bobacura3

Which of these non-Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, and Audi brands do you consider as luxury brands (equivalent to those 4 brands) or merely as sub luxury brands?
I found many people consider these brands have ambiguous standings as luxury brands.

all in random orders

1. Acura by Honda
2. Buick by GM
3. Cadillac by GM
4. Infiniti by Nissan
5. Lincoln by Ford
6. Genesis by Hyundai
7. Volvo by ... um by Geely Holding of China

kurtatx

Cadillac. That's it. Even they cut some corners sometimes.

1. Acura by Honda Too close to Honda
2. Buick by GM Interior materials fall well short
3. Cadillac by GM Truly the luxury marque of the past, currently ATS, CTS are contenders. The rest are meh
4. Infiniti by Nissan These models tend to be a letdown
5. Lincoln by Ford The Acura of Ford
6. Genesis by Hyundai Incomplete grade. I want to see more unique efforts from them
7. Volvo by ... um by Geely Holding of China Honestly, they're between Acura and Buick

ttribe

I pretty much agree with these characterizations, with one exception - 7. Volvo. They have stepped up their game in a big way. I don't consider them a true "luxury" brand, but I'd rank them above both Acura and Buick.

kurtatx

Yeah, I suppose my impression can be wrong. I find the Volvo the most difficult to read. Everyone I know who has one loves it, but that's not a ton of people.

neuronbob

Welcome to AZ, OP. And you are.....?

The question you ask is a sore point only because it is discussed so much. Any particular reason for asking?

kurtatx

At least we can all agree Lincoln isn't premium.

bobacura3

never knew this question is a sore point
I just wanted to know what owners of each brands I listed above think about how luxurious those 7 brands are.
That's all
I am planning to post this question to other sites as well.

kurtatx

Yeah, you would have to read about two threads to see that this is a major source of discord on this board.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

it's a sore point because Acura hasn't been doing well in regards to being a "luxury" brand.
But you'll have some owners get sore because they do think Acura is all that and a bag of chips.

kurtatx

^^Add to that the fact that a lot of people here held on to their Acuras for years in hopes that they would come out with something special only to continually be let down.

ThermonMermon

i agree. Cadillac only. With the exception of Volvo...currently, no; but soon to be yes.

The new XC90 and S90 are IMO luxury. No question. When the rest of the lineup turns over, they will be considered luxury at that point in time. If this poll were in 2 or so years from now, I think Volvo would be the first box checked.

AZuser

There needs to be a "None of the above" option.

Cadillac, Genesis, and Volvo seem to be making small strides in the right direction though, but not quite there yet.

Genesis needs to broaden their lineup. 2 sedans and an upcoming coupe won't do. They need to add a couple SUVs/CUVs.

Rick_TL-S

Volvo is a tricky one. They've definitely upped their game recently with their styling and their new interiors look pleasant to be around, but I can see how the brand itself still isn't seen as luxurious.

However, they're definitely making strides towards have a solid grasp in the luxury market. For example, I had no idea Volvo offered anything remotely close to 6-figures, but apparently, the XC90 has a particular trim that starts at $105,000. This looks nicely on par - amenities wise - with the Germans.

TylerT

iTrader: (1)

Damn, that's a nice interior.

SamDoe1

Caddy and Volvo. The rest are a waste of money of their cheaper counterparts.

RDX10

Genesis currently has 2 SUV's in the pipeline, set to come out in the next couple of years along with a coupe and I agree with you 100% that they are not a "brand" with only 2 cars. Personally, based on the current genesis G80 (with experience from the 2015 Hyundai Genesis before it became the G80) I can comfortably make the statement that they are a luxury brand. They have that "feel" that makes me feel like I am driving something very expensive. They have that presence that just grabs your attention. That is something I do not get when driving any Acura.

Of course luxury is subjective. It depends who you ask. I am willing to bet anyone driving a Mitsubishi or Subaru will think an Acura of buick is luxury. My previous cars were Touaregs and X5's so I am much more critical than someone who has driven cheaper cars all their life and suddenly seen an Acura or even higher end mainstream brand vehicle. I have ZERO experience with the newer generation of Cadillac vehicles but they seem to be getting there. Volvo is going to be Luxury when they flip over the XC60/S60 models to the newer generation architecture and styling.

Chief F1 Fan

Caddy only, the rest are poseurs

kurtatx

See, I would never consider Volvo, and yet every picture I see indicates I probably should.

neuronbob

OK, I'll play along with the researcher.

Cadillac for sure. Everybody else is an entry level poseur, including Acura. Lincoln and Buick, really? Volvo and Genesis are well on their way but haven't made it yet. I sat in the new S90 at the NAIAS. Holy f was that wood good-feeling. THAT is a luxury interior.

ttribe

For your consideration:

2017 Volvo S90 vs. 2017 Cadillac CT6 vs. 2017 Mercedes E300: Luxury Sedan Comparison

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Interesting list. Caddy was the only one I chose. For me, the rest are German (Mercedes, Audi, etc).

