Porsche/Land Rover/BMW/Audi
The SUV reigns supreme in the U.S. and it’s not hard to figure out why. The hulking people haulers of yore have been replaced by much more stylish vehicles that combine forward-thinking tech, plush comfort, and top-notch performance into one ultra-convenient package. This is especially true of today’s midsize luxury SUVs, which might be the most versatile class of vehicles you can buy right now. SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne, BMW X5, and Range Rover Sport are just as adept at quick grocery runs as they are doing long and winding drives in the country. What more could you want from a vehicle?
Our Best Mid-Size Luxury SUV Picks:
—Best Overall: Porsche Cayenne
—Best Value: Acura MDX
—Best Substance Over Style SUV: Audi Q8
—Best Sports Car Alternative: BMW X5
—Best American-Made Option: Cadillac XT6
—Best for Cushy Comfort: Genesis GV80
—Best Makeover: Infiniti QX60
—Best Three-Row Option: Land Rover Discovery
—Best Looking: Land Rover Range Rover Sport
—Best Interior: Lexus RX
—Best for Families: Mercedes-Benz GLE Class
—Most Versatile: Volvo XC90
-
Best Overall: Porsche Cayenne
Image Credit: Porsche SUVs may be the go-to vehicle for families, but there’s no reason they can’t be fun. Just look at Porsche’s first entry into the midsize class—the Cayenne. Because of the German marque’s position as one of the world’s leading sports car makers, the vehicle was viewed with skepticism when it was first released in 2002. More than two decades later, it’s more than established itself as a vehicle that delivers almost the same performance as the cars the brand is best known for, only with the convenience of space and cargo room. The current range-topper, the Turbo E Hybrid, has an electrified twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 that produces 728 horses that allows it to sprint from zero to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds.
In production since: 2002
Top powertrain option: Twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 (Turbo E-Hybrid)
Power: 728 hp and 700 ft lbs of torque.
Zero to 60 mph: 3.5 seconds
Top speed: 183 mph
Starting Price: $79,200 -
Best Value: Acura MDX
Image Credit: Acura It took Acura some time to figure things out, but the fourth iteration of the MDX, which debuted in 2022, might be the best yet. Its design doesn’t scream luxury compared to some of the other entries on this list, but its exterior looks fresh and modern even though if inside it could use a little extra pizzazz. It’s also got some pep, especially if you opt for the performance-oriented Type S variant. That version of the SUV has a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that delivers 355 hp and comes with standard all-wheel-drive.
In production since: 2000
Top powertrain option: Turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 (Type S)
Power: 355 hp and 354 ft lbs of torque.
Zero to 60 mph: 5.5 seconds
Top speed: 113 mph
Starting Price: $50,150 -
Best Substance Over Style: Audi Q8
Image Credit: Audi There aren’t many Audis that make the heart race and the Q8 is no different. Sure, the three-row SUV looks sportier than the Q7, but its look, both inside and outside, is anything but memorable. What it does deliver, though, is one of the more enjoyable drive experiences you’ll find in the class. A big part of this is due to the turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 that lurks under the hood of the top-of-the-line RS Q8. That 591-hp mill is powerful enough to launch the vehicle from zero to 60 mph in under four seconds and to a top speed of 155 mph. The electric Q8 e-tron may not be as powerful—the dual-motor powertrain delivers 355 hp and 414 ft lbs of torque—but it still delivers some zip.
In production since: 2018
Top powertrain option: Turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 (RS)
Power: 591 hp and 597 ft lbs of torque.
Zero to 60 mph: 3.7 seconds
Top speed: 155 mph
Starting Price: $73,700 -
Best Sports Car Alternative: BMW X5
Image Credit: BMW The BMW X5 is one of the older SUVs you’ll find on this list. That doesn’t mean it feels dated, though, even if its most recent generation has been around for five years. Instead, the design still looks sharp and the interior feels just as premium as you’d hope (and also is available with a cramped third row of seats). The big story here, though, is the performance. The top-of-the-line X5 M Competition has a hybrid-assisted twin-turbocharged V-8 that pumps out over 600 hp and 550 ft lbs of torque. This version of the SUV doesn’t move like a sports car, but it’s about as close as you’ll come in the class.
In production since: 1998
Top powertrain option: Twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system (M Competition)
Power: 617 hp and 553 ft lbs of torque.
Zero to 60 mph: 3.7 seconds
Top speed: 155 mph
Starting Price: $65,700 -
Best American-Made Option: Cadillac XT6
Image Credit: Cadillac The Escalade might be Cadillac’s most famous current model, but not everyone wants an SUV that big. For drivers in the market for something a little more manageable there’s the XT6, which debuted at the very end of the last decade. Rather than just shrink down the Escalade, Cadillac decided to give the vehicle its own distinct design—which may have been a mistake. The cabin, though, looks nice and comfortably has room for seven adults. The 3.6-liter V-6 in the range-topping Sport could stand to be a little more exciting but its 300-plus hp and 132 mph top speed are both more than respectable.
In production since: 2020
Top powertrain option: 3.6-liter V-6 (Sport)
Power: 310 hp and 271 ft lbs of torque.
Zero to 60 mph: 6.4 seconds
Top speed: 132 mph
Starting Price: $50,90 -
Best for Cushy Comfort: Genesis GV80
Image Credit: Genesis Genesis may not have the same name recognition as some of the other brands on this list, but its repeatedly proven itself to be one of the more interesting luxury marques out there. The GV80 will do nothing to change this well-earned reputation because it looks and feels like something that should cost significantly more than it does. It has a sleek design that looks at once sporty and sophisticated, while its ultra-plus interior is as elegant as they come. It’s hard to pick a favorite cabin feature, but ours would be the dashboard’s 27-inch OLED display that includes both the instrument gauge and infotainment system.
