Every year, auto manufacturers take SUVs to new levels by increasing performance and quality. Now, luxury SUVs offer more than ever before. Here are the top luxury SUV choices of 2017:
By our definition, a luxury SUV must offer a variety of features, including off-road capabilities, and have been designed by a reputable auto manufacturer. The luxury SUV must also feature an authentic interior constructed from the high-quality natural materials, for example, high-quality leathers and natural veneer wood. The last standard we’ll enforce for our rulings is that a luxury SUV must have an exterior which is much more attractive than the average SUV.
Most Affordable: 2017 Lincoln MKX
The 2017 MKX is Lincoln’s latest luxury SUV crossover. The MKX is one of the most popular models offered by Lincoln, and its success comes as no surprise. Lincoln has begun to reboot its image by creating more modern-looking vehicles.
The MKX is a four door, five seat, sports utility vehicle which comes equipped with many luxurious features. The cockpit is very distinctive and elegant; with a modern twist on an early 1920’s design with similar architecture but very few corner lines, which creates a sleek, smooth design. The styling themes come in many beautiful trims with high- quality leather and maple interiors. You can tell a great attention to detail went into the design and construction of these vehicles.
The sound system is a QuantumLogic surround sound system with 19 internal speakers, offering a home-theater quality of sound. With advances in audio software, the MKX features a real-time reconstruction system to clean up low bitrate MP3s from various multimedia devices. The sound quality is exceptional in the 2017 MKX.
Coming in with a price tag of $38,000, the 2017 Lincoln MKX is a very impressive SUV which comes fully loaded with many stylish and innovative features, proving that Lincoln is going the extra mile to make affordable cars without sacrificing quality.
Most Spacious: 2017 Nissan Armada SV 4×2
Big, fast, and fully equipped with almost every feature one can imagine, the 2017 Nissan Armada SV is a gargantuan upgrade over most full sized, three-row SUVs. This smooth driving vehicle is much more comfortable than most SUVs this size and handles more like a sedan than a truck.
This beast has a soundless and smooth 5.6 L V8 390 horsepower, VVEL engine and a seven-speed transmission equipped with overdrive. The ride quality is amazing, and the Armada absorbs potholes and bumps with ease.
While sitting in the Armada’s cabin, you will notice an almost cathedral-like amount of head space for even the tallest passengers comfort. The Armada offers best in class second and third-row seating options. The second row seating features a removable center console for easier access to the third row, which provides comfortable seating for up to three adults.
The cargo area is 20 cubic feet with the third row seating in place. The Armadas cargo area goes up to 49.9 cubic feet with the third row seating down and 95.4 cubic with the second row seating down.
The 2017 Nissan Armada is a very spacious and powerful Luxury SUV which offers a unique design against its competitors. Starting at $45,000, the Armada is leading away from the more approachably priced SUVs in its class but makes up for it with its modular capacity.
Most Fuel Efficient: 2017 BMW X5
The 2017 BMW X5 is one of the most fuel efficient, luxury SUVs on the market today. BMW has joined many other auto manufacturers in introducing more fuel efficient, eco-friendly engines to the market.
BMW has designed the BMW X5 xDrive40e, which gets up to 56 miles per gallon. The engine of the xDrive40e is a turbocharged two-liter, four-cylinder powertrain, combined with an electric motor.
The electric motor is 111 horsepower, and the four-cylinder turbocharger is 241 horsepower. The overall output of the vehicle is 309 horsepower.
The X5s max edrive can cruise for 20 miles at 76mph on battery power alone and can reach max speeds of 130 miles per hour.
The combination of the X5s electric motor and turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers a very powerful luxury SUV with outstanding fuel efficiency. The only sacrifice potential X5 owners have to make is some cargo space because of the vehicles lithium ion batteries.
Most Powerful: 2017 Mercedes Benz AMG G65
The most powerful luxury SUV on our list is the 2017 Mercedes Benz AMG G65. This SUV is a powerhouse with its custom built, handcrafted AMG six liter V12 Biturbo engine, which offers up to 621 horsepower and over 7,000 pounds of towing capacity.
The G65’s powerful V12 Biturbo engine outputs 738 pounds of torque, which is more than any other SUV in modern production. Intake temperatures are reduced with a liquid-to-air intercooler system. The internal high-speed management system with twin 5.5 liter V8 turbos increases the G65’s acceleration from zero to 60 in 5 seconds, this SUV is insanely powerful.
To put the icing on the cake, the G65 incorporates Mercedes’ all-wheel-drive system with three different wheel differentials to be able to adapt to any terrain. All this power doesn’t come cheap, the starting price of the G65 is around $143,000 so be prepared to pay for one of the most powerful vehicles ever designed for road use.
Safest: 2017 Acura MDX
The 2017 Acura MDX has been named the 2017 top rated safety pick for midsize luxury SUVs by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute of America for is safety features.
Acura’s MDX comes integrated with AcuraWatch, which is Acura’s advanced safety feature option that monitors other vehicles to prevent any collisions. How does it work? Using numerous cameras and high-tech radars, the car can sense any disturbances. Besides all the high-tech safety features, the Acura MDX features a 3.0-liter engine with a seven-speed transmission. The MDX also sports technologically advanced motor which send signals to the front wheels and rear wheels. These motors merge with the engine to create a 325 horsepower. Acura reports that the gas mileage will sit comfortably at 26 miles per gallon on the highway and 25 miles per gallon in the city.
With the style of Acura’s MDX, it will include diamond grilles, fog lights, and updated trims. Acura MDX is up and coming when it comes to the modern automotive advancements, especially when it comes to hybrid options, safety features, and the overall design of the vehicle.