Best Luxury Car Brands for 2026

The best luxury car brands for 2026 boast classy styling, high-end interiors with all the latest technology, and refined driving manners designed to coddle occupants and provide an elevated ownership experience. Today’s top luxury car brands offer a range of sedans and SUVs that feature diverse powertrains, including traditional gas engines, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fully electric options. Luxury cars also vary widely in price, with several notable cars and crossovers selling near the national average price — hovering a little under $50,000 these days — and other especially fancy cars running into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Since the line between luxury cars and mainstream cars is blurrier today than ever, strong choices can be found from both true luxury brands and models from less obvious automakers with high-quality cabins and comfortable rides. We’ll call those more traditionally mainstream "luxury" cars out specifically.

Let’s take a closer look at the best luxury car brands in America. We’ve ordered the list using J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study rankings for premium brands (plus one at the end that’s a bit too exclusive to be ranked).

Jump to:
Top 10 luxury car brands
Most reliable luxury car brands
Best luxury sports car brands
German luxury car brands
Italian luxury car brands
Japanese luxury car brands
American luxury car brands
Honorable mentions
What top luxury cars offer
What about EV brands?

Top 10 luxury car brands

1. Lexus

As Japan's best-selling premium brand, Lexus leads the way for buyers looking for attainable luxury combined with a well-earned tradition of dependability. Lexus stands out from other premium automakers due to its class-leading hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology, which is spread throughout its lineup. But if you're looking for higher-end luxury, the German automakers might be a better fit.

2. Genesis

For a brand that has only been around since 2017, Genesis has quickly established what it means to represent the pinnacle of Korean luxury (not that it has any real competition for the title). Cars like the G80 and G90 represent credible alternatives to more common choices from BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz. The Genesis GV70 is a standout luxury SUV that's offered with both gasoline and electric powertrains.

3. Porsche

While Porsche may be best known for high-performance sports cars like the 911, Boxster and Cayman, the bulk of its sales come from luxurious SUVs like the Cayenne and Macan that blend traditional German attributes like buttoned-down handling and peerless powertrain engineering with a surprising level of luxury and comfort. Porsche is also a leader in luxury EVs with standout models like the Taycan and Macan Electric.

4. BMW

Most people know BMW for its “Ultimate Driving Machine” tagline, and there’s still some truth behind the marketing. The German marque may have earned its reputation with sedans like the 3 Series and 5 Series, but today the brand is fender-deep in crossovers and electrification. While the V12 engine has long stood out as a desirable powerplant for luxury cars, BMW hasn't produced V12 cars since the 2022 M760i.

5. Acura

Acura is the luxury arm of Honda, and while it can’t match Lexus when it comes to sales success in the United States, cars like the NSX that went out of production in 2022 and the highly acclaimed Integra Type S show that the Japanese brand can do impressive things. Some of Acura’s models are based on Honda bones but feature more technology and classier materials.

6. Cadillac

There was a time, albeit decades ago, that Cadillac was considered the standard of the world. Those days have passed, but the Cadillac crest still holds a measure of cachet. Cadillac’s most successful product since its introduction in 1999 has been the Escalade, but lately sedans like the CT4 and CT5 have sold very well. Cadillac’s Lyriq, Optiq, Vistiq, Escalade IQ and range-topping Celestiq point toward a heavily electrified future, but its V-badged models prove Cadillac hasn't quite closed the door on on fuel-burning performance just yet.

7. Lincoln

Lincoln may not have the history of rival Cadillac as a world-class luxury marque, but the brand’s latest reinvention as a thoroughly American take on pillowy luxury has panache. Its long, stylish Continental, with rearward-opening doors, remains an iconic design. Today's Navigator is one of the best luxury SUVs around with a lush interior, advanced infotainment, and loads of turbocharged power and towing capacity.

8. Mercedes-Benz

The S-Class has long been the benchmark by which other luxury sedans are measured, and it’s still the vehicle most responsible for the brand’s reputation of overengineered opulence. But like most of Mercedes’ rivals, it’s crossovers like the GLC and GLE that make up the bulk of its sales.

9. Audi

Audi’s car-making history is a bit more checkered with financial woes and unclear brand identity than its German rivals, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, but it’s actually been building vehicles since 1910, so it has plenty of history. Audi’s rapid ascension to fame and fortune over the last several decades has made it a true luxury contender, thanks in part to its advanced Quattro all-wheel-drive system. The sophisticated drivetrain is proof of the Vorsprung durch Technik slogan, which translates to English as “progress through technology.”

10. Rolls-Royce

This classic British automaker may be the ultimate luxury car brand, synonymous with posh elegance and maximum cachet. What else can match a Rolls-Royce Phantom? Rolls is a brand that’s reserved for a fortunate few, and that exclusivity is one of the aspects that keeps the brand at the very tip of the luxury spear.

