If you’re buying a luxury car there’s an expectation that you’re getting a premium experience in terms of design, materials, driving performance and features. You’re paying more, to get the best of everything. That ought to extend to reliability, but expectation and reality aren’t always the same thing. So we set out to create a list of the most reliable luxury cars, using robust reliability data and rankings reported by several independent sources.
Yes, you will find the expected models that wear a stylized “L” logo on their grilles listed below. But you’ll also discover some unexpected gems that could disprove commonly held beliefs. Read on to learn more about the best luxury cars for dependability—each one has been recommended by at least two of our six data sources as a reliable luxury car. They’re listed below in alphabetical order.
Reliable luxury cars
- Audi A6
- BMW 2 Series
- BMW 3 Series
- BMW 4 Series
- BMW i4
- Lexus ES
- Lexus IS
- Lexus LS
- Porsche 718
- Porsche 911
Audi A6
The fifth-generation Audi A6 midsize sedan has been on sale since the 2019 model year and although Audi has updated the car over the years it remains fundamentally the same. And when you’ve built thousands of examples of the same product over the years, you work the bugs out. Based on the available research, that appears to be true of the Audi A6.
This sleek sedan showcases traditional Audi design cues and its high-quality interior is a major selling point in a sector where it competes with the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. It’s also available with some high-performance powertrains, including the sport-tuned S6 model, and the seriously fast RS 6 Avant performance wagon.
New Audi A6 models come with a four-year/50,000-mile warranty and complimentary 24-hour roadside assistance for the first four years. Choose a certified pre-owned (CPO) A6, and the car comes with a one-year/20,000-mile warranty. Let’s hope the sixth-generation A6, which is due in late 2025 for the 2026 model year, proves just as dependable.
BMW 2 Series
Fittingly, there are two kinds of BMW 2 Series. Built on a rear-wheel-drive platform, the 2 Series Coupe is the racy one. For added practicality, you want the 2 Series Gran Coupe, which isn’t a coupe at all but is actually a four-door sedan based on a front-wheel-drive platform. Confused? So are we, but here we are.
The first-generation 2 Series ran from 2014 to 2021, available in coupe and convertible body styles, while the second-generation model introduced in 2022 is coupe-only. The 2 Series Gran Coupe debuted for the 2020 model year and is redesigned for 2025. Whichever version you choose, the 2 Series is a reliable small luxury car. In addition, it delivers the sporty driving experience you expect from a BMW.
BMW’s new car warranty provides four years and 50,000 miles of protection, plus unlimited roadside assistance for four years. The automaker also supplies complimentary scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles. Get a CPO model, and BMW provides a one-year, unlimited mileage warranty. If the original warranty is in effect when you buy, the CPO warranty starts at the end of it. Plus, BMW extends the roadside assistance coverage for three years.
BMW 3 Series
If you need more room than a 2 Series Gran Coupe supplies, consider the legendary BMW 3 Series sports sedan. The current 3 Series is nearing the end of its lifespan, having last seen a redesign for the 2019 model year. Nevertheless, it includes the latest BMW infotainment system and driver assistance safety features, and it remains just as much fun to drive as its reputation suggests. Plus, BMW has built hundreds of thousands of the 2019-2025 models, so it’s no wonder it has a reputation for reliability.
We like the 330i for its rousing acceleration, good fuel economy, and accessible price. But when outright performance is high on your list, nothing but the M-tuned M340i or high-performance M3 will do. In our opinion, you can’t go wrong with any of them.
New BMW 3 Series models are covered by the same protection plans outlined above for the 2 Series. Likewise, a CPO used 3 Series enjoys identical warranty and ownership perks. If a reliable luxury car is what you seek, the 3 Series is more than worthy of consideration.
BMW 4 Series
Since the BMW 4 Series is essentially a 3 Series with a sleeker body, it makes sense that it also appears on our list of most reliable luxury cars. For context, BMW introduced the 4 Series in 2014 as the replacement for the 3 Series coupe and convertible models, although it remained essentially a spin-off from the 3 Series model line. In 2015 it added the 4 Series Gran Coupe, a four-door version of the two-door coupe with a "fastback"-style hatchback tailgate.
BMW redesigned the 4 Series for the 2021 model year, giving it a look and feel that’s more distinct from the 3 Series than the first one. At that time, it introduced the oversized grille that has become a love-it-or-hate-it design element, but that hasn’t hurt sales. In 2024, the 4 Series was the third-best-selling BMW in America after the X5 and X3.
The 4 Series comes in coupe, convertible, and Gran Coupe body styles. As is true with the 3 Series, any 4 Series wearing an xDrive emblem has all-wheel drive (AWD). BMW 4 Series warranty coverage is the same as the company offers for the 2 Series and 3 Series.
BMW i4
The BMW i4 is an electric version of the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. The automaker introduced it for the 2022 model year and gave the i4 a light refresh for the 2025 model year. The i4 is available in eDrive40 (rear-wheel drive), xDrive40 (AWD), and sport-tuned M50 (AWD) variants. According to BMW, the i4 earns the highest reliability rating from Consumer Reports of any electric vehicle.
It’s a feat of BMW engineering to transform the 4 Series platform into an electric car offering up to 318 miles of driving range. Packaging the i4’s sizable battery and powerful electric motors into an architecture designed for internal combustion engines, while not significantly impeding interior space, is remarkable.
