The thing with entry-level luxury cars is the constant conflict between the head and the heart. For the money you shell out on an entry-level luxury model, you can get a lot more cars from the non-premium brands; the Volkswagen Arteon being the prime example. But, the heart would want a car with a Mercedes, or Audi, or a BMW badge on the hood that gives you a sense of pride as well. Now, the best offerings from all luxury brands go well into six-digit figures, but you can also get cars that won’t prompt you to sell your organs. So, here’s a list of the 10 best entry-level luxury cars that you can buy in 2022.

Cadillac CT4 - $33,695

Now, Cadillac isn’t the first choice for most folks, but it can be a good starting point into the luxury marques. The styling isn’t in-your-face and looks more sedate and mature. It sits at the bottom of Cadillac’s food chain, but comes with a decent spec list. An eight-inch touchscreen system, dual-zone climate control, etc. are some of the things you can expect here. A 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-pot engine is the default choice, but it makes decent power – 237 horses and 258 pound-feet of torque. You can opt for the 2.7-liter engine if you want some extra oomph. Unlike the Mercedes and Audi entry-level cars, the CT4 comes with a rear-wheel-drive layout as standard and AWD as optional. All-in-all, a safe choice that will tick most of the boxes you can realistically expect at this price point. The 2022 Cadillac CT4 starts at $33,695.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class - $33,950

If you want to become the owner of a car with a tri-star badge, the A-Class is your best bet. As we’ve stated in the past, it isn’t extraordinarily plush, but it isn’t your average run-of-the-mill car either. The car comes with everything Mercedes is known for; a luxurious cabin, German marque aesthetics, and a solid engine. It doesn’t have the biggest footprint, but the cabin is fairly spacious. This comes at the cost of the cargo space, but the 40/20/40 split seat makes up for it to some extent. It also comes with things like a seven-inch touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an eight-speaker sound system, and so on. Powered by a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the A-Class makes 188 ponies and 221 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox powers the front wheels here. The 2022 Mercedes-Benz A-Class can be yours for $33,950.

Audi A3 - $34,800

Not the most practical car, but one with a luxury badge. What tilts things in the A3’s favor is that the Audi introduced the third-gen for the 2022 model year, and it’s an upgrade in pretty much every sense. And, all this without compromising or watering down on the driving dynamics that the Audi A3 is known for. It is fairly well-specced, offering stuff like a 10.1-inch touchscreen system, a tri-zone automatic climate control, etc. It is offered with a 2.0-liter, four-pot turbo engine that churns out 201 horses and 221 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and a front-wheel-drive system. You can also opt for the Quattro all-wheel-drive system if your budget can be stretched. $34,800 is the amount you’ll have to pay to own an Audi A3.

Volvo XC40 - $35,100

In an era of crossovers and SUVs, the Volvo XC40 finds itself lost in the crowd. The signature Scandinavian looks are evident on the compact SUV and they are generally liked by all. Despite the small footprint, the Volvo XC40 is surprisingly spacious on the inside. Volvo is known primarily for its safety features, but it is pretty strong on the tech specs, too. The luxurious vibe inside the cabin is visible and it is fairly loaded in terms of features. It comes with a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder mill that churns out 187 horses and 221 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic gearbox routes power to the front wheels. An all-wheel-drive system is available, too. The 2022 Volvo XC40 starts at $35,100.

BMW X1 - $35,400

The demand for SUVs is far more than the demand for sedans these days, and that works in the X1’s favor. Not cramped, not too big, and not too pricey, the BMW X1 could be the perfect way to enter the luxury segment. The 2023 BMW X1 is expected to arrive by the end of 2022 and it will come with a lot of upgrades in every aspect. Expect a complete redesign inside out, and even under the hood. It will feature a new four-pot engine that makes 241 horses and comes with an all-wheel-drive system as standard. It will also be larger in terms of dimensions, thus offering more space on the inside. But, if you can’t wait till early 2023 when the deliveries are expected to begin, you’ll have to go for the 2022 model, which is also a good deal. Here it comes with a 228-horsepower four-cylinder engine, a premium cabin but with evident cost cutting, and quite a good-looking exterior. The 2022 BMW X1 will set you back by $35,400 for the FWD model and $2,000 more for the AWD model.

Kia Stinger - $36,590

Surprised to see a Kia? Well, yes, we’ve listed a mass market brand in this list and only because it is that good. Kia doesn’t hold the same brand value as the other brands on this list, but this is everything luxury without the badge. The Kia Stinger looks stunning and offers the same luxury and premium feel as the BMW 4 Series GC and the Audi A5 Sportback, but with a better bang for your buck. The latest model even features newer material inside the cabin, an optional 10.3-inch touchscreen system, sunroof, ambient lighting, etc. It is powered by a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine as standard that makes 300 horses (upgraded from a 255-horsepower four-pot mill for the 2022 model), and that’s more than some other entry-level luxury cars on this list. We’d recommend you stretch your budget and get yourself the optional 3.3-liter, twin-turbo V-6 that makes a whopping 368 ponies. If we had to sum it up, the Kia Stinger nearly matches the Audi A4 and the BMW 3 Series in most aspects – with a little compromise on the finesse and the panache – but at a much lower cost. The 2022 Kia Stinger starts at $36,590.

