Just because luxury SUVs are so popular doesn’t mean there aren’t still great pre-owned deals to be found
These days, buyers who are looking for a luxurious, comfortable SUV that can tackle all four seasons with ease, pack enough cargo, and seat enough people for long summer road trips or for weekend soccer games, and still appear presentable in the office parking lot or when meeting with clients, are met with seemingly endless options from almost every major auto manufacturer. Even traditionally non-luxurious brands are getting in on the action, as modern quality standards have led to a blurred distinction between luxury powerhouses, like Mercedes-Benz and BMW, and traditionally economically-focused brands like Hyundai and Chevrolet.
Although modern cars have collectively become more “luxurious” across the board, they have also become more expensive. In fact, according to CarEdge, the average price for a new car has skyrocketed to $48,699 as of July 2025. So, then, what if you, like me, need a presentable, capable, luxurious SUV that can handle your daily tasks and make you look good all at the same time, but don’t want to spend a fortune on a brand-new vehicle that will depreciate nearly half its value after just a few short years of ownership?
Mercedes-Benz
Thankfully, the pre-owned SUV options are just as endless as new-car offerings, if not more. That said, opting for a pre-owned luxury SUV doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get a bargain deal these days. As reported by iSeeCars, the average used car price has risen substantially as well, as buyers increasingly focus on the pre-owned market. Many factors contribute to this trend, but I believe the increasing popularity of used cars can be attributed to the rising cost of new vehicles, primarily driven by the need to incorporate complex technology features that are often unwanted. At the same time, information about pre-owned vehicles has become significantly more accessible, thanks to the internet. Online vehicle history reports, online owners’ forums, online parts retailers, online classified ads, and the ability to diligently research how reliable (or unreliable) vehicles typically are have made buying a used car easier than ever before. More people are opting for used cars over new ones.
This often means that more popular and well-known models, such as the W166-generation Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class pictured above, which are discussed more regularly online and shared more frequently on social media platforms, still command relatively pricey sums when offered in excellent condition with similarly desirable histories. So, those buyers out there who are looking for a good and honest bargain need to get more creative and think outside the “German big three” or Range Rover box if they want a solid, luxurious pre-owned SUV on the cheap. If that sounds like you, then you’re in luck, because I’ve compiled a list of five luxurious SUVs from the 2010s that have been mostly forgotten by the market, yet still offer admirable reliability (for the most part, as long as they’re looked after properly) and a reasonably modern experience.
1. 2009-2016 Land Rover LR4
Land Rover
When I said “reliable when looked after properly,” I was primarily referring to the Land Rover LR4. Yes, Land Rovers have a terrible reputation for breaking down frequently and spending more time in the shop than on the road. However, any enthusiast who has ever actually owned a Land Rover and taken care of it to the extent that owners’ forums recommend will know that, so long as they’re correctly cared for, specific Land Rover models can be surprisingly dependable. The Land Rover LR4 is one of those. Essentially a Range Rover lite, the fourth-generation Land Rover Discovery offers plenty of luxury, ample spaciousness, and the authentic off-road capability of a body-on-frame, four-wheel drive SUV.
Land Rover
As the owner of a first-generation Land Rover Discovery and an avid Land Rover enthusiast, I’ve always considered the LR4 to be the last true Land Rover Discovery. That’s because, for its next generation, which is the current Discovery, Land Rover switched the model onto a unibody platform, and the Discovery’s distinctly boxy proportions and unique design elements, such as its alpine windows and its noticeably raised rear roof section, disappeared. The LR4 was also the last Discovery ever to offer a naturally aspirated V8—the motor that had become synonymous with North American-market Discoveries and which was traditionally the most reliable (other than earlier, Euro-spec diesel models, of course). In its earlier model years, the LR4 offered a 5.0-liter V8, which produced 375 horsepower and 375 lb-ft of torque, and nowadays, V8-powered LR4s can be bought for next to nothing. Here’s one that sold just last month on Bring a Trailer for only $6,000.
