German sedans earned their place in the American marketplace by offering something domestic brands rarely matched: a blend of sharp handling, refined powertrains, and that bank-vault sense of solidity buyers came to associate with European engineering. For years, these cars were considered by some to sit a rung above their American counterparts in both price and perceived prestige, which kept many shoppers on the outside looking in.
But depreciation has a way of leveling things out. Models that once carried eye-watering sticker prices now slide comfortably under the $25,000 mark on the used market, putting unwavering German performance luxury within reach of buyers who once aspired to it. However … that lower entry price doesn’t magically erase the realities of German-car ownership (namely, higher maintenance and repair costs), but a little homework goes a long way, so we present 10 examples of reputable Germans for under $25k.
The models in this list have been extensively researched to ensure the most accurate information possible as of the time of publishing. Models are listed in ascending order from least to most reliable.
2007 BMW 760Li
Reliability Score: 85/100
The long version of the BMW 7 Series is now exclusive, but in 2007, the BMW 760Li was the flagship of the line that included shorter models Powered by the long-departed 6.0-liter V-12, it combined performance, luxury, and cutting-edge features, with a starting price of $123,795, and now is fair priced by Kelley Blue Book at $8,569. In J.D. Power owner surveys, the 2007 BMW 7 Series earned a “Great” Overall satisfaction score of 86/100, with impressive scores for Driving Experience (88%) and Resale (86%).
BMW 7 Series Reliability
In keeping with the reputation of older German vehicles, the BMW 760Li is costly to maintain and repair. According to RepairPal, the 760Li averages $1,259 per year in maintenance and repairs, while CarEdge estimates total maintenance and repair spending on BMWs at roughly $16,021 in the first 10 years—about 40% higher than typical luxury-sedan ownership costs—with a 47% chance of major repairs in that timeframe.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $1,259 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $16,021 (CarEdge)
- 2007 Recalls: 6
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2012
2014 Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG
Reliability Score: 86/100
The Mercedes-AMG C-Class is one of the most desired sports sedans, through various generations, and the 2014 Mercedes‑Benz C 63 AMG stands as a performance-heavy chapter in that history, as the final iteration of the W204 before a full generational shift. In broader J.D. Power ratings, the 2014 Mercedes‑Benz C-Class scored 85/100 Overall, with “Great” scores in Quality & Reliability and Resale sub-scores (both at 86/100). That year, the Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG started at $62,085, and is now valued at $22,989.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Reliability
On the flipside, the Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG carries with it the known realities of high-performance German engineering. According to RepairPal, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is rated “Average” in reliability among luxury midsize cars, but ranks near the bottom of the segment due to fairly frequent, and sometimes costly, unscheduled repairs for things like powertrain control module replacements. CarEdge pegs Mercedes-Benz 10-year maintenance and repair costs at about $13k, with a 41% chance of major repairs.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $1,077 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $12,942 (CarEdge)
- 2014 Recalls: 6
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2008
2018 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
Reliability Score: 86/100
Following up on the success of the Volkswagen GTI hatchback, the company introduced a sedan version in the 1984 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, using the same basic powertrain and chassis. In 2018, the compact turbocharged performance variant started at $30,440, and now carries a KBB fair purchase price of $14,192. Jettas are one of the more solid compact sedans in the industry and that reflects in an Overall J.D. Power score of 87/100 in 2018, with an 89% rating in Driving Experience.
Volkswagen Jetta Reliability
RepairPal and CarEdge are relatively agreed on the maintenance and repair costs of the Volkswagen Jetta, with the former estimating annual costs at $609 (with a four-star rating, out of five), and the latter pegging 10-year costs at 6,053 (with a 17% chance of a major repair). The personification of cheap and cheerful, the Jetta’s projected unscheduled repair and maintenance costs are slightly higher than the typical compact, but relatively modest for a performance-oriented model.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $609 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $6,053 (CarEdge)
- 2018 Recalls: 3
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2009
2013 Audi A4 Premium Plus
Reliability Score: 87/100
The 2013 Audi A4 Premium Plus represented the mid-tier trim (with an MSRP of $39,695), pairing simple European design with Volkswagen’s revered turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and an upscale interior that belied the model’s entry-level status. Valued today between $7,326 and $7,618 (with the top-tier Prestige trim valued lowest and the Premium Plus highest), the Audi A4 is well regarded by owners, with the 2013 model rating an Overall score of 84/100.
Audi A4 Reliability
On the reliability and ownership side, RepairPal rates the 2013 Audi A4 at 3½ stars (about mid-pack in its 31-model segment), for its average costs and repair frequency. The main sticking points seem to be oil leaks from the overhead cams and valves. Over the decade, CarEdge estimates its maintenance and repair outlay at just over $9,500, which the site says is about average for luxury cars. It also has a 27.7% chance of undergoing major repairs, which is also average for the segment.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $828 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $9,646 (CarEdge)
- 2013 Recalls: 4
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2011
2012 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG
Reliability Score: 88/100
Also available as a wagon, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG represented the high-performance flagship of the fourth-generation E-Class (W212), pairing a twin-turbo 5.5-liter V-8 with a seven-speed automatic to deliver raw power wrapped up in a Savile Row suit. Now commanding a KBB fair purchase price of $19,004, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG is considerably cheaper than the original ($95,505 MSRP). Plus, J.D. Power rates it at 84/100, based on a “Great” Driving Experience score (85/100), and superb Quality & Reliability feedback.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Reliability
Based on its low numbers, data on long-term reliability is limited. RepairPal estimates the Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG carries an average annual repair cost of about $1,500—significantly above typical luxury sedans (but not outside the expectations of mid-sized sports sedans), with common issues being transmission and air-suspension related. CarEdge doesn’t forecast the E 63 AMG, but a similar V-8 E-Class is projected to cost $11,817 over 10 years (10% higher than the Mercedes 10-year average).
