From Kia Forte to Dodge Durango, people buy the cars they buy for a multitude of different reasons. If a luxurious and upscale interior is high on your used-car wish list, you’re in the right place. If you’ve got around $30,000 to spend on a second-hand car or SUV, read on for a closer look at an array of options to help kick off your search.
We’ve chosen the models below based on their high ratings for interior style and tech, as well as their widespread availability for around $30,000 in the used market today.
2021 Genesis G80
Selected Specifications
2021 Genesis G80 (2.5T)
2021 Genesis G80 (3.5T)
Engine
2.5-liter four-cylinder gas turbo
3.5-liter V6 gas twin turbo
Transmission
8-speed automatic
8-speed automatic
Drivetrain
RWD or AWD
RWD or AWD
Power
300 hp
375 hp
Torque
311 lb-ft
391 lb-ft
The first-generation Genesis G80 arrived for the 2017 model year with a complete rebadge and relaunch under the Genesis brand, marking its official spin-off from parent company Hyundai. If you’re a used car shopper after maximum swankiness for your dollar, this machine should be at or near the top of your list for its digital dashboard, wide-screen infotainment, and generous use of metallic, wood and leather accents to tie the forward scenery together masterfully.
Also, the G80 rides like it looks like it rides, which is very good news for those onboard. The average price of a base-model unit from the 2021 model year today is around $28,000, though shoppers can slash that figure considerably by choosing an earlier model if they like. Note that in 2025, J.D. Power called Genesis the highest overall brand in their Tech Experience Study for the fifth consecutive year, so tech fanatics can buy confidently. The Genesis G80 is one of the best luxury bargains on the road, and the interior is a big part of the reason why.
2021 Audi E-Tron SUV
2021 Audi e-tron Premium Plus Selected Specifications
Engine
Dual asynchronous electric motors
Power
355 hp (402 hp w/ Boost Mode)
Torque
414 lb-ft (490 lb-ft w/ Boost Mode)
Fuel Requirement
95-kWh lithium-ion battery
0-60
5.5 seconds
Audi’s first production EV was simply called the e-tron, and came in SUV and Sportback body styles. After arriving in 2019, the e-tron SUV earned a place on the “Wards 10 Best Interiors” list, with quality, futuristic details and expert materials and color selections helping seal the deal. With all-wheel drive, all-electric operation, and up to 402 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque in boost mode (2019), this plug-in can go about 204 miles on a charge, and charges from near-empty to 80 percent full on a fast charger in about half an hour.
Turns out, the e-tron SUV depreciates just about as quickly, and you’ll find used examples from the early 2020s today with pricing around $30,000, often with a sub-45,000-mile odometer reading. If you’re willing to step back a model year or two, or go with a more basic unit, that same $30,000 could get you handily into a second-hand e-tron SUV with 15,000 miles or less.
2021 Kia Telluride SX
2023 Kia Telluride (FWD) Selected Specifications
Engine
3.8-liter V6 gas naturally aspirated
Power
291 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
262 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm
Drive
AWD
Towing Capacity Max
5,000 lbs
Kia’s popular Telluride launched for the 2020 model year and quickly became a smash hit in the family-ready three-row space. A visual facelift was applied for the 2023 model year, which brought a massive curved-screen display interface to the cabin. Shortly after it launched, the Kia Telluride earned a place on the prestigious Wards 10 Best Interiors list, with experts praising the technology, comfort, upscale design, and “a stellar infotainment system”.
The Telluride’s cabin hits harder on feel and visuals than its pricetag suggests, especially in the second-hand space. The top-line SX trim grade flaunts a range of upgraded materials and trimmings, as well as smart touches like USB connectors built directly into the front seat backs. There’s even a ‘PA’ system to ensure passengers in the third row are able to hear the driver’s voice. If you’re after a mainstream SUV with an above-average interior at this price point, the Telluride should satisfy. Current price trends show the 2023 model year unit, complete with its upgraded interior, sitting at an average second-hand price of just over $30,000 today.
2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA
2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 4MATIC Selected Specifications
Engine
2.0-liter four-cylinder gas turbo
Power
221 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Torque
258 lb-ft @ 1,800 rpm
Drive
AWD
0-60
6.3 seconds
The second-generation of Mercedes-Benz’s CLA four-door coupe launched for the 2020 model year with a significant redesign that widened, lengthened, and smoothed out the looks, and brought S-Class-level luxury technologies and interior design cues to the mix. The Mercedes CLA was a great machine for shoppers looking to spoil themselves on a budget, and the ambient lighting system added a whole new dimension to the cabin’s looks during nighttime driving, with customizable color zones and brilliant illumination.
The high-end ‘wing-shaped’ forward dash was adapted from pricier Benz’s of the day, and the resulting package felt flashy, sophisticated, and futuristic. Today, you’ll find average prices hovering right around the $28,000 mark.
2025 Nissan Sentra
2025 Nissan Sentra SV Specifications
Engine
2.0-liter four-cylinder gas naturally aspirated
Power
149 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
146 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
0-60
8.8 seconds
If you’re looking to come in well ahead of our $30,000 price point, be sure to give this one a look. The Nissan Sentra has been around for decades, and its most recent generation launched for the 2020 model year. With it, Nissan completely transformed their economy nameplate with a low and wide stance that gave it some sport sedan poise, added an independent rear suspension, and fancied up the interior to punch above its weight. For a car built for modest budgets, the Sentra’s cabin is a hidden gem within the segment.
