Each year, U.S. News puts together a list for the most reliable luxury car. For 2020, Lexus had no fewer than seven entries on the list but the automaker didn’t take the top spot on the list. 

Which luxury car is deemed the most reliable? And how did that vehicle manage to beat out Lexus? Let’s take a look at what U.S. News found.

The 2020 BMW 5 Series

While BMW’s 5 Series has a reputation for well-crafted sports cars, the 2020 models place less emphasis on sharp-handling and more on comfort. The latest BMW 5 Series offers a posh interior with plenty of room and that does everything but serve drinks. According to Car and Driver, there are optional seats that massage, soft-close power doors, a power trunk lid, and a slew of driver-assist features.

There are several appealing engine options including the standard turbocharged four-cylinder, a turbocharged inline-six-cylinder, a twin-turbo V8, and a plug-in hybrid. All are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that shifts smoothly. Car and Driver particularly liked the M550i with the V8 engine for a more spirit ride. The rest fit in with the 2020 model’s focus on quiet luxury. 

The performance was enhanced for the 2020 models. The 530e plug-in hybrid models got a bigger 12-kWh battery pack. The M550i models went from 456  horses to 523. New standard features include keyless passive entry, a digital gauge display, and in-dash navigation. Heated front seats are standard in the M550i that also got the M Sport Differential feature.

The U.S. News Most Reliable Luxury Car of 2020

U.S. News has certain expectations for a luxury car. Reliability, in their opinion, is of vital importance. Reliable vehicles age well and aren’t as likely to require costly repairs over the years. A vehicle’s reliability also has an impact on the owner’s satisfaction and affects its resale value. 

The 2020 BMW 5 Series defeated seven Lexus models to take the coveted top spot in this year’s list. They gave it a 4.5 out of 5 for a reliability rating and an overall score of 8.9 of 10. 

U.S. News explains the undeniable quality of the BMW 5 Series as an upscale performance sedan earned it the top spot. They loved its excellent handling and the wealth of cargo space it offers. They commended it for having a technology-focused interior that was modern and luxurious as well.

BMW has consistently added to an already impressive list of standard features and 2020 continued the trend. With its selection of powerful engines and its wealth of standard features, the BMW 5 Series took the top spot on the U.S. News’s list this year. It’s pricey at $53,900 but U.S. News maintains “it’s hard to go wrong with the 5 Series.”

Good luxury car choices

When it comes to luxury cars, it’s hard to go wrong with either BMW or Lexus. It’s no accident that the BMW 5 Series took first place and Lexus models claimed the next seven spaces on the list. 

In second place is the 2020 Lexus LC which U.S. News gave a reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5 and an overall rating of 8.8 out of 10. The Lexus LC offers a super luxury car for just under six figures. With a few additions, it wouldn’t be hard to reach those six figures, however. U.S. News describes it as the best Lexus has to offer. They admire its comfort, solid handling, performance, and superb reliability.

They weren’t happy about the infotainment controls that were the same as the rest of BMW’s lineup. That and its price set at $92,950 probably kept it from taking the top spot from the more affordable, and just as reliable, BMW.

U.S. News uses predicted reliability data from J.D. Power to complete the list to help consumers get the most reliable luxury vehicles.