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $1,494 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $12,942 (CarEdge)
- 2012 Recalls: 7
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2007
2016 BMW ActiveHybrid 5
Reliability Score: 88/100
Based on the sixth-generation 5 Series (F10), the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 arrived in 2011 and only lasted until 2016, at which time it was one of the best-performing mid-sized hybrids, and perhaps BMW’s best. It started at $65,495 (about mid-level in the 5 Series lineup that year) and today can be had for around $16,164. 2016 also marked one of the most reliable 5s in history, scoring 85/100 Overall in the J.D. Power ratings, on the strength of an 88 in Quality & Reliability.
BMW 5 Series Reliability
Due to its limited market exposure and data collection, the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 lacks enough data to pin down an overall reliability pattern. RepairPal estimates maintenance and repair costs for the non-hybrid 2016 BMW 535i at $892 per year, and gives it a 2.5-star rating, based on known transmission and A/C issues that require pricey parts. CarEdge estimates the six-cylinder 5 Series will cost owners about $14,500 over 10 years, which is about 25-percent more expensive than the average luxury sedan.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: N/A (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $14,413 (CarEdge)
- 2016 Recalls: 7
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2013
2008 Mercedes-Benz S 65 AMG
Reliability Score: 88/100
The 2008 Mercedes-Benz S 65 AMG was the V-12 flagship Benz of its era, and perhaps of the luxury sedan market in general. A hand-built, hyper-luxury S-Class that married obscene torque with a hushed, limousine-level cabin, it retailed for nearly $200,000, but today can be had for $17,250. In aggregated surveys, owners of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class rated it “Best” in Driving Experience at 91/100, combining with its perceived Quality & Reliability score of 88 for an Overall rating of 85%.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class Reliability
Prestige doesn’t make ownership cheap, and its lofty price tag also means the numbers don’t meet the quorum to ascertain a level of reliability. RepairPal data points to about average upkeep for a full-sized ultra-luxury performance sedan (averaging almost $1,400 annually), with frequency and severity of repairs also about in the middle, and a long-term cost profile well above mainstream sedans. CarEdge projects long-term costs for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class at about $13,000, in line with the Mercedes brand, with V-12 Mercs about $400 lower.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $1,371 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $12,942 (CarEdge)
- 2008 Recalls: 2
- Worst Years To Buy Used: 2003–2005
2017 Volkswagen Passat V6 SEL Premium
Reliability Score: 88/100
The Volkswagen Passat was VW’s premium-level mainstream sedan, though the brand did have other, more impressive, but less successful, models. It ended its run in 2022, but the sixth-gen 2017 V6 SEL Premium is notable for its excellence, returning an Overall J.D. Power score of 87/100, thanks to Great ratings in Quality & Reliability and Resale (88 and 87, respectively). In 2017, it started at a trim-topping $35,140, but today it can be had for around $12,361.
Volkswagen Passat Reliability
On the reliability front, the 2017 VW Passat is better than average in the frequency and severity of repairs, with RepairPal estimating its annual cost at less than $500, which is reportedly better than other mainstream mid-sized sedans. CarEdge estimates its 10-year cost projections at just under $7,000, which is in line with the VW brand’s $6,764 (about 18% better than its contemporaries). Its chance of major repairs is pegged at about 21% (slightly better than others in the segment).
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $484 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $6,390 (CarEdge)
- 2017 Recalls: 7
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2013
2009 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG
Reliability Score: 88/100
The 2009 Mercedes‑Benz E 63 AMG was the last of the W211-generation E-Class AMGs, and it was a brute of a luxury sedan, with a potent 6.2-litre V-8, executive-class interior, all the prestige of the three-pointed star, and all the race-savvy engineering of AMG. Owners loved it (and why wouldn’t they?), earning it a J.D. Power Overall rating of 82%, boosted by a “Great” Quality & Reliability rating. It retailed for $86,875, but can now be had for $12,321.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Reliability
As noted earlier in a later generation, the Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG carries a hefty maintenance and repair burden. According to RepairPal, the model averages just under $1,500 per year in maintenance and repairs, and carries a three-star rating (out of 5), making it about average for its segment and the market as a whole. Over a ten-year span, total Mercedes upkeep lands in the vicinity of $13,000, but there is a 41% chance of a major repair.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $1,494 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $12,942 (CarEdge)
- 2009 Recalls: 4
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2007
2010 Audi A6 4.2 Quattro
Reliability Score: 89/100
The Audi A6 is one of the industry’s most underrated sedans, able to keep up and sometimes surpass its German compatriots, and display competence beyond just about every other performance sedan in the market. The 2010 Audi A6 topped off its line with the 4.2-liter V-8 that was exquisite in its performance and loved for its reliability, earning an unmatched 89/100 from J.D. Power. Originally retailing for a reasonable $60,425, it is now valued at $8,223.
Audi A6 Reliability
On the topic of reliability, RepairPal pegs an average annual cost of about $950 on the 2010 Audi A6 Quattro, and pins a 2 ½-star medal on it (out of five), which puts it almost mid-pack in its 30-car segment. Main issues seem to be the torque converter and the thermostat. CarEdge projects its 10-year maintenance and repair costs at over $10,000, which is about average among its peers, with a 27.7% chance of a major repair, which is marginally better than its rivals.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $954 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $10,005 (CarEdge)
- 2010 Recalls: 3
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2012
Sources:J.D. Power, CarEdge, RepairPal