Luxury SUVs vary in size and type, including former members of both the Full-size and Midsize SUV classes, along with a few all-new models. All offer higher standards of workmanship, comfort, refinement, and pricing than other SUVs.

Our Best Buys are Acura MDX and Toyota Land Cruiser. Both are extremely capable on-road and offer roomy interiors that feature quality workmanship and materials. MDX gets slightly better fuel economy and is more reasonably priced. Land Cruiser offers a V8 engine, rugged body-on-frame chassis, and true off-road ability.

Though rugged and trucky, the Recommended Mercedes-Benz M-Class is spacious, offers a variety of model and engine choices, and numerous safety features. If you don't venture too far off-road, take a look at the car-based Lexus RX 300. Recommended based on price, refinement, and luxury appointments.

A modest X5 facelift was rumored for '03, but is nowhere in sight. Maybe next year. Meantime, a full redesign is still apparently on for 2006, when BMW's first "sport activity vehicle" may morph from high-riding SUV to a lower, sleeker "sport wagon". A stretched 7-passenger "X7", which had been euthanized, has reportedly been resurrected. Engineers are watching weight on that one as well as the mainstay 5-seater with an eye to performance, fuel economy and handling. Engines should again comprise two V8s and an inline-6, all with more power courtesy of BMW's Valvetronic variable-valve-timing system. Some sources still believe a 6.0-liter V12 version with around 400 hp will materialize down the road. All these models should offer 6-speed automatic transmission, rear self-leveling air-spring suspension, Active Roll Stabilization, and the "i-Drive" control system for audio, climate, navigation and other functions; all were introduced with BMW's latest flagship 7-Series sedans.

Though it's looking a bit gray, the current X5 remains much in demand, one reason BMW keeps posting record sales and profits. Despite a jittery market, X5 sales jumped a healthy 52 percent in calendar 2001 and another 5.2 percent in 2002. X5 also sells pretty well in Europe. BMW thinks the numbers will go even higher, one reason it's been spending millions to expand the Spartanburg, South Carolina plant that builds X5s and the Z-Series sports cars.