・ Photo by Lexus

Luxury cars are known for many things. Great looks. Exceptional performance. Tons of features. Cutting-edge technology. But while these things can make a fantastic automobile when everything is working perfectly, they can sometimes add up to a headache.

If having the most reliable luxury car is more important to you than getting the most advanced, sophisticated one, you’ll want to see our 10 most reliable luxury cars. These cars offer the high-end design and build quality you’ll expect from a premium vehicle, but with an above-average reputation for longevity. We’ve avoided just-introduced new models that may still be working out some kinks and that haven’t yet proven any reliability history, and we’ve skipped those that have struggled in independent reliability surveys. Our list does include a variety of sizes, prices, and styles of luxury car — from light, eager sports sedans to huge, cushy full-size sedans — and a variety of luxury brands.

1. 2020 Genesis G70

Genesis is one of the newest brands available in the U.S., but it has quickly established a reputation for reliability. It’s the premium division of Hyundai, which has spent the past two decades defending its quality with one of America’s longest warranties — 10 years or 100,000 miles for the engine and transmission, and five years or 60,000 miles for the rest of the vehicle. That warranty carries over to Genesis, including the 2020 Genesis G70 compact sports sedan.

The G70 uses a rear-wheel-drive platform (with all-wheel-drive optional) to achieve superior weight distribution, which helps its superb balance of a smooth ride with zesty handling. A choice of turbocharged engines is available: a 252-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder or a 365-hp 3.3-liter V6. The G70’s handsome styling and classy, user-friendly interior are further advantages, though a cramped rear seat will be a problem for some buyers. Prices start at $35,450.

Photo by Genesis

2. 2020 Lexus IS

Lexus is another premium division of a reliable mainstream carmaker — in this case, Toyota. The 2020 Lexus IS is a compact sports sedan with eager handling that belies the brand’s conservative image, along with a choice of three engines that range from a 2.0-liter turbocharged 241-hp four-cylinder up to a 3.5-liter 311-hp V6.

The IS has barely changed since the vehicle’s current generation appeared as a 2014 model. That means Lexus has had plenty of time to work out any bugs and prove the model’s long-term dependability. However, it also means the sedan’s infotainment system, interior decor, and fuel efficiency have fallen behind the newest luxury cars; the IS also doesn’t have a roomy rear seat. The exterior design, however, still looks sharp. The 2020 IS starts at $38,560 with standard rear-wheel-drive and optional all-wheel-drive.

Photo by Lexus

3. 2020 Audi A5

Several Audi models achieve the rare balancing act of a cutting-edge vibe yet high reliability. Of those, the 2020 Audi A5 is one of our favorites. It’s based on the better-known A4 compact sports sedan, but it offers a wider array of body styles — a sporty two-door coupe and convertible, and a stylish yet highly functional five-door Sportback.

The A4 and A5 offer sharp handling, beautifully finished interiors, and incredibly slick infotainment graphics, and their 248-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is agreeably punchy. Related models with strong six-cylinder power are called the S4 and S5. The A5 is priced from $42,900 with Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system included as standard equipment.

Photo by Audi

4. 2020 Acura TLX

The mid-size 2020 Acura TLX is bigger than the three compact sports sedans that precede it on this list. But with a base price of $33,000, it costs less than any of them. That’s a compelling luxury value for the money even before you consider its above-average reliability record.

Now, the TLX doesn’t give you award-winning driving dynamics from its front-wheel-drive-based platform (with optional AWD on some models) or its mere 206-horsepower base engine. And its interior design, already conservative when the TLX first debuted, hasn’t changed much since 2015. A redesigned TLX that promises edgier style and sportier performance is on the horizon, but this pleasant, spacious, affordable, and reliable model might be just what you’re looking for instead. Buyers can choose from the base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine or a 290-hp 3.5-liter V6.

Photo by Acura

5. 2020 Lexus ES

Another reliable luxury sedan that puts comfort, spaciousness, and value ahead of top performance is the mid-size 2020 Lexus ES. But since its latest redesign, as a 2019 model, the ES has also greatly improved its driving dynamics — past critics would be pleasantly surprised by the dialed-in steering and handling, along the acceleration from its standard 302-horsepower V6 engine.

Meanwhile, if you’re not looking for maximum performance, we recommend opting for the ES 300h hybrid over the ES 350 V6. It’s less powerful, but the ES 300h’s gas-electric powertrain trumps even economy cars for gas mileage, with EPA estimates of 43 mpg in the city and 44 mpg on the highway. Prices start at $39,900 for the ES 350 and $41,760 for the ES 300h. Note that unlike the previous models on our list of the 10 most reliable luxury cars, the Lexus ES comes only with front-wheel-drive and has no optional all-wheel-drive.

