$30k, 30+mpg, luxury - possible?

[1X83Z]

Is it possible to spend $30k or thereabouts and be able to get both 30mpg and luxury? (luxury as in a sunroof, nav system, lots of interior stuff, a gorgeous interior -- ie better than a Prius or a Camry Hybrid)

Can anyone think of a car that fits the bill? And by 30mpg I mean 30mpg, not 29mpg highway. I mean a legitimate 30mpg city. I guess I'd compromise on 25mpg city, if 30 isn't available, but I can't even think of a car fitting the 25mpg description.

used or new. Not for me but I'm just brainstorming. Anyone??

 

[McLaren]

Shame you said 30Mpg in the city. Otherwise, I would easily suggest the TSX, TL (not 30, but 26Mpg highway), or the BMW 3 Series.

 

[Omnis]

The only thing I can think of is the Audi A4 diesel concept. It's probably more than 30k, though. If you want a 30+mpg city luxury car for that price, I'm sure it's possible. Just don't expect it to go fast.

In his E320 Bluetec, my dad gets about 29 city driving really conservatively, and 35-37 highway with typical driving. Normally he drives like a demon because he loves his torque monster engine, but he still gets about 24mpg city. Shame it's $20k over budget.

 

[McLaren]

The only thing I can think of is the Audi A4 diesel concept. It's probably more than 30k, though. If you want a 30+mpg city luxury car for that price, I'm sure it's possible. Just don't expect it to go fast.

In his E320 Bluetec, my dad gets about 29 city driving really conservatively, and 35-37 highway with typical driving. Normally he drives like a demon because he loves his torque monster engine, but he still gets about 24mpg city. Shame it's $20k over budget.

Lucky git....

 

[1X83Z]

I kinda hit the same wall you guys did - I can get CLOSE but not exactly within these parameters. Sucks because for $30k you can have your pick of literally any Infiniti G35 manufactured, and if you wait six months even 07 G37 coupes... and of course $30k will buy you any number of 30-40mpg cars all day long... but you can't combine them??

Best compromise then? Mini? Last-gen TSX?

 

[YSSMAN]

I can only think of a few examples:

2009 VW Jetta TDI - 29/40 MPG - Starts at $21K

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - 41/36 MPG - Starts at $27K

...thats about all I can think of off the top of my head...

Wait for the Honda Accord diesel to show up, I assume you'd be able to add that to the list in EX-L form.

 

[1X83Z]

You missed the 'luxury' bit Brad -- Fusion's about as low-rent as you can get and the Jetta's not much better. Hmmmmmm...

EX-L Accord Diesel will fit the bill, if such a thing is to exist. Interior is much nicer than the current Camry.

 

[Omnis]

Lucky git....

We're talking about a guy who used to put jet fuel in his diesel Bonneville. The perks of working at the airport.

 

[McLaren]

We're talking about a guy who used to put jet fuel in his diesel Bonneville. The perks of working at the airport.

What the? How in the hell did that actually even work?!

 

[YSSMAN]

You missed the 'luxury' bit Brad -- Fusion's about as low-rent as you can get...

Have you been in a Ford lately?

Nevertheless, its about as good as you're going to get in a size and fuel economy trade-off. Only problem is that you'll have to drive a car with the blue oval on it. Or does badge snobbery prevent it?

 

[McLaren]

Brad, I'm not saying you're wrong, but Doug has a point. Remember, I've driven a Fusion with that little sport package. The interior is nice, but seriously, you can tell its a Ford trying really hard to make the luxury known.

In terms of Audi, BMW, & Mercedes, it isn't there. In fact, it's like my TL. The interior's great, but we all know it isn't German luxury.

 

[1X83Z]

Nevertheless, its about as good as you're going to get in a size and fuel economy trade-off. Only problem is that you'll have to drive a car with the blue oval on it. Or does badge snobbery prevent it?

