Of course, power is pointless if it isn't properly harnessed, and the Cayenne's innate athleticism and sublime handling traits ensure it lives up to the German brand's illustrious history. Its spacious interior is basically a canvas for customization thanks to Porsche's extensive roster of available options.
While these features can quickly inflate its price, and we think some should be standard, at least they're discretional. Besides, the Cayenne—and its coupe counterpart reviewed separately —are mid-size luxury crossovers that fully engage driving enthusiasts.
That makes them our favorite choice. In our eyes, a mid-size luxury SUV is at its best when it so effortlessly blends on-road driving satisfaction with modern technology and a posh cabin—and the BMW X5 does just that.
Three different powertrains are offered—including a plug-in hybrid model and a high-performance twin-turbo V-8—and the X5's road manners are decidedly athletic. Its styling is attractive without being overly flashy, and the interior treats occupants with quality materials, comfortable seats, and a plethora of convenience and luxury features. It faces heady competition from the likes of the Audi Q7 , the Porsche Cayenne , and the Mercedes-Benz GLE-class , but the X5 is a richly outfitted package well-equipped for the task at hand.
Supremely elegant and technologically advanced, the Volvo XC90 is one of the most desirable mid-size luxury crossovers. Volvo loves to promote its safety-conscious image and makes it real by packing its lone three-row SUV with copious standard driver assists. Along with tech-savvy features such as a fully digital gauge cluster and a tablet-like infotainment touchscreen, the XC90 offers a semi-autonomous drive mode.
Although the Volvo isn't very engaging from behind the wheel, especially compared with sportier rivals such as the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne , it has one of the prettiest interiors in the game. A trio of four-cylinder engines are highlighted by a quick and potent hp plug-in hybrid.
However, the hybrid has a short all-electric range. Still, the XC90 is a perfectly splendid luxury vehicle with seating for up to seven. The BMW X7 is the brand's biggest people mover and brings an undeniably upscale aura and impressive levels of performance.
Behind the three-row SUV's borderline-bloated kidney grille are three excellent turbocharged engine options. While the standard straight-six is perfectly adequate with its horsepower, there's a lusty V-8 that makes either or horsepower.
To get the highest-output engine requires ordering the Alpina XB7, which costs almost twice as much as the base model but delivers the excess expected by those who can afford it. Still, the beauty of the big BMW is that every one has a cushy and hushed cabin, as well as a plethora of luxury amenities and driver-assistance tech.
Although its interior is smaller than its exterior suggests, and its power rear seats have sluggish operation, the X7 earns the highest marks among high-end SUVs.
Chevy totally reinvents its oldest nameplate with the all-new Suburban —and it's bigger and better than ever. It shares a lot with the redesigned Chevy Tahoe ; however, its extra length and newly adopted independent rear suspension bring more cargo and third-row space. Those traits make the 'Burban the biggest SUV to wear a bowtie and a serious competitor to enormous alternatives such as the Ford Expedition Max.
In addition to its familiar V-8 engines, the Chevy now includes a diesel option with loads of torque. Of course, it also offers an abundance of obligatory equipment such as contemporary driver assists and countless infotainment features. With a fresh face and contemporary content, the three-row SUV is the shorter version of the equally new Chevy Suburban.
The Tahoe is not only bigger on the outside, its third row and cargo area have grown, too. This is partly due to the debut of its independent rear suspension, which fixes the issues that plagued the previous generation. Along with a roomier cabin, it offers two dutiful V-8 engines as well as an efficient and torquey diesel.
There's also a host of driver-assistance options and popular infotainment features that should delight full-size families. Redesigned from the ground up for , the new Yukon borrows mechanicals from the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban , but goes its own way with unique looks and a few novel features. Three engines are offered—two gasoline V-8s and a turbo-diesel inline-six—all mated to a speed automatic that's operated via GMC's signature push-button gear selector.
The cabin is roomier and better equipped than last year's model and cargo space has increased as well—all the better for family vacations, trips to Home Depot, and tailgating parties. New Cars. Buyer's Guide. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Future Cars Worth Waiting For: — Jeff Xu Car and Driver.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. Subcompact: Mazda CX For those looking to do more serious off-roading or towing, there are still some truck-based SUVs left. The Toyota Tacoma pickup truck shares its basic platform with the Toyota 4Runner , for example. But their on-road handling is usually cumbersome, and the ride can be bouncy and unsettled. Body-on-frame SUVs often use a solid rear axle, as pickup trucks do, but independent rear suspension is becoming more popular, which gives them a more comfortable ride and more responsive handling characteristics.
Indeed, some of the more recent truck-based redesigns, like the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban , have dramatically improved rides. Subcompact SUVs One of the fastest growing categories, subcompact SUVs, offers a slightly taller alternative to similarly sized subcompact cars, with which they typically share their underpinnings.
Examples such as the Mazda CX and Kia Seltos offer an elevated ride height, upright seating, and available all-wheel drive compared with the Mazda3 and Kia Forte. Their small footprint makes them easy to park and maneuver. Although technically not subcompacts, there is a growing niche of tiny SUVs from luxury brands such as Audi, BMW, Infiniti, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and Mini that offer upscale interiors and strong performance, but these models can cost as much as a midsized SUV from a mainstream brand.
