With the majority of consumers looking toward SUVs these days, it’s a buyer’s market for those seeking used luxury sports cars who understand and appreciate the value of a powerful, great handling, up-market vehicle.
Here’s a look at some of the best luxury sports cars from some of the world's greatest automakers that you’ll find available to buy used right now across Canada. This isn’t a formal ranking but is rather a list assembled for your perusal (that's why we've gone with alphabetical order).
The Best Used Luxury Sports Cars to Buy in Canada
- Acura TLX
- Aston Martin Vantage
- Audi RS5
- Audi S4
- BMW M3/M4
- Cadillac CTS-V and VSport
- Chevrolet Corvette
- Genesis G70
- Infiniti G35 and G37
- Lexus ES
- Lincoln Continental
- Maserati Ghibli S
- Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
- Porsche 911 (996) Carrera
- Porsche Cayman/Boxster
- Tesla Model S Performance
Acura TLX
We’ve mentioned the predecessor to the Acura TLX, the Acura TL, as a great option for a cheap used car when you’re on a limited budget. If you’ve got a more robust budget but don’t want to spend on a brand-new car, take a look at the TLX’s first generation. Any car from model years 2015 to 2020 will net you the same two engine options, a 2.4-litre four-cylinder or a 3.5-litre V6. If you choose a model year from 2017 or later, you’ll even get an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity that was added after the mid-cycle refresh. On average, you’ll save $20,000 to $25,000 by skipping the depreciation and paying used car prices.
Aston Martin Vantage
An attainable Aston Martin? Yes, it’s possible to find a reasonably priced supercar, so long as you don’t mind compromising on the number of cylinders. A few examples of the 2015-2016 Aston Martin Vantage GT grand tourer, which shipped with a naturally aspirated 4.7-litre V8 making 430 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque, are kicking around with relatively low mileage at prices below $90,000. If you ever wanted to play James Bond, it looks like now is the time. Just be prepared for your maintenance bills and fuel economy to be commensurate with the original price tag.
Audi RS5
We’d be remiss not to include the high-performance Audi RS5 on this list, specifically the 2015 model, which is not hard to find with less than 100,000 km for under $50,000. This car revs like an animal, hitting its 450 hp peak at 8,250 rpm to go with a torque rating of 317 lb-ft from its 4.2-litre V8. This one’s for the drivers, and yet its reserved looks and the practicality of the sedan body style in this luxury vehicle won’t give you away until you stomp on the throttle and unleash a torrent wicked enough to wake up your neighbours.
Audi S4
The Audi S4 sports great styling, but its beauty runs more than skin-deep. It sports a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine producing 349 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission and Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system. A current-generation model, 2017 or later, can be had for roughly $20,000 to $25,000 off new on average. If you can snag a 2015 or 2016, the last model years from the previous generation (pictured), these have the same powertrain with similar power output and are an even better deal, frequently priced at less than $30,000.
BMW M3 and M4
Late-model-year examples of the BMW M3 and M4 are in high demand – could the emphatic grille design on the latest generation have something to do with that? – but it’s still possible to find relatively low-kilometre F80/F82 examples produced from 2014 to 2018 for less than $70,000. The 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-6-cylinder engine found in both models rates at power specs of 425 hp in the original model and 444 hp in the Competition edition, while torque peaks at 406 lb-ft. The reserved appearance of these cars hides the fangs of a handling beast with a suspension setup that has earned it a loyal fanbase around the world.
Cadillac CTS-V and VSport
The Cadillac CTS, refined both in looks and performance, is a midsize luxury sedan that flew under the radar with a lot of buyers. A used CTS-V gets you a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 producing 640 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, which can get you from 0-100 km/h in less than four seconds and to a top speed of 322 km/h, all while looking ready to pull into any office tower parking garage on Bay Street. But the even better score may be the CTS VSport, which trades the V8 for a 3.6-litre twin-turbocharged V6, good for 420 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. That’s plenty for the average driver, and while you might need to dig a little harder to find one, there are decent deals to be had once you do.
Chevrolet Corvette
If you’ve decided it’s time to own Chevrolet’s approachable sports car for yourself, the used car listings on CarGurus.ca will leave you feeling like a kid in a candy store. The sky is really the limit here: we spotted everything from a mint 1989 model with less than 30,000 kilometres on the odometer for less than $20,000 to a 1963 Stingray driven less than 5,000 km for just over $100,000. The catalogue across Canada is plentiful, so whether you wade in to window shop or have a laser-focused goal, you’re likely to find a ‘Vette that will delight you.
