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Best used luxury cars for £25,000
Luxury cars are all about sumptuous interiors, cosseting rides and sublime refinement. Here are our top 10 used luxury cars you can buy for £25k
George Hill
Updated: 24 August 2026
Driving is inherently stressful, so why drive a car that adds to the hardship? If you agree, then the luxury car class is for you. They're built to do the opposite: to relax you with their plush, spacious interiors and comfy rides.
Of course, the trouble with most of them is that they cost an awful lot of money, particularly when new. The used market is a different story, because there a plenty of bargains out there. You can buy some our top picks for the price of a new family SUV.
Here we put together a list of the best luxury saloons for less than £25,000. Click on the links below the reviews and you can even put one of these cars on your driveway in less time than you think.
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Used BMW 5 Series Saloon 2017-2023
Strengths
- Delightful to drive
- Smooth ride even on rough roads
- Spacious, well-designed interior that uses quality materials
Weaknesses
- Higher maintenance costs than some of its rivals
- Rear leg room can be slightly cramped for taller passengers
- Slight question mark over reliability
You’d be hard-pressed to find a car at any price with as broad a range of talents as the BMW 5 Series. It comes with a range of punchy yet efficient engines, neat styling and a wonderful ride and handling balance. It's very refined, too.
The petrol-engined versions of the car are proving to be much more reliable than the diesel-engined ones, according to our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, and that's just one of the reasons why our recommended version is the 530e plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Plug it in regularly and it has the potential for great economy.
Add to that a luscious and spacious interior, excellent ergonomics and a class-leading iDrive infotainment system, and it’s no wonder we rate the 5 Series above all others as a used luxury buy. Used prices are very competitive, too, starting from the £12,000 mark for a car with around 70,000 miles on the clock.
"The king of luxury and so good to drive. We made it our overall Used Car of the Year a few years ago and every time I try one I still marvel at its amazing value." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor
We found 2021 BMW 530e M Sport, 59,206 miles, £20,949
Read our full used BMW 5 Series review
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Used Mercedes E-Class 2016-2024
Strengths
- Elegant and classy interior design
- Smooth ride even on rough roads
- Wide range of efficient engine options
Weaknesses
- Higher servicing costs compared with some of its rivals
- Limited rear-seat space for three passengers
The Mercedes E-Class is available with a great range of engines, comes very well-equipped and is a quiet and smooth cruiser.
Its interior is stunning to look at, too, with an impressive infotainment system. There's more than enough room for its pampered passengers to stretch out in the back, which makes it a great car for carrying passengers.
Overall, the E-Class is a classy and comfortable package that just happens to be really good value used. Some high-mileage cars can be found for just £7000, but we'd recommend looking at a lower mileage example, which start from around £12,000. If you can stretch to £16,000, you can pick up the 300e PHEV version, which offers the potential for really good economy if you plug the car in regularly.
"Often a bit overlooked, the E-Class, unless you're a mini-cab driver, but it's a marvellous car and I'm especially fond of the estate version, which does all the saloon does but with a huge luggage area aft. Great for the dog." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor
We found 2022 Mercedes E200h MHEV AMG Line, 57,800 miles, £19,990
Read our full used Mercedes E-Class review
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Used Audi A8 2017-2026
Strengths
- Super-smooth ride quality over rougher road surfaces
- Beautiful interior with high-quality materials
- Impressive space with plenty of rear leg room
Weaknesses
- Fuel economy of the diesel-engined cars slightly behind rivals
- The Mercedes S-Class has a more interesting interior
- Higher running costs than some of its rivals
Audi is responsible for some of the most comfortable and refined saloons ever made, with the Audi A8 being a prime example.
It's a popular chauffeur car for good reason, because it's massively spacious, luxurious and stuffed full of cutting-edge tech. Its ride is extremely comfortable, too, and its interior quality is nearly unmatched here. Of course, to enhance its chauffeur qualities, there are long-wheelbase models as well.
For our £25,000 budget, you can pick up a very respectable example, meaning the A8 truly represents exceptional value for money. Our favourite engine is the smooth, punchy 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, which suits the A8 really rather nicely.
