Luxury cars are renowned for their opulence, high-end features, and prestige. However, owning a luxury car can also come with a hefty price tag not only in terms of buying it, but also in the maintenance and upkeep. Fortunately, many luxury car manufacturers have produced models that require justifiable maintenance offering a crossroad between affordable maintenance and luxury. We look at the JD Power reliability ratings from India and other countries to list the low maintenance luxury cars you should consider.
Mercedes GLA
One of the most sought-after Mercedes’, the GLA is a good choice for a first-time luxury car buyer if the preference is a compact SUV. While the car is certainly luxurious, the engines onboard the GLA are powerful and reliable. Many people have owned their GLAs for quite a few years without any hiccups. It is also the entry-level variant with a relatively smaller and simpler engine so the spare parts are not hard to find and fit in. In addition to that, Mercedes is constantly expanding its network to improve its reach and customer satisfaction should further help customers with their needs. The GLA range starts from Rs. 46.50 lakh and tops out at Rs. 50.50 lakh (ex-showroom) excluding the AMG GLA 35 4MATIC.
JD Power Reliability Tests: According to the JD Power 2021 India Vehicle Dependability Study, the Mercedes-Benz GLA ranks second in the Compact SUV segment, with a score of 188 problems per 100 vehicles.
Mercedes GLA Key Specs:
- Engine: 2.0-litre diesel/ 1.4 litre petrol
- Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission
- Fuel Efficiency: 19.03 km/l
- Fuel Type: Diesel
- Seating Capacity: 5
BMW 2-series
The BMW 2-series has the looks of the flagship 8-series in a more compact body that is more closely related to the 3-series. The 2-series Gran Coupe is powered by a powerful, yet reliable 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine mated to BMWs 8-speed Steptronic transmission which is known to last long years in its segment. It carries out the propulsion duties on the popular 3-series as well, making spare mechanical parts easily available at relatively affordable prices.
The powertrain-drivetrain combination is tried and tested and over the years has proven to be one of the most reliable ones out there. The 2-series range starts from Rs. 43.50 lakh to Rs. 45.50 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom).
BMW 2-series Key Specs:
- Engine: 2.0L turbocharged petrol/ 2.0L turbocharged diesel
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic
- Fuel efficiency: 13.0 km/l (combined)
- Fuel type: Petrol/diesel
- Seating capacity: 4-5
Porsche Macan
Porsches are believed to have great reliability and clock good miles on the odometer. While the Cayenne is a mammoth of a car to own, the Macan is easier to maintain. First launched in 2014, Macan customers have gobbled up miles on the odometer and a great testimony to Macan’s prowess is the fact that a used Macan is a hot-seller in the used car market. While Porsche’s reach in the country is limited, the dedicated Porsche centres set up in Tier 1 and a few Tier 2 cities provide complete support and assistance in terms of maintenance and spares making the whole ownership experience hassle-free. The Macan starts from Rs 85.17 lakh and goes up to 1.47 Crore
Porsche Macan Key Specs:
- Engine: 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged
- Transmission: 7-speed PDK automatic
- Fuel efficiency: 10.0 km/l (combined)
- Fuel type: Gasoline
- Seating capacity: 5
Lexus ES
Lexus is the second most reliable automaker in the world, only after its parent company Toyota. The Lexus ES is no different, and has one of the best hybrid technologies used in the world, not only in terms of performance and fuel efficiency, but also in terms of reliability and cheap maintenance. Being a subsidiary of Toyota, Lexus has the advantage of using Toyota’s established manufacturing facilities in India. Moreover, the brand has plans for expanding in a phased manner across India. Lexus currently has 6 active dealerships across India in Tier-1 cities only but those dealerships take care of almost everything, quite evident by Lexus scoring high in the JD Power survey.
Moreover, the entry-level Lexus ES sedan is a great stepping-stone towards a luxury car. The Lexus ES range starts from Rs. 59.71 lakh and stretches up to Rs. 65.81 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom).
