Best Luxury SUVs for 2024

How Does iSeeCars Determine the Best Luxury SUVs?

To determine the best luxury SUVs, iSeeCars analyzes data from over 12 million new and used vehicles to evaluate each luxury SUV’s reliability, value retention, and safety ratings.

Reliability is a reflection of a vehicle’s long-term quality and durability. It is often reflected in lower operating costs for a vehicle owner, as well as reduced time and energy spent visiting dealerships to address issues beyond scheduled maintenance.

Value retention indicates how much market value a vehicle has after several years of use. This is typically the most expensive factor in vehicle ownership. Models that lose a substantial amount of value over time contribute far less to a consumer’s future trade-in value for their next purchase, or what the vehicle can be sold for in the used car market.

Safety ratings come from a standardized set of safety tests performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). These organizations perform comprehensive studies to determine the potential for occupant injury or death if a vehicle is involved in an accident.

For each model, the data related to these three components is aggregated across multiple model years and updated regularly. The data is combined to create a Quality Score, and that quality score is compared across all models within a segment to determine the ranking for best cars.

What Kind of Luxury SUVs are Available?

Luxury SUVs are among the most popular models for sale today. They combine the all-wheel drive confidence, increased cargo space, and overall practicality of a utility vehicle with the premium style, upscale materials, and advanced technology of a luxury car. Automakers have fed the ever growing consumer demand for these models with an ever-expanding lineup of vehicles.

Today choices range from small and midsize luxury SUVs like the Audi Q3 and Genesis GV70 to large, three-row models like the Cadillac Escalade and BMW X7. Hybrids, plug–in hybrids and electric SUVs, all wearing premium nameplates and featuring luxury amenities and advanced technologies, are also available.

What Type of Luxury SUV Should I Buy?

With the full spectrum of luxury SUVs available in today’s market the only limitation is your imagination – and budget. Smaller, subcompact models can be surprisingly fun to drive and still accommodating for those with luxury expectations. They only offer two rows of seating, and they can’t tow or haul as much as midsize or larger models, but if you need a basic, functional SUV with relatively high fuel efficiency, a solid foundation of safety features, and premium interior treatments, these models will suffice, and can be purchased at a lower price.

Stepping up to midsize and larger luxury SUVs opens the door to three-row crossovers with up to 8 passenger capacity. Prices will also climb, and adding options like leather seats and advanced tech will further bump the MSRP. It’s easy to add 30 or more percent to a large luxury SUV’s base price with just a few packages related to driver assistance tech or upgraded infotainment systems. Weigh your wants, needs, and budget carefully when configuring or shopping for large luxury SUVs.

Modern powertrain design has done wonders for fuel economy. By pairing smaller engines with turbo technology and direct fuel injection even midsize and large luxury SUVs deliver strong horsepower, engaging driving dynamics and impressive mpg ratings. Some of these models also provide excellent off-road capability. But if traditional engines still aren’t efficient enough for your fuel budget (or CO2 tolerance) a growing list of luxury SUVs featuring hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology is available.

Finally, for buyers interested in the latest drivetrain technology, the spectrum of choices in electric SUVs gets wider every day. These models blend the power and refinement of traditional luxury SUVs with the advanced technology of electric car creating a unique driving experience. Electric SUVs are quick and have the instant torque necessary to move their substantial curb weight with authority. High-tech features, such as large touchscreens and semi-autonomous driving, often come standard on electric luxury SUVs, but at a price substantially higher than traditional models. And when it comes to long distance travel in an electric SUV, planning your route (and your charging locations) is critical.