Luxury SUVs and crossovers keep winning over families thanks to better fuel economy, car-like handling, and the kind of everyday comfort that makes even bigger models easy to live with. Step into the premium segment, though, and these vehicles become as much about lifestyle as practicality. Yet buyers willing to spend more will still find plenty of useful space and smart packaging across all sizes. Here’s our take on the standout luxury SUVs for 2018, proving you don’t always need the newest sheetmetal to get a refined, capable, and genuinely upscale utility vehicle. This list is organized by:
- Compact luxury models
- Mid-Size luxury models
- Full-size luxury models
1. Compact Luxury SUV & Crossovers
View all our compact luxury reviews and news here.
2018 Acura RDX
Top features:
- Potent V6 Engine: The 2018 RDX boasts a strong 3.5L V6 engine.
- Spacious and Comfortable Interior: The RDX offers a roomy and comfy cabin with quality materials.
- Advanced Safety Tech: Equipped with AcuraWatch, including adaptive cruise control and more for enhanced safety.
Acura redesigned the RDX for 2019, but the outgoing 2018 model remains a very solid vehicle, offering strong performance and decent fuel economy from its 3.5L V6 engine. It comes standard with AWD, and while it’s not Acura’s excellent Super Handling (SH-AWD) system, the RDX still boasts good handling.
Related – 2019 Acura RDX Review
2018 BMW X3
Top features:
- Agile Performance: The 2018 BMW X3 offers dynamic driving and powerful engines.
- Luxury Inside: The X3 boasts a luxurious, tech-savvy interior.
- User-Friendly Tech: Equipped with an intuitive infotainment system.
BMW’s compact X3 is all-new for 2018, gaining updated styling and, more importantly, a longer wheelbase that improves passenger space. The update also brings a big infotainment screen and an interior that generally feels more expensive than the old X3. There’s no dedicated M version of the X3 as is offered in the larger X5 range, but BMW goes halfway with the M40i model, whose turbocharged six-cylinder engine puts its 355 hp through an M Sport exhaust system. The base model, called the xDrive30i, uses a 248-hp four-cylinder that balances economy with adequate performance.
Related – 2018 BMW X3 Specs & Changes + First-Ever 355-HP X3 M40i
2018 Porsche Macan
Top features:
- Sporty Performance: The 2018 Macan delivers agile, sporty performance.
- Upscale Interior: With a luxurious and high-tech interior, the Macan offers a premium driving experience.
- Porsche Infotainment: Equipped with Porsche’s user-friendly infotainment system for seamless connectivity and entertainment.
Just like the company’s car models, the compact Porsche Macan SUV comes in a wide range of trims to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. The starting point is a four-cylinder with 252 hp, while the top trim is the Macan Turbo, powered by a 400-hp V6. It’s hard to argue in favour of the Macan’s value, as Porsche makes you pay extra for a lot of handy tech features, but the Macan is among the best driving SUVs available for any amount of money.
Related – Macan reviews and news
2. Mid-Size Luxury SUVs and Crossovers
View all our mid-size luxury reviews and news here.
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Top features:
- Athletic Performance: The 2018 Stelvio offers athletic and dynamic driving.
- Elegant Interior: With a refined and stylish interior, the Stelvio provides a premium experience.
- Alfa Romeo Infotainment: Equipped with Alfa Romeo’s intuitive infotainment system for a seamless and connected driving experience.
Named for the Stelvio Pass, a mountain road in Italy known for its intense switchbacks, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is the first SUV model from this Italian brand, and one of the latest to join the lineup since its return to North America a couple of years ago. Base models come with a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder but performance fans will prefer the Quadrifoglio’s 2.9L turbo V6 and 505 hp that allow a top speed of 285 km/h.
Related – 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti Review
2018 Land Rover Range Rover Velar
Top features:
- Refined Luxury: The 2018 Range Rover Velar embodies a luxurious and sophisticated design.
