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The global trend towards SUVs seems unstoppable.
We estimate that fully one-third of all car sales globally in 2019 will be in the SUV class, and the market in the UK for them is generally very healthy, despite Brexit worries in the economy. And the luxury class is very much part of this. Indeed, one of the best-selling luxury cars in the UK is the Range Rover.
But now a whole new segment of car is emerging – a class that combines luxurious accommodation with blistering performance, and a sticker price to go with them. And a new member has just joined the club: the Aston Martin DBX (pictured), unveiled in China on Wednesday. This new group of vehicles takes in the upper ends of the ranges from major European premium manufacturers, and now all-new products from blue-blooded new arrivals into the market from companies like Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce (pictured).
So, ranked in ascending price order (we list the on-the-road prices), let’s a look at the Super-SUVs you can buy now, and also the ones that are coming to the UK shortly:
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Volvo XC90 T8 Inscription Pro T8 Twin Engine AWD – from £71,945
The second-generation XC90 spearheaded Volvo’s renaissance. It signaled the firm’s intention to play on the same field as its German rivals. The T8 eAWD plug-in hybrid powertrain represents an important part of this offensive. It delivers 390bhp and 472 lb- ft of torque while allowing the XC90 to travel solely on electricity for about 20 miles. Volvo’s flagship SUV is quiet and refined, though it doesn’t like to be rushed.
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Volvo XC90 T8 Inscription Pro T8 Twin Engine AWD – from £71,945
The XC90’s serenity is best enjoyed by selecting the Inscription trim level. In this configuration, standard features include a 10-speaker Sensus sound system, 4-zone climate control, a fuel-fired heater to warm up cold mornings, and power front seats.
Good points: Sumptuous interior, comfortable, elegant inside and out
Bad points: Noisy four-cylinder, expensive for what it is
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BMW X7 xDrive M50i – from £90,935
The X7 stands out as the biggest car ever to wear BMW’s roundel emblem. It also receives the largest rendition of the firm’s kidney grille we’ve seen to date, a styling cue that makes it instantly recognizable as a member of the BMW line-up. The grille hides a twin-turbocharged, 4.4-liter V8 engine that makes 530bhp and 479lb ft of torque.
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BMW X7 xDrive M50i – from £90,935
BMW bills the X7 as the 7 Series of the SUV world. The behemoth lives up to this bold claim thanks to a spacious, well-lit interior made with high-quality materials plus state-of-the-art tech features like a 12.3in touchscreen for the infotainment system. The generous dimensions let designers carve out space for seven passengers and BMW promises even full-size adults can sit in the third row.
Good points: High-class interior, comfortable, performance
Bad points: Looks aren't for everyone, overall bulk
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Audi SQ7 Vorsprung – from £92,530
The Audi SQ7 impresses with how it mixes deft handling ability with reasonably frugal running costs from its V8 twin-turbo diesel, which it shares with the Bentley Bentayga. This engine outputs 429bhp with a mammoth 664lb ft of torque, and dispatches this 2330kg machine to 62mph in just 4.9 seconds.
The Vorsprung specification takes the standard SQ7 and delivers a smorgasbord of extra luxury equipment including 22in wheels, matrix LED headlights, a Bose 3D sound system, virtual cockpit digital controls, a head-up display, and a variety of driver assistance systems.
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Audi SQ7 Vorsprung – from £92,530
Or put it another way, a way of buying well over £20,000 worth of options for £15,000. You’ll want for very little more equipment with this car, and in this company at least, it’s something of a bargain.
Good points: Deft handling, huge pace
Bad points: Road noise from large wheels
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Porsche Cayenne Turbo – from £101,155
In 1998, it was unthinkable for Porsche to make an SUV. Fast forward 20 years later and the company’s line-up wouldn’t be the same without the Cayenne. The Turbo sits at the top of the third-generation Cayenne hierarchy with a twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 engine that makes 542 hp and 567 lb-ft of torque. Though far from nimble, the Turbo can out-sprint many sports cars – including several versions of Porsche’s own 911.
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Porsche Cayenne Turbo – from £101,155
The Cayenne’s exterior design changed little during the transition from the second- to the third-generation model. We can’t say that about the interior, which Porsche made almost entirely button-free to achieve a clean, uncluttered look. The three-spoke steering wheel with an integrated drive mode selector ensures the Cayenne feels sporty but Porsche didn’t skimp on grandeur.
Good points: Quicker than ever, compliant ride
Bad points: Softer and not as charismatic as the last-generation Turbo
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Tesla Model X Performance – from £107,190
The Performance variant of the Tesla Model X impressively earns a spot on the short list of cars capable of performing the 0-60mph sprint in under three seconds. Tesla quotes a 2.7sec time thanks in part to a 100kWh battery pack that zaps a pair of electric motors into action. The Model X is more of a motorway cruiser than a corner carver due to its 2500kg weight and it’s more road-oriented than other super SUVs, but still with a single-charge range of 300 miles or so. While a Performance model can be had for £96,900, we suggest paying extra for important options like self-driving capability.
