Hotly Contested Luxury Sedan Segment: The $100K-$150K Rivalry

Luxury sedans in the VND 2-3 billion range are still of interest to both manufacturers and a specific group of customers, despite not being a particularly dynamic market segment. The segment has undergone a number of changes in recent years, including upgrades and electrified versions.

The following are some luxury sedan options to consider in the VND 2-3 billion price range:

BMW 5-Series (VND 1.83-2.89 billion)

The BMW 5-Series is a must-consider in this segment. In the Vietnamese market, the 5-Series is officially distributed as part of the seventh generation, with the latest upgraded version introduced in early QII/2021.

Thaco offers the 5-Series in two versions: the 520i and the 530i M Sport. Outside, the car features the BMW Laserlight system, 17-19 inch alloy wheels depending on the version and upgrade package, etc. The 5-Series cabin has a 12.3-inch entertainment screen, a BMW Live Cockpit Professional digital instrument panel of the same size, and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters…

In terms of power, this car line is equipped with a 2.0L twin-turbo engine. For the 520i, the power output is 184 horsepower and 290 Nm. On the 530i M Sport version, this engine block produces 252 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque.

The eighth generation of the 5-Series (G60) was introduced globally at the end of last year, and it is likely that Thaco will soon distribute this car line to Vietnamese customers. In addition to changes in appearance, the new generation 5-Series also has mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and the BMW i5 electric variant.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class (VND 1.88-2.88 billion)

The E-Class is a rare sedan in the segment that is assembled in Vietnam. At the time of its launch in Vietnam, the 2021 E-Class was the first Mercedes-Benz model to adopt a design language with notable details including a new lighting cluster, daytime running lights with a fishhook design, and a taillight cluster made up of multiple LED segments.

On the top-of-the-line E 300 AMG version, the car has additional sporty features such as a 3D grille, 19-inch AMG alloy wheels, and dual exhaust pipes. The cabin has a sporty steering wheel with a cluster of densely packed buttons, a dual screen including a speedometer and a central screen…

In terms of power, the top-of-the-line version of the E-Class uses a 2.0L turbocharged gasoline engine, producing 258 horsepower and 370 Nm of maximum torque. All power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a 9-speed automatic transmission.

Mercedes-Benz Vietnam is currently distributing the E-Class with 3 versions including the E 180, E 200 Exclusive, and E 300 AMG. The starting price is VND 1.88 billion for the E 180 and the highest is VND 2.88 billion for the E 300 AMG.

Earlier this year, the new-generation E-Class appeared in Singapore, and it is highly likely that Mercedes-Benz Vietnam will soon introduce the new E-Class to put pressure on its direct competitors, the BMW 5-Series and Audi A6.

Audi A6 (VND 2.42 billion)

The latest generation Audi A6 has been distributed in Vietnam since July 2020. Prior to that, the model was introduced by the manufacturer at the 2019 Vietnam Motor Show.

Compared to the previous generation, the new Audi A6 has the advantage of being wider, longer, and taller, which means the interior space is more spacious. The overall dimensions of this model are 4,941 x 2,110 x 1,457 mm (length x width x height), with a wheelbase of 2,932 mm.

Notable exterior features of the A6 include the matrix LED lighting system, 18-inch wheels, and taillights with integrated turn signals. Stepping inside, the car uses both real and artificial leather, 4-zone automatic air conditioning, 30-color interior lighting, etc.

Audi equips the A6 with a 2.0L turbocharged engine with mild-hybrid technology. This engine block produces 245 horsepower at a speed range of 5,000-6,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 370 Nm at a speed range of 1,600-4,300 rpm. The car can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds.

Lexus IS (VND 2.49-2.83 billion)

Lexus’ smallest sedan was brought back to Vietnam in early 2021, and it can be considered a rare Asian representative in this segment. In 2022, the IS line surprisingly added the F Sport version, bringing the number of Lexus IS versions sold domestically to three.

Despite not creating as much buzz as models from Audi, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz, the Lexus IS still has its own strengths, such as the option of a hybrid engine – a feature that was once unique in the segment before the introduction of the Volvo S90 Recharge a few days ago. The IS’s design is youthful and sporty, differentiating it from its two “senior” models, the ES and LS.

The IS 300 and IS 300 F Sport versions both use a 2.0L turbocharged engine with 241 horsepower and 350 Nm. The IS 300h hybrid version combines a 2.5L gasoline engine and an electric motor, producing 220 horsepower and 221 Nm of maximum torque.

Lexus Vietnam currently distributes the IS line with the 300 Luxury, 300 F Sport, and 300h versions, priced at VND 2.49 billion, VND 2.79 billion, and VND 2.83 billion, respectively. Previously, the Lexus IS also had a 300 Standard version, but this version has been discontinued.

Volvo S90 (VND 2.32-2.89 billion)

The S90 is the top-of-the-line sedan from the Volvo brand. Currently, the S90 is being distributed in two versions: the S90 and the S90 Recharge. The Recharge version was recently introduced by Volvo in the Vietnamese market.

The Volvo S90 sold in Vietnam belongs to the LWB extended wheelbase variant. The car has an overall dimension of 5,090 x 1,895 x 1,438 mm, with a wheelbase of 3,061 mm. When placed next to competitors such as the E-Class or 5-Series, the Volvo S90 has a clear advantage in size.

The design of the S90 follows an elegant and somewhat落ち着いた direction, which differentiates it from the rest of the segment. In the recently launched Recharge version, the car retains this design and only has a few exterior changes, including a new wheel design and the addition of a charging port. The interior is almost identical between the two versions.

The engine on the Volvo S90 is the B6, which includes a 2.0L supercharged gasoline engine and a supporting electric motor, producing 300 horsepower and 420 Nm of maximum torque. For the S90 Recharge, the car uses a 2.