February 2, 2020 By Jeff Zurschmeide, Brady Holt, Andrea Grimaldi
Midsize SUVs are among the most popular vehicles on the market this year. As a result, competition is fierce among all manufacturers, but especially among luxury brands. Families everywhere aspire to own a luxury midsize SUV with just the right combination of comfort, convenience, and performance.
To help you make your best choice, here are ten of the leading luxury midsize SUVs from a range of premium brands. Each one of these candidates stands out in some way, and each offers different strengths. There’s a strong value proposition for each of these vehicles, but it only takes one to win your loyalty.
2020 Acura MDX - Best Dashboard Tech
February 2, 2020 By Jeff Zurschmeide, Brady Holt, Andrea Grimaldi
The 2020 Acura MDX is as luxurious as any premium midsize SUV, but if you like tech, that’s where this crossover really shines. The MDX includes an advanced infotainment system with voice recognition support, accessed through a two-screen system. An 8.0-inch color touchscreen in the dash provides the basic touch interface, while a display screen mounted higher on the dash shows information such as basic audio details, the navigation map, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto screens, and your reverse or 360-degree camera views.
The MDX also offers two optional levels of second row entertainment in the Technology Package and the Advance Package. Both options allow people in the second row to watch movies or play games. The second-row system uses wireless headphones to help keep the driver and front seat passenger from going crazy.
2020 Lexus RX – Best Luxury Standard
February 2, 2020 By Jeff Zurschmeide, Brady Holt, Andrea Grimaldi
The 2020 Lexus RX is a touchstone for luxury SUVs. Lexus prides itself on a high quality and very refined product. The RX is the brand’s bread-and-butter vehicle, outselling all other Lexus products. From the outside, the RX looks bold and focuses attention on the signature Lexus spindle grille. Inside, every part of the RX is carefully crafted to express luxury and quality, from the soft leather of the seats to optional features like second-row captain’s chairs.
Lexus offers several driveline and body options. The Lexus RX 350 comes with a 3.5-liter V6 engine at 295 horsepower. The RX 450h uses the same engine, but adds a hybrid electric motor for total output of 308 horsepower. All RX models drive the front wheels, or you can choose all-wheel-drive. The RX 450h all-wheel-drive system relies on electric motors for rear wheel power.
2020 Volvo XC90 - Best Hybrid Option
February 2, 2020 By Jeff Zurschmeide, Brady Holt, Andrea Grimaldi
The 2020 Volvo XC90 is the result of decades of development into safety, luxury, and technology. The real standout model is the T8 “Twin Engine” plug-in hybrid. This XC90 offers the best performance with 400 horsepower, and an electric all-wheel-drive system that uses electric motors to power the rear wheels.
With its new 11.6 kWh battery pack, the XC90 plug-in hybrid can drive about 25 miles as an EV before engaging the 2.0-liter gasoline engine. Total range on a full charge and full tank of gas is about 400 miles, and this SUV will do 0-60 in 5.8 seconds. The XC90 is EPA-rated at 26 MPG city and 30 MPG highway.
2020 Buick Enclave – Best Affordable Luxury
February 2, 2020 By Jeff Zurschmeide, Brady Holt, Andrea Grimaldi
If you’re dreaming about stepping up to a luxury midsize SUV, but budget has been holding you back, you should consider the 2020 Buick Enclave. Starting around $40,000, the Enclave gives you the comfort and convenience you want in a luxury SUV for thousands of dollars less than the competition.
One feature to prove Buick’s chops as a luxury brand is their distinctive QuietTuning technology. This combination of design and material elements brings together advanced features like active noise cancellation with traditional triple door seals and acoustic glass in the windows to make the Enclave one of the quietest SUVs on the market. If you want to step up further, take a look at Buick’s elegant Avenir trim level.