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Tesla Model X Performance – from £107,190
Motorists seeking tech will revel in the Model X because it boasts a giant 17in touchscreen and it’s optionally available with a semi-autonomous suite of driving aids called Autopilot. The Model X suffers from Tesla’s hit-or-miss build quality, however, and it’s not as practical as its rivals. The rear falcon doors are neat to look at but they take a long time to open and they make installing a roof rack impossible.
Good points: Absurdly quick, generous electric driving range
Bad points: Hit-or-miss build quality, not very practical
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Bentley Bentayga – from £130,500
The Bentayga is Bentley’s first SUV and, as predicted, it has become one of its most popular models. Not everyone likes its design but it does have interesting engine options. Buyers can choose between a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol with 550bhp on tap, a V6 plug-in hybrid, or a mighty 6.0-litre W12 with 600bhp. Sure, it’s an SUV, but one that goes like a Bentley and doesn’t stop until it reaches 187mph. 48-volt anti-roll technology helps it corner flatter and faster than a 2364kg car has any right to.
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Bentley Bentayga – from £130,500
Bentley cut no corners when it designed the Bentayga’s interior. If a material looks like leather, it is. If a knob looks like metal, it is, too. Four passengers travel in palatial comfort but the Bentayga’s boot is surprisingly small for such a big vehicle, a concession made in the name of form-over-function design.
Good points: Impressive handling, serious performance, Bentley-worthy interior, looks good value compared to Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Bad points: Small boot
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Mercedes-Benz G-Class G63 AMG - from £143,370
The all-new G-Class stays very much faithful to the boxy 1979 original model, though pricing, engine power and overall capability is in a different league entirely. This model uses the same 4.0-litre biturbo V8 as the previous model, but now harnesses 577bhp and 627 lb-ft of torque. The new vehicle’s architecture is much lighter – 170kg lighter to be precise, and means that the new AMG gets to 62mph in just 4.5 seconds – a full second faster than the outgoing model.
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Mercedes-Benz G-Class G63 AMG - from £143,370
It may look similar on the outside, but insider owners are welcomed on the inside to a stunning new cabin closely modeled on that of the S-Class limousine. That means twin 12.3-inch digital displays, configurable to Classic, Sport and Progressive settings – with different information and designs accordingly. On the road, when we recently drove this new G63 we found applauded it for its handling precision and ride. It showed much the best composure of any G-Class before it, too – but it’s still not as sharp as an Audi SQ7 or a Porsche Cayenne Turbo.
Good points: Original chunky looks, classy interior
Bad points: Not as sporty to drive as rivals
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Aston Martin DBX – from £158,000
The newest member of the pack. Unveiled on Wednesday November 20 at an event in China, the DBX is a vital model designed to open a vital, perhaps life-saving, new tranche of Aston’s global business. The five-seat 4x4, powered by a 542bhp version of the 4.0-litre turbocharged AMG-sourced V8, will cost £158,000 before options and goes on sale today for deliveries in spring 2020.
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Aston Martin DBX – from £158,000
It will be built at a brand new factory in south Wales, and will be a very interesting car to watch.
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Lamborghini Urus – from £159,925
The Urus is a hugely important car for Lamborghini. If all goes to plan, the model will double the company’s annual sales to about 7000 units; that’s no small leap. While designers had the LM002 from 1986 to draw styling cues from, they instead took the Urus in an edgier direction better aligned with what Lamborghini customers look for in 2019. You won’t find a V12 under the bonnet, either. Power comes from a 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged delivering 641bhp.
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Lamborghini Urus – from £159,925
Offered with four or five seats, the Urus’ interior blends ruggedness and sportiness in a way that only Lamborghini could pull off. It’s one of the brand’s most contentious models to date but it’s also the only modern-day Lamborghini you can fit an entire family plus a weekend’s worth of gear in.
Good points: Ridiculously fast, competent on and off road
Bad points: Quieter than we’d like, poor visibility
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Range Rover SVAutobiography LWB from £170,525
Motorists who explore the upper echelons of the Land Rover Range Rover’s trim hierarchy find themselves face to face with a number of options. Called SVAutobiography, the ultimate model packs a supercharged, 5.0-litre V8 with 565bhp, 21in alloy wheels and a handful of model-specific exterior accents. It still looks like a Range Rover and only seasoned car-spotters will notice its flagship status.
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Range Rover SVAutobiography LWB from £170,525
Once inside, there’s no mistaking the SVAutobiography for a standard Range Rover. As Land Rover’s answer to the Bentley Bentayga, it offers business class-like comfort for the rear occupants thanks to power-reclining individual seats, a cooled compartment for drinks, a full entertainment system and fold-out tray tables. The SVAutobiography’s wheelbase is stretched so leg room is never a problem.
