Buyers Guide: The Best Luxury SUVs for 2023

SUVs represent one of the most dominant sectors in the automobile industry today, accounting for over 54% of all light vehicle sales in North America for 2022.

They exist in various body styles and forms, cutting across a wide range of customer tastes and preferences.

At the top of that food chain are the full-size luxury SUVs, land-locked behemoths equipped with every kind of imaginable premium offering possible.

Spurred on by demand and advancing technology, carmakers constantly outdo themselves in creating the ultimate land yacht for their wealthy clientele. It makes for a very interesting scenario where several options exist, even at that level of exclusivity.

1. Rolls Royce Cullinan
2. Mercedes Maybach GLS600
3. BMW Alpina XB7
4. Bentley Bentayga
5. Lexus LX
6. Cadillac Escalade
7. Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography
8. Lincoln Navigator
9. Infiniti QX80
10. Jeep Grand Wagoneer

Rolls Royce Cullinan

Image Credit:  Rolls Royce

Specifications

• MSRP: $376,750 USD /  $522,710 CAD
• Engine: 6.7-litre twin-turbocharged V12
• Power / Torque: 563 hp /  627 lb-ft
• Drivetrain: AWD
• 0-60 mph: 4.5 seconds
• Fuel Economy: 12 MPG (City) / 20 MPG (Highway)
• Basic Warranty: 4 years /  Unlimited mileage

Our Take

What Rolls Royce has done here is take all the luxurious appointments of the Phantom, repackage it on a higher vehicle platform and fashion a different body style around it. The result is arguably the most luxurious SUV on the market today. Like the Phantom, the Cullinan also benefits from an endless array of options, allowing every unit to be personalized according to the owner’s tastes.

Mercedes Maybach GLS600

Image Credit:  GuideAutoWeb

Specifications

• MSRP: $171,150 USD /  $237,460 CAD
• Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8
• Power / Torque: 550 hp /  538 lb-ft
• Drivetrain: AWD
• 0-60 mph: 4.1 seconds
• Fuel Economy: 15 MPG (City) /  19 MPG (Highway)
• Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles (80,000 km)

Our Take

The imperious Mercedes-Maybach GLS600 is the carmaker’s most luxurious SUV offering, and it certainly has plenty to offer. The cabin is a lavish space filled with premium materials for the utmost comfort of the occupants. The available tech includes a wide range of driver assists and safety features, and there’s plenty of power under the hood. The trick suspension that allows the car to ‘bounce’ is also pretty cool.

BMW Alpina XB7

Image Credit:  Bimmerfile

Specifications

• MSRP: $145,995 USD /  $202,560 CAD
• Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8
• Power / Torque: 630 hp /  590 lb-ft
• Drivetrain: AWD
• 0-60 mph: 3.9 seconds
• Fuel Economy: 16 MPG (City) /  20 MPG (Highway)
• Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles (80,000 km)

Our Take

The Alpina XB7 is essentially a BMW X7, with the performance and exclusivity dialled up a few inches. A key highlight is the upgraded 612-hp powerplant, now putting out 89 more horsepower than the standard X7. The interior is left largely unchanged, but BMW made sure the X7 didn’t really need any cabin upgrades. The interior is laid out with uber-comfortable seating, premium leather trimmings and a host of other features one would expect in an SUV priced north of US$145,000.

Bentley Bentayga

Image Credit:  Top Gear

Specifications

• MSRP: starts at $206,350 USD /  $286,295 CAD
• Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 + Electric Motor (base model)
• Power / Torque: 443 hp /  516 lb-ft
• Drivetrain: AWD
• 0-60 mph: 5.2 seconds
• Fuel Economy: 45 MPGe (Combined City/Highway) – electric + gas, 19 MPG (Combined City/Highway) – gas
• Basic Warranty: 3 years /  Unlimited mileage

Our Take

Apart from the distinctive grille, Bentley adopted a subtle approach to the Bentayga styling. The SUV still manages to stand out, delivering the kind of experience that the brand is well known for. In addition to the customization options, there are also several trim levels for the customer to choose from, something that’s not too common with uber-luxurious SUVs.

