Luxury Dream Cars and Their Affordable Dupes
All car geeks have pictured themselves cruising across the country in a Bentley or a Rolls Royce at some point — our quiet cab blocking out the obnoxious highway while our dimly lit cabin plays smooth-and-smokey jazz through state-of-the-art sound gear.
For most of us, cruising in a car that costs between $200 and $300K remains a fantasy. But that doesn’t mean our dream of comfy cross-country cruising has to fade.
Here are six luxury dream cars we’d love to own simply because of their refined cabins and comfortable cruiseability. We’ll also present six alternative luxury models to those dream rides available for less than 65 grand on the used market.
Dream Car: 2024 Bentley Flying Spur
The Bently Flying Spur starts at a $217,625 base price, but since this is a dream car situation, let’s imagine we can afford the upgraded W-12 engine with 626 horsepower. Now our dream’s moving at the rate of 3.5 seconds, zero-to-60 mph while banging tunes via our Bang & Olufsen or Naim audio package.
The 2024 edition of the Flying Spur features some fly upgrades, like a new trim and an elegant waterfall grill. All trim packages stock plush wool floor mats and carpeting made from recycled nylon.
Affodable Alternative: 2016 Audi A8L
A more affordable alternative to the Flying Spur is the 2016 Audi A8L 4.0T. Car and Driver tested the 2016 model to report a recorded zero-to-60-mph time of 3.9 seconds. Their test also boasted the A8L’s quarter-mile time of 12.4 seconds.
The 2016 is available on the used market for a decent price. It has slightly more aggressive front and rear fascias than other members of the A8 family and a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 offering higher horsepower than previous years.
Dream Car: 2024 Bentley Continental GT
Despite being a smaller luxury coupe, the Continental GT also comes available with the same W-12 engine with 626 horsepower. An even more powerful speed trim brings that horsepower up to 650. Tests show the two packages are capable of a 3.3-second zero-to-60-mph run and a 3.1-second run for Speed models, respectively.
All Continental GTs offer standard All-Wheel Drive and, despite their coupe-style, luxury cabin features. The 2024 Continental GT boasts a three-sided rotating infotainment unit featuring a 12.3-inch touchscreen and three additional analog gauges for exterior air temperature, time, and compass.
Affordable Alternative: 2018 Audi A5 Coupe
Fantasizing fans can wake up and smell the rows of seats stuffed into the two-door 2018 Audi A5 Coupe, which also comes standard with all-wheel drive and a comfortable cabin, despite the 2-door coupe style. The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is one of the most responsive in its class, offering a snappy, power-delivering driving experience at an affordable price.
Car geeks who really want to feel the road as we cruise can opt for the three-pedal manual setup led by a six-speed manual transmission at no additional cost. The A5 is available with optional navigation and a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio package.
Dream Car: 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre
The Rolls Royce Sprctre is another gloriously luxurious dream car of ours, with a spacious, noise-canceling cabin and a $422,750 starting price. The Spectr stocks an impressive Electric powertrain with 577 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque.
The Specter’s door panels sparkle thanks to tiny LED light implants around the car’s armrests that go with Rolls-Royce’s signature starry-night headliner. Car and Driver reports around a 4.2-second time for the Spectre’s zero-to-60-mph run.
Affordable Alternative: Tesla Model S P90D
Car geeks looking for a refined and classy EV should check out the 2016 Tesla Model S P90D. The 2016 P90D version of the Model S is available on the used market for an affordable price these days. Its electric powertrain is actually more potent than the base model Spectre — the Tesla maxes out at 691 and 713 foot-pounds of torque.
The 2016 Tesla Model S P90D’s interior offers some top-shelf entertainment and comfort features, including an impressive AM/FM/HD/USB audio system with a 17″ touch screen, seven speakers, and live traffic updates.
Heated front seats with memory function, a power tilt/telescoping steering column, and dual-zone automatic air conditioning all elevate the 2016 P90D’s driving experience, and luxury car shoppers can score one on the used market for a decent price.
Dream Car: 2024 Rolls-Royce Phantom
The Rolls-Royce Phantom boasts one of the most well-constructed luxury interiors with premium materials and customization options, and it costs $505,750. The Pantom’s twin-turbo V-12 engine is capable of 563 horsepower and a 5.1-second zero-to-60-mph time.
Rolls-Royce gives Phantom buyers the option of customizing their instrument panel trim to showcase the custom artwork of their choice. The Phantom also comes in the extended version, which is 8.6 inches longer, increasing the cargo space and rear passenger leg room.
Affordable Alternative: 2017 Mercedes Benz S-Class
If comfy cabins are a must, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is an affordable yet luxurious alternative that stocks all the leather, wood, and fancy stitching accents. It also has rear-seat power actuation and massage capabilities.
The 2017 S-Class comes in two trims — the S550, which stocks a twin-turbocharged 4.7-liter V-8 capable of 449 horsepower, and the S600, which pumps out 523 horsepower, a 6.0-liter V-12. 2017 was a good year for the S-Class, and you can get a good deal on a used one for some slightly more affordable luxury cruising.
Dream Car: 2024 Rolls-Royce Ghost
The Rolls-Royce Ghost starts at $354,750 and packs a 563-hp 6.7-liter V-12. If the car of our dreams is the Black Badge edition of the Ghost, however, that horsepower rating is closer to 600.
The Ghost’s Black Badge can rip from zero to 60mph in 4.6 seconds. Both cars include one of the coolest cabins in the game — thick carpet, fine-grained leather, and if you pay a little extra, integrated LEDs for a vibe that emulates a starlit sky.
Affordable Alternative: 2018 Audi A6
While the more affordable 2018 Audi A6 doesn’t have an LED sky-up in it, it does stock a refined and spacious cabin and a powerful 3.0-liter V-6. You can find an A6 for a pretty decent used price.
The All-Wheel Drive edition stocks Audi’s signature Quattro AWD technology for luxurious driveability in all conditions. The 2018 model introduces the Competition package with quilted leather seats and the Sports trim with a gloss-blacked-out interior.
Dream Car: 2024 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class
The 2024 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is the upper end of Mercedes’ offerings, with a bottom line of $199,450. Of the specs, the Maybach edition’s 496-hp twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 doesn’t seem that different. That said, the upgraded S680 Maybach trim packs a 6.0-liter V-12 capable of 621hp.
But what really drives the Maybach S-Class into dream-car territory is the refined interior design on all available trims. The Maybach models all stock high-grade leather on all interior surfaces and a 64-color mood lighting system.
Heated/massaging seats with multiple memory settings come on all trims, as do a slew of additional luxury cabin features like air ionization and fragrance.
Affordable Alternative: 2019 Volvo S90
The 2019 Volve S90 is more than just an affordable example of advanced technology and refined engineering — it exhibits cutting-edge driver-assistance features. It offers three engine options for easy and comfortable cruising and a luxurious interior that rivals more expensive luxury car lines.
The 2019 S90 is available as the T5 trimstocking a turbocharged four-cylinder, the T6 with a turbocharging and supercharging four-cylinder combo, and the electric-only T8 hybrid. The S90’s cabin employs open-pore wood, high-grade leather, brushed metal, and refined plastics for a modern take on luxury cruising — all available on the used market at an affordable price.