"Not the youngest car here but one of the most refined, and one of the largest. It'd make a great used car for someone with a grown-up family after a bit of luxury." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer
We found 2019 Audi A8 3.0 TDI V6 50 S line, 52,307 miles, £23,449
Read our full used Audi A8 review
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Used Mercedes S-Class 2014-2020
Strengths
- Exceptional comfort on long journeys
- Advanced technology and features throughout
- Impressive performance from all engine options
Weaknesses
- Diesel isn't as efficient as some rivals
- Expensive to maintain with high servicing costs
- Depreciation may limit resale value
Another, even more popular chauffeur car is the Mercedes S-Class.
Sure, our budget gets you an older car, but the S-Class remains an outstanding bargain – in many of the same ways as the rival Audi A8. The S-Class has long been a flagship for Mercedes and it's famous for getting certain new pieces of tech before any other car on the market. As such, they're often kitted out and a bit ahead of their time, you could argue.
The S-Class is wonderfully comfortable and quiet to travel in, and the ride is great. Nothing else here will impress the neighbours quite as much – and they don't have to know prices start from £10,000. However, that will be for an early car with around 100,000 miles on the clock. For a newer example with more reasonable mileage, look to spend upwards of £15,000.
"Once upon a time the last word in luxury. The S-Class is still a terrific conveyance, and if you don't mind piloting a large car it's a wonderful place in which to spend time." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer
We found 2018 Mercedes 2.9 S350Ld AMG Line, 62,983 miles, £23,490
Read our full used Mercedes S-Class review
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Used Jaguar XF Saloon 2015-2024
Strengths
- Well equipped in all trim levels
- Smooth ride quality, even on rough roads
- Excellent handling for a large car
Weaknesses
- High servicing costs compared with its rivals
- Subpar reliability with electrical issues
- So-so build quality
Thanks to its precise steering and agile handling, few mainstream luxury saloons are as entertaining as the Jaguar XF. Mind you, it's still comfortable over long distances, with a well judged ride quality.
One or two of its rivals here are quieter, admittedly, and have classier interiors, but we reckon the XF still strikes a superb balance between ride and handling. It’s well equipped, too, and very stylish.
Reliability is proving to be better than you'd expect, according to the most recent What Car? Reliability Survey. As a bonus, the XF is one of the most affordable cars on this list, with prices starting from £7000 for an early car with reasonable mileage. For a newer facelift example from 2021, prices start from a very tempting £15,000.
"That latest reliability result is good news for all potential purchasers of a used luxury car, because you can now take a punt on this fine-driving machine without massive worry. Parts and servicing costs will still need keeping an eye on, though." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer
We found 2020 Jaguar XF 2.0i R-Sport, 49,000 miles, £14,990
Read our full used Jaguar XF review
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Used BMW 7 Series 2015-2022
Strengths
- Strong performance from its various engine options
- High-quality interior and modern tech
- Sharp to drive for such a large car
Weaknesses
- High running costs and insurance rates
- Some kit is optional so some of its rivals have more
- Question mark over the low-speed ride
Another luxury limo stuffed with tech, the BMW 7 Series has always been one of the best of the breed to drive.
You can punt it down a winding road with surprising confidence, or cruise down a motorway from its beginning to its end. It’s impressively clean and frugal for such a large car, too, with our chosen 730d version boasting a refined six-cylinder diesel engine.
Inside is a spacious and luxurious interior fit for any captain of industry, with plenty of up-to-the-minute kit. Such opulence didn't come cheap new, but used prices are surprisingly good value, starting from around £15,000 for an early 2016 car.
"The latest 7 Series has a grille you can see from space, so this earlier generation is probably the better bet if you don't want to be mistaken for reality-show royalty. So suave and good to drive, this one." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor
We found 2018 BMW 730d 3.0 M Sport, 54,291 miles, £19,985
Read our full used BMW 7 Series review
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Used Tesla Model S 2014-2021
Strengths
- Staggering performance
- Impressive range for an electric car
- Surprisingly practical
Weaknesses
- The poor reliability record of the earlier cars
- Some other electric car rivals are better to drive
- Interior quality is a little mixed in places
The only electric car on this list, if the Tesla Model S fits into your lifestyle it's a great choice as a used luxury car.