Travelling in either one of the 24-way power-adjustable front seats isn’t exactly a nuisance, either. And £177k is just the start - when we went mad on the configurator and ticked virtually every conceivable options box, we got the total price to nearly £220,000.
Good points: Capable performer on and off road, Land Rover’s best-appointed model to date
Bad points: Not as quiet as rivals
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Rolls-Royce Cullinan - from £264,000
When Bentley introduced the Bentayga, we knew it was only a matter of time before Rolls-Royce jumped into the SUV segment. The Cullinan takes key Rolls-Royce styling cues (like the upright grille and the suicide rear doors) and transposes them onto a tall, family-friendly body. The result is one of the most controversial Rolls-Royce models to date but one that will certainly sell well. Its twin-turbocharged, 6.75-litre V12 engine smoothly delivers 571bhp and 627 lb-ft of torque.
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Rolls-Royce Cullinan - from £264,000
The Cullinan’s interior is as lavish as its Rolls-Royce emblem suggests and as big as its dimensions imply. Buyers with a chauffeur will likely select a pair of individual rear seats with a drink cooler in the middle but the standard configuration is a three-person bench that folds down for more cargo capacity. It’s evidence that Rolls-Royce firmly believes owners will use the Cullinan the way it was designed to.
Good points: Looks, feels and drives like a Rolls-Royce
Bad points: Controversial styling
But that’s far from the end of the Super-SUV. Let’s take a look at all the cars joining the class soon:
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Mercedes-AMG GLS 63
The all-new GLS is a recent arrival to the class. A key new feature is a 48V electric system that uses an electric booster compressor and integrated starter generator to enable mild hybrid running in non plug-in models like this range-topping AMG variant. Another is a greatly upgraded interior that borrows a lot from the S-Class limousine.
While the range starts at £73,090, the GLS 63 hasn’t yet arrived, and we expect that to cost well into six figures. Power for this model is likely to come from a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 powerplant, likely with the same 612bhp on offer as in the Mercedes S63 super-limo. Much of the SUV’s in-car tech will also be carried across from the S-Class, including its highly advanced autonomous features. The 2017 S-Class introduced Mercedes’ latest Distronic Active Proximity Control and Active Steer Assist systems, which can automatically accelerate and brake the car within posted speed limits while providing autonomous steering for periods of up to 30 seconds. PICTURE: Autocar spyshot
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Mercedes-Maybach GLS
Mercedes-Benz will expand its flagship Maybach division with an ultra-luxury version of the new GLS SUV, due to be unveiled on November 21 2019.
It will compete with the Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic, as well as pricier rivals such as the Bentley Bentayga, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, and new Aston Martin DBX. Mercedes cites China, North America and Russia among the new model’s key target markets.Buyers – mainly in China – who rely on a chauffeur to commute will be able to order Maybach’s GLS with a pair of individual rear seats and the kind of amenities you’d normally find in a suite at the Four Seasons. We expect to see the new Maybach for the first time very shortly. PICTURE: Spyshot
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Early 2020: Audi RS Q8
Audi is joining the party too, and RS Q8 has just been unveiled at the Los Angeles motor show. The new 591bhp RS Q8 SUV is powered by a 4.0-litre V8 engine and with styling inspired by the rally-derived Sport Quattro S1, as the ‘spearhead’ of its range.
The BMW X6M rival is the first large SUV produced by Audi’s performance arm. It joins the recently revealed RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback in a planned line-up of hot crossovers, and Audi Sport boss Oliver Hoffman claims it features “the genes of a true high-performance sports car”. Pricing is unknown as yet, but reckon on well into six figures.
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Ferrari SUV
Shortly before his death in July 2018, Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne confirmed to the world what we all already knew. Despite repeated denials, Ferrari was indeed working on a SUV. The market direction and fat profits to be earned in the segment were not to be ignored even by a company long famed for low-slung sports cars. But, as Marchionne stressed, it will be an SUV “Ferrari-style”, which we might conclude means a road-biased model that will handle going off road, but not be entirely happy when it does so.
Exact timings are not confirmed, but we reckon we’ll see the car for the first time in either 2021 or 2022. PICTURE: Autocar Artist impression.
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And finally, the one that got away: McLaren
Britain’s McLaren Automotive is probably the most notable hold-out from the Super-SUV craze.
“I’m not the first person to point out that sports utility vehicles are neither sporty nor utilitarian,” said a senior McLaren executive sniffily in 2018. “In terms of our philosophy of ‘everything for a reason’, I don’t get it.”
We may indeed never see a McLaren SUV. But both Rolls-Royce and Ferrari were vehement in their SUV-denial, until they weren’t.
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