Used Car Hunter: Six-Cylinder Luxury Cars for £35,000
“Dear Auto Express, I want an ultra-comfortable saloon or SUV with a six-cylinder engine and 40k miles or less for between £25k and £35k.” – David Wainwright, E-mail
If you’re seeking supreme comfort, ample space, and aren’t overly concerned about running costs, a luxury car could be your perfect match. The used car market is brimming with these opulent vehicles, making selecting the best one a delightful challenge.
For a budget of £35,000, you can acquire some truly prestigious motors. While models within this price range may be a few years old, they still offer a wealth of features, aesthetic appeal, and most importantly, exceptional levels of comfort. Naturally, you’ll want an example that’s been well-maintained, so keeping an eye out for a full-service history is essential. Here are our Car Hunter’s top three favorite used luxury cars for a £35,000 budget. Each car has its own strengths and weaknesses, but all of these are excellent choices in their own right. We’ve also included links to explore our Find a Car service…
Audi Q7 – The Practical Choice
For: Seven seats, robust build quality, impressive technology. Against: Air suspension not standard on all models, conservative styling
The Audi Q7, while it may not possess the ultimate prestige of the Range Rover, is nonetheless an exceptionally appealing vehicle. Boasting seven seats compared to its rivals’ five, and a cabin that artfully blends minimalism with technological sophistication, it’s an impressive machine. Moreover, it provides a high degree of comfort, especially if you can discover a model equipped with air suspension. The Q7 feels composed and planted during long journeys, while still offering reasonable agility for a car of its size on winding roads. We located an 18-plate Q7 3.0-liter TDI in S Line trim with a Tiptronic automatic gearbox, with 45,000 miles, priced just under £32,000.
The Audi Q7 is the only car of the three to come with seven seats, which provides an immediate advantage in terms of practicality over the similarly-sized Range Rover. And although you don’t get a fancy split-folding tailgate, you do get an impressive 770 liters of cargo space up to the parcel shelf with five seats in place. The Q7’s cabin looks smart, clean, and modern, with Audi’s excellent material choice and pleasing aesthetics shining through. Another advantage of this SUV is the intuitive, feature-rich infotainment system, and the excellent Virtual Cockpit digital dash.
Mercedes S-Class – The Luxury Choice
For: Quick and fuel-efficient, impeccable ride quality. Against: Lacks SUV practicality, recently replaced.
Although the latest Mercedes S-Class is a highly tempting limousine, its predecessor remains a popular choice for those seeking a luxury car. With its standard air suspension, it provides a superior ride quality compared to anything else at this price point, while models equipped with the optional ‘Magic Body Control’ system scan the road surface for bumps, adjusting the suspension. Every version of the S-Class is quick off the mark, with assured handling. We discovered an 18-plate S 350 d L in AMG Line trim with 51,000 miles for less than £32,000.
In the realm of practicality, comparing a saloon to a pair of SUVs is somewhat unequal, but the S-Class puts up a strong fight nonetheless. This luxury limousine has ample headroom and legroom in the rear seats, with even more space if you opt for a long-wheelbase model. The 510-liter boot isn’t small either even if compared with an SUV bodystyle. The Mercedes’ interior is both luxurious and packed with technology, while at motorway speeds, you’ll struggle to hear any wind or engine noise, a benefit of its lower profile compared to the Range Rover and Q7.
Range Rover – The Classic Choice
Pros: Strong image, practical tailgate, smooth ride. Cons: Limited choice on the used market, so-so infotainment.
Land Rover arguably invented the luxury SUV with the original Range Rover, and the current model continues that legacy. This car may be able to conquer any type of terrain, but its standard adaptive damping and air suspension make it exceptionally smooth on the road. It excels on the motorway but still handles well despite its large size. We uncovered an 18-plate 4.4-liter SDV8 in Vogue SE trim with 49,000 miles for £34,500.
The Range Rover offers two fewer seats than does the Audi Q7, however its split-folding rear tailgate allows you to open the rear screen to put smaller items in the boot, or sit on the lower section when changing muddy boots, for example. Even though the 909-liter capacity listed by Land Rover assumes that you’ll be loading to the roofline, there’s no denying that this is a very practical car. The Range Rover’s cabin is another highlight, with its imperious driving position and top-quality wood, leather, and carpets fitted throughout. It’s just a shame the infotainment isn’t as impressive, especially if you’re looking at these earlier examples of the Range Rover.
