The Consumer Guide to Premium Midsize SUVs

by Kirk Bell

Premium midsize SUVs are a hot ticket these days, and it seems like every manufacturer wants to get into the game. The class started with leather-clad Jeep Grand Cherokees and Eddie Bauer Edition Ford Explorers in the mid 1990s, and then graduated into a full-blown phenomenon with the introduction of the Lexus RX300 in 1999. From there, just about every luxury make jumped into the game. As of 2005, the segment had grown to more than 440,000 units annually. Today, Consumer Guide® classifies 15 different models as premium midsize SUVs.

Like regular midsize SUVs, customers buy the premium models as replacements for family sedans or minivans. But singles, empty nesters, and couples without kids also buy them as status symbols. They have lots of space and, usually, some modest off-road capability. For the well-off, premium midsize SUVs are today's station wagons without the stigma.

Premium Midsize SUV Features

- The Lexus RX400h offers the only hybrid powertrain in the class.

- The Land Rover LR3, Porsche Cayenne, and Volkswagen Touareg are highly capable off-road vehicles.

- The Lexus GX 470 offers seating for eight.

- The BMW X5, Cadillac SRX, Infiniti FX, and Porsche Cayenne have sports sedan agility.

-Unique safety features include the Volvo XC90's antiskid system with rollover sensors and the Infiniti FX's available lane-departure warning system.

Lexus RX

Premium midsize SUVs typically come with six- or eight-cylinder engines. Five-passenger seating is the norm, but some premium midsize SUVs offer a third row that expands seating capacity to seven, and in one instance, eight. They tend to ride high, have lots of space, and present a sophisticated, elegant appearance. Typical tradeoffs are high prices and mediocre fuel mileage.

What to look for in a premium midsize SUV
Most premium midsize SUVs come standard with all-wheel drive without low-range gearing. The Buick Rainier, Cadillac SRX, and Infiniti FX offer rear-drive versions and the Lexus RX and Volvo XC90 offer front-drive models. Low-range gearing, intended for severe off-road use, is standard on the Land Rover LR3 and Range Rover Sport, as well as the Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg, and Lexus GX 470. Your choice for drive wheels, as well as your choice of SUV, should depend on your needs.

If you live in an area where snow is a possibility for much of the year, opt for front-drive or AWD. If you intend to go off-roading, get one of the vehicles with low-range gearing. If you're only going to drive your SUV on the street, rear-drive or front-drive will work just fine. You shouldn't pay for lots of built-in off-road capability if you're never going to use it.

The disadvantages of AWD vs. a two-wheel drive model include reduced fuel economy and higher insurance and maintenance costs. However, many of the vehicles in this class aren't offered any other way and the higher cost of AWD is somewhat offset by higher resale value.

Some owners use their SUVs for towing. This limits the choices considerably. If you plan to tow with your SUV, make sure your vehicle of choice is rated to tow the weight of your intended load. Premium midsize SUV towing capacities range from 3500 to 7716 pounds.

As the name implies, SUVs are utility vehicles. As such, your choice of premium midsize SUV should meet your cargo needs. Check the rear seating and cargo arrangement to make sure it will work for your needs. Also check the tailgate. Some tailgates have opening rear glass that makes it easier to load items such as groceries. Some have power opening tailgates. And some tailgates open toward the curb, which can be a hassle in the city.

Car-type or Truck-type?
Unlike the vehicles in Consumer Guide's midsize SUV segment, most premium models have car-type unit body designs. Only three, the Buick Rainier, Lexus GX 470, and Saab 9-7X, use truck-type ladder frames. Most of the rest use the body shell as the main structural component instead of a frame. Two models, however, the Land Rover LR3 and Range Rover Sport, use a hybrid design that combines unit body and ladder frame elements. Here is a list of car-type (unibody) and truck-type (ladder frame) premium midsize SUVs.

Car-Type	Truck-Type
Acura MDX BMW X5 Cadillac SRX Infiniti FX Lexus RX Mercedes-Benz M-Class Mercedes-Benz R-Class Porsche Cayenne Volkswagen Touareg Volvo XC90	Buick Rainier Land Rover LR3 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Lexus GX 470 Saab 9-7X Click Links for Consumer Guide's New-Car Reviews.

