5 LUXURY SEDANS THAT NEVER GOT THE CREDIT THEY DESERVED

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:00]Buying a brand new car today has become a strange experience. Prices keep climbing higher, monthly payments are getting ridiculous, and somehow a lot of modern vehicles still end up feeling generic after a few weeks. Giant screens, fake sporty styling, endless driver assist warnings, and yet very few cars actually feel special anymore.

[00:00:25]Meanwhile, some genuinely great executive sedans have been quietly disappearing from the market. Not because they were bad. In fact, many of them were incredibly refined, comfortable, powerful, and built with the kind of personality modern cars are slowly losing.

[00:00:43]But because buyers became obsessed with trends, these sedans were overlooked, heavily depreciated, and pushed into the background while everyone chased the same crossovers. And honestly, that's exactly why smart buyers should be paying attention to them now.

[00:00:59]Because hidden underneath all that depreciation are cars that still feel expensive every time you drive them.

[00:01:05]Cars with beautiful interiors, smooth highway manners, quiet cabins, strong engines, and the kind of mature executive presence that used to define premium cars before everything became oversized touchscreens and disposable technology.

[00:01:24]Some of these sedans were ignored because of the badge. Some were misunderstood from the beginning, and a few of them quietly became some of the best automotive bargains nobody talks about anymore. And in this video, we're looking at five forgotten executive sedans that are genuinely smarter to buy than a lot of brand new cars today. And honestly, this may be one of the most overlooked executive sedans America completely missed. The 2018 to 2020 Buick Regal GS. Because most people hear Buick and immediately picture something slow, soft, and built for retirees. But the Regal GS was something completely different.

[00:02:07]Underneath the badge was a surprisingly refined sport executive sedan with European roots, aggressive styling, and a driving experience that felt far more expensive than most buyers expected. And that's exactly why these cars became such hidden gems.

[00:02:23]The Regal GS was based on Opel engineering from Europe, and you can immediately feel that the moment you drive one.

[00:02:30]The steering feels tighter and more composed than most American sedans. The suspension feels planted on the highway, >> [music] >> and the car has a solid refined character that almost feels closer to an Audi than a traditional Buick. But unlike many German sedans, it still keeps enough comfort to work as a genuinely relaxing daily driver.

[00:02:50]Under the hood, the GS came with a 3.6 L naturally aspirated V6 producing around 310 horsepower paired to a 9-speed automatic and standard all-wheel drive.

[00:03:03]And honestly, this drivetrain fits the car perfectly.

[00:03:08]Smooth power delivery, strong acceleration, and none of the stressed-out feeling you get from tiny turbocharged engines trying too hard to feel sporty.

[00:03:18]It feels confident and effortless instead of artificial.

[00:03:23]Inside, the Regal GS also feels surprisingly upscale.

[00:03:28]Heated and ventilated seats, Bose premium audio, adaptive suspension, massaging seats, heads-up display, soft-touch [music] materials, and excellent highway insulation made the car feel genuinely premium without screaming for attention.

[00:03:46]Even the seats themselves are some of the best parts of the entire car.

[00:03:51]Deeply bolstered, comfortable, and supportive without becoming uncomfortable on long drives. Now, of course, there are reasons these cars disappeared so quickly.

[00:04:03]Buick's image in America became incredibly weak with younger buyers.

[00:04:07]Sedans were already dying fast by this point. And most people never even realized the Regal GS existed.

[00:04:15]On top of that, the wagon-inspired sportback design confused buyers who didn't know whether it was supposed to be sporty, luxurious, or practical. But honestly, that confusion is exactly what makes the Regal GS such a smart buy today.

[00:04:33]Because underneath the forgotten badge is a genuinely interesting executive sedan with real personality, strong performance, upscale comfort, and a level of refinement that most people would never expect until they actually spend time behind the wheel. Very few people noticed the 2019 to 2023 Volkswagen Arteon when it first came out. And looking back now, that feels kind of crazy. Because this car genuinely looks like something that should cost far more than it actually does today. Long body, wide stance, frameless doors, elegant proportions. In traffic, a lot of people mistake the Arteon for an Audi or even something much more expensive. And honestly, that upscale look aged incredibly well.

[00:05:25]But the interesting part is that the Arteon was never really about showing off.