2020 Infiniti QX60 – Best Customization Potential
February 2, 2020 By Jeff Zurschmeide, Brady Holt, Andrea Grimaldi
The 2020 Infiniti QX60 doesn’t get as much hype as other mid-size crossover SUVs, but this is a high-quality vehicle with seating for up to seven passengers in three rows. With 295 horsepower from its 3.5-liter engine, the QX60 offers excellent performance as well as comfort
The 2020 QX60 is available in only two trim levels, called Pure and Luxe. Both are well-appointed and comfortable. Infiniti structures the buying process this way in order to allow each buyer to custom order their SUV with the features they want. Different option packages allow you to specify advanced driver assistance, luxury, or both. For example, the Limited option package includes quilted and top-stitched leather upholstery, wood interior trim, and 20-inch wheels.
2020 Land Rover Discovery - Best Off-Road
February 2, 2020 By Jeff Zurschmeide, Brady Holt, Andrea Grimaldi
The 2020 Land Rover Discovery provides first-class luxury and impressive 4WD off-road capability. Land Rover offers two 3.0-liter V6 engine options with the Discovery. You can choose a supercharged gasoline engine at 340 horsepower or a turbocharged diesel engine at 254 horsepower. All Discovery models include 4WD. However, you can choose a single speed range system for light duty, or opt for a dual-range system for more serious off-road use.
All Discovery models include Land Rover’s Terrain Response system. With the twist of a dial, you can optimize the Discovery’s traction control for street driving; grass, gravel and snow; mud and ruts; or sand. You also get rock crawling mode if you have the dual-range 4WD option. The best thing is that the Discovery has an available air suspension that will raise the vehicle by three inches for off-road use.
2020 Mercedes GLE – Most Advanced Technology
February 2, 2020 By Jeff Zurschmeide, Brady Holt, Andrea Grimaldi
Mercedes-Benz engineers poured everything they’ve got into the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE, and there’s nothing else like it on the market. Among the available tech options is an Airmatic suspension. This tech allows you to raise or lower your vehicle’s ride height. But beyond that, you can get Mercedes’ E-Active Body Control, which upgrades the Airmatic system to predict the road surface and proactively change the suspension before you hit the bumps.
The GLE uses a combined radar/camera system to scan the road surface just ahead of the SUV, keeping watch for any kind of bumps, potholes, or debris. When the system sees a bump coming up, the GLE prepares its suspension before you hit it.
The E-Active system also allows the suspension to change height so the GLE leans into corners and curves and then straightens up as you return to straight-line driving.
2020 Audi Q7 - Best Overall Driving Experience
February 2, 2020 By Jeff Zurschmeide, Brady Holt, Andrea Grimaldi
Audi has been known for decades as a performance automaker, and the 2020 Audi Q7 carries the latest generation of the legendary quattro all-wheel-drive system. Audi’s supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine delivers 333 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels. With that combination, the new Q7 will make the dash from zero to sixty in just 5.7 seconds.
The Q7 offers several different driving modes that change the transmission and traction control system to best take advantage of prevailing road conditions. You can choose Dynamic mode for sporty driving. Or you can choose Comfort, Automatic, Individual, Off-road, and Allroad modes. If you buy the optional air suspension, there’s an Offroad/Lift mode that raises the Audi’s ride height for serious off-pavement adventures.
2020 Cadillac XT5 – Best Looking Midsize
February 2, 2020 By Jeff Zurschmeide, Brady Holt, Andrea Grimaldi
It’s mostly a matter of personal taste, but the 2020 Cadillac XT5 is undoubtedly one of the best-looking midsize SUVs on the market. The exterior design is striking and memorable without being brash. Subtle Cadillac heritage features like vertical daytime running lights give the XT5 a connection with historic Cadillacs. However, the XT5 also presents as a fully up-to-date SUV. The XT5 stands out without trying too hard to impress.
The same design excellence continues with the interior. The XT5 offers a mixture of high-tech touch controls and natural wood and leather trim. Cadillac gave the XT5 a clean and sparse interior design that reflects a modern ideal of luxury and efficiency. To top it all off, Cadillac offers a Bose 14-speaker surround sound system that could turn the XT5 into your favorite listening spot.
