Best Cars Over $75K+ For 2021

Everything From Performance SUVs To Sport Coupes, We Rank The Best!

How many times can our automotive needs or aspirations be matched by our budget? Most of us have been in this situation where the only barrier between us and our dream car is money.

It’s no secret that the range of new car options that could satisfy all our demands expands in the same proportion that we increase your budget. And while buying a more expensive car does not guarantee a good cost-benefit ratio, the reality is that the safety, performance, and comfort features of a new car increase the higher the price tag.

Perhaps being able to spend more than $75k would allow us to get closer to the ideal car. We’re here to help you make the most sensible and coherent purchase decision possible across different car segments, including sedans, SUVs, and sports performance. Vehicles that offer a good value for their price and that are interesting at all levels: features, design, the potential for depreciation, efficiency, and so on.

Here’s the list of the best cars you can buy if you’re in the fortunate position to be looking at cars with a $75k or higher price tag.

1. Mercedes Benz GLS 450

Important Info Base Price: $76,000 Updates: Moderate 0-60 mph: 6.1 sec Fuel Economy: City 20-21 mpg / Hwy 23-24 mpg Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles Our Rating: 8.8 / 10

Our Thoughts: Pros & Cons Summary: The S-Class of SUVs is a limousine full of comfort and magnificence. Pros: Great handling, powerful engine options, opulent interior Cons: E-ABC suspension needs improvement, difficult access to the third row, maddening infotainment system

In the world of luxury SUVs, the new GLS presents itself with a harmonious aesthetic that would excite anyone. Plus, the new GLS is more spacious, more aerodynamic, and features class-leading innovations in elegant styling. Thus, the third generation of the large-format luxury SUV combines timeless aesthetics with innovative character.

According to Mercedes-Benz, this titanic SUV boasts exceptional luxury, comfort, and exemplary safety especially compared to the previous generation.

The new GLS 450 incorporates a 3.0-liter six-cylinder gasoline engine that produces 367 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. This engine is coupled with the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system and nine-speed automatic transmission, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds with a top speed of 153 mph.

The standard equipment of the GLS 450 is very extensive including but not limited to ESP with DSR descent assistance, keyless opening and start, heated leather seats, four-zone climate control, parking control with camera, drive mode selector, MBUX multimedia system, and more.

2. Lexus LC Coupe 500

Important Info Base Price: $93,050-$97,040 Updates: Minor 0-60 mph: 4.4 sec Fuel Economy: City 15-16 mpg / Hwy 25 mpg Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles Our Rating: 8.1 / 10

Our Thoughts: Pros & Cons Summary: The car commits to a philosophy of a luxurious gran turismo, with a design that exudes personality Pros: Showstopper looks, mighty V8, exquisite interior Cons: Tiny rear seats, unimpressive steering feel, not the most intuitive infotainment system

The LC is a more communicative and engaging car to drive than many of its competitors in any of its three available spec levels, but the most enthusiastic drivers will want the Sport+ version, which really breathes new life into the car.

Buyers can choose between two types of engines. The LC 500 is powered by a big 467 horsepower V8 paired with a 10-speed gearbox or a most refined and efficient alternative, the LC 500h, a hybrid model that combines a 295 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine with an electric motor for a total power of 354 hp.

If you go for the high-performance Sport+ version, you get the ‘Lexus Dynamic Handling’ which coordinates a number of independent systems to sharpen the handling control and agility of both the front and rear wheels, along with a limited-slip differential to keep everything in line and transfer power where it’s needed.

The Lexus LC is not as balanced in the corners as a pedigree sports car, with the steering especially light and disappointingly short in touch. Regarding the steering system of the rear wheels, it adds stability at high speeds and increases agility, helping to turn the car in curves at lower speeds. Generally speaking, the car is a lot of fun to drive, but inevitably, it’s not so well tied up when cornering.

3. Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

Important Info Base Price: $88,445-$89,940 Updates: Minor 0-60 mph: 3.5 sec Fuel Economy: City 11 mpg / Hwy 17 mpg Basic Warranty: 3 years / 37,000 miles Our Rating: 8.9 / 10

Our Thoughts: Pros & Cons Summary: The Trackhawk is a powerful SUV with the heart and spirit of a race-ready car. Pros: Insane acceleration, plenty of standard features, spacious interior  Cons: Disappointing handling, outdated cheap interior, awful fuel economy

For all those who find the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT lacking in power with its 468 horsepower, Jeep has reserved the Trackhawk, the authentic and genuine beast of the asphalt designed by Jeep with a whopping 717 hp of gross power and a no less impressive 645 pound-feet of torque. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk shares the same 6.2 V8 Supercharged engine with the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is built for pure acceleration, going from 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds thanks to its all-wheel-drive system, and reaches an absurd top speed of 180 mph.

It’s an original alternative with a strong personality and a relatively affordable price compared to the German proposals that dominate the segment like the Audi Q7, BMW X5, and Mercedes GLE.

