Best luxury SUVs 2024
These are the best posh SUVs to buy right now
Luxury SUVs take the opulence and refinement of a luxury saloon, and then combine these qualities with massive practicality. This combination makes these cars an increasingly appealing option for many buyers, and the choice is now greater than ever. Our experts have thoroughly tested every luxury SUV on sale in the UK, and you can find the best to buy right here.
Best luxury SUVs
- Porsche Cayenne
- BMW X5
- Range Rover
- Range Rover Sport
- Bentley Bentayga
- BMW iX
- Audi Q7
- Mercedes G-Class
- Rolls-Royce Cullinan
- Ferrari Purosangue
1. Porsche Cayenne
- Prices from £76,000
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The Porsche Cayenne began life as a joint development with the first-generation Volkswagen Touareg, and it quickly became one of Porsche’s most controversial models. However, it didn’t take long for the Cayenne to shake this image and become one of the brand’s biggest sellers. Jumping on the luxury SUV bandwagon nice and early, Porsche brought its renowned sports car knowhow to bear on the Cayenne and produced a large SUV with the enthusiast driver in mind.
The latest Cayenne is easily the best yet and offers plenty of performance along with a level of agility that’s almost ridiculous for a car of this stature. Throw the Cayenne into a corner and its clever chassis control system works with active air suspension to almost entirely eradicate body roll. This, combined with the highly responsive steering, delivers a driving experience that could almost cause you to forget that you’re driving such a hefty vehicle.
Inside, the Cayenne’s interior is finished to a very high standard and it features a suitably driver-focused layout. Porsche’s latest technology is first-rate, too. We’re such big fans of the Porsche Cayenne that we named it our 2024 Large Premium SUV of the Year.
2. BMW X5
- Prices from £70,700
- Best for families
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Just like the Cayenne above, the BMW X5 also finds itself at the sportier end of the luxury SUV spectrum. It’s not quite as thrilling to drive but the less expensive X5 does come pretty close, as we found out when we pitted the two cars against each other in a twin test. The BMW is the more comfortable of the pair, though, and with the option of seven seats you can even bring the whole family along for the ride.
Inside the X5 you’ll find plenty of features and materials that would be at home within many of the far pricier models on this list. BMW’s iDrive infotainment software is one of our favourite operating systems on today’s market, too.
If you’re somewhat eco-conscious, there’s the option of the plug-in hybrid BMW X5 xDrive50e. This is powered by a 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine that’s combined with an electric motor to return an official fuel economy figure of around 313mpg. It’s important to note, though, that we only achieved around 43.5mpg during testing. The X5 PHEV also claims up to 67 miles of range on pure-electric power. Not only does this mean reduced exhaust emissions, but there are some big Benefit-in-Kind tax savings to be had for company car drivers, too.
3. Range Rover
- Prices from £104,000
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The original Range Rover is often credited as the pioneer of the luxury SUV breed, and it continues to find itself at the top of the class over 50 years since the first model made its debut.
Technically speaking, the latest Range Rover is a much more sophisticated machine than its ancestor, but it still retains the crucial core recipe of full off-road capability combined with limousine-style luxuriousness. This SUV feels at home just about anywhere, whether cruising on the motorway, gliding through town or conquering a muddy and slippery field or track. Whatever kind of terrain passes under the wheels, you’re unlikely to notice too much difference thanks to the Range Rover’s excellent refinement and ride quality.
The latest Range Rover is also the most advanced yet in terms of powertrains, and the new MLA-Flex platform can cater for just about any need. Petrol, diesel and even plug-in hybrid variants are all on offer, and an all-electric version is in the works, too.
4. Range Rover Sport
- Prices from £75,300
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It might be the smaller, cheaper sibling to the fully-sized Range Rover, but the Range Rover Sport is still a highly capable and sophisticated SUV.
Physically, the Range Rover Sport isn’t actually that much smaller than its sister car, which means there’s still a great deal of interior and luggage space inside. There are plenty of equally fancy materials to be found, too, regardless of its lower starting price.
The Range Rover Sport drives just as a Range Rover should. Not only will this luxury SUV take on tough terrain in its stride, but you’ll be enjoying outstanding comfort throughout the whole process. Another similarity to the full-size Range Rover is the choice of petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid power.
5. Bentley Bentayga
- Prices from £171,000
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The Bentley Bentayga was the British brand’s first SUV, and it quickly became one of Bentley’s best-selling cars.
