Ten of 12 luxury brands have outperformed the overall auto market this year, which is down 2.7 percent since January, according to USA Today. Up: Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, Infiniti, Acura, Cadillac, Audi, Saab, Jaguar, Land Rover. Down: Lincoln and Volvo. Particularly strong have been sales for entry-level models. Analysts say it's because of stable income growth in middle-class households, new products and incentive deals. Many entry-level buyers are moving up from Toyotas, Hondas and domestic brands such as Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge, said Art Spinella of CNW Marketing/Research. "These people are drawn to Jaguar, Mercedes and Lexus because they are aspirational brands," he says. "They always wanted a luxury car, and now they can afford one even though it's not the most expensive model." To automakers, the boom in entry-level sales justifies efforts to make their premium brands more affordable, according to USA Today.