[00:05:29]Volkswagen built it as a mature grand touring sedan. Something comfortable, quiet, refined, [music] and a little different from the usual luxury choices everybody buys. And once you spend time inside one, you immediately understand the appeal.

[00:05:43]The cabin feels clean and expensive without trying too hard. The seats are supportive and comfortable on long drives. The highway ride feels smooth and composed, and the car has that solid German feeling that makes everything seem tightly put together. Even simple things like the door weight, steering feel, and cabin insulation make the Arteon feel more premium than most people expect from a Volkswagen badge.

[00:06:12]Under the hood, most Arteons came with Volkswagen's 2.0-liter turbocharged engine paired to a DSG dual-clutch transmission, producing around 268 horsepower in later years. And unlike many small turbo engines that feel strained, the Arteon actually feels relaxed and effortless during normal driving. It has plenty of passing power on the highway, smooth acceleration, and a very planted feeling at higher speeds.

[00:06:42]Some versions also came with 4Motion all-wheel drive, which made the car feel even more stable and confident.

[00:06:50]Equipment levels were also surprisingly generous.

[00:06:53]Heated and ventilated seats, panoramic sunroof, digital cockpit, Harman Kardon audio, adaptive cruise control, ambient lighting, massaging seats, and one of the best hatchback cargo setups in the segment made the Arteon feel both luxurious and practical at the same time.

[00:07:16]Of course, there are reasons buyers ignored it. Most Americans simply weren't willing to spend premium money on a Volkswagen sedan, especially at a time when SUVs completely dominated the market.

[00:07:28]>> [music] >> And because the Arteon sat in this strange space between mainstream and luxury, many people never really understood what it was supposed to be.

[00:07:37]But maybe that's exactly what makes it so appealing now. It feels different, more elegant, more mature.

[00:07:45]Like the kind of car someone buys because they genuinely appreciate good design and refinement instead of just chasing a badge or trend. This is the kind of car almost nobody took seriously when it was new. The 2011 to 2016 Hyundai Equus. And honestly, that's what makes it such a fascinating buy today because Hyundai quietly built a full-size luxury sedan aimed directly at the Mercedes S-Class and Lexus LS, but most buyers simply couldn't accept paying luxury car money for a Hyundai badge. So, the Equus depreciated brutally.

[00:08:24]Even though the actual car was shockingly impressive. You sit inside one today and immediately notice how isolated and expensive it feels.

[00:08:32]The ride quality is soft and calm. The cabin stays incredibly quiet on the highway, and the seats feel more like large living room chairs than sporty luxury buckets.

[00:08:41]This car was clearly designed for comfort first, and it does that exceptionally well.

[00:08:47]Under the hood, most Equus models came with Hyundai's naturally-aspirated 5.0 L V8 producing around 429 horsepower paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

[00:09:01]The power delivery feels smooth and effortless, exactly how a big executive sedan should feel.

[00:09:07]No fake drama.

[00:09:09]No overly aggressive tuning.

[00:09:12]Just quiet, relaxed power that makes highway driving feel incredibly easy.

[00:09:19]The equipment list was also absurd for the price these cars sell for today.

[00:09:24]Heated and ventilated front and rear seats, reclining rear seats, Lexicon premium audio, soft-close doors, adaptive suspension, power rear sunshades, and beautiful leather interiors were all available. Some trims even came with rear seat massage functions and footrests, giving the car a true chauffeur style luxury feel.

[00:09:48]Of course, the Equus had one major problem from the beginning. Perception.

[00:09:54]Most luxury buyers simply weren't ready to accept Hyundai in this category, no matter how good the car actually was.

[00:10:02]And because of that, these sedans quietly disappeared from the market without most people ever realizing how refined they really were.

[00:10:11]But today, that's exactly what makes the Equus such an interesting hidden gem.

[00:10:17]Because underneath the badge is a genuinely comfortable V8 luxury sedan that still feels far more expensive and refined than almost anyone expects. And then, there's the 2014 to 2019 Kia Cadenza, which might be one of the smoothest and most comfortable sedans almost nobody remembers anymore.

[00:10:39]And honestly, that feels unfair once you actually spend time with one.

[00:10:44]Because the Cadenza quietly delivered a near luxury experience without trying too hard to impress anyone.

