When it comes to brands that have luxury counterparts, like Ford and Lincoln, Toyota and Lexus, or Honda and Acura, the assumption is that the upscale version is the more robust option, while the downmarket model is more cost-effective. But, that’s not always the case. Lexus ranks seven places above Toyota in the latest J.D. Power dependability survey, for instance, suggesting lower long-term maintenance costs, while a fully-loaded Toyota Camry is actually a bit more luxurious than a base Lexus ES.
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