Owning a luxury SUV has a lot of perks, but there’s still plenty to consider before making the final purchase. On one hand, a luxury SUV has the most available options for performance, entertainment, and safety. With most luxury SUVs, these accessories come standard – however, they come at a larger price tag than a non-luxury vehicle.
Another perk of owning a luxury SUV is the prestige of ownership. These vehicles usually range from $50,000-$100,000, and usually, only those with a higher income can afford to purchase one. Many recognize luxury SUV brands and take note of those behind the steering wheel.
Luxury SUVs are the perfect vehicle for those not only looking for top of the line performance, entertainment, and safety features, but also those looking to comfortably transport five or more people. These vehicles, depending on the make and model, are typically quite roomy, and make driving the whole family — or entourage — around easy.
[respa]To help simplify the buying process, here are the top 3 luxury SUVs of 2017 complete with MSRPs, each car’s unique features, performance features, safety features, and comparison to the competition.
[su_heading style=”line-dark” size=”19″]Audi Q7[/su_heading]
[su_pullquote]The 2017 Audi Q7 is Audi’s premier luxury SUV available in three trim levels.[/su_pullquote] The Premium trim level has an MSRP of $54,000, the Premium Plus has an MSRP of $58,800, and the Prestige has an MSRP of $64,300. Each trim level comes with a 3.0 liter, six-cylinder, turbocharged engine which gets an estimated fuel efficiency rating of 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.
Some performance features of the Q7 include its eight-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission, Quattro® all-wheel drive, 7,700 lb. towing capacity, and 333 horsepower. The Audi Q7 has an acceleration speed of zero to sixty in 5.7 seconds.
The Audi Q7 also comes with top of the line safety features while safely seating seven. These features include:
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- Anti-lock brakes,
- electronic stability control,
- collision brake assist,
- and drive adaptive dual stage airbags.
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While the Audi does not boast the innovative safety features that the Volvo does, it received IIHS’s Top Safety Pick.
The Q7 also has some unique features such as its rear fog lights, MMI® radio plus with ten speakers, Homelink® garage access, parking system with front and back sensors, and a power tailgate. This Audi also has three-zone climate control, ten beverage holders, and LED headlights which complete the stylish look created with the Singleframe® grille.
When compared to other vehicles in its class, this SUV has some pros and cons. One con being the lower fuel efficiency. For an SUV that lost over 700 lbs. in its makeover by Audi, the supercharged V6 burns a lot of fuel.
Compared to its competition, Audi’s features are appealing. With a wide variety of technologies, the Q7 sits at the top of its class making these enhancements a pro when considering a purchase. One drawback to its plethora of technologies is it’s confusing and cluttered dash.
Overall, the Audi is comparable to its competition but requires the buyer knowing what features are most important and what features they can do without in a luxury SUV.
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[su_heading style=”line-dark” size=”19″]Jaguar F-Pace[/su_heading]
The 2017 Jaguar F-Pace comes in six available trim levels with MSRP ranging from $40,990 to $69,700. The F-Pace trim level has a 2.0 liter, four-cylinder diesel engine with an eight-speed ZF® automatic transmission. With a top speed of 129 mph and an acceleration rate of zero to sixty in 8.2 seconds, the F-Pace is not as quick as the Audi Q7. Like the Audi, the F-Pace’s performance features include all-wheel drive. The F-Pace has not been rated for fuel efficiency due to its new arrival on the market.
The F-Pace has a wide variety of unique features with each trim level. Some of these features include:
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- A Meridian 380W sound system complete with eleven speakers,
- an automatic equalizer,
- rain detecting wipers,
- and rear fog lamps.
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The Jaguar F-Pace also has some impressive safety features including:
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- Electronic stability control,
- driveline traction control,
- dual-stage airbags,
- and safe seating for five occupants.
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As with any luxury SUV, there are pros and cons to owning a Jaguar F-Pace. One pro is the instant recognition of the brand. Jaguar is known for making high quality, reliable vehicles, and the branding on the F-Pace makes it more attractive to a buyer. Another pro is the largo cargo space of the F-Pace: twice as much as in its competition. The biggest con with the F-Pace is the multiple trim levels. The six trim levels leave many features as options only available in the more expensive levels. This Jaguar does not offer as many standard features as other cars in its class.
Overall, the Jaguar F-Pace is an exciting new luxury SUV which keeps pace with others in its class. It is a great car for those planning on using the cargo space and for those who might not need all the luxury options.
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[su_heading style=”line-dark” size=”19″]Volvo XC60[/su_heading]
The 2017 Volvo XC60 has seven trim levels ranging in MSRP from $40,950 to $51,000. Like the Jaguar F-Pace, due to the many trim levels, many options that come standards in similar cars in its class are only available on the top of the line trim. This can be a drawback for many buyers who do not want to weigh convenience versus cost.
The Volvo XC60 comes with many performance features starting with its 2.0 liter, four-cylinder turbocharged engine. This engine produces 30% fewer emissions than other vehicles in its class. Other performance features include the patented Geartronic eight-speed transmission, available all-wheel drive, 240 horsepower, and 258 lb. /ft. torque.
Along with its performance features, the Volvo XC60 also boasts innovative safety features. These features include:
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- Anti-lock brakes,
- stability control,
- front and side impact airbags,
- WHIPS anti-whiplash system,
- adaptive cruise control,
- and blind spot information.
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The higher the trim level, the more safety innovations included.
The Volvo XC60 also includes many unique features that are available on various trim levels. Some unique features are rear fog lights, heated mirrors, Sensus navigation, parking assist, Sirius XM, and built-in Wi-Fi.
[su_quote] It embodies luxury and boasts numerous features at each trim level.[/su_quote]
The XC60 has many features, but also comes with its own pros and cons. Pros of this vehicle include the impressive safety features. The innumerable safety measures on this Volvo make it the perfect car for those looking to prioritize safety over driver enjoyment, as this car was not built for the racetrack. Another pro of the Volvo is the impressive fuel efficiency rating and low emissions rating. Both ratings lead the pack of competitive vehicles in the same class. A con of the XC60 is the multiple trim levels which again cost the buyer more for desired features. Many competitors offer a lower price on luxury SUVs with the same and more features than available in the base XC60 model.
Volvo made an impressive, reliable vehicle when they made the XC60. It embodies luxury and boasts numerous features at each trim level. It is a great car for those looking for plenty of cargo space and just enough luxury.
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