It's not to say the others aren't better than normal... but I'd consider most of those more "near luxury" versus luxury...

Chief F1 Fan

I'm looking at purchasing a Volvo V90 but in no way do I consider it a luxury brand.

Saintor

Although not one in the top tier, they obviously all are "luxury", with different level of success,

1. Cadillac by GM - I ride often in an Escalade, enjoyed the ATS / CTS, "V" versions are extraordinary
2. Acura by Honda - the Costco luxo vehicles, Only the TLX I find interesting in their maintream cars, good success with SUVs. NSX is receiving great reviews.
3. Infiniti by Nissan - Too weird and harsh, never liked Nissan, although they are good cars.
4. Volvo by ... um by Geely Holding of China - ONLY 4-cyl. in S90 and XC90? No thanks.
5. Lincoln by Ford - It seems that they try and fail continuously. In perpetual search of an identity.
6. Genesis by Hyundai - So far luxo boats that have proved not much.
7. Buick by GM - It is surprising what they did in Asia, the Regal was nice in some aspect,

ThermonMermon

TacoBello

That Volvo looks badass.

csmeance

Almost all of those brands are considered ENTRY LEVEL Luxury models. For example BMW's have side-dimming mirrors, something that baffles most auto makers that aren't true luxury.

Don't forget about Chrysler in that list

Either way, most of those brands listed come at a cheaper price than their luxury counterparts and you are knowingly trading off "features".

Maybe Cadillac and Volvo might be luxury as their new offerings are pretty amazing. GM has lots do to in order to improve their terrible dealer/s.

SDSilverM3

Cadillac is closest to what I would perceive as luxury. The brands listed are not-quite-luxury yet and if there was an option for "NONE" that would have been my choice.

kurtatx

at Chrysler. I can't believe that's still a car marque.

MTD

Define "luxury". Id hardly call a BMW 320 or Audi A3 luxurious. An Accord is nicer inside.

A list of brands isn't exactly representative of luxury when they all make some base model turds.

projektvertx

iTrader: (2)

Pretty good characterization actually. I will also chip in and disagree with 7. I loved the exterior styling of the S90, and was very disappointed with it when I actually sat in it. The brand has seriously dropped from what I remember it being. The new S90 interior materials felt like they belonged on a car less than half the price...

kurtatx

I love the Accord, but its fit and finish simply don't hold up to either the BMW 320 or the Audi A3. Overall, BMW and Audi simply are much more luxurious.

neuronbob

I haven't considered Chrysler "luxury" in over 30 years.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Well the 320 and A3 are the entry fee, or "cover charge" into the luxury brands. So they certainly serve a purpose for the automaker.

Agreed. The Accord, while very nice and has come a very long way, is not an Audi or BMW.

The other thing is the experience. As a family that started with an Acura, then moved to Audi, and now Mercedes (primary cars) I can tell you hands down nothing compares to the complete ownership experience of the German makes. Even the service experience is second to none. Our Mercedes dealership has the service and showroom separated with a large porte-cochère between the two that is heated and cooled, plus has tiled floors which are mopped every 30 minutes. Not a tire mark or footprint in site. While some may deem that excessive, it's part of the luxury ownership.

I do think Hyundai is making the right move by breaking the Genesis to its own brand. Over time that will allow them to grow that into a more luxury brand to give an experience you'd never get at a regular Hyundai dealership...

iSeeYouTwo

Definitely Acura. Have you seen the RDX Elite?

projektvertx

iTrader: (2)

Getting all them 9.5 girls

ttribe

Agreed. I'm not sure they can even be considered "Premium" anymore.

kurtatx

Completely dead brand. Lincoln is next.

RDX10

IMHO Lincoln has come SO FAR from being rebadged fords. But honestly at the end of the day, what's the point even? The top level ford models are not as nice as their lincoln counterparts, but I mean really for the price, I would take many other vehicles. They don't even sell many lincolns while ford is killing it with their vehicles in their respective classes (i.e edge, escape, explorer).

I will NEVER see a lincoln on the level of a mercedes, no matter what they do. On that same token, IMHO lincoln's are WAY nicer than current Acura's, with real engines under the hood and some now possesing an AWD system exactly like SH-AWD.

Edit: Is Chrysler even a brand? Like all they have is the pacifica and nearly dead 300....200 gone, T&C gone, Aspen Gone...I don't get it.

kurtatx

My best friend's fiance drives a Lincoln. He really likes it and it is quite comfortable. But still, the looks and whatever is such a head scratcher to me. They are very similar to Acura in that way.

neuronbob

Lincoln=meh other than the new Continental, which is not bad-looking.