Love ‘em or loathe ‘em, SUVs are the cars of the modern motoring age. Their sheer size and bulk also makes them the perfect platform for a real show of luxury and opulance, so there is a growing number cars that can now be classed as luxury SUVs. Out of that growing upper class, here are our favourites.
Updated 7th January 2021
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Even hardcore Porsche fans are forced to concede the brand did the right thing by jumping on the SUV bandwagon early, no matter the Cayenne has never been easy on the eye. The bottom line doesn’t argue though and Porsche now builds way more SUVs than it does sports cars, 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 the ultimate is the monstrous Turbo S E-Hybrid with 680hp from a combined V8/electric powertrain. Resistance is futile.
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 be the ultimate waftmobile for 2021.
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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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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.
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Cars like the Bentayga and Cullinan came about because there were people walking out of Land Rover dealerships upset there wasn’t a vehicle expensive or opulent enough to cater to their tastes. The Range Rover SVAutobiography is the response, taking the already magnificent Range Rover and giving it a luxury makeover from the Special Vehicle Operations department. That heritage as arguably the first luxury SUV gives the Range Rover credibility no rival can match, combined with genuine off-road ability. The Dynamic version adds a bit more attitude and V8 drama from the Range Rover Sport SVR, making for an arch combination of performance and luxury that still sets the standard.
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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. Now it has an improved interior for 2021, with a new touchscreen and better materials, so it can now take on its rivals more head-on. But if you’re a sports car 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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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 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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If the European domination of the luxury SUV market leaves you a little cold there is one outsider in this race that deliberately sets itself apart. OK, there’s only so far you can play with the format. But the Lexus RX’s bold, angular styling is a dramatic visual statement, combined effectively with the brand’s existing expertise in hybrid powertrains, refinement, quality and reliability. That sense of style continues inside too, Lexus skilfully combining modern and traditional materials with a uniquely Japanese aesthetic that sets it apart. It also rides beautifully thanks to some suspension wizardry beneath and, while the hybrid powertrain doesn’t deliver much in the way of thrills, it’s a peaceful and soothing means of travel.
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