Historically, truck-type SUVs have been heavier, more capable off-road, and able to tow more. Car-type SUVs, on the other hand, boasted car-like ride and handling characteristics, with less bounding and body lean in turns. In recent years, however, manufacturers have designed unibody SUVs to combine the best of both worlds. That is especially evident in this class where high prices can justify greater engineering expenditures. The Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg are prime examples. These are among the most capable off-road vehicles in this class and they also have the highest towing capacities, yet they also benefit from car-like qualities. The Cayenne is especially sporty, rivaling some sport sedans for handling prowess.

For most buyers, car-type SUVs are the best choice. For those who intend to go off-road or tow heavy loads, truck-type SUVs are usually the better choice. As mentioned above, the Cayenne and Touareg are exceptions that offer a blend of both.

It's a Matter of Preference
Perhaps more than any other class, premium midsize SUVs offer a wide array of driving characteristics. They range from trucklike and dogged off-road to sports car-agile to luxury-car isolated. Many of them offer sedan-like ride and handling. Most, if not all, bring with them the cache associated with a luxury brand, and correspondingly steep prices. That's why we recommend you try before you buy.

You may think you want that tricked out BMW 4.8is with 20-inch wheels, but a quick spin behind the wheel will reveal that with the stylish large wheels comes an unappreciated, harsh ride. Perhaps you were planning to buy an SUV with a V8, when the V6 offers ample power for your needs.

Read our reviews, narrow down your choices to the SUVs you think you might like and that fit your budget, then go to a few dealerships and take your prospects for a spin. Don't feel guilty about wasting the dealers' time. You're spending a lot of money on this purchase, so it's very important that you make the right choice.

Creature comforts also abound in premium midsize SUVs. Features such as rear-view cameras, navigation systems, radar or laser cruise control, heated and cooled seats, keyless ignition, rear climate control, power liftgates, concierge service, and rear DVD entertainment are available. Choose your options wisely, and only pick those that you'll really use.

Consider Safety
Every premium midsize SUV comes with antilock brakes. Head- and side-protecting airbags are standard on most and available on all. Most also have side curtain airbags that cover all seating rows, but the Cadillac SRX and Lexus GX 470 have side curtains that cover only the first two rows. If you're safety conscious and plan to carry seven or eight passengers regularly, you might want to make sure the side curtains protect all three rows.

All premium midsize SUVs have antiskid systems, which are designed to help the driver maintain the intended path on slippery roads. Only one, however, the Volvo XC90, has an antiskid system with rollover sensors. When this system's sensors detect an impending tip, the antiskid system is manipulated in a manner to help prevent a rollover.

Best Buys

Acura MDX
Cadillac SRX
Lexus RX

Recommended Picks

Mercedes-Benz R-Class
Volvo XC90

Cadillac SRX

Another good safety innovation is park assist. When the vehicle is in reverse, sensors embedded in the rear bumper detect an object behind the vehicle and alert the driver through audible tones. The high ride height of premium midsize SUVs can prevent drivers from seeing behind them when backing up, so the added expense of rear park assist makes more sense for shoppers in this class.

Buy Smart
While many people prefer the image of an SUV to that of a minivan, SUVs are poor substitutes for more practical minivans. Their tall ride height presents a fun, jungle gym-like challenge for children, but it can make for painful falls and extra effort for parents who have to lift tired children into high-positioned seats. The rear doors also aren't as convenient as the sliding doors of a minivan.

Odds are if you buy a premium midsize SUV, you are going to get a fine vehicle. But some brands charge more for their cache and still more for excess built-in engineering. Our Best Buy and Recommended picks tend toward vehicles that, a) have a reasonable level of equipment that buyers can use, and b) present a value proposition in terms of features-per-dollar.

Finally, also consider if you really need a vehicle from this class. If you don't plan to tow or go off-road, a premium midsize sedan or station wagon would be more convenient, cheaper to run, and exhibit even better road manners. And if you do need an SUV, many of the models offered in the midsize SUV class will give you all the capability you need at a lesser price.

