Family road trip? Yes, please! Mercedes Benz came out with its C300 model somewhere in the mid-’90s. The car was an instant success, and featured the same interior as its E-Class counterpart, but had a much more curved and sleek design. It’s also a relatively cheap Mercedes, and costs around $40,000, making it quite affordable for upper-middle-class Americans.
The main downside behind owning the C300 is the same as with any other Mercedes model. Maintenance and repairs are certainly not cheap, and you can expect to pay around $200 for a basic oil change but it’s definitely worth it if you’re a fan of the German luxury car brand.
Chrysler Aspen
This SUV itself has aged quite well over the years despite being pulled from the market. It's built to last, so be prepared for a solid and durable machine when you're on the road. Aspen’s first release model was sold for around $40,000.
But again, as we’ve seen with the other cars on this list, depreciation kicks in pretty quickly, so for that reason you could pick one up for a mere $12,000! So for those looking for a tough SUV that’s great for off-road driving, you can’t go past this, especially at this price!
Cadillac SRX
So the Cadillac SRX was produced between 2004 and 2016 – meaning that yep, it’s gone out of production. Sadness. But also happiness for savvy consumers looking for luxury on a budget! The SRX wasn’t retired because consumers didn’t love it, but actually, because Cadillac wanted to take advantage of a change in naming convention, replacing the SRX with the new model, the XT5. Mystery solved! In saying that, the SRX was priced on the higher end of the spectrum, which made it a bit of a stretch for consumers.
The car itself however was smart and sleek, with stylish features and a solid 265 HP engine. Cruising in a Cadillac. The dream, really. Due to the decision by Cadillac to change the name and update, it made the SRX a heck of a lot cheaper. These days, you can pick one up for just $15,000. That’s a lot of car for a little money.
Nissan Maxima
Nissan is widely viewed as a reliable automaker that sells affordable, family-friendly vehicles. The company also ventured into some luxury car brands, and who can forget it’s incredible GT-R. The Nissan Maxima is one of the brand’s most beloved luxury sedans.
The Maxima's combined style of sport and comfort serves as the perfect road trip companion. You can go over 1000 miles on this without hitting any problems.
Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG
When it comes to speed, luxury and style, you can’t get much better at the low six-figure mark than the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG. This car includes just about everything that you might desire from a luxury sports vehicle and treats you like a king when you’re driving it on the road. Who doesn't want to feel like a king?
S63 AMG owners can expect to pay around $2,300 in annual fuel, maintenance and repairs. Fortunately, this is one of the most reliable cars you can get, as it’s the German brand’s most recognizable and beloved model. Despite its high annual costs, if you’re driving one of these, we assume a few extra grand here and there won’t exactly keep you up at night.