Gaining popularity in America during the fuel crisis, Japanese automakers have seemingly never shaken the “cheap car” stigma. If you tell most people you drive a Japanese car, many would conjure images of a beige Toyota Corolla or a Honda Civic accompanied by some smirch. While this affordable car stigma is true, it has its benefits when shopping in the luxury car market. In the 80s, that stigma was directly proportional to quality and features, but everything changed in the 1990s when the big three from Japan launched their luxury brands. The best of what Japan could engineer threatened the best of what the Germans afforded their buyers at nearly half the price.
Fast-forward to the current times, Acura, Infiniti, and of course, Lexus have built and sold German-rivaling luxury cars since their first indulgent sedans in the nineties. And their biggest hook to buyers has always been their bargain-basement prices compared to European choices in their class, and their near-legendary reliability.
And with the rise of these Japanese luxury automakers, coupled with everyone’s need to have the latest and greatest, came a healthy used car market filled with top-tier luxury cars that were state-of-the-art just several years earlier. Given their famed reliability and build quality, a lot of these luxury sedans still have a lot of life and enjoyable motoring left to offer. So if you’ve been craving a reliable and comfort-coddling luxury car, here are a few Japanese sedans to look at that won’t break the bank.
In compiling this article, we have cross-referenced information for vehicle reliability, maintenance, and pricing from sources like J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, RepairPal, CarEdge, and Consumer Reports to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible. Please note that we have ranked the following models based on least reliable to most reliable.
10 1997 Toyota Century
Reliability Score: 70/100
As the epitome of Japanese opulence on four wheels, the Toyota Century is one of the most luxurious cars to ever come out of Japan. Designed, engineered, and built with the Japanese affluent in mind, the Toyota Century isn’t only a marvel of engineering but also a showcase of Japanese craftsmanship. Powered by the only Japanese mass-produced V-12 engine, Toyota made certain anyone chauffeured in the Century only got the best.
Reliability
As far as common issues go, the Toyota Century is just as reliable as a Hilux on farm duty. Seen as a status symbol in its motherland, Toyota made sure of its dependability as well, since it’s never good when a Japanese dignitary finds stranded on the side of the road. Most of the concerns regarding the Century are wear-and-tear related, like the degradation of its wool upholstery and random switchgear issues, just like any other car of its age. Since only around 9,500 units were built, and most sales are local, certain spares such as oil seals, gaskets, and other maintenance items can be a challenge to source.
-
Average Yearly Maintenance Cost:
Undetermined -
Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years:
Undetermined -
Total Recalls:
Undetermined -
Worst ES Year To Buy Used:
Undetermined
9 1993 Acura Legend Coupe
Reliability Score: 75/100
In the early nineties, the race for superiority in America between the newly-formed Japanese high-end brands was tight. But when comparing the models each automaker released in the period, the Acura Legend stands out, being offered in sedan and coupe guises. Decked out with luxuries that are frankly still uncommon today, like soft-close doors and power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, the Legend Coupe is a true luxury car in a long-forgotten body style.
Reliability
Although the Legend was Acura’s flagship vehicle in the ’90s, its roots are founded in Honda, which is widely considered to be an engineering company as much as it is a car manufacturer. That said, the big luxury coupe is known to perform flawlessly, despite crossing 30 years after it was first introduced. Its only recalls are for highway regulations compliance and weakening exterior lights, which are more preventive maintenance than causes for anxiety.
-
Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $355 (RepairPal)
-
Reliability Rating: 4.8 (Kelley Blue Book)
-
Total Recalls:
4 (CarComplaints)- Amber side reflectors (May and June 2006)
- Decreased lighting visibility (April and May 2009)
-
Worst ES Year To Buy Used: None
8 2014 Acura TL
Reliability Score: 80/100
Acura has been in the luxury car game for just as long as Lexus has been, and their TL mid-size is a reminder of their accomplishments so far. Blending the opposites of luxury and sport is always a tightrope walk, yet Acura demonstrates a balanced approach to this in their TL. Clothed in otherwise reserved bodywork, the Acura TL greets you with high-end leather on all its touch surfaces traced by contrast stitching and accented with aluminum trim.
