The Honda Accord has weathered the years as a truly desirable mainstream sedan, and there’s no mystery why—it does the job in a way that few sedans have been able to. It offers a comfortable ride, a sensible size, plenty of room for a young family, and none of the opulence that often drives the purchase price through the roof. Buyers flock to it for its balanced performance, reputation for reliability without drama, and the simple fact that it’s affordable—$28,395 to $39,495, at last count.
But for many, the safe, smart choice isn’t what they want. It’s simply what they can afford. Depreciation can work magic, though, and for luxury sedans, that means affordability after only a couple of years, in some cases. Luxury sedans that were out of reach only a few years back are now priced in the same bracket as a new Honda Accord, and buyers willing to overlook “new” for “nearly new” can have a choice of luxury and sports sedans such as these.
Models are listed in descending order based on the starting used price, from the most expensive to the least expensive.
2023 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400
Starting Used Price: $38,487
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price puts the 2023 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 at the top end of the Honda Accord price range, but the bonuses are well worth the trade-up from the $39,495 MSRP of the 2026 Honda Accord Touring Hybrid. And if you go back another year or two, you save even more on the same 400-horsepower twin-turbo, AWD sedan. Capable of hanging with the sportiest of German sedans, the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 is marginally smaller than the current Accord, but considerably heavier.
When new, the 2023 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400’s MSRP was nearly $20,000 more than the contemporary Accord Hybrid’s. The annual gas bill of the 2023 Q50 Red Sport 400 is over $1,500 more than that of today’s Accord Sport Hybrid (mostly owing to the premium gasoline needed for max performance), and maintenance costs are similarly inflated, averaging about $250 more per year, according to RepairPal.
2023 Audi A6 55 TFSI Premium
Starting Used Price: $37,351
Audis have some of the most underrated vehicles on the market, and the 2023 Audi A6 is a great example of a reasonable luxury sports sedan that is often left out of the discussions about luxury performance sedans. The interesting part today is that you can get a three-year-old model for about the same price as a premium 2026 Honda Accord. And for that price, you get a faster and more dynamic larger sedan with AWD, premium interior materials, and some of the best tech around.
Back in 2023, the Audi A6 55 TFSI was priced well north of mainstream sedans, from $25,000 to $30,000 more than the highest-priced Accord of the time. Depreciation has closed that gulf considerably, but hasn’t erased the higher cost of ownership that comes with European luxury. Long-term ownership studies show that parts and service on the Audi A6 cost more than $10,000 over 10 years, compared to a Honda Accord’s relatively modest $5,800 (according to CarEdge).
2021 Mercedes-Benz C 43 AMG
Starting Used Price: $37,298
The C-Class has, for the longest time, been the entry point to the Mercedes lineup, but its cost is still prohibitive in many people’s budgets. The good news is that depreciation has now brought the cost of the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C 43 AMG down $20,000 to make it compatible with the top-tier Accords, offering a 385-horsepower twin-turbo V-6, race-track-ready suspension and brakes, and upscale materials and equipment that made it competitive with Japanese sports sedans of the time.
New, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C 43 AMG’s MSRP was about $20,000 more than the most expensive 2021 Accord, but as with today, long-term ownership costs reflected the original segment’s prestige status. Mercedes-Benz models tend to rack up higher maintenance and repair costs — roughly $2,000 more than what a Honda Accord might incur over a decade, according to CarEdge. Also, fuel costs are projected to be about $1,800 more than the top-of-the-line Accord Hybrid.
2022 Cadillac CT5 V-Series
Starting Used Price: $37,216
Although Cadillac may not be in the same purchase consideration as a 2026 Honda Accord, the 2022 Cadillac CT5 V-Series will cost roughly the same as a top-tier Accord, according to KBB. The 2022 CT5 is marginally bigger and heavier, and has a decidedly better performance slant, with more power, a sport-tuned suspension, and overwhelmingly richer interior materials. Everything about the Cadillac is premium—sound, leather, design details, and cachet.
Back in 2022, the Cadillac CT5 was one of the more affordable luxury sedans, and the V-Series eclipsed the top Honda Accord by less than $20,000 (though the top-tier CT5-V Blackwing asked another $34,000 above that). Likewise, carrying costs were below those of contemporary luxury sedans at the time, but buyers should still expect to pay $4,000 more in upkeep over its first decade, according to CarEdge.
2018 Porsche Panamera 4
Starting Used Price: $35,732
Hands up if you’d consider a Porsche Panamera over a Honda Accord, if the price was right. Thanks to depreciation, you can get a 2018 Porsche Panamera 4 luxury sedan at a mainstream price. For the outlay, you get a considerably larger sedan but with one fewer seating position. The seats, like the rest of the interior, are slanted toward performance and driving enjoyment, though the surroundings are the expected luxury trappings.