- Innovative Technology: Equipped with advanced technology and infotainment features for a modern driving experience.
- Off-Road Capability: Maintaining Land Rover’s off-road prowess, the Velar is also an adept off-road vehicle.
The latest addition to Land Rover’s extensive family of Range Rover models is the Velar, which packages the Range Rover’s traditional luxury and off-road ability into a sleeker body. Land Rover is now in the minority of SUV makers offering a diesel engine in the wake of VW’s emissions scandal. It’s a four-cylinder with 180 hp, and the step up is to a supercharged gas V6 that makes 380 hp. Cool tech features include a tow assist function that lets you steer the car using the infotainment controller while backing up, so that the car automatically adjusts the steering wheel to put the trailer where you want it.
Related – 2018 Range Rover Velar First Drive Review
2018 Lexus RX
Top features:
- Smooth Ride: The 2018 Lexus RX delivers a comfortable and smooth driving experience.
- Luxurious Interior: With a high-quality and luxurious interior, the RX offers a refined atmosphere.
- Lexus Infotainment: Equipped with Lexus’ user-friendly infotainment system for connectivity and entertainment.
The big news for this upscale utility for 2018 is the addition of a bigger version, called the RX L, that seats seven people. It rides on the same wheelbase as the regular RX but has a longer body to accommodate a third row of seating. The Lexus RX is not a performance machine, but it is supremely smooth and quiet on the road, a characteristic emphasized in a hybrid version that will drive on electricity alone for short distances if you’re not in a hurry.
Related – Lexus RX reviews and news
2018 Tesla Model X
Top features:
- Electric Performance: The 2018 Tesla Model X delivers impressive electric performance and acceleration.
- Futuristic Interior: With a cutting-edge and futuristic interior, the Model X showcases advanced technology and design.
- Autopilot Capability: Equipped with Tesla’s Autopilot system for semi-autonomous driving and advanced safety features.
This American electric car maker is controversial, mainly because of the lofty promises CEO Elon Musk makes but sometimes can’t deliver on. For all that, Tesla’s cars are impressive performers, including the Model X, the brand’s sole entry in the SUV category. Based on its looks, it’s clear Tesla put its effort into what makes the Model X go: a big battery and electric motors move this utility from 0-100 km/h in as little as 3.1 seconds. Just as cool are the “falcon wing” rear doors that open up instead of out.
Related – 2023 Tesla Model 3 Review
2018 Volvo XC90
Top features:
- Safety Innovations: The 2018 Volvo XC90 is known for its advanced safety features and innovations.
- Scandinavian Luxury: With a blend of Scandinavian design and high-quality materials, the XC90 offers a luxurious interior.
- Intuitive Technology: Equipped with user-friendly infotainment and tech features for a modern driving experience.
The XC90 was the vehicle that started Volvo’s comeback in 2016, and it continues to serve as a symbol of how this company has turned around with the help of its corporate owner, China’s Geely. Performance is fine with a 2.0L turbo four-cylinder working alone, but a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model ratchets up the speed potential with 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque from that engine working in concert with electric power. One of the neatest options is a shift lever made of Swedish crystal.
Related – 2016 Volvo XC90 Review [Inscription Model]
2018 Lincoln MKX
Top features:
- Plush Comfort: The 2018 Lincoln MKX provides a plush and comfortable ride.
- Premium Interior: With a premium and well-appointed interior, the MKX offers a sophisticated driving experience.
- Lincoln Infotainment: Equipped with Lincoln’s intuitive infotainment system for connectivity and entertainment.
It’s been 11 years since the mid-size Lincoln MKX luxury crossover hit the market, retaining the same design and attributes along the way. Finally, the all-new, second-generation Lincoln MKX arrived in style in 2016, sharing the same design characteristics as its smaller MKC sibling introduced last year. The 2018 MKX carries the model until the all-new 2019 Nautilus hits the market – new name, same great driving dynamics we’re sure.