Have driven several Fusions well over 100 miles. The Fusion is among the lowest-quality interiors I have ever experienced, a list which includes the Chevrolet Aveo. 2010 interior does look nicer

The hybrid starts at ~$28k and I'm assuming because it's Ford that NOTHING from that interior shot (leather, nav) is standard, so I'm going to assume $32k plus whatever premium they'll charge because it's a hybrid. That is a very reasonable contender, though, certainly.

In terms of Audi, BMW, & Mercedes, it isn't there. In fact, it's like my TL. The interior's great, but we all know it isn't German luxury.

Exactly! So why can't Audi make an A3 w/ 30mpg for $30k?? Hell I would even take your TL's interior - which is leagues ahead of Fusion and maybe just a step behind Audi - but for the fact that it doesn't get 30mpg (and the new one honestly scares me from the outside). Does Acura not see a potential here?? Maybe there IS no potential for a $30k luxury car w/ 30mpg? Surely there is...

 

[Omnis]

Doug, isn't this what Lexus is (was) trying to fill with that IS hybrid?

What the? How in the hell did that actually even work?!

Jet fuel is almost like kerosene, so it works. The car bombed out within a few years though. I'm sure you're aware that old american diesels were terrible.

 

[1X83Z]

Doug, isn't this what Lexus is (was) trying to fill with that IS hybrid?

Yes - that's exactly what I was thinking - but there is no such vehicle

 

[McLaren]

Exactly! So why can't Audi make an A3 w/ 30mpg for $30k?? Hell I would even take your TL's interior - which is leagues ahead of Fusion and maybe just a step behind Audi - but for the fact that it doesn't get 30mpg (and the new one honestly scares me from the outside). Does Acura not see a potential here?? Maybe there IS no potential for a $30k luxury car w/ 30mpg? Surely there is...

Acura missed potential when it didn't make the base '09 RWD. The new SH-AWD is a pretty stellar vehicle with some great performance. But, the interior still isn't German quality. It's a very nice interior companied with a pretty advanced console (which btw is also a step backwards; mine is nice & simple with a touch screen. The new one is full of buttons and a dial as well as a smaller screen). But that's it. It does however, share BMW's steering wheel design with a bulky round grip, and a small center radius.

 

[1X83Z]

Acura missed potential when it didn't make the base '09 RWD. The new SH-AWD is a pretty stellar vehicle with some great performance. But, the interior still isn't German quality. It's a very nice interior companied with a pretty advanced console (which btw is also a step backwards; mine is nice & simple with a touch screen. The new one is full of buttons and a dial as well as a smaller screen). But that's it. It does however, share BMW's steering wheel design with a bulky round grip, and a small center radius.

I prefer the Acura's interior to BMW's, though not to the new A4's. The 3-series' interior is an anachronism. In fact of the major players in that class, I think it is the worst. The best are A4, CTS, G37, TL, maybe not in that order. Then Lexus IS, then BMW. BMW's shows a complete lack of any sort of imagination or design in a time when buyers have clearly demonstrated that is what they want. The amount of market share BMW loses with the 3-series on a daily basis is a clear indicator of this.

Sadly none of the aforementioned vehicles get 30mpg.

 

[Stotty]

Do you guys get diesel cars in the US... a 520d would average 35-40mpg. And based on my wife averaging c.30mpg in her old X5 3.0d auto, I'd expect a 530d or a 730d would also exceed 30mpg if driven in a sensilble manner.

 

[1X83Z]

Do you guys get diesel cars in the US... a 520d would average 35-40mpg. And based on my wife averaging c.30mpg in her old X5 3.0d auto, I'd expect a 530d or a 730d would also exceed 30mpg if driven in a sensilble manner.

no (very few) diesels in USA and none of that stuff would be anywhere near $30k anyway

 

[neanderthal]

1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel.

Only car I can think of that we get in this country (later E320 bluetecs notwithstanding, but too expensive and 96- 98 models that i dont like) that meets the criteria.

