Aside from electric vehicles, the car industry is seeing another trend – growing demand for luxury SUVs.
As such, supply is speeding up to meet demand, and with more brands trying to outdo each other with higher-tech, better comfort and superior specs, there’s more choice than ever.
When you lease a luxury SUV, you’re only paying for the vehicle’s depreciation, so it’s cheaper than buying. You can also switch your car more often, so you can get the latest luxury SUV on the market.
To help you make your decision, here’s our rundown of the 10 best luxury SUVs to lease today.
1. Audi E-Quattro
Who would have thought 20 years ago that there would be an electric car on this luxury SUV list? Nevertheless, manufacturers are producing luxury EV models thick and fast and the Audi E-tron Quattro is one of the best.
This big SUV is packed full of luxury, quality, comfort and refinement. And given its size, it’s swift, sprinting 0-60mph in 5.4 seconds.
The interior houses the latest NMI Navigation Plus with MMI Touch infotainment hardware. This comes as standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen on the dashboard and a smaller 8.6-inch display underneath.
While its performance and handling are strong, the only disappointment with the Quattro is its range of under 250. However, as a luxury SUV, this is a strong contender.
2. Porsche Cayenne
The Porsche Cayenne is a breathtaking sporty SUV. With its svelte exterior it’s certainly not all talk, as even the entry-level version with 335bhp turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine does 0-62mph in a staggering 6.2 seconds.
You can also opt for a turbo V8 petrol and two hybrid versions – the E-Hybrid and Turbo S E-Hybrid.
The cabin is smooth, with a huge 12-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard. Navigation, DAB radio, smartphone integration and Bluetooth also all come as standard. Despite its sporty capacity, this SUV is a pretty refined drive with plenty of comfortable legroom both in front and back. A stunning all-rounder.
3. BMW X5
An SUV that’s practical, luxurious with impressive driving performance – the BMW X5 has it all.
An impressive 10.3-inch ground clearance, thanks to the luxury SUV’s adjustable air suspension, make short work of most inclines and descents. And a 360-degree camera view around the car provides excellent visibility when climbing over rougher ground.
BMW fit four-wheel drive and excellent eight-speed automatic gearboxes as standard, with the former carefully calibrated to make the big X5 handle like a much lighter car. It’s precise, and when fitted with air suspension, the ride is comfortable too.
BMW offers three trims with 19-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, heated seats, air suspension and wireless phone charging fitted to the xLine version. Choose M Sport for a racier look, including fitting 20-inch alloy wheels.
There is a choice of powerful engines too. From the xDrive30d xLine, which houses 286bhp and will take you from 0-60 in 6.1 seconds, right up to the X5 M50i, which holds 530bhp and will blast to 60 from a standing start in little over four.
4. Mercedes Benz GLC
Mercedes-Benz defines the GLC SUV as a symbol of modern luxury. With slick craftsmanship and styling, it’s an imposing modern vehicle.
On the inside, the GLC exudes quality, with a clean dash and electric seats as standard. The MBUX infotainment system is standard, operated either through a touchscreen or responsive touchpad controller that lies on the centre console.
There’s an extensive list of a staggering 11 specs to choose from in terms of the model range. Ranging from the entry-level Sport – which perhaps is lacking on the standard equipment front but by no means any less luxurious – up to the AMG 63 S. Higher trim levels get headline tech, including the augmented reality navigation, which projects driving instruction onto a camera feed of the road ahead.
The GLC is a car for those who enjoy style and comfort over speed and dynamic cornering. It’s practical, with a similar size boot to the BMW X3 and Audi Q5, and comes with four-wheel drive as standard.
5. Volvo XC90
The Volvo XC90 is a stylish, practical and very well-equipped SUV. With a luxurious interior, it has it all.
Every XC90 is brimming with luxury and practicality. The interior is swathed in soft leather material, giving way to a user-friendly touch screen. As standard, the SUV comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, electric seat adjustment, sat-nav and dual-zone climate control—all on top of the usual DAB radio, Bluetooth and built-in internet connection.
