Five luxury sedans pass every test we set for a 2027 lease: the Audi A5, Audi A6, Audi A6 Sportback e-tron, Genesis G80 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Each earned a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+, offers all-wheel drive, and has a starting MSRP published on its maker's U.S. site.
Most "best luxury sedan" lists are buying guides. This one is built for a luxury sedan lease: safety awards you can check, all-wheel drive for New Jersey winters, and the numbers that shape lease cost. Some 2027 models are on sale and some are not, so every figure below names the model year it applies to. All figures were checked on October 9, 2026.
How Did We Pick These Luxury Sedans?
A car made this list only if it met all four of these tests:
- It is a sedan from a luxury brand. No SUVs, coupes or wagons.
- It holds a current IIHS award. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety names its Top Safety Pick (TSP) and Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) winners each year. IIHS says these awards "identify the best vehicle choices for safety within size categories during a given year."
- It offers all-wheel drive on at least one U.S. trim, according to the maker or the EPA.
- It has a published U.S. starting MSRP on the manufacturer's own site.
On October 9, 2026, five luxury sedans were on the IIHS 2026 award list, and all five pass the other three tests. So there are five picks, not ten.
Two things we left out on purpose:
- Sedans without a 2026 IIHS award. A missing award is not the same as "unsafe." But we can only rank on evidence we can show you.
- A residual-value ranking. Model-by-model residual forecasts are not openly published, and the residual on any lease comes from the lessor's program. The section on holding value below explains what to ask for instead.
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How Do the 5 Luxury Sedans Compare?
| Sedan | Model year on maker's site | Starting MSRP (maker's site) | All-wheel drive | IIHS 2026 award | NHTSA overall rating | EPA combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi A5 sedan | 2027 | $50,400 | Standard (quattro) | TSP+ (2026 model) | Not rated (2026) | 26 mpg (2027) |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class (C 300) | 2026 | $49,650 (C 300 Sedan, RWD); $51,650 (C 300 4MATIC) | Available (4MATIC) | TSP (2026 model) | Not rated (2026) | 29 mpg RWD, 27 mpg 4MATIC (2026) |
| Audi A6 sedan | 2027 | $64,900 | Standard (quattro) | TSP+ (2026 model) | Not rated (2026, 2027) | 23 mpg (2026; 2027 not yet listed) |
| Genesis G80 | 2027 | $59,450 (2.5T AWD) | Standard on every 2027 trim listed | TSP+ (2026 model, built after June 2025) | 5 stars (2027 AWD) | 23 mpg 2.5T, 18 mpg 3.5T (2027) |
| Audi A6 Sportback e-tron | 2027 | $66,700 | Available (quattro) | TSP+ (2027 model) | Not listed (2026, 2027) | 111 MPGe RWD, 105 MPGe quattro (2027) |
How to read the table:
- MSRP is the starting price the manufacturer listed on October 9, 2026, before options. Taxes, title, registration and dealer fees are extra, so check whether a quoted figure includes destination. Final pricing and lease terms are set by the licensed dealership or lessor, subject to credit approval.
- IIHS awards are for the model year shown in the column. IIHS had not yet rated the 2027 A5, A6 sedan or G80 when we checked.
- NHTSA is the federal 5-Star Safety Ratings program. "Not rated" means NHTSA lists the car but had not published an overall score.
- EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov for the trim noted.
Which Luxury Sedan Fits You?
Who Is the Audi A5 Sedan Right For?
The 2027 A5 starts at $50,400, and Audi lists quattro all-wheel drive as standard. Audi rates it at 268 horsepower. The EPA rates the 2027 A5 quattro, a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder, at 22 mpg city, 32 highway and 26 combined. The 2026 A5 sedan is a TSP+. IIHS notes the all-new A5 was introduced for the 2025 model year.
Who it fits: drivers who want all-wheel drive without paying extra for it, in a midsize luxury sedan. For Audi's track record, see our Audi reliability guide.
Why Pick the Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
The C 300 Sedan starts at $49,650 with rear-wheel drive on the Mercedes-Benz USA site, which still shows the 2026 model. The C 300 4MATIC Sedan starts at $51,650. Mercedes lists the C 300 at 255 horsepower. 4MATIC all-wheel drive is available, not standard. The EPA rates the 2026 C 300 at 29 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive and 27 mpg with 4MATIC.
The C-Class earned a TSP, not a TSP+. Under the 2026 criteria, TSP+ needs a "Good" pedestrian crash prevention rating and an "Acceptable or good" rating in IIHS's vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test. A TSP needs "Acceptable or good" pedestrian crash prevention and has no vehicle-to-vehicle requirement.
Who it fits: shoppers who want the lowest starting MSRP here with rear-wheel drive. If you need AWD, the A5 is the lowest-priced AWD pick. Read how reliable Mercedes-Benz is, or see current Mercedes-Benz lease options.
When Does the Audi A6 Sedan Make Sense?
The 2027 A6 Sedan starts at $64,900, with quattro all-wheel drive standard. IIHS says the A6 was redesigned for the 2026 model year, and the 2026 A6 is a TSP+. The EPA lists the 2026 A6 Sedan with a 3.0-liter turbo six-cylinder at 20 mpg city, 29 highway and 23 combined. The 2027 EPA listing was not yet published.
