The sales numbers for 2017 are a trend. More people are choosing SUVs than passenger cars or sedans than ever. That’s partly due to low gas prices, but it also says a lot about versatility. Americans want a vehicle that can do whatever they want, has the cargo space they need to haul virtually anything, and the performance to be an inspired ride. You’ll also find that luxury car buyers are now trying to find the best luxury SUV to replace their sedan.
And if you’re looking for the best luxury SUV for 2018, there are some familiar names you should consider, and a couple that you might not be expecting.
Is an Alfa Romeo even a blip on your radar? It should be. The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio is coming to America in the next few months. As one of the fastest SUVs, it’s setting a new precedent for performance among the best luxury SUVs. The 505-horsepower Stelvio QF accelerates from 0 to 60mph in under 4 seconds and tops out at 177mph. It also set a new Nürburgring record for production SUVs at 7 minutes 51 seconds.
It’s more than just fast – it’s luxurious too. Stunning leather with contrast stitching, carbon fiber Recaro seats, and a race-inspired driver’s area scream high-end function and form. It offers adaptive cruise control, an infrared windshield, and premium driver-assistive and power features in a sexy little package.
Jaguar has been an old man’s brand for decades, but recent models are swaying toward a mainstream brand. The 2018 Jaguar F-Pace is a luxury SUV that helps bring a more youthful generation into the fold. The exterior is athletic and fun-loving, having just the right shapeliness to draw attention from all ages, all without forgetting its heritage and familiar grille.
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Options included for the F-Pace are a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 with 380 horsepower, capable of accelerating from 0 to 60mph in 5.8 seconds and topping out at 150mph, and standard-equipment AWD. On the inside, a head-up display, full-color instrument display, configurable interior mood lighting, a gaping panoramic roof, and 20-way adjustable heated and cooled leather seats are available.
You’ll notice there aren’t any Mercedes-Benz vehicles on the list, and that’s because Audi has stepped up to take their place. The 2018 Audi Q7 has similar equipment and at a much better price point. Audi offers a turbocharged 2.0-liter with 252 horsepower or a supercharged 3.0-liter engine with 333 horsepower, along with standard-equipment Quattro AWD.
Audi’s Virtual Cockpit fully digital instrument cluster and gauges, MMI all-in-touch touchpad, and panoramic sunroof are all standard features on all trims. Premium Plus trims include head-up display, a birds-eye-view top view camera, 20-inch wheels, Bose 3D Sound System, and all the supple leather you can handle.
The BMW X5 is a common choice, but we like the X6 a bit better. The X6 “Sports Activity Coupe,” as BMW likes to call it, has a less boxy appearance and makes performance more of a focus. Under the hood, the Germans have packed a 4.4-liter TwinPower Turbo V8 with 445 horsepower that can accelerate from 0 to 60mph in just 4.6 seconds. You get xDrive as standard equipment, so all that power finds its way to the pavement or dirt with nary a concern.
There’s also 20-way power seats covered in Dakota leather, an Anthracite headliner, real wood trim, and advanced power options. Lots of power options, in fact. A power-adjustable steering column, power liftgate, and power sunshade on the power sunroof are just the beginning.
The conveniences it contains, such as the 10.2-inch BMW navigation system, iDrive 6.0 system, and 600-watt Harman Kardon Surround Sound System, easily make the BMW X6 a contender for best luxury SUV.
Few SUVs have the road presence of the all-new 2018 Lincoln Navigator. It’s the best luxury SUV that everyone actually wants to own, not just gawk at. It contains a 450-horsepower twin-turbo 3.5-liter engine, a 10-speed auto transmission, and either 2WD or 4WD configurations. While other luxury SUVs are built for the driver, the Navigator is built for all occupants.
The massive infotainment screen is like a full-size tablet mounted high on the dash. It has an industry-first DLP head-up display, available dual 10-inch headrest rear-seat entertainment screens, an available panoramic vista roof, and the top-end driver-assistive technologies. It goes without saying that the interior is fully wrapped in leather, right?
You’re probably not too familiar with the Maserati Levante. Not many people are. The niche luxury brand is one that should grab your attention, though. Like a blend of the Porsche Cayenne and Infiniti QX50, the Levante is aggressive with beautiful muscularity. The trident in the grille is quite attractive too.
The interior is unique, just like the rest of the 2018 Maserati Levante. Seats are hand-stitched in fine leather, a massive infotainment screen is front and center in the stack, and a quaint analog clock sits atop the dash.
You have a choice under the hood. There’s a V6 turbo-diesel with up to 275 horsepower or a twin-turbo 3.0-liter gas V6 with a possible 430 ponies. While you probably won’t ever take the Maserati Levante off-roading, you could with its capable AWD system, also standard equipment.
It’s the only all-electric luxury SUV on our list, but it certainly belongs. The 2018 Tesla Model X could easily be considered the best luxury SUV. It combines blistering acceleration with all-electric efficiency, and the interior versatility to wow everyone who sees it.
The Model X P100D has a range of up to 295 miles on a single charge. It’s powered by a dual-motor system with a combined 762 horsepower. It has semi-autonomous capabilities, a tall tablet-like center cluster, outlandish Falcon Wing doors, and configurable leather seating for up to seven people.
A power liftgate and smart air suspension make it as functional as it is fun to drive. By the way, it accelerates from 0 to 60mph in 2.9 seconds and runs the quarter-mile in 11.4. So yeah, it’s fast.
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