With options ranging from peak opulence combined with high-calibre performance down to alternatives more sensitive to fiscal considerations, the 2024 luxury SUV lineup has a model fit for every preference. These premium vehicles deliver sophisticated safety attributes, pillow-soft suspensions, and robust powertrain capabilities.
The Ferrari Purosangue earns grudging respect from died-in-the-wool sportscar fans, while Porsche’s Macan sets the benchmark for its segment. The opulent cabins of these models deliver comfort and convenience for passengers.
Range Rover
There’s no shortage of off-road-capable luxury SUVs out there, but few can match the Range Rover in terms of both capability and opulence. It’s the SUV of choice for British aristocrats and staggeringly wealthy people worldwide. This status symbol can be spotted outside the most exclusive bars and restaurants in town or the driveways of castles.
The latest Range Rover delivers a premium driving experience with intelligent features that make every journey a joy. Its interior is calming, with minimal road and engine noise, making for an oasis of tranquillity, while innovative drive modes automatically handle the vehicle’s settings based on your intentions.
Fuel economy isn’t bad either, with the Range Rover Velar plug-in hybrid offering a stunning 68 miles of electric range when driven in this mode. Meanwhile, the base gasoline model is rated up to 20 mpg.
Rolls-Royce Cullinan
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan embodies the company’s philosophy of ultra-opulence on wheels within unsurpassable, peaceful ride comfort. Its state-of-the-art capabilities allow you to explore new horizons on or off-road.
D Despite being an SUV, the Cullinan moves through reality unlike any other vehicle built in this century. Powered by its bespoke-to-rolls aluminium architecture, it glides over asphalt with the same smoothness as concrete.
The Cullinan’s air suspension uses a camera to scan the road and automatically adjust its height. It also has several driving modes to suit any adventure. For a more spirited drive, opt for the Black Badge version with a twin-turbo V12 and a sport-tuned suspension.
The Cullinan starts at $325,000, but our tester had many options and came in at $420,630. That’s nearly as much as a BMW S450, but the Cullinan makes it worth the extra investment.
Bentley Bentayga
Bentley is all about exclusivity and status, and Bentayga delivers on both fronts. This big SUV flies through the twisties and slams into corners with aplomb. It’s also a formidable off-roader. You’ll want to chuck it around with abandon. It’s impossible to resist its lust for life and speed, even if you know physics will eventually catch up.
The new 10.9-inch infotainment touchscreen is crisp and modern with hints of traditional luxury. It’s easy to navigate, and the handwriting recognition feature works well. It also responds to fairly natural voice commands. A high-end Naim audio system is available to enhance your listening pleasure.
An extended wheelbase (EWB) version is available, improving rear passenger comfort and increasing luggage capacity. It also debuts Bentley’s innovative Diamond Illumination ambient lighting that illuminates LEDs through perforated leather panels. Also available is the Bentley Odyssean, which emphasizes sustainability with a hybrid powertrain and electric-only driving capabilities up to 84 mph.
BMW X4
The BMW X4 combines a coupe’s curves with an athlete’s power. This luxury SUV offers the agility of a sports car and is available with a range of cutting-edge driver-assist technologies. Among them, forward collision warning with automatic braking and lane-keeping assist help keep you safe on the road.
The X4’s design is almost identical to that of the X3 SUV, except for a swoopy roofline and a more aggressive grille. Its front end resembles an oversized nostrils between a pair of fiercely sloped headlight “eyes.”
Inside, the X4’s cabin is more eye-catching than many luxury CUV competitors. It’s also well-appointed, with leather upholstery and available cool-to-the-touch brushed aluminium. The rear seats fold down, increasing cargo room to 50.5 cubic feet. The X4’s base xDrive30i engine has an impressive fuel economy of 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Models with M-tuned engines are thirstier.
Porsche Macan
The Macan offers some of the best driving dynamics in a luxury SUV, and it’s available with more power than many of its rivals. However, its backseat might be too small for adult occupants, and the infotainment system’s touchscreen can be frustrating to use because of its menu structure and smaller icons. For a more user-friendly experience, consider the rotary dial-controlled interface found in a BMW X3.
Porsche’s turbocharged four-cylinder and V6 engines are paired with Porsche Traction Management all-wheel drive. The brand’s Torque Vectoring Plus is available as a performance upgrade, and it can dampen sudden directional changes and maximize stability during cornering. Other options include a panoramic moonroof, heated rear seats and ventilated front sport seats with memory settings.
Volkswagen Touareg
Since its first generation was launched in 2002, Volkswagen’s Touareg has represented a near-perfect synthesis of off-road capability and luxurious comfort. It’s now in its third generation, and while the common-sense diesel model has been dropped following VW’s emissions scandal, this is still one of the best SUVs on the market.
The brand’s in-car technology will keep you entertained and connected regardless of which Touareg you choose. Its latest dashboard integrates the infotainment system with a 15.0-inch digital driver display, more prominent than rival models.
The top-spec Executive trim is also impressively well-appointed. This includes the slick Innovision Cockpit, which combines the instrument panel and infotainment screen into a single curved screen. It can also be upgraded with the augmented reality head-up display, which projects a virtual image of the road ahead using more than 19,000 interactive LEDs. It’s the most advanced system of its kind and a real game-changer.
