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The Best Luxury Cars for MPG, Price, and Reliability
Shopping for the best luxury cars usually involves a lot more than finding the vehicles with the most accessories and options or the large sedan with the most horsepower. These days, consumers want more car and performance for less money, and they also want a luxury car that won’t bankrupt them at the pump. Finding a luxury vehicle that meets all of these requirements can sometimes be difficult.
Lexus Leads the Way in Luxury Hybrid Cars
Lexis has been producing some of the most fuel efficient luxury cars for many years now. The Lexus hybrid GS450H is often considered to be the gold standard in luxury hybrid vehicles. The GS450H offers a combined average fuel economy of about 30 miles per gallon. The vehicle’s 3.5 liter V-6 engine is no slouch and provides up to 245 hp which enables it to accelerate much faster than other hybrids on the road.
If you don’t mind sacrificing a little power, the Lexis HS250 offers even better fuel economy, getting up to 35 miles per gallon. Although the 250H doesn’t come with quite as many accessories as the more expensive 350H model, the vehicle is attractively priced at only $34,000 while the more expensive 350H will cost you about $43,000. If you get lucky, you may even be able to find a certified used luxury car from Lexus that will save you even more.
Europe Is Closing the Gap
European manufacturers like Audi and BMW are also making great strides in the area of fuel efficient luxury vehicles. In fact, Audi now makes three of the most popular fuel efficient luxury vehicles on the road. The Audi A3, A4 and A5 series of luxury sedans all offer excellent fuel economy and get between 26 and 35 miles per gallon. An entry-level Audi A3 will set you back about $27,000 and a high end A5 model will cost you about $36,000.
The BMW 335d is one of the first luxury vehicles released in America that comes with a diesel engine. The vehicle produces up to 265 hp and 425 pound feet of torque with a V-6 engine, and gets up to 27 miles per gallon. However, priced at $44,000, the BMW 330d is a little more expensive than many other European cars in this class.
America Surprises Everyone with a True Luxury Hybrid
For many years, it has seemed that the American car manufacturers have lagged behind their European and Japanese counterparts when it comes to producing fuel efficient luxury vehicles. However, Ford is attempting to change that with the release of the Lincoln MKZ hybrid. In fact, when the hybrid MKZ is released, the vehicle will be the most fuel efficient luxury car sold in America.
Ford reports that the Lincoln MKZ will have an average fuel economy of just under 42 miles per gallon. Nothing in the fuel efficient luxury class even comes close to these figures. The vehicle is scheduled for release in 2011 and is estimated to cost around $40,000.