Lexus ES Key Specs
- Engine: 2.5L
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic
- Fuel efficiency: 17.8 km/l (combined)
- Fuel type: Petrol
- Seating capacity: 5
Lexus NX
The Lexus NX is positioned as a mid-range compact crossover starting from Rs 64.90 lakh. The NX comes from a brand that cannot be praised enough for its reliability. A broken down Lexus is a rare sight on the road, and that’s all the testimony one requires. In addition, the car also scores great in terms of offering contemporary design, smooth performance and stellar efficiency.
Lexus NX Key Specs:
- Engine: 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged
- Power: 235 hp
- Transmission: 6-speed automatic
- Torque: 350 Nm
- Fuel efficiency: 16.4 km/l (combined)
- Fuel type: Gasoline
- Seating capacity: 5
Volvo XC60
While the Volvo XC60 immediately resonates with high quality safety, the car is also famed for its reputation of keeping mechanics away. Volvos are not just easy to maintain but also equipped to help correct various potential errors which might damage your vehicle. . The Volvo XC90 costs Rs. 67.50 lakh (ex-showroom).
Costs:
Service Costs: The service costs of Volvo XC60 are generally higher than other cars in the same segment. The average cost of servicing the car is around Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 25,000 per service. Some users however, report that dealers sometimes charge an annual bill of more than 40,000 Rs..
JD Power Reliability Tests: Volvo XC60 has a good reputation for reliability and safety. It has consistently scored well in JD Power’s reliability tests.
Tyre Replacement : The cost of replacing one tyre of Volvo XC60 is around Rs 15,000-25,000 depending on the brand and type of tyre.
Spare Parts Price: The spare parts of Volvo XC60 are expensive in India. The cost of spare parts ranges from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 1,00,000, depending on the part.
Miscellaneous Costs: Miscellaneous costs for Volvo XC60 include insurance, registration, and maintenance costs. These costs vary depending on the city and state in which the car is registered.
Volvo XC60 Key Specs:
- Engine: 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged
- Power: 250 hp
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic
- Torque: 350 Nm
- Fuel efficiency: 14.9 km/l (combined)
- Fuel type: Gasoline
- Seating capacity: 5
Mercedes C-Class
One of the highest selling Mercedes cars in India, the C-Class is one of India’s favourite luxury cars. And there are a lot of buyers who buy a C-Class and then upgrade to another C-Class after a few years and continue the cycle. Mercedes also has one of the most expansive service reach across India amongst all the luxury carmakers and apart from usual routine checkups, the C-Class doesn’t trouble the owner much. It remains to be seen whether the hybrid systems on the new C-Class cars can match their older pure ICE cousins, but overall, a C-Class will be pretty durable over its life.
Costs:
Service Costs: The service costs of Mercedes C-Class are high compared to other cars in its segment. The average cost of servicing the car is around Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000 per service.
JD Power Reliability Tests: Mercedes C-Class has a good reputation for reliability and safety. It consistently scores well in JD Power’s reliability tests.
Tyre Replacement : The cost of replacing the tyres of Mercedes C-Class is around Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 50,000, depending on the brand and type of tyre.
Spare Parts Price: The spare parts of Mercedes C-Class are expensive in India. The cost of spare parts ranges from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 1,00,000, depending on the part.
Miscellaneous Costs: Miscellaneous costs for Mercedes C-Class include insurance, registration, and maintenance costs. These costs vary depending on the city and state in which the car is registered.
Mercedes C-Class Key Specs:
- Engine: 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged
- Power: 255 hp
- Transmission: 9-speed automatic
- Torque: 370 Nm
- Fuel efficiency: 14.3 km/l (combined)
- Fuel type: Gasoline
- Seating capacity: 5
Summary
While this is a pretty good list, there are a few honourable mentions: BMW 3-series, BMW 5-series, BMW X3, Mercedes E-Class, Audi A4, Jaguar XF and Range Rover Evoque. Nothing is dramatically wrong with these choices either, but the main list provides an all-round cushion at a more affordable price bracket.
While it is true that luxury cars require you to spend a little extra on maintenance for obvious reasons, this in no way means that the ownership experience of any luxury car is a nightmare. A few factors which improve the overall ownership experience are good, solid build quality, good-after-sales communication and support, advanced safety features, reduced complexity of design, downsizing and an expansive brand network in terms of after-sales touchpoints. Now that the myth is busted, one can go around and truly consider buying their favourite luxury car.