Lexus LX600

Image Credit:  Car and Driver

Specifications

• MSRP: starts at $92,160 USD /  $127,865 CAD
• Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbocharged V6
• Power / Torque: 409 hp /  479 lb-ft
• Drivetrain: AWD
• 0-60 mph: 6.1 seconds
• Fuel Economy: 17 MPG (City) /  22 MPG (Highway)
• Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles (80,000 km)

Our Take

The reputation of the Lexus LX as a prominent luxury SUV has only grown over the years. The latest iteration of the full-size SUV boasts a commanding presence with that imposing grille. The craftsmanship is exceptional and features a host of premium materials and meticulous attention to detail on the interior. A powerful engine under the hood is an added bonus, one that helps the big vehicle effortlessly balance luxury and performance.

Cadillac Escalade

Image Credit: Slash Gear

Specifications

• MSRP: $83,890 USD /  $116,390 CAD
• Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
• Power / Torque: 682 hp /  653 lb-ft
• Drivetrain: AWD
• 0-60 mph: 4.3 seconds
• Fuel Economy: 14 MPG (City) / 19 MPG (Highway)
• Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles (80,000 km)

Our Take

This American behemoth is one of the largest full-size luxury SUVs on the market today. The Escalade is all about American excess, something it manages to pull off almost flawlessly. There are currently six trim levels available, a range topped by the signature V-Series edition. However, a mid-trim option like the Premium Luxury platinum still gets you goodies like the 16-way power-adjustable front seats, 36-speaker premium sound system, soft-close doors and semi-aniline leather.

Land Rover Range Rover

Image Credit:  GuideAutoWeb

Specifications

• MSRP: starts at $107,400 USD /  $149,009 CAD
• Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six + 48-volt hybrid system (P400 SE)
• Power / Torque: 395 hp /  406 lb-ft
• Drivetrain: AWD
• 0-60 mph: 5.5 seconds
• Fuel Economy: 18 MPG (City) /  26 MPG (Highway)
• Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles (80,000 km)

Our Take

This iconic vehicle has come a long way, successfully making the transition from being a functional, rugged platform to one of the most luxurious SUVs one can buy today. The ride is supple without being unsettling, and the Range Rover’s superior build quality is evident in the design, materials and overall feel. An ultra-exclusive Carmel Edition was unveiled at the 2023 Monterey Car Week. However, most people shopping would be happy with the Autobiography trim.

Lincoln Navigator

Image Credit: CarBuzz

Specifications

• MSRP: starts at $84,660 USD /  $117,460 CAD
• Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6
• Power / Torque: 440 hp /  510 lb-ft
• Drivetrain: AWD
• 0-60 mph: 5.3 seconds
• Fuel Economy: 16 MPG (City) /  22 MPG (Highway)
• Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles (80,000 km)

Our Take

The current-gen Navigator might be aging, but there’s still plenty to like. The big American SUV impresses with its capable powertrain, spacious cabin and a decent dose of updated tech for a pleasurable driving experience. It will also tow up to 8,700 lbs with relative ease – think of a family weekend fishing trip.

Infiniti QX80 4WD

Image Credit: GuideAutoWeb

Specifications

• MSRP: starts at $72,700 USD /  $100,865 CAD
• Engine: 5.6-litre V8
• Power / Torque: 400 hp /  413 lb-ft
• Drivetrain: AWD
• 0-60 mph: 5.9 seconds
• Fuel Economy: 13 MPG (City) /  19 MPG (Highway)
• Basic Warranty: 4 years /  60,000 miles (100,000 km)

Our Take

The Infiniti QX80 is not perfect. The third row feels cramped for such a large vehicle, and the cabin is beginning to look outdated. However, it is still a decent value proposition for those who can’t afford the higher-end luxury SUV options. The Japanese SUV boasts loads of cargo space, a user-friendly infotainment system and class-leading towing capacity.

Jeep Grand Wagoneer 4WD

Image Credit: CarBuzz

Specifications

• MSRP: starts at $92,495 USD /  $128,329 CAD
• Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six
• Power / Torque: 510 hp /  500 lb-ft
• Drivetrain: AWD
• 0-60 mph: 4.7 seconds
• Fuel Economy: 14 MPG (City) /  20 MPG (Highway)
• Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles (60,000 km)

Our Take

It’s currently the largest SUV built by Jeep, and the carmaker has gone to great lengths to ensure that the Grand Wagoneer is deserving of its branding as a luxury SUV. The ride quality is relaxing, thanks to its adaptive air suspension. Also, the premium experience of the base trim can be upgraded even further with add-ons as you move on up the model range.