In 2014, a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 replaced the 5.0-liter V8. The V6’s block was essentially the same as the V8’s, with two cylinders removed from the end. This “chop” meant that the supercharged V6 was inherently more susceptible to oil leaks, and its smaller displacement, matched with forced induction, meant it was inherently more complicated to maintain. The supercharged V6 also provided less muscle than its V8 predecessor, at just 340 horsepower. Still, supercharged V6 LR4s can be had for relatively cheap, as well, and offer a slightly more modern appearance and interior convenience than earlier V8 models. Here’s a 2016 LR4 Landmark Edition that sold for just $19,000 on Bring a Trailer earlier this month.
2. 2009-2019 Infiniti FX/QX70
Infiniti
A bit of a forgotten gem these days, the Infiniti FX/QX70 blends the reliability of old-school, uncomplicated Nissans with the comfort, luxury, and athletic appearance of a modern Infiniti. Initially named the Infiniti FX, this model was produced for an entire decade from 2009 until 2019, but went by the name “QX70” from its 2014 model year onwards. It was available with 3.5- and 3.7-liter V6 engines and, until 2013, even a potent, 390-horsepower naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8. This Infiniti SUV, featuring either rear-wheel drive or rear-biased all-wheel drive and a conventional six-speed automatic gearbox, indeed offered a V8 powertrain that was shared with LMP3 race cars. So, the QX70 provides genuine sports car performance in fancily wrapped, luxurious SUV packaging. Now, they’re crazy cheap.
Infiniti
Infiniti
Infiniti
Early V8-powered FX50s can be easily found for well under $20,000 these days. For example, this 2011 Infiniti FX50 with just 32,000 miles sold on Bring a Trailer last month for only $18,600. That’s essentially a barely-broken-in V8-powered luxury SUV for less money than America’s cheapest new car in 2025: the Nissan Versa S. Even if you’re looking for something more modern, CarMax currently lists a fully-loaded 2017 Infiniti QX70 with just 59,000 miles for $24,998 on their website. That’s cheaper than a brand-new base model Hyundai Kona SE. Just saying.
3. 2009-2010 Kia Borrego
Kia
A bit of an unexpected addition to this list and quite possibly the one that most toes the line between “luxury SUV” and, well, the opposite of luxury, the Kia Borrego offers a surprisingly well-equipped package in an SUV that’s been almost entirely forgotten by the American public. Available in America for just one model year, the Kia Borrego offered the old-school ruggedness of a body-on-frame SUV, complete with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, and a proper two-speed transfer case. It was available with either a 3.8-liter V6 or a 4.6-liter V8, the same engines found under the hood of early Hyundai Genesis sedans. Pair those features with three rows of leather seats, multi-zone automatic climate control, and styling penned by ex-Audi designer Peter Schreyer, and you’ve got yourself a criminally underrated luxury SUV.
Although the Borrego was only ever offered for a single year in the U.S., Kia continued to sell the model in Canada until 2011. Internationally, the Borrego was produced and sold as the “Kia Mohave” until 2019. Then, the Mohave received a major visual refresh and continued to be manufactured in South Korea and Russia until 2024. Although this SUV proved its dependability in Eastern Europe, Russia, and other Asian regions, it never really got a chance to shine in North America, having been swiftly replaced by the softer, family-friendly, unibody Sorento and, eventually, the Telluride. The Borrego remains one of the most overlooked and underrated SUVs on American roads, and there are still some out there to be scooped up for next to nothing.
Kia
Kia
Kia
Kia
Given the model’s short lifespan in the United States, they can be quite challenging to find for sale on the pre-owned market. Thankfully, there are still a few out there to be seen. For example, I’ve found this rear-wheel drive, V6-powered 2009 Kia Borrego LX for sale on Edmunds in Louisiana, allegedly featuring no accidents and just two previous owners on its history report, with an asking price of just $6,900. Four-wheel drive models are also available, albeit for a slightly higher price (without sacrificing higher mileage). However, V8-powered models are scarce, as this was a costly optional feature that was only available with EX trim levels.