Acura MDX
Base Price Range: $37,125-$44,200
EPA MPG Range: 17-23
Body Styles: Four-door wagon
Acura's SUV is a highly desirable blend of competence and convenience. Its ride can be truck-lumpy at times and some rivals have newer designs, but MDX shines for overall refinement, generous standard equipment, and keen pricing. That's why it's a Best Buy--and seldom discounted.

BMW X5
Base Price Range: $42,500-$71,100
EPA MPG Range: 15-22
Body Styles: Four-door wagon
Along with the Cadillac SRX, and the more expensive Porsche Cayenne, X5 is the premium midsize SUV of choice for sporty on-road driving. The absence of 3rd-row seating, modest rear-passenger room, and limited cargo volume make it, in effect, a high-riding compact-size AWD wagon, albeit one with BMW spirit. Prices are steep, but are partly offset by strong resale values.

Buick Rainier

Base Price Range: $30,580-$32,580
EPA MPG Range: 15-22
Body Styles: Four-door wagon
Buick positions Rainier as more luxurious than the Chevrolet, GMC, and Isuzu SUVs that share its basic design. It is the quietest and best riding of the bunch. Still, Rainier costs more than the others and can't escape the faults common to their truck-type design: indifferent handling and mediocre fuel economy.

Cadillac SRX
Base Price Range: $36,270-$44,270
EPA MPG Range: 15-23
Body Styles: Four-door wagon
Against similarly priced premium midsize SUVs, SRX is among the best in performance, features, and accommodations, if not always in the quality of cabin appointments. Unless you off-road or tow heavy loads, the SRX's road manners and efficient packaging make it preferable to most truck-type rivals. Add AWD security, and it's a thoughtful alternative to a traditional luxury sedan. That's Best Buy material in this class.

Infiniti FX
Base Price Range: $37,800-$49,750
EPA MPG Range: 14-21
Body Styles: Four-door wagon
FX emphasizes sport over utility, probably too much for some buyers. But otherworldly styling and sporty road manners help it stand out among premium midsize SUVs. Infiniti's strong warranty and kid-glove customer care are noteworthy, too.

Land Rover LR3
Base Price Range: $38,285-$52,985
EPA MPG Range: 14-19
Body Styles: Four-door wagon
In a class trending toward ever-more-carlike SUVs, the tall, off-road-oriented LR3 seems anachronistic. In reality, it's used exactly the way its more-carlike competition is, and in that capacity, delivers good passenger and cargo room and unexpected comfort. Ultimately, it's compromised by old-school-SUV handling and ergonomics. Fuel economy is subpar, too, and so are Land Rover resale values.

Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Base Price Range: $56,535-$69,535
EPA MPG Range: 13-19
Body Styles: Four-door wagon
It's not as outright fast as most like-priced high-performance SUVs, and discriminating shoppers will find the grade of interior materials lacking. But credit Range Rover Sport with adroitly balanced dynamics and a mature personality that combine to create a vehicle with a distinct character.

Lexus GX470
Base Price: $46,535
EPA MPG Range: 15-18
Body Styles: Four-door wagon
GX 470 is quite nice for a gilded 4Runner, bolstered by the quality, resale-value record, and red-carpet dealer service associated with the Lexus brand. But a trucky nature makes it less appealing than car-type rivals such as Acura's MDX and Lexus' own RX.

Lexus RX
Base Price Range: $36,370-$46,060
EPA MPG Range: 18-33
Body Styles: Four-door wagon
The pioneer "crossover" has many imitators, but none offer a better blend of comfort, refinement, luxury, and build quality. Adding to its Best Buy appeal are Lexus' strong resale-value record and kid-gloves customer service. But prices soar with options, some of which you can easily do without, and discounts are rare. The RX 400h sets new class standards for performance and fuel economy, but only comes well-equipped, and is thus quite pricey.

Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Base Price Range: $39,750-$48,500
EPA MPG Range: 14-20
Body Styles: Four-door wagon
Base prices are very competitive, but grow daunting as options are added. And around-town ride comfort isn't always what it should be. But overall, the highly refined, rock-solid, and engaging-to-drive M-Class is what a premium midsize 5-passenger SUV ought to be.

