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Best Luxury SUVs for 2025

The best luxury SUVs are ranked based on a data-driven analysis of over 330 million vehicles' reliability, resale value, and safety.

Many lists ranking luxury SUVs may already exist, but those depend mostly on subjective editorial criteria. iSeeCars' Best Luxury SUVs are ranked using a data-driven and objective methodology. By applying data science to over 330 million vehicles, iSeeCars analyzes each car to understand its reliability and how long-lasting it is, its safety, and how well it holds its value over time. Each luxury SUV is compared to others within its own category, and the best one in a given category is the model with the best ratings across these three key areas, summarized by the iSeeCars Quality Score. Here are the top models in each luxury SUV category:

The best luxury subcompact SUV is the Buick Encore (8.3 quality rating), with the BMW X3 being the best luxury small and compact SUV (8.6 quality rating). The Acura MDX ranks #1 for the best luxury midsize SUVs (8.9 quality rating).

The best luxury large SUV is the Lexus LX 600 (8.8 quality rating) and the best luxury crossover SUV is the Acura MDX (8.9 quality rating). Topping the list for the best luxury three-row SUVs is the Acura MDX (8.9 quality rating), while the Lexus RX 500h ranks first for the best luxury hybrid SUVs (9.0 quality rating).

The best luxury plug-in hybrid SUV (PHEV) is the Audi Q5 (Plug-in Hybrid) (8.4 quality rating), with the Tesla Model X being the best luxury electric SUV (8.4 quality rating).

How Does iSeeCars Determine the Best Luxury SUVs?

iSeeCars’ Reliability Rating is a reflection of a vehicle’s long-term quality and durability. It is based on an analysis of each vehicle’s useful lifespan and its ability to last 200,000 miles or more. Reliability often translates to lower operating costs for a vehicle owner, as well as reduced time and energy spent visiting dealerships to address issues beyond scheduled maintenance.

iSeeCars’ Value Retention Score indicates how much market value a vehicle has after several years of use. This is typically the most expensive factor in vehicle ownership. Models that lose a substantial amount of value over time contribute far less to a consumer’s future trade-in value for their next purchase, or what the vehicle can be sold for in the used car market.

iSeeCars’ Safety Score comes from a standardized set of safety tests performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). These organizations perform comprehensive studies to determine the potential for occupant injury or death if a vehicle is involved in an accident.

For each model, the data related to these three components is aggregated across multiple model years and updated regularly. The data is combined to create iSeeCars’ Quality Score, and that quality score is compared across all models within a segment to determine the ranking for the Best Luxury SUVs.

What Kind of Luxury SUVs are Available?

Luxury SUVs are among the most popular models for sale today. They combine the all-wheel drive confidence, increased cargo space, and overall practicality of a utility vehicle with the premium style, upscale materials, and advanced technology of a luxury car. Automakers have fed the ever growing consumer demand for these models with an ever-expanding lineup of vehicles.

Today choices range from small and midsize luxury SUVs to large, three-row models. Hybrids, plug–in hybrids and electric SUVs, all wearing premium nameplates and featuring luxury amenities and advanced technologies, are also available.

What Type of Luxury SUV Should I Buy?

With the full spectrum of luxury SUVs available in today’s market the only limitation is imagination – and budget. Smaller, subcompact models can be surprisingly fun to drive and still accommodating for those with luxury expectations. They only offer two rows of seating, and they can’t tow or haul as much as midsize or larger models, but if a basic, functional SUV with relatively high fuel efficiency, a solid foundation of safety features, and premium interior treatments, are all that is needed, these smaller models will suffice, and can be purchased at a lower price.

Stepping up beyond midsize SUVs to larger luxury SUVs opens the door to three-row crossovers with up to 8 passenger capacity. Prices will also climb, and adding options like leather seats and advanced tech will further bump the MSRP. Adding 30 or more percent to a large luxury SUV’s base price is easy with just a few packages related to driver assistance tech or upgraded infotainment systems. When configuring or shopping for large luxury SUVs, wants, needs, and budget should all be carefully considered.

Modern powertrain design has done wonders for fuel economy. By pairing smaller engines with turbo technology and direct fuel injection even midsize and large luxury SUVs deliver strong horsepower, engaging driving dynamics and impressive mpg ratings. Some of these models also provide excellent off-road capability. But if traditional engines still aren’t efficient enough for your fuel budget (or CO2 tolerance) a growing list of luxury SUVs featuring hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology is available.

Finally, for buyers interested in the latest drivetrain technology, the spectrum of choices in electric SUVs gets wider every day. These models blend the power and refinement of traditional luxury SUVs with the advanced technology of electric cars, creating a unique driving experience. Electric SUVs are quick and have the instant torque necessary to move their substantial curb weight with authority. High-tech features, such as large touchscreens and semi-autonomous driving, often come standard on electric luxury SUVs, but at a price substantially higher than traditional models. And when it comes to long distance travel in an electric SUV, route planning and foreknowledge of charging locations is critical.

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How We Rank These Cars

iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on the latest analysis by our data science team of more than 330 million cars.

The overall iSeeCars Quality Score combines analyses of these three factors: reliability, resale value, and safety. It is calculated based on the latest research and analysis by our data science team. The data analysis comes from over 330 million vehicles as reported in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies. These two factors are combined with NHTSA and/or IIHS Safety Ratings to determine a car’s Quality Score. Only cars with recent model years are included.

Each vehicle is rated on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest Quality Score. Vehicles within a given category are sorted to show the highest-scoring ones first. If two cars have the same ratings, the tie is broken by the Reliability Rating, Value Retention Score, and Safety Score. iSeeCars displays comprehensive Quality Scores along with the subscores for each model because multiple factors should be taken into account when buyers are seeking the best overall vehicle.

Vehicles are scored in three categories:

Reliability

The reliability score represents an analysis of iSeeCars' proprietary research on the longest-lasting vehicles.

Value Retention

The value retention score is based on our data science team's statistical analysis and prediction of 5-year depreciation from MSRP to determine which cars hold their value best, using US Bureau of Labor Statistics data to adjust for inflation.

Safety

The safety score is calculated based on the last five years of crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and incorporates the latest Top Safety Pick information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

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