Quality is definitely not a status differentiator. The brand is. Usually higher price goes hand in hand with better quality, because that's what is expected of a more expensive car for quite obvious reasons.
If the quality is functional, then it's not a status differentiator. If it's just about appearance, then it is. The interior materials in a BMW of a similar price are more expensive, more "premium", and the tolerances in the way the interior is assembled are tighter but none of those things affect how the car functions.