4. 2007-2014 Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV (GMT900)
General Motors
Of course, the Cadillac Escalade is not a forgotten SUV in America. Perhaps the most popular go-to black car for limousine and charter businesses, American streets are littered with Escalades, no matter which city you find yourself in. Aside from perhaps its first generation, however, the third-generation Cadillac Escalade is the most forgotten one, at least in terms of pop culture relevance and pre-owned market valuations, yet it offers a captivating blend of old-school GM truck dependability and modern Cadillac luxury and style. The third-generation Escalade is perhaps the most affordable way to get yourself into an Escalade and still look as if all your finances are (mostly) in order.
Packing a 403-horsepower 6.2-liter Vortec V8, luxury SUVs don’t often get much more dependable than this. With a six-speed automatic transmission and rear- or four-wheel drive, the third-generation Escalade also has proper old-school bones. Still, it has the well-moisturized, high-class skin necessary to be presentable in the Californian sun, even after all these years. The third-generation Cadillac Escalade is the most affordable Escalade that still looks like a modern Escalade. It doesn’t have the barebones ruggedness of the first-gen Escalade, nor the Tony Soprano, Andre 3000, or Leslie Chow aura of the iconic second-gen model, but especially in post-facelift guise, it still looks so fresh and so clean.
General Motors
Definitely the most baller entry on this list, these third-gen Cadillac Escalades can be found for seriously cheap, even in well-kept condition and without 26-inch chrome spinners. Those can come later, but if you’re going that route with it, commit to something appropriately high-end like a set of forged Asantis. Now you’re ballin’ outta control. Here’s a Soprano-spec pearl white 85k-mile 4WD 2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV that sold for just under $20k last year on Cars & Bids. There’s also this facelifted 45k-mile 2011 Cadillac Escalade Platinum AWD that sold for just $25,000 on Bring a Trailer this year, or this gorgeous, original-owner 2009 Cadillac Escalade EXT AWD that sold for $23,333, if you’re into the Chevy Avalanche-adjacent pickup-truck variant.
5. 2010-2018 Volkswagen Touareg
VW
Everyone remembers the first-gen Touareg for its off-road chops, its shared platform with the Porsche Cayenne, and its VR6, V8, V6 TDI, and V10 TDI engines. The second generation, despite featuring a larger base VR6, retaining an optional 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 engine, and having participated in the Dakar rally, hasn’t quite attracted the same cult following as its predecessor. However, it offered a similar blend of off-road capability and comfortable, city-friendly road manners as its first-gen model in a package that still shared many of its components with its far more expensive cousins, such as the Porsche Cayenne and the Audi Q7. These also feel significantly more modern both inside and out when compared to their first-gen predecessors, and strangely don’t cost all that much more money these days.
VW
VW
VW
Genuine deals are readily available when searching for pre-owned second-generation VW Touaregs. These were popular vehicles in North America, at least for a while, and so they pop up regularly on the used market. These regularly sell on auction sites like Bring a Trailer or Cars & Bids for far less money than any new SUV, or even car, for that matter. Here’s a 2016 VW Touareg TDI Executive that sold on Cars & Bids for just $16,000 this year, and a 2015 VW Touareg V6 that sold on Bring a Trailer for just $14,000.
Final thoughts
Although they aren’t all the sexiest SUVs money can buy, each of these entries represents a respectable, well-equipped SUV offering that packs luxury, utility, and sportiness into now-extremely-affordable packages. These are all commendable SUVs that have reached the bottoms of their respective depreciation curves, and, if you keep a keen eye out for the right deal, it’s not uncommon to be able to buy one of these, drive it for a few years, and sell it for around what you paid for it in the first place, or even a little bit more.
Don’t expect to turn a profit, as you’ll still have to maintain and fuel up these vehicles for what they are: powerful, fuel-thirsty luxury SUVs. Still, you can rest easy knowing you’re not losing 35% to 50% of the value of a $50,000+ brand-new SUV over the first three to five years of ownership, as so many people decide to do almost every single day. Budget wisely, understand that you get what you pay for when it comes to condition, history, mileage, and future maintenance costs, and any of these five SUVs will gladly take anything you can throw at them, and look good while doing it.
About the author
Cole Attisha
Staff Writer, Autoblog