Reliability
With no major faults to speak of, the Acura TL has proved itself to be well-engineered and has aced reliability and consumer reviews. Its three recalls have all been airbag-related and are a known issue. Overall, the Acura TL is a great luxury sedan that doesn’t brag about its capabilities.
-
Average Yearly Maintenance Cost:
$465 -
Reliability Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars
-
Total Recalls:
3- Takata airbag recall in February 2016, March, and June 2019
-
Worst ES Year To Buy Used: 2010
7 2016 Acura TLX
Reliability Score: 85/100
Often a recipe for disaster, the TLX finds itself pulling double duty to replace the compact TSX and the mid-size TL. The new-for-2015 TLX offers a wide breadth of options previously covered by two individual models. While its mission-brief is potentially damning, the TLX manages to juggle its tasks reasonably enough. Its new interior certainly demonstrates a bias to luxury, mixing deeply lacquered wood accents into a flowing dash, inset with chunks of aluminum trim pieces. And everything else is covered in elegant leather, of course.
Reliability
Although the Acura TLX has had its share of issues in its first year of introduction, by its second year of production many of its first-year-jitters have been resolved. Satisfactory ratings also accompany the TLX’s exceptionally reasonable average maintenance expenses throughout the year.
-
Average Yearly Maintenance Cost:
$357 (RepairPal) -
Reliability Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
-
Total Recalls:
1- Reduced fuel pump performance
-
Worst ES Year To Buy Used: 2015
6 2014 Lexus GS350
Reliability Score: 85/100
Slotting in under the flagship LS, the Lexus GS still offers quite a package of sophistication and features. Though some plastics can be found around its interior, its majority is furnished in a tasteful blend of high-quality leather and wood trim with brushed aluminum accents. Surely a wonderful way to be greeted into an upscale luxury sedan. Further emphasizing its premium quality, the Lexus’ can be optioned with the automaker’s go-to Mark Levinson sound system.
Reliability
The Lexus track record for durability is stellar; evidence of its exceptional build quality. With a precautionary fuel pump replacement as the only blemish in the GS350’s otherwise clean records, it complies with the Japanese automaker’s standard for reliability. At such an attractive price, coupled with the brand’s stellar reputation for quality and longevity, it’s easy to see the Lexus GS value proposition.
-
Average Yearly Maintenance Cost:
$612 -
Reliability Ratings: 4.8 out of 5 stars
-
Total Recalls:
1- In-tank fuel pump failure
-
Worst ES Year To Buy Used: None
5 2002 Lexus IS300 Sportcross
Reliability Score: 90/100
Tasked to go head-to-head against the BMW 3-series in the early 2000s, the Lexus IS300 followed the formula of the popular Bavarian. An entry-level luxury sport sedan, that utilized the same front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. To complement its sportiness and luxury touches, Lexus released the Sportcross model in 2002 to add even more practicality to their compact luxury sport sedan. Breaking away from the traditional leather, the IS300 is draped in Alcantara upholstery and latter years included leather as an option.
Reliability
Scoring spectacularly in independent consumer and reliability tests, This Lexus isn’t only fun to drive and practical, but it’s quite bulletproof too! Although the luxury sports hatch does have one recall, it isn’t anything catastrophic and is only to comply with Federal Vehicle Safety Standards for road visibility. Altogether, the IS300 is an over-achiever covering all the bases of luxury, sport, practicality, and reliability.