Genesis G70
Genesis, the luxury off-shoot brand of Korea-based Hyundai Motor Company, hasn’t yet built up the brand cachet it has coming to it, so now is the time to run out and snag an early model year before people find out what they’re missing. The sporty G70 compact sedan is sold with two engines, a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine (252 hp and 260 lb-ft, though earlier versions of both engines were slightly lower in power) and a 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 (365 hp and 376 lb-ft). All-wheel drive is equipped on most trims, though the Sport version with the smaller engine is sold with rear-wheel drive. With new-vehicle pricing ranging from a current MSRP of $50,500 for the base model to $61,000 for the 3.3T Sport, choosing a 2019 model can save you in the neighbourhood of $20,000 with little appreciable compromise in capability, safety features, or modern infotainment amenities. These are so new, relatively speaking, that you might even score one that’s still under the original warranty.
Infiniti G35 and G37
If you know your Nissans, you might be in on this well-kept secret: the legendary Nissan Skyline was sold in North America badged as an Infiniti. The G35 and G37 nameplates indicated the engine displacement as these sedans came either with a 3.5-litre or a 3.7-litre V6. The fourth generation ran from 2007 to 2015 and was available in sedan, coupe, and convertible body styles. There are some fantastic deals out there for cars with less than 100,000 kilometres on the odometer priced under $20,000.
Lexus ES
If executive opulence sounds like your jam and high reliability ratings with impeccable build quality would sweeten the deal, take a look at the Lexus ES. This large luxury saloon from Toyota’s luxury arm tends to be lightly driven and well-maintained by conscientious owners. There are some screaming deals around for the fifth-generation models built from 2007 to 2012 with prices well under $20,000. If you want something newer, check out a sixth-generation hybrid built from 2013 to 2018, which is commonly available for less than $25,000. This is one car where we can confidently say you don’t need to worry as much about higher odometer readings. It’s not unusual for Lexus models to push well past 300,000 kilometres.
Lincoln Continental
Ford’s luxury division tried to revive the Lincoln Continental nameplate after a 14-year hiatus for the 2017 model year. The new Continental was a stately executive sedan with interesting door handles, very opulent seats, and modern infotainment technology. Unfortunately, the Continental was a victim of Ford’s decision to discontinue production of all sedans beginning in 2019. The tenth-generation Continental arrived with so much promise and departed with a fizzle, but it can now be yours on the used car market for less than $40,000 Canadian, roughly two-thirds of what it cost when new.
Maserati Ghibli S
Maseratis aren’t renowned for retaining their value, but you can benefit from that and have the embodiment of a sporty Italian luxury four-door sedan residing on your driveway for less than $40,000 if you do a little digging. The Ghibli S’s Ferrari-built 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 makes 404 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, though a slight power bump was applied beginning in 2017. Q4 AWD is available and is common among used units sold in Canada.
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
So, you want to drive a Mercedes-Benz? There are plenty of great options out on the road, but to get into the badge with the best bang for your buck, opt for a 2001-2011 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class if a two-seat roadster will meet your needs. Sold with a folding hardtop and with V12 and V8 engine options, today it’s not uncommon to find well-maintained examples of the latter with less than 100,000 km on the odometer for under $30,000. For the luxury and performance on offer, that represents a lot of car for the money. Just be sure you can afford the running costs. For something truly special, consider an AMG model.
Porsche 911 (996) Carrera
The 996 generation of Porsche 911 was the first to sport a water-cooled flat-6-cylinder engine instead of an air-cooled one, which made it a dud with purists at the time. Today, these cars are a relative bargain on the used car market with affordable pricing that has made them attainable. That’s provided you’re willing to do some research to identify some of the better-known reliability issues. Be wary of cheap cars which might need a lot of remedial work, and weigh up if you want a rear-wheel-drive Carrera 2 or an all-wheel-drive Carrera 4. Coupe, soft-top convertible, and Targa body styles can all be found priced at or below $40,000, depending on the car’s condition and odometer.
Porsche Cayman/Boxster
The mid-engine Porsche Cayman and Boxster duo—sold today as the 718 Cayman and 718 Boxster—has at times been accused of being more fun to drive than the Porsche 911. If you’re looking to get your hands on a Porsche sports car for a reasonable price, the second-generation 987 from model years 2005 to 2012 is a sweet spot at the moment. The available engines and their related power output varied in the Cayman and Boxster over the years, so it’s wise to know what you want and what it’s worth before you begin to search (that said, all versions of Porsche's flat-six-cylinder engine have plenty of appeal). That said, sub-$30,000 pricing is not unheard-of, especially if the option of a manual transmission is on the table.
Tesla Model S Performance
Yes, that’s right: there are plenty of early examples of the Tesla Model S sport sedan kicking around on the used car market, which could be a more affordable way for EV skeptics to dip their toes into the electric driving experience and see what the fuss is all about. This, of course, comes with understanding that ranges on mid-2010 models were lower than what we see today, and battery degradation means that there is some loss on those figures over time. That said, EVs do cost less to maintain, and there are lightly driven six- and seven-year-old performance models like the P85D and P100D available for less than $60,000.
Note: Images may show US or European models.