What you will notice is the instantaneous acceleration when you push down on the go pedal. The single-motor eDrive40 scoots to 60 mph in a claimed 5.5 seconds, while the more powerful dual-motor M50 reaches that speed in 3.7 seconds. Warranty coverage matches the BMW models above, plus an eight-year/100,000-mile plan for the battery pack.
Lexus ES
You knew this was coming: a Lexus. Of all car brands, Toyota’s luxury off-shoot Lexus is the one most synonymous with reliability, topping countless surveys over the years. Based on our research, five of our six sources listed the Lexus ES as a reliable choice, more than any other vehicle. J.D. Power was the only source that didn’t list the ES, and it named Lexus as the most dependable brand overall in its most recent Vehicle Dependability Study for the third year in a row.
Lexus recently announced details of an all-new ES for the 2026 model year, and it will be hoping to build on the success of the current model, which was introduced for the 2019 model year. Dramatically styled, the current ES comes in three model series: ES 250, ES 300h, and ES 350. The ES 250 has an unremarkable four-cylinder engine, the ES 300h is a hybrid that provides up to 44 mpg in combined driving, and the ES 350 features a powerful V6 engine. Only the ES 250 is available with AWD.
Lexus provides ES buyers with a four-year/50,000-mile standard warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty. The hybrid battery components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. Choose a certified pre-owned model, and Lexus extends the warranty for two years and unlimited mileage after the original one expires.
Lexus IS
The Lexus IS is a compact sports sedan that emphasizes style and performance. The current model arrived in 2021, although it’s actually a heavily updated version of the car that was introduced for the 2013 model year. Today, the IS is available in IS 300, IS 350, and IS 500 specifications. The IS 300 has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine powering the rear wheels, and if you upgrade to the IS 300 with AWD, it uses a 3.5-liter V6 engine instead. The IS 350 has a more powerful V6, while the IS 500 features a mean-sounding 5.0-liter V8, capable of 472 horsepower.
As a small luxury sedan, the IS is a snug fit. But, despite its age, it looks, feels, and drives like a thoroughly modern automobile. The tech is rapidly aging, though, and the IS doesn’t provide some of the features you’ll find in the competition. With that said, one thing you can count on is that a Lexus IS will last for a long time. To underscore that, the IS boasts the same warranty coverage as the ES above.
Lexus LS
While the Lexus NX and Lexus RX SUV models are generally renowned for their durability, it’s the brand’s flagship sedan, the LS, that takes a slot here. It has proven itself to be a dependable choice for 35 years, although the latest LS packs in a lot more advanced technology than the groundbreaking 1990 original.
Last redesigned for 2018, the current-generation LS is a relative rarity on the road. If you prefer driving something different from what everyone else has, this Lexus is a good choice. It is available as the LS 500, equipped with a twin-turbocharged V6 engine, or as the LS 500h, equipped with a V6-based hybrid powertrain. All-wheel drive is an option for the LS 500 and is standard on the LS 500h.
Luxury vehicles like the LS often feature high-end technology, and that’s the case with the LS 500h. It has Lexus Teammate, a hands-free driving assistance system that you won’t find on any other Lexus models. Warranty coverage for the LS is identical to the ES, including the LS 500h model’s hybrid battery components.
Porsche 718
The Porsche name means different things to different people, and nowadays it’s as much a luxury brand as a sports car brand. Reliability might not be high on the list of reasons to buy one, but these meticulously engineered German vehicles perform well in that regard, giving you one more good reason to get one.
The 718 is Porsche’s most affordable sports car. Available as the 718 Boxster convertible or 718 Cayman coupe, it features a mid-engine layout and promises a thrilling driving experience in addition to its expected durability. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower powers the rear wheels, but you can upgrade to more powerful engines, including a 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine with nearly 400 ponies. People who prefer to row their own gears will delight in the six-speed manual transmission that’s standard in most versions of the Porsche 718.
Regarding the warranty, Porsche offers four years or 50,000 miles of coverage on new models, and extends that by two years for unlimited mileage on certified pre-owned vehicles.
Porsche 911
While luxury SUVs such as the Porsche Cayenne and Porsche Macan are big sellers, the iconic Porsche 911 continues to do great business for the brand. It’s known for more than just voluptuous bodywork, astounding acceleration, and thrilling handling, too – these sports cars are reliable.
If you’ve got a minimum of $130,000 to spend, you can get a base 911 Carrera Coupe. The lineup also includes a 911 Carrera Cabriolet model, and the trim levels within the Carrera lineup are T, S, and GTS. Versions of the car equipped with a removable center roof panel are called the 911 Targa, which is available only in the GTS specification.
Though all current Porsche 911 models are turbocharged, the 911 Turbo and Turbo S Coupe and Cabriolet signal a higher level of performance. At the top of the lineup, the 911 GT3 delivers the most speed and sharpest handling, and the GT3 RS supercar is essentially a street-legal racing car. Of course, the base price of any 911 is merely a jumping-off point. From there, you have countless available options, and you can customize a 911 to the point that it might be the only one like it in the world. Warranty coverage is reasonable and matches the 718 listed above.