The seats are built with input from NASA for zero-gravity comfort, plus available brown leather provides a premium and inviting atmosphere. Add in nicely polished driving manners and onboard tech that’s approachable but not in your face, and the Sentra has definitely put in the work to elevate its interior experience for owners. The average price for a used 2025 model year unit is under $19,000, with the highest-priced units from that year coming in around $28,000. Incidentally, that’s about the same price as the all-new Sentra, launched for 2026, in its top-dog SL trim grade.
2020 Toyota Highlander
2020 Toyota Highlander L Specifications
Engine
3.5-liter V6 gas naturally aspirated
Power
295 hp @ 6,600 rpm
Torque
263 lb-ft @ 4,700 rpm
Drive
AWD
Towing Capacity Max
5,000 lbs
The fourth-generation Toyota Highlander hit the road for 2020, riding Toyota’s modern TNGA-K platform, and upgrades abounded through the latest machine. The 2020 Highlander earned a spot on the Wards 10 Best Interiors list that year, with experts doling out top scores for equipment levels and overall design. This cabin makes a strong first impression, packs plenty of storage nearby, and features a new infotainment system and display that represents a tremendous leap ahead of older models.
Depending on the model year and trim grade in question, a second-hand Toyota Highlander from this generation today can be had for around $30,000 and should provide an above-average interior experience that’s particularly family-ready. It’s all powered by an engine that’s built to last, too.
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2019 Lexus RX
2020 Lexus RX 350 Selected Specifications
Engine
3.5-liter V6 gas naturally aspirated
Power
295 hp @ 6,300 rpm
Torque
268 lb-ft @ 4,700 rpm
Drive
AWD
Towing Capacity Max
3,500 lbs
When the fourth-generation Lexus RX arrived in 2016, it introduced a sharp and angular new body that was matched by a daring new interior. The experts at Wards took notice, adding the latest RX of the day to their annual list of the 10 Best Interiors. Brushing off the more conservative cabins of its predecessors, the latest RX’s cabin was now brimming with details, sculpting, patterns, and colors.
Not only was the latest RX’s driving experience improved to be more refined and agile than ever, but the latest cabin also gave drivers and their occupants a great place to take it all in. Lexus’s knack for craftsmanship was on full display, with laser-etched wood panels and a high-quality feel baked in throughout. With touches abounding to reward closer inspection by the eyes and fingertips, a 2019 or 2020 Lexus RX 350 from this generation averages a roughly $30,000 ask in the used market today.
2022 Hyundai Tucson
2022 Hyundai Tucson SE Selected Specifications
Engine
2.5-liter four-cylinder gas naturally aspirated
Transmission
8-speed automatic
Power
187 hp @ 6,100 rpm
Torque
178 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
Drive
FWD / AWD
Towing Capacity Max
2,000 lbs
Hyundai radically redesigned the Tucson for its fourth generation’s launch in 2022. Rear seat passenger space was up, and so was the style factor on board. The latest Tucson cabin gained our attention with its new, highly digitized and high-tech approach, easy-to-use infotainment system, and modern control surfaces. Where some competitor models use a mishmash of different displays, interfaces and visual themes throughout their cabin, the Tucson hit hard with styling that was distinct and cohesive, equal parts upscale and techy. The wrap-around ‘waterfall’ dashboard was a signature touch that helped create an open, high-visibility experience, and a push-button shifter keeps the console flat and tidy.
The Tucson got a styling and equipment refresh for the 2025 model year, and 2026 model year units start just under $30,000 for a base model unit. The power move for many might be to pick up a lightly used 2025 model year Tucson for the same money: you’ll still benefit from the updated tech and equipment, and be able to move up to a higher trim grade for the same spend. You’ll also save delivery charges by buying slightly used instead of brand new, too.
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2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ Selected Specifications
Engine
Single permanently excited synchronous electric motor
Power
288 hp
Torque
391 lb-ft
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive
0-60
6.2 seconds
The EQE was a clean-sheet, all-electric vehicle line introduced in the 2023 model year. Though the exterior design was polarizing, the EQE’s interior was absolutely bonkers. From the basis of a wide-open greenhouse that supported a sense of space and airiness, designers slathered the scenery with giant lustrous display screens, crafted metallic accents, and a HEPA-equipped climate control system with cabin air ionizer. Ride comfort and noise levels were as expected for a top-line Benz, but the EQE’s new cabin was a jaw-dropper where design and technology were concerned.
At night, the ambient lighting system soaks the cabin with vivid color zones, helping surround drivers in an inviting, high-tech glow. Today, you can find your own second-hand EQE for around $30,000 with plenty of warranty remaining, or fork out a little more and you could secure a lower-mileage example. Don’t forget to consider the big-brother EQS as well, which can lose half its value in a single year.
2020 Jaguar I-Pace
2020 Jaguar I-PACE S Selected Specifications
Engine
Dual permanent magnet synchronous electric motors
Power
394 hp
Torque
512 lb-ft
Drive
AWD
0-60
4.5 seconds
Jaguar’s all-electric I-Pace arrived for 2019 as the groundbreaking first-ever all-electric vehicle for the automaker. With interior space fully optimized by use of an EV-dedicated platform, designers had a great foundation upon which to apply Jaguar styling elements to a new type of vehicle.
The result was a cabin that ultimately flaunted no shortage of cutting-edge tech, but also reserved plenty of forward real estate to showcase carefully-crafted trimmings, embedded displays, unique touch-activated controls, and generous use of authentic high-end leathers so fragrant they’d leave their smell on your clothes for hours. Today, you can pick up a used copy for between $20,000 and $30,000, depending on how much mileage you’re comfortable with.
Sources: Mercedes-Benz, WardsAuto, Kia, Jaguar
