2025 Luxury Cars Under the Radar – Quietly Brilliant Picks

Introduction: Luxury, Redefined in 2025

In Australia, the word “luxury” often brings to mind brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, or Lexus. But beyond the spotlight lies a niche class of vehicles that quietly impress without drawing too much attention. These underrated luxury cars for 2025 combine premium craftsmanship, smart technology, advanced safety, and elegant styling — all while remaining surprisingly affordable or overlooked in the mainstream market.

If you’re someone who values refinement, comfort, and performance but doesn’t want to follow the crowd, this guide is for you. We dive into the best “under the radar” luxury vehicles in the Australian market for 2025, explaining why they deserve more love and how they compare in value, features, and everyday driveability.

What Makes a Car “Luxury” in 2025?

Before exploring the list, let’s define what qualifies a car as “luxury” in today’s context. It's no longer just about leather seats and badge prestige. In 2025, luxury involves:

• Advanced infotainment & tech integration (12" displays, wireless Apple CarPlay, heads-up display)

• Superior cabin refinement (noise insulation, materials, ambient lighting)

• Premium powertrains (turbocharged, hybrid, or EV performance)

• Smooth ride quality with adaptive suspension or AWD

• Driver-assist tech & safety features

• Brand prestige or upscale sub-brands (e.g. Genesis, Infiniti)

Now let’s explore the best underrated luxury cars of 2025 that deliver all this and more.

Top 12 Underrated Luxury Cars in Australia – 2025 Edition

1. Genesis G70 Shooting Brake

• Price from: ~$74,000 drive-away

• Why it’s underrated:
  Genesis is still a relatively unknown badge in Australia, despite producing premium-quality cars rivaling BMW and Mercedes. The G70 Shooting Brake is a performance-focused luxury wagon with sleek Euro styling, adaptive suspension, and a tech-rich interior.

• Highlights:

  • 2.0L turbo or 3.3L twin-turbo V6

  • Premium Nappa leather & suede trim

  • 10.25" infotainment with 15-speaker Lexicon audio

  • Five-year/unlimited km warranty + free servicing

2. Volvo S60 B5 Ultimate

• Price from: ~$70,000 drive-away

• Why it’s underrated:
  While Volvo is known for safety, its S60 sedan flies under the radar compared to German rivals. With a mild hybrid engine, intuitive Google-based infotainment, and class-leading safety, this is a sleeper executive car.

• Highlights:

  • 183kW turbo mild-hybrid

  • Harmon Kardon audio

  • Semi-autonomous Pilot Assist

  • Understated Scandinavian design

3. Lexus ES300h

• Price from: ~$65,000 drive-away

• Why it’s underrated:
  Often overlooked in favour of German sedans, the Lexus ES300h is a standout luxury hybrid. Quiet, roomy, efficient, and built like a tank, it nails the luxury brief without the show-off attitude.

• Highlights:

  • 160kW hybrid drivetrain

  • Up to 4.8L/100km fuel economy

  • Mark Levinson premium audio

  • Class-leading comfort

4. Audi A4 35 TFSI S line

• Price from: ~$68,000 drive-away

• Why it’s underrated:
  The A4 is often overshadowed by flashier Audi SUVs and the A6. Yet it offers everything you'd want: refined turbo engine, sporty S line body, and an impressive Virtual Cockpit digital cluster.

• Highlights:

  • 2.0L turbo petrol

  • Adaptive cruise, lane assist

  • High-quality fit & finish

  • MMI infotainment system

5. Peugeot 508 GT Fastback

• Price from: ~$68,990 drive-away

• Why it’s underrated:
  The Peugeot 508 GT proves the French still know how to do luxury with flair. From its frameless doors to its futuristic cockpit design, this sedan is an avant-garde alternative to mainstream premium sedans.

• Highlights:

  • 165kW 1.6L turbo

  • i-Cockpit digital cluster

  • Massage seats, ambient lighting

  • Superb European design

More Brilliant Picks Under the Radar

6. Skoda Superb 206TSI SportLine 4x4

• Price from: ~$73,000 drive-away

• Why it’s underrated:
  The Skoda Superb lives up to its name. With massive rear seat room, all-wheel drive, and VW-quality materials, it’s an executive car at a smart price point.

