Why Consumer Reports Recommends Skipping European Brands If You Want A Luxury Car

Consumer Reports (CR) says folks whitethorn beryllium amended disconnected avoiding European brands if they want a luxury car, since nan Euro names thin to person nan highest repair and attraction costs. But conscionable to debar immoderate confusion, CR does urge a number of European luxury cars connected its own, including choices from Audi, BMW, and Porsche. For instance, the 2025 BMW X5 is the No. 1 classed luxury midsize SUV successful nan country. And nan Audi Q7, which conscionable wants to beryllium liked, checked successful 3rd spot retired of nan 13 classed luxury three-row SUVs. Moreover, CR's apical 5 luxury brands wide were BMW, Lexus, Porsche, Audi, and Infiniti, successful that order.

Yet arsenic mentioned, there's nary getting astir those post-purchase costs. And Asian brands aren't ever better, which is why Steven Elek, who oversees car information analytics for Consumer Reports, offers this strategy: "If you are considering a luxury model, it whitethorn beryllium wise to acquisition 1 from a home marque that whitethorn person little attraction and repair costs. For example, complete 10 years, Mercedes-Benz models are much than double nan costs to support and repair arsenic those from Lincoln."

In a related factoid, not a azygous Mercedes-Benz conveyance is recommended astatine each by Consumer Reports. Yet Mercedes-Benz isn't astatine nan very bottommost of CR's database for attraction and repair expenses — that spot belongs to Land Rover, though it remains European much by contented than ownership.

Consumer Reports looked astatine some short-term costs (during nan first 5 years of ownership) and semipermanent costs (during years six done 10 of ownership), and classed brands by wide expenses. As a result, Land Rover — among nan car brands presently owned by India's Tata Motors — had nan highest 10-year costs of $17,450: $3,700 during nan first 5 years and $13,750 for nan adjacent 5 years. Porsche had higher costs astatine twelvemonth five, astatine $5,000, but saw owners salary retired an mean of $11,000 for years 6 done 10.

Mercedes-Benz past has nan third-highest mean costs, arsenic owners tin expect to beryllium connected nan hook for $3,500/$9,600 successful repair and attraction charges during these clip periods. Taken arsenic a whole, these kinds of results tin bespeak different important constituent for consumers: Your attraction and repair costs tin "skyrocket" erstwhile nan emblematic new-car warranty expires. Looking astatine Land Rover, for instance, expenses during nan 2nd 5 years were much than 3.7 times higher than during nan first.

It's besides worthy pointing retired that Porsche's precocious costs for repairs and attraction are matched pinch beautiful bully rankings elsewhere. Four of its vehicles are recommended by Consumer Reports — Macan, Cayenne, Taycan, and 718 Boxster — and that's 4 much than Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover combined. Additionally, Porsche was nan No. 3 rated luxury brand, No. 4 among each brands, and No. 4 successful wide customer satisfaction. For context, Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover were nan 23rd- and 30th-ranked brands overall.

Oddly enough, while Consumer Reports suggested Lincoln arsenic a lux replacement to nan Europeans, nan publication seems to person skipped correct complete different upscale home marque pinch moreover little expenses — Tesla. Yes, Tesla products person a distinctively Musk-y new-car smell, but their five-year attraction and repair costs were tallied astatine conscionable $730 by Consumer Reports, which indicated 10 years of expenses would travel retired to astir $5,050 (with $4,320 for years 6 done 10).

Lincoln was very adjacent behind, however, pinch owners averaging $850 successful attraction and repair costs during nan first 5 years of ownership and $4,350 for nan second, for a full outlay of $5,200. Plus, it was Buick that led nan measurement for luxury brands successful position of lowest expenses for years six done 10, astatine $4,300. The only marque pinch little costs for attraction and repair during nan 2nd five-year play was Toyota — astatine $4,200.

Of course, here's wherever things tin get tricky, because it turns retired that Consumer Reports doesn't really urge immoderate Lincolns for nan 2025 exemplary year. It does urge nan Buick Enclave — the first Buick pinch Super Cruise — arsenic good arsenic nan Envista and Envision. If those aren't lux enough, nan accepted luxury marque pinch nan adjacent lowest attraction and repair costs done 5 years is Cadillac ($1,175). However, expenses done nan 2nd 5 years ($4,895) and for nan full 10 years ($6,645) were lowest for Lexus among premium makes.