We love to hate SUVs, don't we? But the fact of the matter is, that not only are they here to stay, they are a necessary evil. That 9,000rpm Porsche 911 GT3 we all adore? Wouldn't exist without the Cayenne. Aston Martin? Would likely be in even more trouble than it has been of late without the DBX. Much as you or even we hate to admit it, some luxury SUVs in 2023 are really rather good. So we thought we'd list the best.
The nine best luxury SUVs for 2023
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Bentley Bentayga – the one from Crewe
The first Bentayga was a bit.... um... difficult to look at, let's be honest. But now there is a new one, one that isn't exactly beautiful, but looks a lot less like it fell out of the ugly tree. The new Bentayga also steps up the quality and design of this biggest of SUV's interior, bringing it into line with more modern trends in luxury builds. It's still got a very Bentley-like ride and with a big V8 under the bonnet might still be the ultimate high-riding waftmobile luxury SUV for 2023.
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Porsche Cayenne Coupe – the guilty pleasure
Even hardcore Porsche fans are forced to concede the brand did the right thing by jumping on the SUV bandwagon early, even if the Cayenne has never been easy on the eye. The bottom says it all and Porsche now builds way more SUVs than it does sportscars, thanks mainly to the fact it did a better job of translating sporting dynamics than it did aesthetics. The seemingly oxymoronic fashion for SUV coupes plays to the Cayenne’s strengths and it was inevitable Porsche would respond to the challenge of the BMW X6 and others like it. You can have it in various flavours but craziest of all is the fettled Cayenne Turbo GT, with its grippy tyres, aggressive camber and parping exhaust.
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Aston Martin DBX – the true brand translation
With its bespoke platform and in-detail engineering, Aston Martin took the opposite of the synical approach to the sportscar maker's SUV. It's no grandfathered platform, no monster for margins, it's been developed to be a proper Aston Martin and we're o-so thankful for that. Fast enough, genuinely decent fun and special-feeling, the DBX does for SUVs what other Astons do for sports and GT cars – near-perfectly compromises between the jobs of luxury, civility and engagement. Okay, it's hardly understated but it's also probably the best-looking luxury SUV going too. Just sort the digital stuff on the inside and sharpish, Aston.
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Rolls-Royce Cullinan – the unapologetic one
Traditionalists may be appalled and the critical response has been mixed. But Rolls-Royce knows its customers and realised those wanting an SUV with the Spirit of Ecstasy on the grille weren’t in the market for subtlety. So the Cullinan is truly excess in all areas. The waftability we associate with Rolls-Royce actually translates rather well into an SUV, where long-travel suspension isolates occupants from whatever is going on below them, whether that be smooth tarmac or something more challenging. You’re unlikely to see a Cullinan green-laning any time soon. And a Range Rover will still get you further in the mud. But for the polo field or grouse moor nothing comes close.
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Lamborghini Urus S – the one that thinks it’s a supercar
Though it’s known as a supercar brand Lamborghini will be glad it once dabbled in off-roaders and can therefore claim a scrap of credibility in this arena. The Urus is a world away from the Countach-engined LM002 that evolved out of a project for a HUMVEE-style military truck but there’s a tenuous link there Ferrari may have reason to envy as it grasps the SUV nettle. Built on the same platform as the Bentley Bentayga, Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q8, the Urus benefits from the pooled resources of its Volkswagen owners and – whisper it – does a reasonable job of contriving supercar spirit in the high-riding SUV format. In 2023 it even now borrows a supercar spec and badge.
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Range Rover
The latest largest most luxurious Range Rover absolutely does what it says on the tin. Moving upmarket again for 2023, the design is intended to make it look like it's been hewn from a solid block. The last Rangie was an absolutely sublime luxury car, as well as a sublime SUV so it was tough to see how this one would make moves upwards. But it did. Now we just want to see them be reliable...
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Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio – the one that’s actually good to drive
Built on the same foundations as the stellar Giulia Quadrifoglio, the Stelvio had a tougher point to prove, given Alfa Romeo had no SUV heritage. Buoyed by the critical success of the Giulia the Stelvio came out fighting though and, like its saloon relative, more than surpassed all expectation. Light and agile feeling for an SUV, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio doesn’t just look better than most premium SUVs, it also drives better too. The credibility of a record-setting Nürburgring lap (since beaten by Audi) didn’t do it any harm and a Macan is similarly good to drive. A newer touchscreen and better materials improved things and allowed it can now take on its rivals more head-on. But if you’re a sportscar fan forced by circumstance into an SUV, the Stelvio Quadrifoglio is the one you can choose with little fear of buyer’s regret.
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Maserati Levante – the exotic one
Aesthetically one of the more successful translations of sporting pedigree into the high-riding SUV format, the Levante is often overlooked in this crowded sector but charms for its evocative badge and traditional sense of Italian style. It can’t compete with the high-tech German rivals for fancy gadgets and other gimmickry but the Levante’s charisma is enough to make up for a slightly outdated interior, the fact you can now get it in V8-powered GTS and Trofeo form with (respectively) 530hp and 580hp giving it the legs to live up to that famous trident badge. This, combined with a more luxurious vibe, makes the Levante a discerning choice for the SUV fan looking to stand out from the crowd.
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Mercedes G-Class – the one that’s also a proper 4x4
Mercedes was early to the luxury SUV party with its original ML and has benefitted from this foresight to expand its range across all classes in which it operates. Indeed, there are so many Mercedes SUVs (and coupe derivatives thereof) it can get confusing. Standing over them all though is the G-Class, the hardcore 4x4 developed from utilitarian and military roots and recently reinvented as a modern luxury SUV. It keeps the old-fashioned, square-cut looks and stands true to its hardcore off-roader traditions. But it now combines that with S-Class grade luxury, refinement and driving dynamics that make it a viable alternative on the road too, especially in bombastic AMG trim.
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Which luxury SUV do you want in the garage?
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