[00:10:52]It was calm, refined, spacious, and shockingly well equipped for the money.

[00:10:58]The driving experience is what surprises most people. The ride quality feels soft and composed. The cabin stays very quiet on the highway, and the seats are genuinely comfortable for long-distance driving. It doesn't feel sporty or aggressive. It feels mature, relaxed, like a car designed for people who actually value comfort over attention.

[00:11:19]Under the hood, the Cadenza came with Kia's naturally aspirated 3.3 L V6 producing around 290 horsepower paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission in later years.

[00:11:32]The drivetrain feels smooth and predictable and unlike many smaller turbocharged engines today, it never feels stressed or overworked during normal driving.

[00:11:44]Inside, the Cadenza feels far more premium than most buyers expect from a Kia.

[00:11:50]Heated and ventilated seats, panoramic sunroof, nappa leather, Harman Kardon audio, adaptive cruise control, ambient lighting and excellent interior insulation made the car feel genuinely upscale without becoming overly flashy.

[00:12:09]The biggest reason these cars became forgotten was simple, timing. Sedans were already disappearing fast and most buyers never even considered Kia when shopping for something luxurious.

[00:12:21]So, the Cadenza quietly faded into the background while crossovers took over the market.

[00:12:27]But today, that's exactly what makes it such a smart buy because for surprisingly reasonable money, you get a comfortable, reliable, beautifully smooth full-size sedan that still feels refined in a way many newer cars struggle to replicate. And honestly, this may be one of the last truly elegant American luxury sedans ever made, the 2017 to 2020 Lincoln Continental.

[00:12:54]Because while most brands were chasing sporty handling and aggressive styling, Lincoln went in a completely different direction with the Continental. This car was built to feel calm, smooth, quiet >> [music] >> and effortlessly classy. And the moment you see one in person, it immediately stands out from modern traffic. Long body, clean lines, huge presence. It doesn't scream for attention like modern luxury cars. It has that quiet confidence old executive sedans used to have. And once you sit inside one, the entire personality of the car makes sense. The seats are incredibly soft and comfortable, especially the famous 30-way adjustable perfect position seats that honestly feel more like high-end furniture than car seats.

[00:13:40]The cabin stays extremely isolated from outside noise, and the ride quality feels soft without becoming floaty or disconnected. It's the kind of car that makes long highway drives feel effortless.

[00:13:54]Under the hood, the most desirable version came with Lincoln's 3.0 L twin-turbo V6 producing around 400 horsepower with all-wheel drive.

[00:14:05]And unlike many modern turbocharged luxury cars that feel overly aggressive, the Continental delivers its power in a smooth, relaxed way that perfectly matches the character of the car.

[00:14:18]Inside, the Continental also feels genuinely upscale. Soft leather, real wood trim, Revel premium audio, panoramic roof, heated and ventilated seats, adaptive suspension, ambient lighting, and beautiful interior color combinations gave the car a true flagship feel.

[00:14:41]And unlike many modern interiors overloaded with futuristic design, the Continental still feels timeless and elegant today.

[00:14:50]The biggest problem was never the car itself.

[00:14:53]It was the market.

[00:14:56]By the time Lincoln finally built a truly beautiful full-size luxury sedan again, most buyers had already abandoned sedans completely. So, despite how refined the Continental actually was, it quietly disappeared far too quickly.

[00:15:12]But today, that's exactly what makes it feel special.

[00:15:16]Because cars like this barely exist anymore.

[00:15:19]Big, comfortable, elegant American sedans >> [music] >> built around silence and presence instead of trends.

[00:15:28]And honestly, once you experience a clean Continental, it becomes very easy to understand why some people still believe this was the last real Lincoln. Maybe the smartest car purchases today aren't sitting in brand new showrooms after all.

[00:15:46]Maybe they're the sedans most people stopped paying attention to years ago.

[00:15:50]Because underneath all the depreciation are cars that still offer real comfort, real presence, smooth highway driving, and the kind of refinement many modern vehicles lost completely.

[00:16:03]Some feel like old-school executive cruisers.

[00:16:07]Others still have elegant styling and surprisingly premium interiors that make them feel far more expensive than they actually are.

[00:16:15]And honestly, that's exactly why smart buyers are quietly starting to rediscover sedans like these all over again.