Acura TLX - $38,900

Acura cars have an inimitable charm like no other. They aren’t loud, but they aren’t understated either. The sharp cuts and creases all around give the cars a very nice, chiseled look, and the TLX is no exception. Now, the TLX isn’t exactly the entry-level Acura that you can get, but with the Integra being a reskinned Civic and the ILX getting shelved this year, the TLX is the cheapest Acura you can buy. The TLX is still one of the most analog cars that you can buy new today, and I mean that in a good way. Analog gauges, rotary knob drive selector, etc. are nice-to-have touches. The rear isn’t the most spacious either, especially when it comes to the legroom. However, what it loses here, it gains in the driving department. The driving characteristics of the Acura TLX are second-to-none. It is offered with a 2.0-liter, turbo four-cylinder that makes 272 ponies and is a hoot to drive. But, things get even better when you have the 355-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6 under the hood of the Type S model. The 2022 Acura TLX starts at $38,900.

Lexus IS - $40,200

For what’s supposed a sports compact sedan, the IS fails quite badly. I mean, it’s not agonizingly slow, but it doesn’t live up to its name really. However, it has everything else going for it. The Lexus is a revered badge and the IS, like every other model from the brand, comes with bold styling on the outside and plush vibes on the inside. The IS lineup, right from the base model, comes with a rich interior with specs like dual-zone climate control, power sunroof, power seats, etc. as standard. The front seats are amazing, but the rear isn’t so enjoyable because of the dearth of space. On paper, even the least powerful IS seems to have enough grunt – 241 horses from a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine. The handling, however, isn’t as engaging as its competitors. For the 2022 model, Lexus added the IS500 F Sport Performance model that comes with a V-8 power plant under the hood. That’s the most potent one and the obvious choice. However, it will cost you big bucks and won’t exactly be the entry-level model that this list is all about. The 2022 Lexus IS range starts at $40,200.

Genesis GV70 - $41,500

Genesis is the youngest luxury marque out there, which means its prestige value is still not up there with the other brands it goes up against. But, the company has climbed up the ranks in the luxury segment quite quickly. The automaker, under Hyundai’s guidance, is taking smart steps, and one of those smart steps was the introduction of the G70 sedan-based GV70 SUV. It looks smart, is loaded with creature comforts, and can be had with either a four-pot or a V-6 engine. The 2.5-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder mill makes 300 horses and 311 pound-feet of torque, whereas the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 puts out 375 horses and 391 pound-feet of torque. The only thing that might turn you off is the not-so-spacious rear row, which is good for two adults and a kid at best. The 2022 Genesis GV70 starts at $41,500.

Infiniti Q60 - $41,750

Infiniti is perhaps the least desirable brand on this list, but for the sake of diversity, we’ve added it. The model we’ve picked is the Q60, the two-door coupe that sits above the Q50 technically, but is cheaper than the latter at the time of penning this. The Q60 is arguably one of the best-looking models here, and also one that offers the most bang for the buck, especially in the base trim. It comes with a 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V-6 in all three trims, but makes 300 horses in the base trim and 400 horses in the top-spec Red Sport 400. Power is routed to the rear wheels via a seven-speed automatic as standard, whereas AWD is optional. While the cabin is plush, it already looks dated and will only get worse with time. But, the standard and optional feature list is rich. It comes with a dual-screen setup that sounds great, but isn’t the best in the business. So, if we speak strictly from an entry-level luxury car point-of-view, the Q60 deserves a spot on this list, despite its cons. The 2022 Infiniti Q60 starts at $41,750.

FAQ

Q: What Are Luxury Cars?

Luxury cars are those which offer more comfort, are better equipped, and have superior craftsmanship, compared to normal vehicles.

Q: Is Acura A Luxury Brand?

Yes. Acura is a luxury brand from Honda.

Q: Is Genesis A Luxury Brand?

Yes. It’s the luxury brand from Hyundai. Genesis became a brand in 2015. Before that, the name Genesis was used for a sports car and a luxury saloon from Hyundai’s lineup.

Q: Are German Cars Luxury Cars?

Not all of them. Brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi are luxury, while other brands like Volkswagen and Opel are more common and mass-produced.

Q: Why Do People Buy Luxury Cars?

It's because they offer superior comfort, better materials, and features not found in more common vehicles.

Q: What Are The Best Luxury Cars?

The best luxury cars would be the ones that are the most comfortable, use materials of the finest quality, have the most features, and are exclusive. Brands like Maybach, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Aston Martin are some of the brands that best combine all these aspects.

Q: Are Luxury Cars More Reliable?

It depends. Luxury cars are built with a lot more attention to detail, and often much better materials. On the other hand, they have a lot more tech, which could potentially fail over time.

Q: Which Luxury Cars Depreciate The Fastest?

Almost all luxury cars depreciate fast, often because of the enormous sticker price, because of the “brand tax”. A factor that rapidly diminishes, as soon as a new model comes out.