10 Surprising Luxury Cars With Unexpected Performance

Related: 10 Fast German Luxury Cars That Are Affordable

10 2016 Audi S8 Plus

0-60 MPH: 3.3 Seconds

Even though the 2016 Audi S8 doesn’t look all that different from the A8, it takes its rightful place at the top of the range, thanks in large part to a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8. The S8 Plus makes 85 extra horsepower than the regular S8, which makes 520 hp.

Even though the full-size luxury sedan features a twin-turbo V8, it’s still mind-blowing that it covers 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, according to Zero To 60 Times. That makes the 2016 S8 Plus just as fast as the 2017 Ferrari GTC4 Lusso.

Performance

9 2010 BMW 760Li

0-60 MPH: 4.1 Seconds

It’s not every day you see a $10,000 used luxury sedan that offers a rear-wheel drive setup, heated and cooled front, and rear seats, as well as a heated steering wheel, and other standard features. But what’s even more surprising is that the 5,026-pound BMW is as fast as a 2007 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder.

The 2010 760Li is blessed with a 6.0-liter V12 engine and BMW’s first transmission with eight gears. The 535-hp V12 launches the long-wheelbase 760Li to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, per Zero To 60 Times.

Performance

8 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

0-60 MPH: 4.1 Seconds

The 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon is really a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It boasts almost the same level of comfort as an SUV while delivering supercar-worthy performance.

With a 556-hp 6.2-liter supercharged V8, magnetic shock absorbers, and Brembo brakes, you’d have to agree some wagons are not just dowdy grandma-mobiles. According to Zero To 60 Times, the 2011 CTS-V Sport Wagon is blindingly fast, hitting 60 mph in 4.1 seconds.

Performance

Related: A Detailed Look Back At The 556 Hp Cadillac CTS-V Station Wagon

7 2019 Genesis G70 3.3T Advanced

0-60 MPH: 4.5 Seconds

The 2019 Genesis G70 3.3T often finds itself lost in a crowd that comprises the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, but it’s a good choice to consider if you need a fast luxury car under $30,000.

You have to try not to get carried away by the plush interior of the G70 3.3T Advanced, as the sports sedan is quite quick on its feet. With a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6, the G70 3.3T Advanced rockets to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, according to Kelley Blue Book.

Performance

6 2013 Audi S7

0-60 MPH: 4.0 Seconds

The 2013 Audi S7 doesn’t look faster or meaner than the A7, but underestimate it at your peril. With a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 at its heart, the S7 produces 420 hp, that’s 110 hp more than the A7.

Churning out that amount of power, the S7 hits a home run in 4.0 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph, according to Zero To 60 Times. With these impressive numbers, it’s safe to say the 2013 S7 is one of the best fast luxury cars under $20,000.

Performance

5 2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400

0-60 MPH: 4.5 Seconds

Infiniti added the Red Sport 400 to the Q50 lineup for the first time in 2016 and packed some serious muscle. Yet, this souped-up Q50 remains one of the cheapest fast luxury cars, with a used price of $19,816, according to Kelley Blue Book.

As you probably have guessed, the Q50 Red Sport produces 400 hp from a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6. That’s quite impressive for an entry-level luxury sports sedan, and some may even say it’s an overkill. But, according to Zero To 60 Times, that’s the amount of power needed to push the sedan from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds.

Performance

4 2007 Mercedes-Benz S600

0-60 MPH: 4.4 Seconds

There’s no doubt the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S600 is comfortable and practical, as it’s one of the German automaker’s biggest sedans. But surprisingly, the 4,960-pound of sheet metal is no slouch.

According to Acceleration Times, the 2007 S600 goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and tops out at 155 mph. The S600 achieves a 2020 Porsche 718 Cayman T-matching acceleration, thanks to a 510-hp 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12.

Performance

3 2008 Lexus IS-F

0-60 MPH: 4.2 Seconds

Lexus got the luxury side of the equation right from the get-go, but the performance of its vehicles was questionable until the IS-F was introduced To distinguish the 2008 Lexus IS F from the rest of the IS lineup, Lexus fits it with a larger rear spoiler, and a new grille with a wider opening to cool the fiery V8 under the hood.

The 416-hp 5.0-liter V8 puts the Lexus IS-F on the same pedestal as the Mercedes’ AMG and BMW’s M-Series cars. Zero To 60 Times claims the fast luxury car covers 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and tops out at 170 mph.

Performance

2 2005 Mercedes E55 AMG Wagon

0-60 MPH: 4.1 Seconds

At first glance, you might think the 2005 Mercedes E55 AMG Wagon is just a roomy, family-friendly vehicle, but that will be a gross underestimation of its potential. The E55 AMG Wagon is capable of putting some of your favorite sports cars to shame in a straight line, thanks to its 5.5-liter supercharged V8 engine.

It’s hard for some to imagine that a wagon can complete a 60-mph run in 4.1 seconds, as Zero To 60 Times claims. Despite these impressive performance figures, Kelley Blue Book says you can snap up the E55 AMG Wagon for just $13,294. Well, that shouldn’t come as a surprise since you probably already know that luxury cars depreciate so fast because of their high running costs.

Performance

Related: 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class: Price, Release Date, Specs, And Everything We Know

1 2013 BMW M5

0-60 MPH: 3.7 Seconds

Sedans are not usually the first car that comes to mind when you think of luxury fast cars, but the 2013 BMW M5 begs to differ. It’s one of the fastest luxury cars under $40,000, but even with M-specific exterior enhancements, you will probably never have guessed the M5 is capable of leaving some of your dream supercars in the dust.

According to Zero To 60 Times, the 2013 M5 dashes to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and hits a quarter-mile mark in 11.9 seconds. And that’s only made possible because of the 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 and the 7-speed M-DCT’s launch control.

Performance