• Highlights:

  • 206kW turbo engine

  • Virtual pedal boot opening

  • Rear climate control zone

  • Luxury-level space

7. Infiniti QX55

• Price from: ~$78,000 (est. based on re-entry for 2025)

• Why it’s underrated:
  Infiniti has re-entered Australia with bold SUV coupes like the QX55 — stylish, sporty, and full of Nissan-backed tech but with a luxury twist.

• Highlights:

  • Unique coupe-SUV profile

  • ProPILOT Assist

  • Premium Bose sound

  • Turbocharged variable compression engine

8. Mazda CX-60 G40e Azami

• Price from: ~$75,000 drive-away

• Why it’s underrated:
  Mazda’s move upmarket with the CX-60 brings serious luxury vibes, especially in the Azami trim. With quilted leather, plug-in hybrid tech, and real wood trim, it redefines Japanese premium.

• Highlights:

  • 3.3L inline-6 or PHEV option

  • Panoramic sunroof

  • Surround-view camera

  • Plush interior touches

Hidden EV Luxury Options in 2025

Luxury and electric now go hand in hand, and several EVs offer premium features without the usual badge tax.

9. Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor

• Price from: ~$76,000

• Why it’s underrated:
  As Volvo’s EV sub-brand, Polestar has taken minimalist Scandinavian luxury to new levels. The Polestar 2 is clean, powerful, and refreshingly distinct from Tesla.

• Highlights:

  • 610km WLTP range (Single motor variant)

  • Google-native interface

  • Recycled premium interiors

  • All-wheel drive option

10. BYD Seal Premium AWD

• Price from: ~$68,990 drive-away

• Why it’s underrated:
  BYD has quickly transitioned from budget EVs to offering premium competitors. The Seal Premium packs serious power, great range, and a sleek cabin — making it a true sleeper luxury EV.

• Highlights:

  • 390kW dual-motor AWD

  • Over 500km range

  • Rotating infotainment screen

  • Heated/cooled seats

Why These Cars Deserve a Second Look

1. Quiet Excellence Over Loud Branding

These models prove that badge prestige isn't everything. Their real-world usability, feature sets, and driving experience rival or even beat better-known rivals.

2. Better Value Proposition

Most of these cars cost less than comparably equipped BMWs or Mercs, yet deliver equal comfort, innovation, and even better aftersales value (e.g., longer warranties, free servicing).

3. Smart Design & Engineering

From Polestar’s eco-conscious interiors to Mazda’s longitudinal engine layout, these vehicles innovate without bragging. They speak to smart, discerning buyers, not trend followers.

Key Features You’ll Find in These Luxury Sleepers

How to Choose the Right Under-the-Radar Luxury Car

Step 1: Define What Luxury Means to You

• Is it quietness? Cabin space? Advanced tech?

• Are you after comfort over sportiness or vice versa?

Step 2: Set a Flexible Budget

• Many cars listed hover around $65K–$75K drive-away — less than a base BMW 3 Series.

Step 3: Compare Spec-for-Spec

• A Skoda Superb has more kit than a similarly priced Audi.

• Mazda CX-60 has better trim than some German mid-size SUVs.

Step 4: Consider After-Sales Support

• Genesis: Free servicing + concierge

• Lexus: Renowned reliability

• Mazda: Affordable servicing with luxury features

Final Thoughts: Luxury Doesn’t Have to Scream

The 2025 car market proves that you don’t have to spend six figures or choose a mainstream luxury badge to enjoy a high-end driving experience. From the elegance of the Lexus ES300h to the bold tech-forwardness of the Polestar 2, these quietly brilliant vehicles offer a smarter, often more enjoyable path to luxury.

If you're ready to skip the badge and go for substance, comfort, and lasting value, then these underrated luxury picks are exactly what you should test-drive next.