In creating this list, we wanted to highlight only the best premium SUVs and crossovers. We considered any vehicle from a luxury automaker as long as it was at least vaguely SUV or crossover-like in design. German automaker BMW is especially notable for blurring the line between crossover, SUV and standard passenger car. Although neither its X6 "sports activity vehicle" or 5-Series GT five-door tall hatchback made our list, both models certainly stretch any SUV or crossover definition we've seen.
Our list comes from our extensive new vehicle testing. Our team of editors has sampled just about every new vehicle on the market - from subcompacts to vehicles worth more than a nice home in most cities.
Without further ado, here's Leftlane's list of our favorite premium SUVs and crossovers.
The 10 best luxury SUVs and crossovers you can buy
Acura RDX. A mere fraction the price of many of the other vehicles on this list, the redesigned-for-2013 RDX is a serious standout. A strong but efficient new V6 engine and an emphasis on both ride quality and handling make it an incredibly livable vehicle, the kind of trusty - but also pampering - crossover most buyers really want. In short, the RDX proves that you don't have to spend big to be treated to a state-of-the-art luxury ride. Opt for the Technology Package and you'll net a stellar audio system tuned by Grammy and Emmy-winning sound engineer Elliot Scheiner. If it's not the best stereo in the business, it's darn close.
Special mention:At about $35,000, the RDX is by far the cheapest vehicle to make our list.
Audi Q7. Something of an in-betweener, the Q7 is a bit roomier than a BMW X5 but not quite as spacious as a Mercedes-Benz GL-Class. That sizing might make it Goldilocks' choice, especially if she opts for either the 333-horsepower Q7 S-Line or the torque-monster Q7 TDI. European buyers can opt for a big V10 diesel engine that makes the Q7 a surprisingly fuel-efficient way to get from Point A to Point B in capacious speed.
BMW X5. Though the X5 might be the workaday sibling to the style-oriented X6, we think its more practical approach makes it the better overall choice. Besides, it's a lot better looking to our eyes. As adept on a race track as it is barreling down a highway or simply dropping the kids off at school, the X5 is one of the world's most versatile vehicles. And it's home to three of our favorite engines: BMW's turbocharged six and eight-cylinder gas engines, as well as its remarkably powerful and fuel efficient diesel six. The latter would be our choice.
Cadillac SRX. Showing how far General Motors' Cadillac brand has come, the latest SRX is the first premium crossover the division has ever offered that needs to make no excuses for itself. A new engine last year brought with it a much-needed increase in performance, but the SRX remains comfortable and extremely well-outfitted - especially inside. Here's to hoping the upcoming Escalade replacement merits a mention the next time we make this list.
Infiniti QX56. Subtlety, thy name is not QX56. This big bruiser SUV, a close cousin of the big-in-Middle-East Nissan Patrol, oozes with luxury. From its stunning glossy wood and upscale leather interior to its myriad standard equipment, the QX56 is everything a well-heeled family of eight could ever want - and it'll tow whatever doesn't fit inside. With the optional Technology Package, the QX56 contains more radar than NORAD (well, maybe not quite), which means it can sense impending collisions and help keep the QX56's inattentive driver between the lines.
Land Rover Range Rover. How could we not include the original luxury SUV? Truth be told, the first Range Rovers were only luxurious compared to their farm implement Land Rover siblings, but this iconic vehicle has evolved into the epitome of premium, high-seated motoring. Moreover, it still boasts tremendous off road ability, even though few owners will ever venture beyond the pavement. The pick of the litter is the Supercharged model, but even the naturally-aspirated variant is more an event than a mere motor vehicle.
Special mention: With its largely hand-finished premium interior, the Range Rover Autobiography is arguably the most hedonistic vehicle on our list.
Land Rover Range Rover Sport. Sized and shaped more like the original Range Rovers, the Sport isn't quite as adept off road as its big brother, but it's a lot more maneuverable around town. Its sporty interior is furnished as nicely as a luxury suite in the world's finest hotels, while its exterior offers everything from subtlety to bling. Like the big Rover, the Sport offers either superfast Supercharged or still impressive naturally-aspirated powertrains.
Lexus GX 460. Like the Range Rover, the GX 460 is a formidable off roader, even if most buyers might not realize its four-wheeling attributes. Luxuriously appointed inside and out - and capable of seating seven passengers - the GX 460 is an intriguing balance between rugged and plush. We'd order our GX 460 with the optional Crawl Control system just in case we ever decided to take the scenic route home. Its larger LX 570 brother is equally impressive, but we like the GX's smaller size more.
Special mention: The GX 460 placed higher than any other vehicle here on our list of the 10 most off road-capable luxury SUVs.
Mercedes-Benz GL-Class. Mercedes-Benz said that it set out to create a seven-passenger SUV equivalent to its S-class sedan with the new-for-2013 GL-Class and we'd say they succeeded. Leaps and bounds ahead of the already-impressive first-generation GL inside and underneath, the latest GL is plush but positively loaded up with upscale features. To make yours even fancier, an optional Designo package adds boudoir-esque diamond-stitched leather and unique wood choices.
Special mention: The GL's available Designo package gives it the most cosseting interior of any vehicle on this list.
Porsche Cayenne. Porsche's SUV seemed like an uncharacteristic misfire for the 911-maker when the first variant arrived about a decade ago, but it has morphed into an accomplished - and highly-profitable - best-seller for the brand. There's a Cayenne for everyone, from the base manual-transmission V6 model to diesel, hybrid and turbocharged gas variants. And purists should rest comfortably knowing that every Cayenne sold directly adds to the development budget for the 911.
Special menton: Rated at 29 mpg, the Porsche Cayenne Diesel is the most fuel-efficient vehicle on our list.
Photos by Andrew Ganz and Mark Elias.
