Top 10 best luxury SUVs 2024
These are the best posh SUVs to buy right now
The best luxury SUVs combine the practicality of a large SUV with the refinement and opulence found in luxury saloons. These days, there are a variety of options to choose from, with supercar performance, imperious off-road ability, advanced technology and sumptuous materials all on the menu, and we’ve listed the best luxury SUVs in the UK right here.
The top 10 best luxury SUVs on sale
- Porsche Cayenne
- BMW X5
- Range Rover
- Range Rover Sport
- Bentley Bentayga
- BMW iX
- BMW X7
- Audi Q7
- Rolls-Royce Cullinan
- Ferrari Purosangue
1. Porsche Cayenne
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- Prices from £76,000
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-focussed 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
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- Prices from £71,000
- Best for families
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 as the Porsche but the less expensive X5 does come pretty close, as we found out when we pitted them against each other in a twin test. The BMW is the most comfortable of the two cars, 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’d 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 over 353mpg. 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 savings to be had for company car drivers, too.
3. Range Rover
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- Prices from £104,000
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
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- Prices from £75,000
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
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- Prices from £170,000
The Bentley Bentayga was the British brand’s first SUV, and buyers are such big fans that 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.
6. BMW iX
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- Prices from £71,000
- Best for efficiency
While the BMW iX’s styling may not be to everyone’s taste, 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 can take as little as 35 minutes.
Take a seat inside the iX and the sheer level of quality will quickly become apparent, with high-quality materials and 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. BMW X7
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- Prices from £89,000
While BMW’s SUV line-up is one of the largest on the market, the X7 allowed the brand to enter a new territory. This was the Bavarian brand’s first Range Rover-sized SUV, and it’s an affordable entry into this list, all things considered, with prices starting at around £89,000 for the 376bhp six-cylinder X7 xDrive40i Excellence model.
As part of a midlife facelift, the cabin received the brand’s ‘Curved Display’ dashboard. This setup integrates a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel with a 14.9-inch iDrive infotainment touchscreen, and the X7 now looks far more upmarket inside as a result.
8. Audi Q7
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| Ride comfort Good to drive Luxurious interior | Expensive options Will feel large on some roads Some rivals offer more flexibility |
- Prices from £68,500
Since its introduction to the UK in 2007, the Audi Q7 has been a sales hit in Britain, 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 everything isn’t for all, 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.
9. Rolls-Royce Cullinan
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- Prices from £299,000
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
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- Prices from £314,000
- Best driving experience
The Ferrari Purosangue is a car they said they’d never make at Maranello, but Ferrari’s first SUV is a V12 powered, 715bhp, £312k+, 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 barkingly 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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