Most reliable luxury car brands

According to the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study that we used to order our top 10 list above, Lexus is the top-ranked luxury brand. Its score of 166 problems per 100 vehicles puts the Toyota-owned Japanese luxury brand in the top position overall, making Lexus the brand that makes the most reliable luxury cars. Technically, Jaguar came in second place on the luxury side with a score of 175 problems per 100 vehicles, but it hardly sells any cars right now in the United States.

Third on the list (or second if you discount Jaguar and its minimal lineup) of the most reliable luxury car brands is Genesis, followed by Porsche. BMW and Acura round out the top five luxury brands that sell full lineups in the United States.

Premium automakers that make luxury cars and SUVs tend to score lower overall in the Initial Quality Study due to their inclusion of the latest software and technology systems that some owners find difficult to use, which makes Lexus' top-ranked showing even more impressive. Owners who are frustrated by complicated technology aren't likely to offer glowing reviews of their expensive cars. Still, none of the brands we recommend in this article are likely to leave you stranded.

Consumer Reports also ranks car brands using a combination of its road test scores, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction data and safety scores. Judged in this way, Consumer Reports says BMW, Porsche and Lexus are the top three luxury brands overall.

Best luxury sports car brands

We rank sporty models from Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and BMW highly in our own internal rankings, so it should come as little surprise that we’d choose those three German automakers as the best luxury sports car brands. But it's not quite that simple. Not every model from every recommended brand is at the top of its class.

Here are our top-ranked cars and SUVs from our top-ranked luxury car brands:

Porsche: The Porsche Cayenne Coupe Turbo GT is Edmunds' highest-scoring midsize performance SUV, while the aforementioned 911’s 8.3 rating means it ranks highly in several categories, including the luxury sport convertible and luxury sport coupe segments.

Lexus: The newly redesigned GX ranks as Edmunds' top-rated midsize three-row luxury SUV, and the latest version of the Lexus ES sedan ranks highly in the luxury sedan category.

Genesis: The GV70 is Edmunds’ highest-rated small luxury SUV. In its Electrified form, the GV70 also scores highly against its competitors in Edmunds' ratings.

Acura: Edmunds ranks the Integra Type S as the best small performance sedan in America.

BMW: Several BMW models perform well in Edmunds' rankings. The long-running BMW 3 Series, larger 5 Series and 7 Series, X1, X3, X5, X7, i5, i7 and iX all ranked near the top of their respective segments by Edmunds, while the B8 Alpina Gran Coupe stands out as the highest-rated large performance sedan.

Mercedes-Benz: Several Mercedes cars have earned top honors from Edmunds, including the C-Class, E-Class and S-Class sedans. On the SUV side, the GLE and GLS are standouts.

Cadillac: Although none of Cadillac's current lineup earns top-ranked status in any of Edmunds’ specific categories, the CT4-V Blackwing, CT5-V Blackwing and Escalade-V all receive high praise from our editors.

Audi: The A3 is Edmunds’ top-ranked extra-small luxury sedan, while the excellent RS 6 and RS 7 stand first and second in our midsize performance category. The Audi S3 and RS 3 score well in the small performance sedan segment.

German luxury car brands

With the exception of Volkswagen, German automakers that sell their wares in the United States are considered premium brands. They include stalwarts like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. But not every model they offer — such as the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLA — is a luxury car in the truest sense of the term. It's also worth noting that BMW owns Mini and Rolls-Royce, that Maybach and AMG are sub-brands of Mercedes-Benz, and that Volkswagen's expansive empire includes Bentley, Lamborghini and Porsche.

Italian luxury car brands

Several Italian cars cost a lot of money, but in many cases, these fancy cars are more about speed than traditional luxury. Italian luxury car brands such as Ferrari and Lamborghini have recently branched out into new segments that appeal to luxury car buyers. The Ferrari Purosangue and Lamborghini Urus are extremely powerful SUVs that also happen to be quite luxurious inside. 

Alfa Romeo and Maserati are two Italian automakers that have long catered to a clientele looking for a premium car ownership experience. While both have had some success over the years and both continue to offer beautiful cars with strong performance capabilities, these days neither of these two Italian luxury car brands truly stacks up well against the top luxury car brands from Germany and Japan.

Japanese luxury car brands

Acura is the luxury branch of Honda; Infiniti is the luxury branch of Nissan; and Lexus is the luxury branch of Toyota. Mazda came close to offering a luxury sub-brand in the 1990s called Amati, but it never got off the ground. That said, Mazda has slowly been working to improve the perception of its lineup, and top-shelf versions of models like the CX-70 and CX-90 are bordering on luxury status.

American luxury car brands

Cadillac is the quintessential American luxury car brand, and GM’s flagship automaker is still the country’s most successful overall. Lincoln has long been Ford's rival to Cadillac, and today the brand offers multiple luxury SUV models but no traditional sedans. Buick has been positioned a notch below Caddy in GM’s corporate hierarchy, and today its Avenir sub-brand offers a premium take on mainstream crossovers.

