What Is a Luxury Vehicle, Anyways?

By: Brenden Somerville   |   29 Nov 2016
BMW on the highway

People have different ideas when it comes to defining a luxury vehicle. Some of us picture the good old classics, like the 1971 Cadillac Eldorado Johnny Depp drove through Las Vegas in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Others might think of something more modern, like the 2017 BMW 7 Series Sedan, or Audi’s all-new 2017 Q7. Whatever your style, luxury cars have a definition and aesthetic all their own. Brands count when it comes to a luxury vehicle, and even though non-luxury carmakers are taking advantage of changing technologies, their designs are no match for the class and elegance that comes from a true luxury automobile. Luxury vehicles, in essence, can be classified as any vehicle that goes above and beyond to provide pleasant features that are beyond the vehicle’s absolute necessity. At Somerville Auto, our dealership is home to some of the finest luxury cars and exotic SUVs in Toronto. Let’s take a look at what separates our vehicles from the rest.

Luxury is a Sensory Experience

No matter how well advertisements or commercials may be, most car shoppers know luxury when they see it, feel it, or even smell it.

Although a particular vehicle may sell well on a digital screen, the difference lies in the sensory experience that takes into account how the vehicle looks, feels and handles. Consider this: are you more likely to remember the soft smell of leather from the cabin of a Mercedes-Benz, or remember the visual of fabric upholstery on a regular sedan? When we talk about luxury car brands, certain manufacturers rise above the rest and become familiar to us, because the vehicles they produce use a series of high-quality materials and design elements. The end result is a vehicle that looks better than those that are mass-produced on the factory line, and has a design that is personal and unique to the brand. Many people might think that a luxury vehicle is always about owning the flashiest, most expensive, biggest vehicle on the market, but this is simply not true. Many luxury brands like Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are designing “smart” cars to keep up with a changing consumer market, and although these cars might not be the typical definition of “luxury”, it doesn’t change the fact that the brand still is.

Innovative Technology, Performance and Design Really Do Matter

With so many new vehicles coming into the auto market each year, it can be tough to decide what is and isn’t considered a luxury vehicle. Some entertainment systems are so impressive that surely that’s an aspect of luxury. Or the soft-touch materials or hand-free communication and navigation systems built into your family SUV might make you wonder. There’s a fine line between luxury and premium brands, but at the end of the day, luxury brands design and market to a very specific socio-economic class, and engage the end-user in considering and evaluating social status. Many of us want to have the latest smartphone or best-looking house on the block, and when it comes to the vehicle you drive the situation is not very different.

The cost of building a luxury vehicle must take into account the materials used in the design process. It’s no secret that luxury vehicles have more powerful engines, a higher degree of craftsmanship and design, an elevated sense of comfort, and superior equipment. When you blend all of these features together, you’re left with a dazzling luxury vehicle, but also a very specific image that ties into the brand and its legacy. Styling, engineering and status all play a role in shaping luxury vehicles into what they are, and what they are viewed as by those who drive them.

Is owning a luxury vehicle part of a lifestyle you’d like to get behind? At Somerville Auto, we have an impressive inventory of pre-owned luxury cars and pre-owned exotic SUVs. Shop our complete inventory today. Have something special in mind? Talk to our experts about our unique car sourcing tool and find your dream vehicle today. Call us at 1-(877) 503-5102 or contact us online today for more information.

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