 

[Joey D]

Best compromise then? Mini? Last-gen TSX?

The problem with the MINI is that while it can be expensive and can have luxuries (sat-nav, heated seats, all sorts of safety controls, a premium sound system, etc.) it is still built as an $18,000 car. You can 30+mpg in the city all day long with it and if you are extra careful a 40+mpg isn't out of reach. I guess the MINI is about as premium and luxury you can get in a small car though.

While I do love my car I won't buy another MINI, honestly I'll take a slight MPG hit and move on to something nicer for my next vehicle.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> My pick:

Volkswagen Jetta TDI Sportwagen

^ Audi-esque interior, Prius-beating mileage, Camry-beating sportiness, Tiguan-beating cargo capacity, Subaru-esque moonroof, and Euro-car refinement.

-> Other than that, 335d; good luck with that...

 

[Stotty]

OK, no diesels then... though I'm sure a 2nd hand 530d would be sub £20K in the UK.

The 3 litre petrol BMW engine is a pretty efficient thing. We had a 630i with an auto box a few years ago that averaged 28mpg. I'm sure a manual 330i or 530i would get close to 30mpg and could be had for $30k 2nd hand.

 

[niky]

Too bad you don't get the 520d... not a fireball, but decent poke for something so big with such a small engine (0-100 km/h in 9 seconds or so)... and it's "luxury"... or as luxury as BMWs can be, if spec'd right.

 

[Philly]

Volkswagen GTI? You'll get 30+mpg on the highway. And you can get fancy leather and all kinds of cool gizmos in it.

 

[TsLeng]

Do you guys get diesel cars in the US... a 520d would average 35-40mpg. And based on my wife averaging c.30mpg in her old X5 3.0d auto, I'd expect a 530d or a 730d would also exceed 30mpg if driven in a sensilble manner.

I assume its UK gallon you are talking about but the thread is about US gallons

 

[Philly]

I did a little research and according to cars.com, the best you can get is an E320 blutec at 23 mpg city. But I'm doubting that list includes regular cars that happen to be pretty luxurious.

 

[FoolKiller]

Volkswagen GTI? You'll get 30+mpg on the highway. And you can get fancy leather and all kinds of cool gizmos in it.

And that's before you add options.


But, I think that in order to get a car large enough to be considered luxury you start to get into weight factors that prevent cheaply getting 30+mpg in the city. The only way around that is a hybrid system, but then the price will go over your $30k mark.

If you are seriously looking at this you will have to sacrifice something somewhere, and luxury items are usually the first thing to go when budget is an issue.

 

[Famine]

If you were in the UK, I'd show you to a Ford Mondeo (Mk3) ST TDCi, which can be purchased now, 18 months old, for about £10k, returns 46.3mpg combined (Imperial gallons though - it'd be 38.6mpg US, I think) and has an interior (options) like... well, this:

(yes, that does say Recaro. Yes that is red leather and grey alcantara. And yes it does have a Satnav system, though it's not in-shot)

Suitable?

 

[FoolKiller]

If you were in the UK, I'd show you to a Ford Mondeo

This right here is proof that even the American car companies make better cars overseas.

 

[1X83Z]

But, I think that in order to get a car large enough to be considered luxury you start to get into weight factors that prevent cheaply getting 30+mpg in the city. The only way around that is a hybrid system, but then the price will go over your $30k mark.

You don't need a "large" car to get a "luxury" car - Audi A3, BMW 1-series -- even the A4 and 3-series prove that. But none of those cars get anywhere near 30mpg. Why can't they sell diesels here? A diesel Golf with some options would probably meet these criteria...

If you were in the UK, I'd show you to a Ford Mondeo (Mk3) ST TDCi, which can be purchased now, 18 months old, for about £10k, returns 46.3mpg combined (Imperial gallons though - it'd be 38.6mpg US, I think) and has an interior (options) like... well, this:

£21,830 = $33,300 USD