In production since: 2021
Top powertrain option: Twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 (3.5T)
Power: 375 hp and 391 ft lbs of torque.
Zero to 60 mph: 5.3 seconds
Top speed: 149 mph
Starting Price: $59,050 -
Best Makeover: Infiniti QX60
Image Credit: Infiniti Infiniti’s second-generation QX60, which debuted in 2022, more than delivers on the style front. The Japanese marque’s latest midsize SUV looks so much better than its previous iteration and has a smooth, graceful shape with just the right amount of flair. The interior is a little more understated but looks both modern and sophisticated, something that you can’t always say about the brand’s vehicle. But while the QX60 looks as good as any of the other entries on this list, it struggles to keep from a performance standpoint. That’s because its 3.5-liter V-6 can’t quite muster out 300 hp, a number that the rest of its peers exceed with ease. It does offer all-wheel drive, though.
In production since: 2017
Top powertrain option: 3.5-liter V-6
Power: 295 hp and 270 ft lbs of torque.
Zero to 60 mph: 6.2 seconds
Top speed: 119 mph
Starting Price: $49.650 -
Best Three-Row Option: Land Rover Discovery
Image Credit: Land Rover Seven decades in, Land Rover has proven it can make SUVs for any kind of driver. For those looking for something that splits the difference between the capable Defender and the luxurious Range Rover, there’s the midsize Discovery. It’s an SUV that sometimes gets forgotten, but does just about everything. It looks good inside and out, and has three rows and seven seats which makes it well-suited for families. The hybrid-assisted 3.0-liter inline-six available in the SE splits its 355 hp between all-four wheels, which is plenty for some off-road fun.
In production since: 1989
Top powertrain option: Turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with a mild-hybrid system (SE)
Power: 355 hp and 369 ft lbs of torque.
Zero to 60 mph: 6.9 seconds
Top speed: 125 mph
Starting Price: $60,200 -
Best Looking: Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Image Credit: Land Rover Yes, the Range Rover Sport, as its name suggests, looks athletic, but it’s also seriously stylish. The standard Range Rover’s little sibling is a gorgeous SUV that manages that has always looked sleek and commanding, especially since its 2022 refresh. It also, as its name suggests, packs a punch. The range-topping SV has a twin-turbocharged that produces 626 hp and 553 ft lbs of torque. The mill, which is connected to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, allow the car to sprint from zero to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and to a top speed of 180 mph, making it the fastest model in the marque’s history.
In production since: 2005
Top powertrain option: Twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 (SV)
Power: 626 hp and 553 ft lbs of torque.
Zero to 60 mph: 3.6 seconds
Top speed: 180 mph
Starting Price: $83,600 -
Best Makeover: Lexus RX
Image Credit: Lexus The exterior and powertrain may get all the attention, but the interior is the aspect of a vehicle that that driver interacts with most. The latest iteration of the Lexus RS has had one of the best cabins in its class since debuting in 2022. The space has a clean and sophisticated design—including one of the better driver cockpits—premium materials, and is topped with a panorama glass roof. Seating is limited to five, but there’s plenty of cargo room behind its second row. The exterior design has been improved in all the right ways, while its turbocharged inline-four packs up to a 366-hp punch that’s well-suited for everyday driving.
In production since: 1998
Top powertrain option: TK (F Sport Performance)
Power: 366 hp and 406 ft lbs of torque.
Zero to 60 mph: 5.9 seconds
Top speed: 130 mph
Starting Price: $49,950 -
Best for Families: Mercedes-Benz GLE Class
Image Credit: Mercedes Benz The Mercedes-Benz GLE Class may not have the cache of the bigger and boxier G-Wagen, but it remains one of the better all-around SUVs you can buy. Its smooth exterior is starting to feel a bit dated despite some tweaks but will still turn heads on your daily commute. The tech-packed interior is opulent and spacious and has the option of three rows (making it perfect for families, even if the last row is a bit cramped). It also delivers typically strong performance, especially if you opt for the AMG GLE63 S. The high-performance variant features a hybrid-assisted twin-turbocharged V-8 that pumps out well over 600 horses and will push the vehicle to a top speed of 174 mph.
In production since: 1997
Top powertrain option: Twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 with hybrid assist (AMG GLE63 S)
Power: 627 hp and 603 ft lbs of torque.
Zero to 60 mph: 3.7 seconds
Top speed: 174 mph
Starting Price: $62,650 -
Most Versatile: Volvo XC90
Image Credit: Volvo The second-generation Volvo XC90 is getting a bit long in the tooth, it debuted in 2015, but its not hard to see why the Swedish automaker isn’t in a rush to change things up. The XC90 offers everything you could want from a midsize SUV, including a sharp exterior, comfortable interior, and 85.7 cubic feet of cargo room. It also comes with three different powertrain options—two mild-hybrid 2.0-liter inline-four (found in the B5 and B6) and a plug-in hybrid 2.0-liter inline-four (Recharge). The plug-in hybrid is the most potent option, and produces 455 hp and 523 ft lbs of torque. Whatever you want from an SUV, the XC90 can do it.
In production since: 2002
Top powertrain option: Plug-in hybrid inline-four (Recharge)
Power: 455 hp and 523 ft lbs of torque.
Zero to 60 mph: 4.5 seconds
Top speed: 112 mph
Starting Price: $57,895
