Auto buyers have a number of choices available when they’re shopping for new or pre-owned cars. Not only can you choose from the various makes and models, but you also have to decide between a luxury model or a standard model. The main differences between the two options aren’t always easy to spot, but there are some pretty major aspects that make the two classes of vehicles different from one another.
High-End Features
If you need your car to have the best and most comfortable features, shop the luxury section. Most luxury cars include features like leather upholstery, premium sound systems, heated front seats, multi-zone automatic climate control, ambient interior lighting, and LED or xenon exterior lighting. While you can typically find these high-end features on standard cars, they will usually come with a higher price tag. You may even have to opt for the highest trim level to get leather upholstery or heated front seats, which could be a difference of several thousand dollars.
Many luxury automobiles also come with better tech features that make your car more enjoyable to drive. A premium sound system with more speakers is commonly found in a luxury car, as are Bluetooth connectivity, satellite and HD radio, voice controls, and navigation. It is rare to see a luxury car that doesn’t include an oversized touch screen display, and most vehicles pair the screen with some type of infotainment system.
Safety Features
While some of the premium features that come standard on a luxury car might seem confusing, and you may think you don’t need or want them, the high-end safety features are definitely worth a second look. Most newer luxury models come standard with features like blind spot monitoring, which gives you a visual cue that a car is in or approaching your blind spot, as well as an audible alert when you signal and a car is in that blind spot. Rear cross traffic alert is another great feature, which warns you that a car is passing behind your car when you’re in reverse.
One of the systems that is a proven lifesaving option is a collision warning system with automatic emergency braking, something that typically is a standard feature or available as an option on a luxury car. This system uses a camera to detect the speeds of cars ahead and warns you if you’re approaching too quickly to a car that is stopped or slowing down. With automatic emergency braking, the system will stop your car if you don’t have enough time to react, something that could dramatically diminish the damage that occurs if you do get into an accident or even prevent it completely.
Price
Another difference between luxury and standard cars is the price tag. Luxury cars come with better features, so they’re obviously more expensive, but when you compare a single-trim luxury model with the top trim level on a standard car, you may find that the cost difference isn’t that significant.
Take a luxury vehicle for a test drive and see just how nice it is to have the features you didn’t know you needed or wanted. You may be surprised to see that a luxury car fits into your budget more easily than expected.
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