Mercedes-Benz R-Class
Base Price Range: $48,000-$55,500
EPA MPG Range: 13-21
Body Styles: Four-door wagon
R-Class earns our Recommended nod for the way it combines Mercedes-Benz luxury and driving dynamics with minivan-like utility. Though not inexpensive, R-Class' ability to transport six adults in executive-jet comfort is unparalleled in this class.

Porsche Cayenne
Base Price Range: $42,200-$90,200
EPA MPG Range: 14-20
Body Styles: Four-door wagon
V6 Cayennes lack the expected Porsche punch, and the V8 versions' sometimes-ragged power delivery disappoints. But all Cayennes have Porsche-worthy road manners, and impress for engineering, solidity, and off-road prowess.

Saab 9-7X
Base Price Range: $38,520-$40,520
EPA MPG Range: 15-21
Body Styles: Four-door wagon
Saab's first SUV makes the most of its shared architecture. Compared with its GM cousins, the 9-7X represents an improvement in driving dynamics and interior design. Compared with class leaders, Acura MDX, Lexus RX, and Volvo XC90, the Saab falls short in drivetrain refinement and for its undistinguished interior materials. Still, prices are reasonable and Saab's nonconformist attitude may appeal to buyers seeking an SUV that doesn't look like the one in their neighbor's garage.

Volkswagen Touareg
Base Price Range: $37,320-$44,660
EPA MPG Range: 14-23
Body Styles: Four-door wagon
Touareg is pricey for a Volkswagen, on par with BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz rivals offering superior brand prestige, resale values, and customer care. The turbodiesel really costs--far more than its higher potential fuel economy will repay--and isn't widely available. But any Touareg rewards with first-class cabin decor, solid construction, and more-than-competent SUV road manners--and they're off-road wizards.

Volvo XC90
Base Price Range: $35,640-$45,840
EPA MPG Range: 16-23
Body Styles: Four-door wagon
Carlike road manners, rock-solid feel, and numerous safety features are the XC90's strengths, and they earn it our Recommended badge. Handling-conscious drivers will wish for sharper steering, and the 5-cyl engine's level of refinement disappoints. But prices are reasonable, and the range of engine options makes it competitive with a wide array of popular rivals.

**Premium Midsize SUV Specification Comparison**
Vehicle	Wheel-base, in.	Curb Weight, lb.	Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	Max. Towing, lb.	Fuel Capacity, gal.	Front Head Room, in.	Front Leg Room, in.	Rear Head Room, in.	Rear Leg Room, in.
Acura MDX	106.3	4471	81.5	4500	20.4	38.4	41.5	39.0	37.8
BMW X5	111.0	4652	69.0	6000	24.6	39.9	38.5	39.3	35.4
Buick Rainier	113.0	4628	80.1	6200	22.0	40.2	43.1	39.6	37.0
Cadillac SRX	116.0	4438	69.5	3500	20.0	40.3	42.1	38.4	41.0
Infiniti FX	112.2	4268	64.5	3500	23.8	39.6	43.9	39.3	35.2
Land Rover LR3	113.6	5315	90.3	7700	22.8	40.4	42.4	42.4	37.6
Land Rover Range Rover Sport	108.0	5468	71.0	7716	23.2	39.4	39.1	38.4	37.6
Lexus GX 470	109.8	4871	77.5	6500	23.0	41.0	41.8	40.4	36.8
Lexus RX	106.9	4065	84.7	3500	19.2	39.3	42.5	38.6	36.4
Mercedes-Benz M-Class	114.7	4623	64.6	5000	25.1	39.9	42.2	39.8	40.0
Mercedes-Benz R-Class	126.6	4766	85.0	NA	25.1	39.8	39.8	40.4	36.2
Porsche Cayenne	112.4	4762	62.5	7716	26.4	39.6	40.6	38.8	35.9
Saab 9-7X	113.0	4770	80.1	6500	22.0	40.2	41.4	39.6	37.0
Volkswagen Touareg	112.4	5086	70.1	7716	26.4	38.7	41.3	38.3	35.6
Volvo XC90	112.6	4450	85.1	5000	21.1	40.1	41.0	39.5	36.4
Curb weight listed for 4WD or AWD models.

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