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    Popular Luxury SUVs to Avoid and What to Get Instead

    Instead of settling for what's popular, choose a smart, reliable SUV that performs well in CR's tests

    A BMW X5 on the left with an arrow pointing to a Land Rover Defender on the right.
    Is the BMW X5 a better choice than the Land Rover Defender?
    Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports, Land Rover

    Luxury SUVs are designed to offer all the key features of a mainstream model, such as a commanding view of the road, a spacious and well-equipped cabin, and the added security of available all-wheel drive. They’re wrapped in a stylish body that surrounds a cabin filled with leather touchpoints, high-quality trim, and additional sound-absorbing materials.

    But while automakers promise that their SUVs will give you the ultimate luxury driving experience, some of these exclusive models are far worse than their peers.

    In this article Arrow link

    Just because an SUV is expensive or has an exclusive nameplate doesn’t mean it’s a good vehicle. Luxury SUVs aren’t immune to having an uncomfortable ride, maddening controls, or being so unreliable that they spend more time in the service bay than being used for your daily driving.

    More On SUVs

    That’s why it’s important to approach each new-car shopping experience with an open mind and use CR’s ratings to find the best-performing vehicles in the class and price range you’re considering. Our testing shows that some new cars outperform others you see on the road everywhere you go.

    Consumer Reports has thoroughly tested the models listed below to help you make an informed decision. We conduct road-test evaluations and gather data from our Annual Auto Surveys to provide insights into each model’s performance and reliability. Based on this data, we then rate and rank each vehicle, with the highest Overall Score going to cars that excel in all areas we examine.

    Below, we present popular luxury SUVs in six categories and offer alternative options with higher Overall Scores.

    If you’re a CR member, you can access the article and the list below. If not, you can become a member to access exclusive ratings and reviews for each vehicle and for a wide range of other products, such as grills, mobile phones, TVs, and home appliances.

    Sign up for CR’s Cars email newsletter to be notified when we post our latest road tests.

    Luxury Entry-Level SUV to Avoid

    The Better Choice


    Luxury Compact SUV to Avoid

    The Better Choice


    Luxury Two-Row Midsized SUV to Avoid

    The Better Choice


    Luxury Three-Row Midsized SUV to Avoid

    The Better Choice


    Luxury Large SUV to Avoid

    The Better Choice


    Luxury Electric SUV to Avoid

    The Better Choice


    Jon Linkov

    Jon Linkov is the deputy auto editor at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2002, covering varied automotive topics including buying and leasing, maintenance and repair, ownership, reliability, used cars, and electric vehicles. He manages CR’s lineup of special interest publications, hosts CR’s “Talking Cars” podcast, and writes and edits content for CR’s online and print products. An avid cyclist, Jon also enjoys driving his ’80s-era sports car and instructing at track days.