3 Most Reliable Used Luxury Cars Under Rs 15 Lakh – Part 1

We all dream of owning a luxury car in our garage. But financially, buying a used car can be a bad decision as they are plagued with high maintenance costs and rapid depreciation. But what if you bought a used car? You can still get a car that is luxurious, good looking and fun to drive without worrying about the steep costs involved. Here are 3 used luxury car that offer comfort, class and reliability under Rs 15 lakh
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Audi Q3

Year: 2012-2016

Price: Rs 8 Lakh to Rs 15 lakh

The first car on this list is the Audi’s entry-level SUV, the Q3. Sold in India since 2011, the first generation, Audi Q3 is a popular car known for its premium interior, competent diesel engine and quattro all-wheel-drive system. On the outside, the Q3 offers a well-proportioned clean sheet design with elements like the front grille, headlamp and wrap-around taillamps borrowed from the company’s larger SUV models.

The minimalist design theme continues to the inside, with a dual-tone brown and beige interior. Overall quality is superior to most entry-level car events today and offers a choice of leatherette or leather upholstery. The car boasts several features, such as a 6.5-inch fold-out Audi multimedia system, a large panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, an electronic parking brake, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support, and front and rear parking sensors, among others. Despite its compact size, the Q3 can accommodate large-size occupants with ease. The seats offer sufficient bolstering, but the central tunnel and the rear air-con vents eat into the 5th passenger legroom, making this car comfortable for 4 people. 

Throughout its lifecycle, the company updated the Q3 numerous times introducing new features and subtle cosmetic changes on the model. In terms of powertrain options, the Audi Q3 was offered with a 2.0-litre TDI engine at launch while a 2.0-litre TFSI was added later. The diesel remained the popular choice on the model producing 174 bhp and 380 Nm. Transmission options include a 7-speed DCT along with a Quattro all-wheel-drive system.

Despite its age, the Audi Q3 has remained a popular used luxury car choice for many. The compact SUV also breaks common misconceptions about German unreliability with its error-free diesel powertrain. Currently, used examples of the Q3 are priced between Rs 8 lakh and Rs 15 lakh depending on the year of manufacturer and condition of the model.

Read More: 3 Cars To Buy Instead of Hyundai Creta Facelift

BMW 3 Series (F30)

Year: 2012-2015

Price: Rs 5 Lakh to Rs 15 lakh

The BMW 3 Series (F30) is one of the most popular used luxury car models in the country. Despite the Indian automobile slowdown in 2013, the 3-Series managed to attract customers with its sporty low-slung design. Upfront it borrows design inspiration from larger models like the 2012 BMW 5-Series and 7-Series. Highlights on the outside include projector LED headlamps with twin corona rings, a sleeker kidney grille and a sporty front bumper. Unlike the busy BMW design of today, the 2012-2015 examples of the 3-Series offered a sporty yet elegant sedan design with a touch of class to complete the overall look.

On the inside, the typical BMW cabin consists of a multilayer dashboard that is angled towards the driver. Key equipment on offer includes a three-spoke steering wheel, floating i-Drive infotainment unit, dual-zone fully automatic climate control, electrically adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, multiple drive modes, sun-shade/privacy screen for the rear windows, electric sunroof and more. Despite its compact size, the 3-series offers more legroom compared to entry-level SUVs from this generation. Additionally, the comfortable seats and additional bolstering make the 3-Series a comfortable place to spend long durations.

Powertrain options include a 2.0-litre twin-turbo petrol and diesel engine. While the petrol is the more powerful producing 254 bhp, the diesel makes more torque of 280 Nm and max power of 184 bhp. Both engine options come mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission while the petrol variants also offer a paddle shifter.

Currently, used examples of the F30 BMW 3-Series are on sale priced between Rs 5 Lakh and Rs 15 Lakh depending on the mileage and condition of the sedan.

Read More: 3 Cars To Buy Instead Of Toyota Fortuner

Toyota Camry

Year: 2012-2016

Price: Rs 5 Lakh to Rs 15 Lakh

A reliability list without a Toyota is incomplete. But unlike other times, the used luxury car in question this time is the Toyota Camry. Launched in 2012, the 7th generation Camry was a step up in every sense compared to the company’s other models like the Innova, Fortuner and the Etios, but more in line with the Corolla Altis.

On the outside, it portrayed an elegant sedan design inspired by Toyota’s luxury wing, Lexus. The sleek multi-slat grille, sweptback projector headlamp and the generous use of chrome, all help uplift the premium look of the sedan. The muscular bonnet and the sporty bumper give the car a wider stance, while the flared wheel arches and the 16-inch alloy wheels give the car a larger appeal. Moving inside, the functional cabin features a dual-tone black and beige colour scheme. While equipment levels are not on par with other German counterparts, the sedan offers an 8-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone AC, ‘optitron’ analogue metres with digital MID, basic head unit with Bluetooth and AUX among others. Despite its premium pricing, the car lacks rear sun blinds and a sunroof.

In terms of powertrain options, the Camry offered a single 2.5-litre petrol engine that produced 179 bhp and 233 Nm. This engine was plagued by bad fuel efficiency, so Toyota introduced the 2.5-litre hybrid engine in 2013. This unit boosted the maximum power output to 205 bhp while returning an exceptional mileage of 19.15 kmpl. With the introduction of the hybrid, the manual gearbox was completely dropped in favour of an e-CVT unit.

Despite its quirks, the Camry continues to be one of the most comfortable and premium executive sedans in the country. Additionally, Toyota has over engineered all components on the car through years of testing, making the Camry indestructible. Currently, 2012-2015 models of the Camry are a popular choice in the used car market. Pricing for the sedan ranges from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh.

So, which of the above-mentioned cars would you choose? Stay tuned for more cars in part 2.

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