-
Consumer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (Kelly Blue Book)
-
Reliability Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars
-
Total Recalls:
1- Decreased lighting visibility
-
Worst ES Year To Buy Used: None
4 2010 Infinity G37 Sedan
Reliability Score: 92/100
Admittedly a luxury sport sedan more than it is an all-out luxo-cruiser, the second-generation G sedan provides a quality experience that merits its luxury car status. A driver’s car rather than one to be chauffeured in, the G37 balances sport and luxury that rivals the best of Germany. Furnished with high-quality materials, like supple leather upholstery, and a choice of aluminum or wood trims, the G37 isn’t short-changing you in the refinement department. Driver assist and safety features are abundant too, and its suspension is composed as much as it provides a comfy ride.
Reliability
While some complaints regarding interior quality have been reported, they are few and far between. The G37 platform has been tuned and modified in more ways than one over the years yet still receives high-reliability scores. With its good looks, classy and comfy interior, not to mention its sporty driving dynamics, and no anxiety-inducing issues to speak of, the Infiniti G37 could prove to be bang for your buck.
-
Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $488
-
Reliability Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
-
Total Recalls:
0 -
Worst ES Year To Buy Used: 2009
3 1990 Lexus LS400
Reliability Score: 92/100
Being the car that launched the Lexus brand, the LS400 had a lot riding on how it was received at the time of its release. And if it proved anything, it was the brand’s commitment to luxury and building quality. Aimed squarely at the Mercedes-Benz S-class, the first-generation LS succeeded, taking more than a chunk out of German luxury car sales.
Reliability
They say the proof is in the pudding, but in this case, the proof is the LS400 itself. With many still on the road today and odometers reading half a million miles is considered child’s play, the first-generation LS isn’t only a benchmark for luxury but for reliability as well. With nearly no battle damage to show for its age, and famously over-engineered, the Lexus LS400 seems to be a remarkable deal with compromises or shortcomings.
-
Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $435
-
Reliability Rating: 4.8
-
Total Recalls:
None -
Worst ES Year To Buy Used: NA
2 2002 Infiniti Q45
Reliability Score: 95/100
Overshadowed by the models from Lexus and Acura, the Infiniti Q45 is quite a well-rounded surprise. Even among its contemporaries in the luxury car segment, the Infiniti delivers a comparably pleasant driving experience to its rivals. Seats are lined in high-quality leather and while its dash may be accused of being plain, it is loaded with intuitive tech and is accented with real wood trim pieces. Motivated by a burly 340-horsepower V-6 and a 5-speed automatic, the Infiniti is quite brisk as well.
Reliability
Aging past 20 years old, the 2002 Infiniti Q45 is proving to be just as robust and dependable as the best from its rival, Lexus. Demonstrating effective engineering, the Q45 garners satisfactory ratings all around and even outdoes its younger G37 sibling in reliability ratings. Luxury, power, and exceptional quality are all convincing traits that say the elderly Q45 may be an alternative that equals the value of its more popular competition.
-
Consumer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
-
Reliability Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars
-
Total Recalls:
0 -
Worst ES Year To Buy Used: None
1 2001 Lexus LS430
Reliability Score: 98/100
Building on the success of the LS400 that launched the brand, the LS430 is unsurprisingly better outfitted for the most discerning of luxury car buyers. Updated with even more tech and comfort, the Japanese flavor of luxury is redefined by the LS430. The LS430 provides more rear legroom than the equivalent Mercedes. With a reduced drag coefficient and three different suspension options to choose from, the newer LS also provides a more isolated driving experience. Period ground-breaking tech is applied to the Lexus through a multitude of driver assistance and safety features. Left-hand drive Toyota Century, you say? We think so, too.
Reliability
Testament to the Lexus build quality, the LS430 garners a near-perfect score in all aspects in most of the independent tests. If that doesn’t speak of Lexus highly enough, we don’t know what does. Built like a tank, ridiculously plush, still-relevant tech, and understated styling, all add up to a winner in anyone’s book.
-
Consumer Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars
-
Reliability Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars
-
Total Recalls:
0 -
Worst ES Year To Buy Used: None
Credit: Source link