Luxury brand names come at a higher price than mainstream vehicles. We justify this cost with the upscale features, high-end materials, and advanced electronics expected of the luxury vehicles in the market. Even though luxury SUVs should deliver greater driving qualities and a more enjoyable experience, are all of these SUVs worth the added price? If you know which vehicles to avoid, you should also consider some alternatives.

What are the worst 10 luxury SUVs?

Some of the SUVs that make the worst list have reliability issues, others don’t offer enough value for the money, and a few will cost a lot to repair once the warranty has ended. Car Help Corner does a good job of showing why these SUVs make the list of the worst luxury models to buy.

Car Help Corner List

• Volvo XC90
• Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Alfa Romeo Stelvio
• Cadillac Escalade
• Lincoln Aviator
• BMW X5
• Mercedes-Benz GLE
• Jaguar F-Pace
• Maserati Levante
• Land Rover Range Rover

If you shouldn’t buy these models, what should you buy?

During the video above, some alternatives are offered, those are:

Alternatives to the Worst Luxury SUVs

• Volvo XC90 – Genesis GV80, Acura MDX
• Jeep Grand Cherokee – Lexus RX350
• Cadillac Escalade – Lexus LX
• Lincoln Aviator – Acura MDX, Infiniti QX60
• Land Rover Range Rover – Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Lexus LX

The models not listed here did not have alternative models offered during the video.

Instead of simply taking their word for whether or not you should buy these models, we turn to a trusted source to tell us if the presented options are rated higher than the ten on the initial list.

Are the alternative luxury SUVs ranked higher?

Adding support to the models that could be the right option instead of some of the worst SUVs listed, let’s see how Consumer Reports ranks these alternative choices compared to the initial list.

Consumer Reports Rankings Compared

• Acura MDX outranks the Volvo XC90 and Genesis GV80
• Lexus RX350 ranks high while the Jeep Grand Cherokee is in testing
• Cadillac Escalade ranks in the middle but the Lexus LX is in testing
• Acura MDX outranks the Lincoln Aviator and the Infiniti QX60 is in testing
• Land Rover Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, and Lexus LX are all still in testing

From this, we see a few models that rate differently from the list of the worst from Car Help Corner, but several that are still undergoing testing. We only see the clear picture with the Volvo XC90, Genesis GV80, and Acura MDX. Its clear the MDX is a more highly-rated luxury SUV than the XC90, but Consumer Reports ranks the GV80 lower than the Volvo.

What are the top five luxury SUVs in each category?

The top five models in each class from Consumer Reports give you a good place to look for the SUV you want to drive. With several still in testing and scheduled for testing, some of the models might change, but the current list stands as:

Top Five Entry-Level Luxury SUVs

• Mini Cooper Countryman
• Buick Encore
• Lexus UX
• Volvo XC40
• Buick Encore GX

Top Five Compact Luxury SUVs

• Buick Envision
• Cadillac XT5
• BMW X3
• Audi Q5
• Mercedes-Benz GLC

Top Five Midsize Luxury SUVs

• BMW X5
• Lexus RX L
• Lexus GX
• Lexus RX
• Audi Q7

Top Five Full-Size Luxury SUVs

• BMW X7
• Lincoln Navigator
• Buick Enclave
• Cadillac Escalade
• Infiniti QX80

Why are two of the worst models on the top five lists?

If you look closely, you see the BMW X5 and Cadillac Escalade are both on the top five lists from Consumer Reports. Why does Car Help Corner have these models on the list of worst luxury SUVs? In both cases, this comes down to value. The reviewer tells us the X5 is a good SUV to lease but can face expensive repairs after the warranty period. They also tell us the Escalade doesn’t meet the value when you can have virtually the same qualities as a GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Tahoe.

Which luxury SUV should you buy?

Depending on the size you want and the price you’re willing to pay, it’s advisable to stick to highly ranked models by trusted review sources. This could mean buying one of the top five models from the Consumer Reports list or trusting another source for the answers. Understanding some of the potential troubles facing the vehicle you choose is part of the buying process and should be part of your decision. That said, many luxury SUVs offer several years of excellent driving.

Next, check out some binge-worthy car films, or watch the top 1 best luxury SUVs in the video below:

This article was updated on 8/24/2022.