For starters, there's the Model S's stunning performance, especially on the dual-motor cars, which can shame many a luxury limo. It steers and handles well, too, and yet it's comfortable, refined and spacious inside.
Naturally, it comes with a long electric range, and there's the extensive Tesla Supercharging network to take advantage of. Earlier cars had a very poor reliability record, however, which is the only thing holding the Model S back in our book.
"Whisper-quiet and wonderfully quick, you never forget your first drive in a Model S. Luxury? Oh yes. It pampers the driver and the passengers thanks to its civility." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer
We found 2019 Tesla Model S 75D, 53,000 miles, £16,999
Read our full used Tesla Model S review
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Used Audi A6 2018-2025
Strengths
- Smooth ride, even on rough roads
- Spacious interior with plenty of leg room
- High-quality interior with premium materials
Weaknesses
- Poor reliability record
- Petrol engines can be a little thirsty
- There are better luxury cars to drive
The Audi A6 is a cosseting, quiet and technologically advanced saloon that feels beautifully built. Its interior is one of the best in the business because it's well-screwed together and lovely to look at.
On top of that, the A6 is wonderfully refined, whether pottering around town or being driven on the motorway. True, its touchscreen infotainment system is a little distracting to use on the move, and its automatic gearboxes can be slow-witted.
However, it's the A6's poor reliability (mostly comprised of electrical issues) that lets it down most. If it wasn't for that, the wonderfully refined, spacious and very reasonably priced A6 would be right near the top of this list. Prices start from around £13,000 for a car with around 100,000 miles on it, but for an example with more reasonable mileage, look to spend upwards of £15,000.
"I remember with great affection the A6 long-termer we ran here at What Car? some time ago and how it dealt with all we threw at it and how amazingly quiet it was, even in diesel-engined form." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor
We found 2022 Audi A6 40 TFSI Sport, 42,277 miles, £16,450
Read our full used Audi A6 review
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Used Jaguar XJ 2010-2019
Strengths
- Great handling
- Punchy engines
- Well equipped
Weaknesses
- Poor rear head room
- So-so quality
- Reliability of diesel-engined models
The Jaguar XJ has always been the creamiest cat in the Jag range.
Strikingly different in its styling, it equalled previous Jaguar standards in ride quality and refinement and shattered them in terms of driving pleasure. There's a good range of punchy engines to choose from, and all XJs are nicely refined. Prices start from a very tempting £10,000 for an early car with low mileage, while newer facelift examples from 2015 onwards cost upwards of £13,000 for a car in good condition.
Inside, the XJ brings a touch of modernity to the trad wood and leather look, and there’s plenty of kit for your money. While it has a mixed reliability record on the whole, especially for the diesel-engined cars, its showing has improved in more recent What Car? Reliability Surveys.
"As a keen driver, I find the XJ very appealing. It's smaller and lighter than many of its rivals, so it feels remarkably agile in the bends. Even the long-wheelbase version handles neatly*." –* George Hill, Used Cars Writer
We found 2017 Jaguar XJ 3.0d V6 Luxury, 55,000 miles, £17,895
Read our full used Jaguar XJ review
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Used Volvo S90 2016-2023
Strengths
- Spacious interior with plenty of leg room
- Comfortable ride, smooth on all roads
- High-quality interior and plush materials
Weaknesses
- Puts comfort before handling
- Infotainment system can be fiddly to use
- Lethargic gearbox can hamper performance
After something a little less ostentatious and a lot more affordable than most of the other cars on this list?
The big, Swedish saloon that is the Volvo S90 could be just the thing, because you get a very spacious and luxurious car for not a lot of money, with used prices starting from £8000 for an early high-mileage model. Even cars with more reasonable mileage start from around £12,000.
The S90 is well equipped and refined, too, but reliability has been a bit disappointing in recent years. It's also not as good to drive as the best in this class.
"I borrowed our long-term S90 for the weekend a few years ago to go to a family wedding deep in the countryside, and it was truly impressive. It impressed the guests at the wedding with its style, too." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor
We found 2020 Volvo S90 2.0 T4 Momentum Plus, 60,355 miles, £14,995
Read our full used Volvo S90 review
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