Small SUVs These are well-suited for drivers who are looking for more room than a small sedan can provide. Most have back seats that can comfortably accommodate a couple of adults. Fuel economy is typically 25 to 28 mpg overall, and many have a fuel-saving hybrid option available. Most have limited off-road abilities but are sufficient for the occasional dirt road or muddy trail.
Compact luxury SUVs such as the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 typically offer sportier handling, quieter cabins, nicer fit and finish, and more amenities than do regular small SUVs, though buyers will pay more and get reduced fuel economy, and they may need to use premium gasoline. Many luxury SUVs at this size offer much more thrilling performance than shoppers can get from mainstream brands.
Fuel economy hovers around 18 to 22 mpg, but a few hybrids make it into the 30s. Tow capacity is typically 3, to 5, pounds. Some models must have a trailering package to get that maximum towing capacity.
Luxury midsized SUVs tend to ratchet up the comfort, performance, and refinement. Large SUVs There is plenty of power, interior space, and towing capacity with large SUVs, but many are very big, bulky, clumsy, and thirsty.
However, a midsized model can be better for passenger comfort and daily driving. Luxury-branded models for all sizes add considerably to the bottom line, essentially pricing them into the next larger size.
Seating Almost all SUVs carry at least five people. Some midsized and full-sized models include a third-row seat that increases passenger capacity to six, seven, or eight. Despite a lack of variety in the styling and approach taken by many, it's now a fairly diverse segment that has attracted different brands into the fold of SUV making. Many models are now available as tax-friendly plug-in hybrids too, as manufacturers scramble to grab a bigger slice of the increasingly emissions-conscious fleet market.
Here are our favourites. It's hard to pick faults with such a classy and consummate all-rounder as the Audi Q5, although slightly anodyne handling is what will prevent the car from really appealing to keener drivers. Although a pricey option with a long options list, the Q5 is quiet, practical and desirable, with outstanding driving refinement and material finish; and if you prefer your SUVs with a little more style and less utility, there's now a swoopy-roofed Sportback version as well.
The Q5 received a pretty wide-reaching facelift for , with efficiency-boosted mild-hybrid engines going in under the bonnet, some new digital technology going into the cabin, and wider trapezoidal grille going onto the front end.
The big-selling 40 TDI version got a 14bhp power boost as part of that revision, and it remains a refined, comfortable, assertive-performing and easy-driving family car. The 50 TFSI e plug-in hybrid is a particularly smooth operator, with its electric motor and 2. Electric-only range and CO2 emissions have come down for both versions of the car, making them more competitive offerings on benefit-in-kind tax than they used to be.
Save money with new Q5 deals from What Car? The Discovery Sport might be the entry-level Land Rover in the showroom range, but it isn't short on trademark Land Rover capability, comfort or charm.
It has a practical interior - a huge selling point in this segment being the available of seven seats for those who need them - that has now been given a much needed lift in premium appeal and also fitted with Land Rover's latest 'Pivi' infotainment setup.
Its petrol and diesel engines are now supplemented by 48V mild-hybrid architecture in a bid to improve fuel economy, but the particularly slick Pe plug-in hybrid version is the stand-out version with its usefully long electric range. If you want a family SUV with more versatility and off-road ruggedness than the class average, the Discovery Sport delivers that with very few associated compromises. Save money with new Discovery Sport deals from What Car? What's this: a decent-handling mid-range SUV?
The X3 has powertrains with plenty of power and performance; the smaller diesel offerings can be a touch unrefined, but the multi-cylinder M40d and M40i are both rapid and smooth.
Just be warned that you may struggle to replicate official figures in the real world. Despite being known as 4x4s, many SUV cars are only two-wheel-drive. So, while in the past choosing an SUV probably meant you needed an off-road capable workhorse or wanted to go trail bashing for fun, the picture is very different now.
Four-wheel drive boosts their capability when the weather turns, too, although models with 2WD will deliver the kind of running costs you'd get with a conventional car if you're looking at the financial bottom line.
At the other end of the spectrum, the latest range of powerful performance models mean you can get an SUV that can put a smile on your face on twisty roads. Style is an important factor with many new SUVs and 4x4s, and plenty of models are available with a range of personalisation options to make the car you choose stand out. And at the top end of the SUV spectrum, the most luxurious SUVs have the quality and refinement to match the best limousines for comfort.
Skip to Content Skip to Footer. Land Rover Defender SEAT Tarraco BMW X5 Renault Captur Mercedes GLA Jaguar I-Pace Skoda Karoq Land Rover Discovery Kia e-Niro How to choose the best SUV for you The good news for SUV buyers is that because there are so many options, irrespective of whether you want to buy or lease your SUV, you need not settle for anything less than ideal.
Cars SUVs. Share this on Twitter Share this on Facebook Email. Best new cars coming in The world may be changing all the time but that doesn't stop manufacturers planning ahead.
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