Meet the Top 7 Luxury Crossovers in This Year’s Lineup

Jaguar F-Pace

A new introduction to the American market, the Jaguar F-Pace has earned rave reviews and appears to be on track to compete with some of the most expensive European marques for a spot as a top-of-the-line luxury crossover.

The F-Pace is luxuriously designed inside and out, and it is easy to be impressed by the stylized exterior and metallic paint color that echoes back to classic cars of old. The interior is just as stellar, with attention to detail for both the driver and passengers in the front and rear, including features like heated rear seats and back seat air conditioning. Jaguar has also done a good job of addressing technological problems that have bedeviled some of its vehicles. The F-Pace includes automatic parking, adaptive cruise control, and an interesting Wi-Fi hotspot capability.

One blemish on the F-Pace is fuel economy. The power that makes it a joy to drive means the car gets just 18 miles per gallon in the city. However, the $41,000 MSRP for the most basic trim represents great value for potential buyers.

Lexus RX

The Lexus RX represents a very specific place in the luxury crossover marketplace: as a hybrid, it has appeal for both consumers concerned about the environmental impact of driving and owners interested in keeping costs down if gas prices spike again. The base model gets 20 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, above average for the luxury crossover segment.

Lexus has worked hard to make the focus on the RX about more than its fuel source, however, and the vehicle boasts a stylish exterior and a highly-detailed interior. Another area of focus is technology in the vehicle, which has received deserved praise. RX drivers have access to a sophisticated voice command system, an easy-to-use suite of driving and navigation apps, and a state-of-the-art surround sound system.

The base model, the front-wheel drive RX 350, starts at a reasonable $43,000 MSRP. Higher end trims, including the highly-touted F Sport, fetch closer to $49,000. Given the strikingly positive reviews that the Lexus RX has received, as well as the good fuel economy, the cost represents pretty good value for consumers.

Mercedes-Benz GLC

Described by Car and Driver as Mercedes-Benz’s next bestseller, the GLC is a new model introduced to replace the phased-out GLK class. The most significant change is that the GLC is a bigger and wider vehicle, but stylized enough that Mercedes-Benz describes it as “muscular.”

That strength means the GLC is able to deliver a powerful punch on the road, although reviewers have suggested that the added power comes at the expense of easy handling. However, the extra size at least benefits car owners: there is plenty of room for passengers in the back seats — something that can’t be said of every crossover.

Mercedes-Benz has also packed the GLC with cutting-edge technology, especially when it comes to safety tech like adaptive cruise control and parking and driving hazard warnings. The fuel economy is strong for a crossover: 22 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. While some of the more powerful, turbo-charged trims in the GLC class can cost upwards of $70,000, the MSRP on the basic trim is a very affordable $39,150.