Luxury SUV

2007 Cadillac Escalade, a semi-luxury SUV

A luxury SUV is a North American term for sport utility vehicles which have features that resemble other luxury vehicles. They are relatively expensive and have a higher emphasis on comfort and quality than their mainstream counterparts.

Even though luxury SUVs do not necessarily feature more comfort or a higher quality than sedans, they tend to be more expensive than luxury sedans. The top-of-the-line SUVs of American and Japanese luxury car makers out price their flagship sedans. The flagship SUV Cadillac Escalade, for example, has a base MSP of approximately $57,280, versus $41,991 for the flagship DTS. This scenario, however, does not hold true for European automakers, where the flagship sedans are still priced above the top-of-the-line SUV.

Luxury SUV segments

Luxury SUV can be classified into similar segment as luxury cars.

• Entry-level luxury SUVs must feature a base MSP of approximately over $38k and offer a high degree of comfort. A vehicle may however still be considered a luxury SUV if its base MSP lies in excess of approximately $29K and it is manufactured by a luxury car manufacturer. Vehicles in this category include the Acura MDX, Acura RDX, Lexus RX, Infiniti FX, Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class, BMW X3, Volvo XC50, Volvo XC60, Saab 9-4X, Land Rover Freelander, Cadillac SRX, Lincoln MKX.

• Mid-level luxury SUVs feature base MSPs ranging approximately between $40K to $60K. Vehicles in this category include the Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg, Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, BMW X5, Volvo XC90, Saab 9-7X, Land Rover LR3, Land Rover Range Rover Sport, Lincoln Navigator, Cadillac Escalade, Toyota Land Cruiser, Lexus GX, and the Infiniti QX56.
• High-end luxury SUVs feature base MSPs from approximately $60k to $100k. Vehicles in this category include the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Lexus LX, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Lincoln Navigator L, and Land Rover Range Rover.

Top 20 most expensive luxury SUVs

BMW X3, an entry-level luxury SUV

1. Spyker D12 Peking-to-Paris - $300,000
2. Hummer H1 - $128,374 - $139,771 (Discountinued in 2006, but recontinued as H1 Alpha later with the same price range)
3. Porsche Cayenne Turbo S - $111,600
4. Mercedes G55 AMG - $105,275
5. Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged - $90,750
6. Porsche Cayenne Turbo - $90,200
7. BMW X5 4.8is - $88,100
8. Mercedes-Benz ML55 AMG - $86,275
9. Mercedes-Benz G500 - $81,675
10. Land Rover Range Rover HSE - $75,750
11. Land Rover Range Rover Sport Supercharged - $70,250
12. Lexus LX - $68,090
13. Cadillac Escalade ESV - $59,680-$71,050
14. Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI - $59,105
15. Lincoln Navigator - $57,280
16. Land Rover Range Rover Sport - $57,250
17. Porsche Cayenne S - $57,200
18. Toyota Land Cruiser - $56,820
19. Hummer H2 - $53,885-$58,095
20. Mercedes-Benz GL450 - $52,400
21. Cadillac Escalade - $50,585
22. Lexus GX - $43,150
23. Land Rover LR3 - $43,125
24. Mercedes-Benz M-Class - $42,680
25. Audi Q7 - $39,900
26. Lincoln MKX - $34,120
27. Lexus RX - $37,400
28. BMW X3 - $33,099
29. Chrysler Aspen - $30,745