Photo by Lexus

6. 2020 Chrysler 300

Chrysler isn’t typically considered a luxury brand, but its powerful, comfortable, and distinctively styled 300 full-size sedan is a luxury car. And thanks to its straightforward engines, solid rear-wheel-drive platform (with optional all-wheel-drive), and its relative lack of changes since way back in 2011, it’s one of the most reliable luxury cars.

The 2020 Chrysler 300 is a mix of old-school American luxury and modern performance. Big-displacement engines — a standard 292-hp 3.6-liter V6 and an optional 363-hp 5.7-liter “Hemi” V8 — provide confident acceleration, and the seats are wide and cushy. At the same time, the 300 provides a modern infotainment system and surprisingly agile handling for such a big car, nothing like Detroit’s barges of yore. The interior appointments and mechanical polish aren’t all luxury-grade, but there’s still a lot to like — especially at a base price of just $29,590 or even at $33,115 for a model with expected luxury features. 

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

7. 2020 Lexus GS 350

The 2020 Lexus GS 350 marks the brand’s third appearance on our roundup of the 10 most reliable luxury cars. That’s not because every Lexus model has been trouble-free, but the brand has typically favored a more conservative approach to luxury — rather than occupying the technological forefront, where there’s a higher risk of glitches.

That’s not to say the GS 350 is boring. Rather, this is a delightful mid-size sports sedan. And its age (it was last fully redesigned in 2013) means that drivers can enjoy a mechanical purity that has slipped away from some new European high-tech cocoons. You get a smooth, quiet ride and creamy rich leather, but you also get alert steering and balanced handling from the GS’s rear-wheel-drive platform (with all-wheel-drive available as an option). The exterior and interior designs are clearly several years old, and competitors’ four-cylinder engines get better gas mileage than the GS 350’s 311-horsepower 3.5-liter V6, but this remains an appealing sedan. Act fast, though, since Lexus plans to discontinue the GS after the 2020 model year. Prices start at $51,065.

Photo by Lexus

8. 2020 Kia K900

First we got you to accept a Chrysler into our ranks of the 10 most reliable luxury cars. Now there’s a Kia? For many buyers, the Korean brand is the antithesis of both luxury and reliability. But the 2020 Kia K900 is every bit a luxury car, and a reliable one at that.

In South Korea, locally made vehicles capture a huge market share, so Korean carmakers offer models across the product spectrum — including high-end flagships like the K900, which starts at $59,900. This is a full-size rear-wheel-drive-based sedan with standard all-wheel-drive. It cruises with sedate composure, offers executive-style rear seat accouterments (power adjustability, heating and ventilation, and separate climate controls), and has a 365-hp turbocharged 3.3-liter V6. The warranty lasts 10 years or 100,000 miles for the engine and transmission, and five years or 60,000 miles on the rest. With such generous terms, you can bet that Kia made sure all those power-seat motors will work. And it’s no mere gamble; modern Kias typically score well in reliability surveys, too. Some drawbacks: The styling is somewhat anonymous, and the handling — despite getting much sharper in a 2019-model redesign — isn’t sporty.

Photo by Kia

9. 2020 Tesla Model S

Tesla has been getting lots of attention, and lighting up the sales charts, with the Model 3 compact sports sedan. It combines explosive power with long all-electric ranges at relatively attainable prices. But for maximum reliability, we’re going to focus on Tesla’s oldest current product, the larger and more expensive Model S.

The Model S has been on sale since 2013, which has given Tesla time to perfect its manufacturing. And electric cars have fewer moving parts to fail than cars with gasoline engines, and they require less maintenance. Plus, of course, you don’t use any gasoline. The Model S is a spacious and fun-to-drive five-door liftback, and its prices start at $79,990.

Photo by Tesla

10. 2020 Porsche Panamera

Porsche offers a variety of luxury cars — two-seat coupes and convertibles, plus family-friendly sedans and SUVs. All deliver sterling high-performance driving dynamics, and most also score surprisingly well for their reliability.

Our pick from the Porsche lineup is the Panamera sedan, which combines sports-car handling, flagship-level interior quality, and the everyday utility of a five-door liftback body style. The base model starts at $87,200 with a 330-horsepower 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine, but you can get up to 550 horsepower if that’s not already swift enough.

Photo by Porsche