While the Trackhawk can’t keep up with most sports cars on the racetrack, it can outrun some of the best in a straight line. Now, it costs about three times as much as a base Grand Cherokee Laredo, but  with its prodigious performance, a price tag close to $90K makes it look like the clearance section compared to the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S.

Despite its outgoing exterior and thunderous exhaust note, the 2021 Grand Cherokee Trackhawk isn’t all fire and brimstone. In fact, it features a cabin wrapped in leather, plus the latest technology, useful cargo space, and the ability to tow 7,200 pounds.

4. Lotus Evora 400

Important Info Base Price: $94,900-$96-950 Updates: minor 0-60 mph: 3.9 sec Fuel Economy: City 17 mpg / Hwy 24-26 mpg Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles Our Rating: 8.1 / 10

Our Thoughts: Pros & Cons Summary: A purer and sportier driving experience Pros: Lightweight build, impressive engine sound, best-driving GT out there Cons: Fewer driving aids, high starting price, infotainment system could use some refreshing

Climbing in a Lotus is like climbing into a new world. A world where technology or the meticulous quality of finishes matter little. Where is not important that the leather is ventilated or that the lights turn on on their own. You enter an environment designed simply to enjoy driving. To experience a torrent of special sensations.

Aesthetically, the Lotus Evora 400 already makes it clear that you are facing something special. Its sharp design, spectacular orange color, the black wheels, the interior upholstered in Alcantara suede, everything tastes more like a supercar than a grand tourer that is close to $95,000. It seems more expensive than it is, and that translates into an important expectation: be prepared to receive prying eyes and more than one hasty cell phone photograph.

The designation 400 is as simple as it is surprising since the Evora’s engine has 400 horsepower. It’s a 3.5-liter V6 turbo gasoline engine with 302 pound-feet of torque mounted on a relatively light vehicle (just over 3,086 lb.). This car accelerates from 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds and offers a top speed of 186 mph.

All this results in the Lotus Evora 400 remaining the fastest production Lotus ever, with almost supercar performance.

5. BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe

Important Info Base Price: $83,995 Updates: Minor 0-60 mph: 3.7 sec Fuel Economy: City 19 mpg / Hwy 28 mpg Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles Our Rating: 8.5 / 10

Our Thoughts: Pros & Cons Summary: The BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe is a super-luxury, exclusive, and powerful sedan Pros: Refined performance, upscale interior design, plenty of customization options Cons: Dull steering feel, expensive, cramped rear seats

If it’s a luxurious and powerful four-door coupe you’re looking for, the 2021 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe might just be the car for you.

For finding a good mix between luxury and sporty driving, few brands do things like BMW. The 2021 Series 8 is one of the best examples of this. All the strokes of the 8 Series are well thought out and cared for. Even the new grille of the German brand, so controversial for some, looks well-proportioned on this car. The character lines are well defined, and the mix of colors, contrasts, and accents found throughout the body are more than adequate.

The interior of a 2021 BMW 8 Series encompasses the spirit of a luxury car, especially considering its price. It has delicate and well-thought outlines on the dashboard that provide a perfect accommodation to all its components: it doesn’t feel that something is out of place or poorly implemented.

One of the best points that this car offers is its V8 twin-turbo engine. This engine puts out 530 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, which with the 8-speed sport automatic transmission gives this 8 Series the ability to accelerate from 0 to 60 in just 3.9 seconds. The BMW Series 8 is a fast, enormous car. In addition, the adaptive M suspension also helps to make it an excellent car on the highway or in the city.

6. Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

Important Info Base Price: $83,995 Updates: Minor 0-60 mph: 3.7 Fuel Economy: City 20-22 mpg / Hwy 27-29 mpg Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles Our Rating: 8.3 / 10

Our Thoughts: Pros & Cons Summary: The CT5-V Blackwing is the most powerful Cadillac ever Pros: Muscular V8 engine, remarkable transmission, improved infotainment Cons: Dull engine sounds, limited rear space, unexciting interior design

Cadillac, true to its imposing, luxurious, and powerful style of vehicles, placed CT5-V Blackwing as the spearhead of its segment in terms of power that will simply shake rivals and probably the owners of this 668 horsepower machine.

For some time, Cadillac’s high-performance models carried the “V” surname, but with the new generation of their sedans, this nomenclature seemed to have asked for something of its essence, since their models fell short of power. We now know that this was due to a line-up change, where the “V” models would carry a somewhat sportier look with slightly more powerful engines than the common models, this to cope with the AMG 53 or M-Sport families.

Speaking of massive power, the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing will use an engine inherited from its previous generation albeit with several updates to give it more power. We are talking about a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 668 horsepower and 659 pound feet of torque, which will be coupled to a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard. Optionally, it can be ordered with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It will only be available with rear-wheel drive.

The engine received a larger supercharger, aluminum cylinder heads, titanium intake valves, and better overall intake management that helps it have 46% better airflow among other benefits. In terms of handling, Cadillac also improved the suspension and its tuning; now it has the fourth-generation Magnetic Ride, which can adjust the firmness of the suspension more times, quicker.