Who it fits: drivers who want a larger sedan (IIHS classes the A6 as a large car) with AWD on every car, not as an option.
Why Consider the Genesis G80?
The G80 is the only car on this list with a published NHTSA overall rating. The 2027 G80 AWD earned 5 stars overall, with 5 stars for frontal crash, side crash and rollover. Every 2027 trim on the Genesis site is AWD, starting at $59,450 for the 2.5T AWD. The EPA rates the 2027 G80 2.5T at 23 mpg combined and the 3.5T at 18 mpg combined.
One detail matters if you are offered a 2026 G80: the IIHS TSP+ for the 2026 G80 "applies only to vehicles built after June 2025." Ask the dealership to confirm the build date before you sign.
Who it fits: shoppers who want a 2026 IIHS TSP+ (built after June 2025), a 5-star NHTSA overall rating for the 2027 AWD model, and AWD on every trim.
Is the Audi A6 Sportback e-tron the Right Electric Pick?
This is the only electric sedan on the list, and its TSP+ is for the 2027 model itself. It starts at $66,700. It is offered with rear-wheel drive or quattro all-wheel drive. The EPA lists the 2027 A6 e-tron at 111 MPGe combined and 348 miles of range with rear-wheel drive, or 105 MPGe and 327 miles with quattro.
Who it fits: drivers who can charge at home or work and want an electric luxury sedan with a current IIHS award. Choose quattro if you want AWD.
Which Luxury Sedans Have AWD for New Jersey Winters?
- Standard: Audi A5 sedan, Audi A6 sedan, and every 2027 Genesis G80 trim.
- Available on some trims: Mercedes-Benz C-Class (4MATIC) and Audi A6 Sportback e-tron (quattro).
When AWD is an option, it changes the car you are pricing. On the C 300, the EPA rates 4MATIC at 27 mpg combined against 29 mpg for rear-wheel drive. Make sure every quote names the exact trim and drivetrain you want, so you compare like for like.
Which Luxury Sedans Hold Their Value Best on a Lease?
Residual value is the car's estimated worth at the end of the lease, written into the lease contract. It is one of the biggest numbers in a lease. The Federal Trade Commission explains that with a lease, "you're paying for the car's expected depreciation — or loss of value — during the lease period, plus a rent charge, taxes, and fees."
We do not rank these five by residual value, because the residual on your lease comes from the lessor's own program, and model-level forecasts are not openly published. You can still compare them. When you get a lease quote, ask for:
- the residual value, as a percentage and in dollars;
- the capitalized cost (the price the lease is based on);
- the rent charge or money factor;
- the annual mileage allowance and the charge per extra mile.
Illustrative math, not a quote: take a car with a $50,000 capitalized cost. At a 60% residual, the lease must cover $20,000 of depreciation, plus rent charge, taxes and fees. At 55%, that rises to $22,500. A higher residual on a pricier car can sometimes close the gap with a cheaper one. For a full walkthrough, read residual value explained.
Is It Better to Lease or Buy a Luxury Car?
It depends on how you drive and how long you keep cars. The FTC puts the core trade-off plainly: "With a lease, you're paying to drive the car, not to buy it." It also notes that "the monthly payments on a lease are usually lower than monthly finance payments if you bought the same car."
Leasing tends to fit if:
- you like a new car every few years;
- you stay within the mileage limit. The FTC says "the annual mileage limit in most standard leases is 15,000 or less";
- you are comfortable with lease-end rules. With a lease, "you're responsible for excess wear and damage and any missing equipment."
Buying tends to fit if you drive well beyond the mileage limit or plan to keep the car long after a typical lease term. Ending a lease early can be costly: the FTC warns "you may have to pay a substantial early termination charge."
This is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Final lease terms are set by the licensed dealership or lessor, subject to credit approval.
Why Isn't My Favorite Luxury Sedan on This List?
Most likely, it did not have a 2026 IIHS award when we checked. For example, the BMW models on the 2026 list are SUVs (X1, X3 and X5), not the 3 Series or 5 Series. That does not make other sedans a bad lease. If your heart is set on one, see our BMW lease options, our best sedans to lease guide, or our luxury lease roundup across body styles.
How Can Vantage Help You Lease a Luxury Sedan?
Vantage Auto Group is a licensed New Jersey auto broker focused on leasing. We work with 350+ dealer partners to source the most competitive pricing available. We assist in negotiating with our dealer network. All paperwork and final terms are handled directly by the licensed dealership, subject to credit approval.
Tell us which sedan, trim and drivetrain you want. Start on our New Jersey luxury car lease page.
Sources
All accessed October 9, 2026.
- IIHS, 2026 Top Safety Picks (winners and 2026 criteria), and IIHS vehicle pages for the 2026 Audi A5, 2026 Audi A6, 2027 Audi A6 Sportback e-tron, 2026 Genesis G80 and 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- NHTSA, 5-Star Safety Ratings (via the NHTSA Safety Ratings API)
- U.S. EPA and DOE, fueleconomy.gov
- Audi USA: 2027 A5, 2027 A6 Sedan, 2027 A6 Sportback e-tron
- Mercedes-Benz USA, C-Class Sedan
- Genesis USA, 2027 G80
- Federal Trade Commission, Financing or Leasing a Car