Back in 2018, the Porsche Panamera already carried a price within spitting distance of six figures, with the all-wheel drive 2018 Porsche Panamera 4 priced at $90,650 (over $52,000 more than the top Accord at the time). And Porsche parts and servicing aren’t cheap, with the Panamera projected to cost over $8,000 more over 10 years. RepairPal pegs the Porsche Panamera’s yearly outlay for maintenance and repairs at $1,252 (considerably more than the Accord’s $400).
2020 BMW M550i xDrive
Starting Used Price: $34,921
Front 3/4 view of blue 2018 BMW M550i xDrive driving.
The BMW 5 Series is one of the more revered performance sedans in the industry, and the 2020 BMW M550i xDrive now costs about the same as a mid-level Honda Accord (hybrid). Everything about the BMW is bigger and better than the Accord, from the 523-horsepower twin-turbo V-8 to the solid handling from the advanced chassis, to the larger cabin with more upgraded materials and pampering luxury features. It is also heavier and thirstier, racking up nearly $2,000 more in fuel costs.
The all-wheel drive 2020 BMW M550i xDrive carried an original MSRP of $77,645, which was almost $40,000 more than the top Accord at the time. Long-term data shows the BMW 5 Series averages out around $14,400 for maintenance and repairs, according to CarEdge, which is over $8,500 more than the projections for the Honda Accord. That includes the premium for parts and technical training required for the mid-large luxury sedan.
2020 Tesla Model S Performance
Starting Used Price: $33,476
If your luxury leans toward more modern sedans, then the 2020 Tesla Model S may be more to your liking, and you can get the ultra-fast Performance trim for about the same price as a base 2026 Accord Sport Hybrid (MSRP: $33,795). The Tesla Model S Performance is a large sedan, with a 400-mile range, and two electric motors providing all-wheel drive and enabling a 0–60 mph sprint of 2.4 seconds. Its cabin is tech-intensive, with massive screens, but also encased in upscale materials.
Back in 2020, the Tesla Model S Performance was priced at around $96,000, almost $60,000 pricier than the top Accord at the time, but it has lost nearly two-thirds of its value since (owing to the super-quick development of EV technology). Because they don’t have as many moving parts, maintenance and repairs on Teslas are competitive with mainstream sedans, and you save a bunch on annual energy costs (as much as $250 less than the current Accord Hybrid) by plugging the Model S in overnight, at home.
2023 Lexus ES 350
Starting Used Price: $32,985
With an all-new ES coming later in 2026, the almost new 2023 Lexus ES 350 is now priced about even with a non-hybrid 2026 Honda Accord. That means you get a sedan that’s basically the same size (the ES is derived from Accord’s chief rival, the Toyota Camry), but is powered by a V-6 (which both Camry and Accord have given up on), premium leather interior, and a superbly insulated cabin that makes the ES one of the quietest cars outside of an electric vehicle.
The Lexus ES is one of the better and most reliable luxury sedans you’ll find anywhere, but it could be justified as being beyond attainability because the Toyota brand has two mainstream sedans—Camry and the premium Crown—that are almost identical in platform. Still, given the ability to move up to a decidedly luxury experience with a two-year-old ES, for the price of a new Accord, it’s well worth the investment for the refined experience alone (never mind the brand prestige).
2021 Maserati Ghibli S Q4
Starting Used Price: $29,364
The Maserati Ghibli is one of those “almost exotic” sedans that gets very little love from the mainstream buyer, because it doesn’t have the brand awareness of a BMW or a Lexus. However, you’ll never have a better chance to opt for true Italian luxury and performance in a four-door sedan than you will with an AWD. 424-horsepower, twin turbo V-6 2021 Maserati Ghibli S Q4 that is available on the used market for about the same price as a base FWD 192-horsepower four-cylinder turbo 2026 Accord LX.
In 2021, the Maserati Ghibli S Q4’s MSRP was $83,735–$90,535 (depending on trim level), and now all are priced for less than $33,605 (for the opulent S Q4 GranLusso trim). The price you will pay in the future, though, is for parts and service. Maseratis are not cheap to maintain, and their Ferrari-based components are as expensive as you’d expect. So, as a daily driver, the Accord is much more budget-friendly, but you can’t beat the attention of the Trident on the grille.
2023 Acura TLX
Starting Used Price: $27,645
If you’re looking at an Accord and maybe considering an equally priced luxury model, but want to keep your business in the family, there’s the 2023 Acura TLX (which shares its lineage with the Accord). The main difference between the two, even for a two-year-old TLX, is driving proclivity—the TLX sports sedan features sharper handling and a slightly larger, more powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine. But you also get more upscale interior appointments and a higher degree of standard equipment.
When new, the 2023 Acura TLX’s MSRP wasn’t much higher than the Accord, starting at $41,245 (only a couple of thousand more than the top-tier Accord’s $38,985). The size of the two is similar, and the ownership costs are also pretty close, with the Acura’s projected 10-year maintenance costs of $7,897, about $2,000 more than those of the Accord. You will spend about $1,000 more on fuel if you choose to go with premium gasoline, though you will save some of that if you’re okay with reduced power.
Sources: Kelley Blue Book, the EPA, CarEdge, RepairPal