Luxury SUVs come in all shapes and sizes these days, but this is the segment where the big boys play. Like, literally. We’re talking about large SUVs. And yes, there is a segment above this one, and a few below it, too.
But this part of the market is regarded as the yardstick for combining plushness and ruggedness, not to mention a touch of tech and more than a pinch of practicality.
These three premium offerings are all German, and while two of them are what you might expect to find when you’re shopping for a high-end large SUV, one of these is from a mainstream brand.
That model is the all-new Volkswagen Touareg, which is easily the oddbod in this segment given that it’s not sold by a luxury marque. We’ve got the Touareg Launch Edition version, which has five seats - there is no seven-seat option - but it’s more affordable than pretty much everything else in the class, though it arguably lacks the badge cred some customers may be looking for if they’re spending this much.
That’s not the case for the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLE, though - while it may have been known as the ML in years gone by, the GLE has been a worthy contender in the class for about five years, and this all-new version features improved interior design and tech - and it looks the part, too. We’ve got the entry-level 300d diesel model, which is sold as a five-seater, but ours is a seven-seater.
And then there’s the stalwart, go-to luxury SUV for many customers - the BMW X5. It’s also a new-generation version, having launched in 2018 - but this is our first chance to see how it stacks up against the competition. Ours is the xDrive30d variant, which is the entry level version at the time we’re testing it - but that means it comes in at a higher price compared to its rivals. It’s a 5 seater SUV as tested, but you can get it as a 7 seater, too.
Picking a winner out of these three superb luxury SUVs was a difficult task - but we came up with our choice, and you can tell us if you agree or not in the comments section below.
The winner wasn’t the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLE 300d. While it packs in some amazing interior presentation and technology, it was let down by a ride and drivetrain that can’t really be described as luxurious, even if the rest of the package was. We reckon the more expensive six-cylinder GLE 400d, if fitted with adaptive air suspension, could really give its rivals a shake.
In second place was the BMW X5 xDrive30d, which has a tremendous powertrain, is nice to drive but can be harsh for passengers, and it’s pretty darn expensive when you start to add some of the things you might want included in your luxury SUV.
And that leaves us with the value king of this bunch, the Volkswagen Touareg Launch Edition. It may not be a luxury-branded SUV, but it certainly lives up to expectations of what a luxury SUV should feel like, even if the badge doesn’t have the same driveway bragging rights as its rivals.
The drive experience and the interior pragmatism combine for an ultra impressive large SUV - you can really tell that this platform, which also underpins the Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus and Audi Q7, is engineered for a high quality and luxurious drive experience. It’s just a bonus that it comes in at a comparative bargain price point.
Visit our BMW X5 hub: carsgui.de/2OTMnVZ
Visit our Mercedes-Benz GLE hub: carsgui.de/2OHdkvR
Visit our VW Touareg hub: carsgui.de/2MrJKtc
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