Honorable mentions

Aston Martin
James Bond driving a Mini just wouldn't be the same, would it? While Aston certainly owes some of its cultural relevance to 007, the British brand's long history and elegant designs — among the most lust-worthy outside of Italy — are the larger share of its success. Big, powerful engines and cabins built for long-distance comfort cement Aston's place as a top luxury brand. The DBX is the brand's first SUV.

Bentley
One of the most storied luxury brands, Bentley traces its roots back more than 100 years, from open-top racers to opulent luxury cruisers like the Mulsanne. Today the British (but German-owned) brand's slimmed-down portfolio includes the sporty Continental GT, stately Flying Spur and Bentayga SUV. Though its vehicles are typically less expensive than those from rival Rolls-Royce, Bentley offers nearly unparalleled luxury appointments and customization potential.

Infiniti
Lexus is known for reliability and strong resale value. Acura is known for technical excellence and peerless engineering. Fellow Japanese automaker Infiniti is known … well, basically just as Nissan's luxury arm. Still, models like the QX60 and QX80 are at the very least competitive in their respective SUV segments.

Jaguar
Throughout its long and storied history, Jaguar has excelled at producing curvaceous sheetmetal with plenty of power underneath and stylish decadence inside. Now owned by Tata, an Indian conglomerate, Jaguar is currently on a mission to reinvent itself. To quote the brand’s latest marketing copy, "We're here to delete the ordinary. To go bold. To copy nothing." We’ll just have to wait and see how it all turns out.

Land Rover
One of the original and most iconic SUVs, the Land Rover Range Rover embodies old-school English luxury adventure. The original models were pretty utilitarian, but today's Range Rover and assorted other Rover models — most notably the Defender — are seen more often in valet lines than forest roads. Still, a certain subset of owners still prize Land Rovers for their advanced four-wheel-drive systems, luxury-trimmed interiors and stylish design.

What top luxury cars offer

When most people think of luxury cars, they probably think of fine leather seats, pillowy rides and ample room to stretch out. But these qualities are increasingly available in cars ranging from Honda Accords to Ford F-150 pickups. To stand out, today's top luxury cars take things to another level. Full-grain and embossed leathers, specialty wood and metal trims, and panels — dash, doors, headliner — wrapped in suede-like or microfiber materials typically remain the reserve of luxury brands.

You'll often find more technology in luxury brands, such as video-enhanced navigation and advanced safety and driver assist features, including hands-free driving systems. Traditional luxury cars tend to favor cushy rides, with upgraded suspensions that can often be adjusted between soft and firm. Additional layers of sound insulation make cabins quieter and conversations easier. Premium audio systems, often with 15 or more speakers, are another common luxury indulgence.

The best luxury cars are typically built as stand-alone models that don't share major hardware with a less expensive car from a mainstream brand. But there are exceptions. Ford, Toyota and Volkswagen are popular automakers that base their high-end luxury brand products on common platforms. The Lincoln Navigator SUV, for example, is related to the Ford Expedition, and the Cadillac Escalade shares its structure with the Chevrolet Tahoe. You may be surprised to know that the Audi Q7 and Q8, Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus and Porsche Cayenne share plenty of engineering with the VW Touareg that’s no longer sold in the States. Though some auto purists insist true luxury cars should have unique foundations, these brands have found other ways to make their high-end cars stand out.

Another aspect associated with many luxury brands is a heightened level of dealer service, which can include courtesy loaner cars, waiting areas that resemble high-end hotel lobbies, and concierge-type services that handle the details of service appointments and repairs.

Finally, the most intangible trait of a premium car is cachet. Features, trim and technology alone don't transform a car into a luxury product. Many luxury carmakers have a long history — racing and motorsports mastery is a common thread — and a hard-won reputation for consistent excellence. 

What about EV brands?

A decade ago, Tesla dominated the EV market and only a few other automakers had released electric competitors. That’s all changed now. Most of our top-ranked luxury car brands offer dedicated EV models, and some, such as the BMW i5, i7 and iX, earn top honors in their segments.

Lucid may soon be a legitimate contender for the luxury EV crown, and its Air sedan delivers stupefying performance figures. Polestar, a Volvo spinoff, had plans to expand its lineup with promising new models but has since slowed down due to trade tariff-related manufacturing issues. Rivian boasts impressive performance and even towing capability, while prioritizing performance and utility over traditional luxury features. And, of course, Tesla rightly deserves credit for kicking off the EV revolution, building an excellent charging infrastructure and raising EVs to a level of mass acceptance. 

While some might consider Tesla a premium brand, a close inspection reveals that its cars don’t truly fall into luxury territory based on interior materials and build quality. Still, the Tesla Model 3, Model Y and, particularly in its overpowered Plaid trim, the Model S all perform well in Edmunds' testing.