As buyers start to enter the luxury realm, they have to begin their journey somewhere — and typically these days that’s with a compact luxury SUV.

Everyone from BMW (X3) to Mercedes-Benz (GLC) to Genesis (GV70) and more offer solid offerings in the category, but one brand that’s been there a while and continues to offer respectable offerings is Infiniti.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of the 2025 Infiniti QX50, the brand’s smallest SUV offering.

Read on to learn 5 key things you need to know if you’re considering the QX50 as part of your search for a luxury ride.

1. Sharp design

On the outside, the QX50 features bold styling, including a no-nonsense grille and standout lighting designs. 

Wheels are offered at 19 or 20 inches and in flashy designs, sidelines have a sleek look, and despite its age (last redesign in 2019), the QX50 is still a looker — portraying itself as muscular, but not ridiculous or gaudy.

Moving inside, the QX50 is a comfortable, roomy vehicle for all five passengers. Infiniti continues to make among the most attractive and comfortable interior designs in the luxury segment. My test vehicle featured attractive two-tone red and black leather seating, and plenty of legroom in the back seat compared to rivals in the compact segment. It feels bigger than its class, and the materials are high-quality, though perhaps a bit less luxurious than some rivals.

In the realm of luxury SUVs, Volvo has a variety of options to compete in this increasingly competitive category.

In the middle of their SUV lineup, stuck between the compact XC40 and three-row XC90 offering, is Volvo’s XC60 — a midsize SUV that will meet the needs of most SUV shoppers.

While it’s been seven years since the last full redesign of the XC60, the vehicle surprisingly still holds up well with the 2025 offering, which I recently had a chance to test. Offered in both regular and plug-in hybrid versions, the XC60 continues to offer attractive design, plenty of space inside, and excellent tech and safety features.

Read on for a full breakdown of how it compares in the luxury market vs. midsize SUV competitors such as the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC.

Luxury brands are among the leaders in the automotive industry when it comes to embracing EVs. Mercedes-Benz falls squarely in this group, with its EQ lineup of vehicles continuing to grow and lead the cutting edge of EV offerings for the well-to-do.

Mercedes-Benz’s extensive EQ lineup includes sedans as well as SUVs. To electrify its popular S-class model, Mercedes has created the EQS — which comes in both a sedan version and an SUV version. 

I recently spent some time with a 2024 EQS SUV model (specifically the 2024 EQS 450+). The SUV version of the EQS is basically an elevated version of the EQS sedan.

First introduced in 2023, the EQS SUV features a roomy cargo area, impressive range, strong tech and a sharp design. Read on for a full report on how it measures up in the growing field of luxury electric SUVs — as it battles EV offerings from luxury heavyweights including Porsche, Audi and BMW, as well as non-luxury EV mainstay Tesla.

Mercedes-Benz vehicles are plentiful and come in all shapes and sizes, including some uniquely designed smaller SUVs.

I recently spent some time driving one of those options, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLB35 4Matic, a compact, beautiful and powerful luxury SUV.

First introduced in 2020, the GLB (the second smallest Benz SUV option) first gets your attention with its boxy design, then the AMG power and advanced technology take the GLB to the next level.

The 2024 AMG GLB35 takes on tough luxury competition including BMW X1, Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40. Read on to learn more about how the GLB holds up in this competitive segment.

LOOKS

Immediately of note is the GLB’s boxy but attractive look, which also helps with cargo space. The GLB gets a slight refresh for 2024 in the exterior design (front and rear lighting, bumper, etc.).

A large Benz logo highlights the front, along with a small AMG logo on the hood. Bold, rectangular designs are included on the grille and lighting up front.

In the realm of luxury vehicles, buyers can be very picky, so it’s good to have all your bases covered with a variety of models.

Take Infiniti for example. In addition to their compact SUV the QX50, Nissan’s luxury brand also introduced a new compact offering starting in the 2022 model year — calling it the QX55.

This vehicle adapts the QX50 into a more sporty coupe-style crossover design, improving its looks while maintaining a roomy interior (but sacrificing cargo space).

This coupe-style crossover segment has grown popular in recent years in the luxury segment, with offerings from Audi (Q5 Sportback), BMW (X4), Mercedes-Benz (GLC Coupe), Genesis (GV70) and others, and has emerged as its own niche category of luxury rides.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2024 Infiniti QX55, and I’m back with a full report on how it stacks up against the competition.

There’s no doubt that when listing the most iconic vehicles in modern history, the Range Rover — the most well-known offering in the Land Rover family of vehicles — is going to be a name that comes up consistently.