Related – First Drive: 2016 Lincoln MKX Review
3. Best Full-Size Luxury SUVs
View all our full-size luxury reviews and news here.
2018 Audi Q7
Top features:
- Dynamic Performance: The 2018 Audi Q7 offers dynamic and responsive performance.
- High-End Interior: With a high-quality and luxurious interior, the Q7 provides a top-notch driving experience.
- Audi Infotainment: Equipped with Audi’s advanced infotainment system for seamless connectivity and entertainment.
Audi redesigned its big Q7 for 2017, and those changes carry over into 2018: this is the first Q7 to offer four-cylinder power in a 2.0L turbo with 252 hp, but the uplevel 3.0L turbo V6 is a better bet in a vehicle of this size with its 333 hp. Still, the four-cylinder holds its own, performance-wise, thanks to a body 300 kg lighter than the previous generation Q7. While this Audi's third row isn't the largest in its class, the Q7 is a fine way to move you and a few friends and still have some fun along the way.
2018 Cadillac Escalade
Top features:
- Commanding Presence: The 2018 Cadillac Escalade has a commanding and iconic presence on the road.
- Opulent Interior: With a lavish and opulent interior, the Escalade offers a luxurious driving experience.
- Cadillac Infotainment: Equipped with Cadillac’s advanced infotainment system for connectivity and entertainment.
If you don’t mind looking like you just rolled off the set of a music video, the Cadillac Escalade is a well-done big SUV that’s easy to hate. It has become a veritable symbol of conspicuous consumption, but the Escalade packs a lot of practical luxury into its big body, including comfortable seating for up to seven in your choice of a standard-sized model or a stretched version called the ESV. Performance is impressive for a truck-based vehicle, thanks to a 420-hp V8 matched with a 10-speed transmission. GM’s Magnetic Ride Control suspension makes for good handling, and tech options include a rear camera mirror.
Related – First Drive: 2015 Cadillac Escalade Review
2018 Lincoln Navigator
Top features:
- Grand Comfort: The 2018 Lincoln Navigator provides grand and luxurious comfort.
- Upscale Interior: With an upscale and spacious interior, the Navigator offers a premium driving experience.
- Lincoln Infotainment: Equipped with Lincoln’s intuitive infotainment system for modern connectivity and entertainment.
If your kids complain about family road-trips, maybe the all-new 2018 Lincoln Navigator will zip them up. With wireless charging, standard Wi-Fi, and an ultra-comfortable cabin, Lincoln’s new full-size SUV still retains all its luxury but has taken it to new levels for 2018. Producing 450-hp, the all-new 2018 Navigator finds power via a twin-turbo V6 engine paired to a 10-speed transmission. The Navigator’s lighter, high-strength aluminum-alloy body removes nearly 200 pounds, helping create a more refined ride.
Related – 2018 Lincoln Navigator: 7 Things to Know About the Redesigned Luxury Hauler
2018 VW Atlas
Top features:
- Spacious Interior: a spacious and comfortable interior with ample room for passengers and cargo.
- User-Friendly Infotainment: Equipped with a user-friendly infotainment system for easy connectivity and entertainment.
- Versatile Seating: The Atlas features versatile seating options and a flexible interior layout to accommodate different needs.
The Atlas is likely the biggest Volkswagen you’ve ever seen: longer, wider and higher than a Touareg, it’s sized properly for what it’s designed to do. VW describes the looks, which evolved from the CrossBlue concept of a few years back, as wide, earnest and substantial, but not too aggressive. It’s noticeably less rounded than some of its rivals, with chiselled edges and some nice details in and around the grille and LED lights. The powertrains are tried and tested, too. The Execline comes as standard with the venerable 3.6-liter V6 and 4Motion AWD; a 2-liter TSI that makes almost as much power with 235bhp vs 276bhp and FWD are available elsewhere.
Related – 2018 Volkswagen Atlas Review