The XC90 has a choice of four engines – two petrol, one diesel and one petrol-electric hybrid. Each comes with an automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive for a smooth driving experience.
There is a vast range of options, so you can personalise your vehicle, making it even more luxurious or even sportier. Whatever you want.
6. Range Rover Velar
The stylish Range Rover Velar is everything a luxury, mid-sized SUV should be.
It’s opulent and comfortable, with a driver’s seat that can offer up to a 20-way adjustment, heating, cooling and massage functions. And to ensure you have the very best quality, there’s also a new cabin air filtration system that runs throughout.
Inside, you can find one of its key selling points – the Jaguar’s latest Pivi infotainment technology. Two 10-inch HD touchscreens feature prominently on the centre stack. It gives you access to the latest updates, including maps, apps, and vehicle software modules with incredible graphics.
Range Rover builds the Velar on the same IQ platform as the Jaguar F-Pace, a massive success in its own right. Link rear suspension provides agile handling and smooth ride comfort. It houses a base P250 petrol unit or if you opt for the diesel range, the D200. The six-cylinder options showcase the brand’s latest mild-hybrid 48V technology.
It’s not the most economical SUV of the bunch, but the brand’s new mild-hybrid tech at least brings the efficiency readings down. The base P250 model boasts 29.2mpg and 218g/km, while the base D200 diesel variant manages 43.9mpg and 169g/km of CO2.
7. Tesla Model X
According to Tesla, this luxury drive is the safest, fastest and most capable sports utility vehicle in history.
The Model X has ample seating for seven and any accompanying luggage with all-wheel drive and battery options that produce more than 300 miles of range.
Practical, insanely good looking and ludicrously fast, the Model X runs on a standardised 100kWh battery power with a 314-mile WLTP driving range.
Want something a little more powerful? Opt for the top Performance flagship model, and you can reach 60mph in 2.6 seconds on the way to top speeds of 155mph.
8. Audi Q7
With seven seats as standard, the Audi Q7 is the most versatile SUV since it launched in 2007.
This poised, sporty SUV looks as good inside as it does outside. With 19-inch alloys, the A3 sports matrix LED headlights activated, deactivated or dimmed individually according to whatever situation surrounds the car.
Inside, it’s strong on tech with two HD twin-touch screen colour displays, alongside a fully digital, user-friendly Virtual Cockpit.
There are four trim lines and a huge line-up of engines, including two diesel options, a single petrol unit, a 3.0-litre plug-in hybrid and a 4.0-litre V8.
9. Range Rover Sport
The Range Rover Sport is an agile, powerful and contemporary SUV. Range Rover offers an extensive array of colours, finishes and details to create your personalised Sport.
With air suspension and a four-wheel-drive system, entry-level trim comes with 20-inch wheels, while moving up through the trim levels, 21 and 22-inch wheels are also available.
The layout inside is minimalistic and high tech with 10.0-inch touchscreens on the dashboard to control all the features. The detail in the Range Rover Sport is impressive with the standard leather upholstery, intricate stitching and metal inlays.
There’s a variety of petrol and diesel engines to choose from when it comes to the Sport, as well as a hybrid option. All are more than capable of handling the sheer size of the Range Rover Sport with ease.
10. Mercedes Benz EQC
The EQC is Mercedes first electric car and is blisteringly powerful.
Like all EVs, raw power is available on-demand, and even though its range of 259 miles from a full charge is less than its main competitors, the Mercedes-Benz provides one of the most relaxing cabins outside of driving a Rolls Royce.
Even with no engine noise, the cockpit is quiet and refined. Inside is as classy as you would expect from Mercedes, with luxurious, comfortable seats swathed in high-end materials. Two digital screens complete the high tech feel.
It’s otherwise very much classic Mercedes with a dash of ambient lighting to make it stand out. Even with an acceleration of 62mph in 5.1 seconds, it feels smooth and refined – as you would expect from this luxury car maker.
Looking for a luxury electric model? Then you’ll want to take a look at our ’10 best luxury electric cars to lease’.
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