- Luxury SUVs offer upgraded interiors adorned with premium materials such as wood, leather, accent lighting and hand-stitched seats.
- Warranty and maintenance plans can lower the price of vehicle ownership and justify the cost of a luxury vehicle.
- Some luxury vehicles are designed to complement certain lifestyles, such as vehicles that offer towing and off-road capabilities or SUVs with improved gas mileage in the city.
- Lower prices don’t always reflect better value, so check the standard options to see if the features justify the base price.
Luxury SUVs are great vehicles because they offer comfort, extra legroom and a lot of cutting edge technology. However, when you’re looking for a new SUV, all the options available can be overwhelming. Of course, you should always evaluate your budget and needs when looking for a new SUV before making any purchases.
Do you have a large family and need seating for seven or eight people? Full-size SUVs meet these needs, while mid-size SUVs are for smaller families or people who want to combine the functionality of an SUV with the handling and responsiveness of a car. To help you as you consider your options, here are the top-rated luxury SUVs on the market today:
Genesis GV80
The Genesis GV80 provides lots of value for its starting price of $50,200. Though the model is only in its second year, it’s making a splash with impressive safety ratings, a powerful engine and a chic interior design that features comfortable seats, top-notch materials and lots of comfort features.
The Genesis comes with a standard 12-speaker surround sound stereo system that can be upgraded to an even more impressive 21-speaker system, a large touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity and four USB ports.
Source: GenesisLincoln Aviator
If you want an SUV with a bit of pep in its step, the Lincoln Aviator won’t disappoint. It has a powerful engine, seating room for seven people and ample cargo space, making it a great family SUV.
Like most Lincolns, it rides like you’re driving on a cloud and comes with an infotainment system that connects to your phone and devices through Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa or Bluetooth. Add four USB ports, a standard premium sound system and tons of standard safety features, and you’ve got quite a bit of value for a starting price of $51,465.
Source: LincolnAudi Q8
The Audi Q8 offers quick acceleration, excellent handling and superior passenger comfort. You get Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Wi-Fi and two USB ports standard along with a standard moonroof, and a keyless entry system.
The climate control system allows you, your front seat passenger, and the people in the back seat to all set their own temperature preferences. These standard features combined with its state-of-the-art safety package may justify the starting price of $70,300.
Source: AudiMercedes-Benz G550
The Mercedes-Benz G550 is one of the most powerful SUVs on our list, accelerating from 0-to-60 mph in only 5.6 seconds. It starts at a whopping $131,750 but is capable of taking on any terrain on Earth.
Its classic design is a throwback to the Mercedes-Benzes of old and has high-quality interior materials, an extensive safety technology package and an infotainment center that offers full connectivity whether you’re in the city or in the middle of nowhere.
Source: Mercedes-BenzLincoln Navigator
The 2022 redesign of the Lincoln Navigator is a gorgeous embodiment of luxury. It’s got tons of legroom, holds up to eight passengers and is ideal if you have a lot of cargo to manage or want to tow a boat or trailer.
The heated and ventilated seats allow you to heat and cool your seating surface, and the front seats have built-in massage functions. Add in the ActiveGlide driving aid and all its safety technology and it’s worth the starting price of $76,710.
Source: LincolnLexus RX 350
The RX 350 is surprisingly affordable when you consider all of the value it provides. For the starting price of $45,570, you get a lot of standard comfort and safety features such as Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, satellite radio, the ability to use the vehicle as a Wi-Fi hotspot, six USB ports, an upscale interior and a ton of tech.
It can recognize and avoid collisions with pedestrians, apply the brakes automatically if it detects a potential accident, alert you when you’re drifting from your lane and apply the brakes if you’re going to hit something while in reverse.
Source: LexusCadillac XT6
Cadillac has added rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring to the XT6’s list of standard safety features, adding even more value at a starting price of $48,595. The infotainment system is quite intuitive, which is a plus when you’re learning how to use features such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Six USB ports allow your entire family to charge their wireless devices, and the XT6 offers performance braking, a sporty engine and a large cargo area.
Source: CadillacLand Rover Discovery
The Land Rover Discovery is specifically built for off-roading, so it’s ideal if you like to travel. Whether you’re traversing potholes in the concrete jungle or rocky off-road terrain, you’ll barely feel a thing.
With seating for up to seven people and a standard third row, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, dual sunroofs, a parking system that allows you to see around the entire vehicle, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, front and rear collision avoidance technology and touch screen navigation, you can experience luxury and safety wherever you go. Prices for this incredible ride start at $56,600.
Source: Land RoverAcura MDX
The Acura MDX has been redesigned for 2022, with an exterior sporting clean, sharp lines for an upscale look. It starts at $48,000 and offers a lot of standard features. When you get inside, you’ll be in awe of the interior design and luxurious materials. Add to that the massive cargo and passenger space available, and you have a great family vehicle.
The MDX also comes with standard drowsy driver alerts, pedestrian collision avoidance, a traffic jam assist feature that automatically slows or stops your vehicle while the cruise control is active, a rearview camera and automatic emergency braking.
Source: AcuraInfiniti QX80
If you prefer a more muscular look, the Infiniti QX80 is the full-size lux SUV for you. It offers plenty of power, the ability to tow, available all-wheel drive and an improved infotainment system.
It’s a little pricey at $70,600 to start, but its improved safety features, premium interior materials and convenience technology add enough value to justify it.
Source: InfinitiLand Rover Defender
The Land Rover Defender hits 2022 with new engine options and trim levels. You can select an engine with up to 518 horsepower, which allows you to tackle just about any challenge you’ll encounter on the road or off it.
You can comfortably seat up to five people, all your luggage and the family pets with the massive amount of cargo space. This is an impressive value at a starting price of $51,700.
Source: Land RoverCadillac Escalade
The Cadillac Escalade gives you a ton of options to explore, including Super Cruise, which can take over on the highway and drive for you while you use your hands for other things.
The ability to automatically pass other cars on the highway without any driver input is rather mind-blowing. The Escalade starts at $76,295> but offers a refined interior, a ton of technology and available all-wheel drive.
Source: CadillacBMW X7
The BMW X7 offers the driving experience you’d find in a car with the added seating and space of an SUV. It starts at $74,900 and offers a premium 10-speaker stereo system, touchscreen navigation, Apple CarPlay, and driver assistance and a safety package as standard features.
It’s a great choice if you miss the sporty handling of a car but have a family to cart around. You’ll pay the luxury price of that BMW performance, though.
Source: BMWHow to Find the Best SUV
Before you shop for a family vehicle, determine what is most important first. Some SUVs are built for families who take frequent vacations, while others are more suited for city driving. Review the warranties on the vehicles you’re considering to see if you can save money on maintenance and repairs. You’ll also want to consider the cost of insurance coverage and gas when deciding whether you can afford a vehicle.
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