The very definition of American automotive luxury, the Lyriq has slotted straight into the fray with the kind of performances we’ve come to expect from electric vehicles. That it blends performance with the brand’s trademark focus on premium appointments only enhances its reputation.
Two variants – the $117,000 Lyriq Luxury and the $119,000 Lyriq Sport – have made their way to Australia, both coming in comfortably under the $150,000 threshold for this category.
Read more about the Cadillac Lyriq here.
Last year, the Mercedes-Benz GLC wowed the judges with its interior presentation that brought new technology and an interior fit-out befitting a luxury SUV. Those ingredients remain firmly in place this year, the GLC still a standout in a crowded segment.
With a punchy 190kW/370Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine and the surety of all-wheel-drive grip, and a choice of wagon or the sportier coupe styling, the $103,400 GLC300 once again makes the shortlist in this category.
For those after more performance, the $135,315 to $145,815 AMG-fettled GLC43 ups outputs to 310kW and 500Nm, making it eligible for this category.
Read more about the Mercedes-Benz GLC here.
Porsche has made a bold statement with its all-new Macan medium SUV, ditching petrol power in favour of an all-electric line-up.
That has only enhanced the Macan’s appeal, with new modernist styling inside and out, a generous list of standard equipment, up to 654km of driving range (depending on the variant) and the inherent sportiness expected from cars bearing the Porsche badge.
One variant makes the cut in this category for the 2025 awards – the $134,400 Macan 4 – with the $149,300 Macan 4S under the price cap, but not due in showrooms in time for testing.
Read more about the Porsche Macan here.
The Drive Car of the Year Best Luxury SUV Under $150K will be announced on 24 February 2025.
The below was published on 15 November 2024:
Family practicality with more than a touch of bling, luxury SUVs occupy a big space in the top end of town. Value for money, while still a consideration, takes a back seat to what it means to be luxury.
Plush interiors brimming with quality materials, the latest in in-car technology, and a comprehensive list of safety systems underpin this category. Most importantly, contenders in this segment need to offer a driving experience that is second to none, at once powerful yet refined on the road.
The $150,000 price cap means we have looked across every SUV category to single out the best of the best. Not constrained by segment size, the contenders in this category straddle both the medium and large SUV segments.
Last year, the new Mercedes-Benz GLC claimed the Drive Car of the Year 2024 – Best Luxury SUV Under $150K title, the judges lauding its blend of style, luxurious cabin appointments and efficient yet willing powertrain. It’s back this year to defend its title but will face some stiff competition from an armada of new and updated metal from some of the leading luxury car makers as well as some unexpected contenders from more mainstream brands.
Age has not wearied the Audi Q7 which received a significant update this year, with new exterior styling as well as interior refinements designed to keep it looking fresh as this generation approaches its 10th year on sale in 2025. With fresh styling outside and in, and a choice of three powertrains coming in under our $150,000 cut-off, the Audi Q7 continues to impress.
Like its wagon sibling, the sleeker Audi Q8 has also benefitted from a mid-life update that keeps the coupe-like large SUV fresh in the face of competition. Minor external style changes coupled with updated interior trims brought with it some price rises. But, there are still two variants – one diesel, one petrol – that sneak in under our $150,000 ceiling for this category.
The Genesis GV80 continues to impress with its style, lavish appointments inside the cabin and effortless powertrain married to a relatively affordable – for the segment – price tag. The stars of the GV80 range are three-fold. There’s the lusty twin-turbo V6 under the bonnet, impeccable road manners thanks to some fine suspension tuning and of course, a cabin that oozes with quality and, yes, luxury. All three variants in the range are eligible in this category.
Like the GV80, the updated Genesis GV70 – the Korean brand’s medium SUV – benefited from an update in 2024, with exterior design changes, a redesigned interior, more technology and a swag of standard equipment that was once only available as part of costly options packs. Yes, prices have gone up, but the extra kit more than offsets those increases, cementing the GV70 as one of the value options in the medium luxury SUV segment.
Japanese brand Mazda has made no bones about its premium aspirations. And the latest statements of those luxury intentions are a pair of large SUVs – the CX-70 and CX-80.
Despite the numerical order, the Mazda CX-70 is the larger of the two. It’s essentially the twin of the flagship Mazda CX-90, but with the third row deleted meaning there’s only seating for five. But that hasn’t detracted from its premium qualities, and if anything, has added to it thanks to extra cargo space inside. Add in a raft of quality materials throughout and a choice of petrol or diesel powertrains, means the CX-70 has earned its place amongst the contenders.
The Mazda CX-80 mirrors the CX-70’s premium playbook, albeit in an ever so slightly different package. The seven-seat equivalent of the five-seat only CX-60, Mazda’s family hauler blends seven-seat practicality with style and more than enough substance in terms of standard inclusions to warrant being considered amongst the established premium players.