Although it shares the same basic underpinnings as the Porsche Cayenne, the Bentayga is very different in the metal. Inside you will find the sort of interior craftsmanship you’d expect in the Flying Spur and Continental GT. A huge amount of personalisation options are also available via the brand’s Mulliner division.
Bentley is no stranger to building burly performance machines, either, so the Bentayga packs plenty of punch to match its presence. Power comes courtesy of a 456bhp 3.0-litre V6 plug-in hybrid or a more traditional 542bhp 4.0-litre petrol V8, and neither of these will leave you wanting for more.
6. BMW iX
- Prices from £71,000
- Best for efficiency
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While the BMW iX’s styling might not be to everyone’s tastes, this electric SUV is a showcase of BMW’s engineering brilliance. It’s great to drive, comfortable and boasts class-leading technology.
While the iX is pricey to purchase, running costs for this large SUV should be low thanks to its electric powertrain. Depending on your chosen spec, BMW claims that the iX can achieve up to 382 miles of range. Even when you do need to charge, rapid charging from 10 to 80 per cent takes less than 40 minutes.
Take a seat inside the iX and the sheer level of quality will quickly become apparent, with top-end materials and cutting-edge technology to be found in abundance. Two 14.5-inch curved screens dominate the dashboard, and these feature BMW’s latest iDrive infotainment system.
7. Audi Q7
- Prices from £68,400
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Since its introduction to the UK in 2007, the Audi Q7 has been a major sales hit, and the current version retains plenty of what has made this car such a success story for the brand.
The Audi is pitched as being one of the sportier offerings in this sector of the market, and that tells not just in the way it looks inside and out but also in the way this seven-seat SUV drives.
It’s strong on tech, and for infotainment lovers the Audi is a top choice. Touchscreen technology isn’t for everyone, but there’s little denying that the Q7’s dual-screen set-up with haptic feedback, combined with the ever-impressive Virtual Cockpit display, is one of the sharpest-looking and slickest infotainment set-ups out there.
8. Mercedes G-Class
- Prices from £137,000
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A luxury car with war machine roots seemed like a ridiculous idea until Mercedes pulled it off with the G-Class. This long-serving SUV has seen plenty of technological innovation throughout its decades on sale, but its basic appearance has remained largely unchanged.
Because of its heritage and robust build quality, the G-Class is a car that can happily take on a gruelling off-road course and then pull up outside a five-star hotel without anyone batting an eyelid. There’s even a fully-electric version known as the G 580 with EQ Technology, and this has also been designed to take on the toughest terrain. Go easy on it, though, and this prestige EV offers a range of 285 miles on the WLTP combined cycle — perfect for avoiding low-emission zone charges.
If you prefer your fuel in liquid form, there’s also the choice of a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol, a diesel of the same size, or even a stonking 4.0-litre AMG V8. Whichever version of the G-Class you choose, though, you’ll be spending over £135,000 for the privilege.
9. Rolls-Royce Cullinan
- Prices from £299,000
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Put simply, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan is one the most exclusive SUVs money can buy. This is reflected in its price which starts from around £300,000, coming in as the second most expensive on this list, with only the Ferrari Purosangue costing more. For the money, buyers get trademark contemporary Rolls-Royce opulence in a huge, high-riding package. Not only is it one of the most lavishly appointed SUVs you can buy in Britain, it’s the biggest too, sizing up noticeably larger than even the Mercedes GLS.
Under the bonnet sits a 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine producing 563bhp and 950Nm of torque. It lives an unstressed life, and contributes to the immensely refined and serene environment the Cullinan is on the move.
Rolls-Royce’s first SUV is aimed more towards people who will climb behind the wheel rather than the chauffeur market. To that end, it’s good to drive too, while Rolls has worked hard to ensure that the Cullinan is not just a leviathan for the road - it’s immensely capable off-road too. Throw in trademark Rolls’ personalisation, and it’s clear that the Cullinan is an SUV worthy of its prestigious badge.
10. Ferrari Purosangue
- Prices from £313,000
- Best driving experience
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The Purosangue is a car they said they’d never make at Maranello, but Ferrari’s first SUV is a V12 powered, 715bhp, £313k+, four-door, four-seater answer to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Aston Martin DBX707 and even the Range Rover.
While the Purosangue is brash, thirsty and extremely expensive, it offers a driving experience which its rivals simply can’t match. There’s almost endless clarity and speed when it comes to its chassis, steering and throttle response. Indeed, when you want to sit back and relax, the car settles down and morphs into a comfortable cruiser, albeit with a slightly firmer ride than its rivals.
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