A vehicle unlike any other that is literally associated with royalty, this ultra-luxurious ride has an elegant and bold look, while also offering tremendous power and off-road capabilities and a family-friendly setup — a truly rare feat to achieve.

The number of top-shelf competitors in the Range Rover’s class is quite limited, including a Maybach SUV offering from Mercedes-Benz, the Bentley Bentayga, and if you stretch the category you can also include vehicles like the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Lexus LX, Cadillac Escalade and BMW X7, which are nice options but not quite as upscale.

I recently tested a three-row Range Rover SE (long-wheel base version with room for 7 passengers), and I’m back with a full report.

Electric vehicles continue to generate news, specifically regarding how ready the public are to adopt them en masse.

But in the luxury realm of vehicles, many automakers are fully committed to making EVs a priority, and Audi is one that fits that category — planning to make all new vehicle offerings electric by 2026, and completely electrify its vehicle lineup by 2033.

At the moment, they have several EV options for sale, and I recently spent some time behind the wheel of their flagship EV — the 2024 Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron.

Improved for 2024 with a more powerful battery and longer range, improved aerodynamics, as well as some styling updates, the Q8 e-tron aims to be one of the main options for people looking to join the ranks of luxury EV ownership.

Read on for a full breakdown of what it has to offer and how well it competes in the overall EV landscape vs. rivals from BMW, Genesis, Jaguar and more.

For the past several years, I’ve called the Genesis an upstart in the luxury vehicle category, as they continued to drop solid vehicle after solid vehicle to take on the luxury mainstays who had long dominated their segment.

At this point, I’m dropping the upstart label, and instead just telling it like it is — the Genesis brand is one of the best options in the luxury market right now, period, and will continue to be so for a long time.

The latest Genesis vehicle I had a chance to experience is the GV70, a powerful and sporty compact SUV that comes in both gas and EV versions (I tested the gas-powered GV70).

The GV70 has been a strong competitor in the segment since debuting in 2022, shining straight out of the gate; and it hasn’t lost its luster despite tough competition growing every year in the sector.

Specifically, I drove the 2024 GV70 AWD 3.5T Sport Prestige, a trimmed-out version at the top of the GV70’s lineup that delivers bold looks, lots of power and cutting-edge technology.

The GV70 has some tough competition — including Mercedes-Benz GLC, Acura RDX, Jaguar F-PACE, BMW X3, Lexus NX, Audi Q5, Porsche Macan and Volvo XC60 — so it’s got to come strong if it’s going to attract buyers.

The 2024 model year mostly carries over from the previous year’s GV70, but there are upgrades to the wheels and brakes, some upgraded safety features, and additional creature comforts on some models such as ventilated front seats. 

Read on for my take on the GV70 and how it holds up in the cut-throat world of luxury SUVs.

With SUVs being the go-to for most car buyers these days, a brand has to have every angle covered in their SUV lineup.

This remains true in the luxury space, and Lexus decided to fill out its lineup for the 2024 model year with a brand new offering — the Lexus TX.

One way to think of the TX, a three-row model, is that it's the luxury version of the similarly sized but less upscale Toyota Grand Highlander SUV.

Another way is to think of it as one step up from the long-popular Lexus RX, but using a crossover design instead of the large, truck-based GX and LX models — which are built less for comfort and more for utility and towing ability.

Any way you describe it, one thing’s for sure: This is a large, roomy, classy, tech-savvy three-row SUV option that will be appreciated by any families that decide to take one home.

Competition is fierce, with strong three-row crossovers available from Audi, Acura, LIncoln, Volvo and other luxury leaders, but it definitely holds its own even as a first-year model.

Multiple versions of the TX are offered, including a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. and I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2024 Lexus TX 500h F Sport.

In the midsize luxury SUV category, there are many strong choices that are worth considering, so each entry in this category must present its own unique character.

I recently tested one of those options, the 2024 Acura MDX, which has a lot to offer to the SUV buyer — even against strong competition from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Cadillac and other key luxury players.

Between its athletic drive quality, striking design and affordable nature compared to most luxury rivals, it’s an SUV that should strike a sweet spot for many car buyers.

Read on for 5 key things to know if you’re considering the 2024 Acura MDX for your next vehicle.

1. Unique, bold Acura design   

Though the look of the 2024 MDX carries over from the most recent redesign in 2022, it remains one of the standout exterior designs in the segment.

The front end features a muscular-looking grille and unique lighting design that won’t be confused with any of its luxury rivals, the rear features a dual exhaust setup, and the overall design is sleek and eye-catching.

19-inch wheels are standard, but you can upgrade to 21-inch wheels. You also get a panoramic sunroof and power liftgate.