2008 Premium Large SUVs
2008 Lexus LX 570

If you remember the "Mary Tyler Moore Show" from back in the 1970s, the last line of the famous opening theme song is, "You're gonna make it after all." That sentence captures part of what makes any premium vehicle worth owning: Rolling up to your favorite restaurant in a high-end car or SUV lets everyone know that you've made it in some form or another.

Premium large SUVs are no exception. Consumer Guide puts nine vehicles in this class. American, European, and Japanese brands all vie for a slice of this very profitable pie. One premium large SUV sale can add $10,000 or more in net income to an automaker's books.

As such, manufacturers constantly engage in a war of one-upsmanship to woo discerning shoppers with combinations of powerful engines, sophisticated driving dynamics (at least as much as can be expected in a large SUV), and refined interiors brimming with luxury touches.

There are no new nameplates in this class for model-year 2008, but several existing models have undergone both minor and major changes. Toyota and its premium Lexus division redesigned Land Cruiser and LX 570, respectively. These premium large SUVs have new sheetmetal and powertrains. The H2 from General Motors' Hummer division received a more powerful engine and a revamped interior with an appearance more fitting of its premium image. Mercedes-Benz added a new flagship 550 model to its GL-Class lineup, and the QX56 from Nissan's Infiniti division got a revamped interior with more upscale materials.

The first gas/electric hybrid premium large SUV will debut in 2008 as a 2009 model. The Cadillac Escalade Hybrid makes use of General Motors' new "2-Mode" technology that's designed to maintain the vehicle's rugged demeanor while increasing fuel economy by up to 25 percent in the city and on the highway. The hybrid system is similar to what Toyota uses in its Prius in that the Escalade can run on one or both of its power sources. It shuts down the gas engine at stops and can run solely on electric power at low speeds.

Other premium large SUVs, including the Audi Q7, Land Rover Range Rover, and Lincoln Navigator enter the model year with no major changes.

A League of Their Own

Many vehicles in the premium large SUV segment enjoy almost cult-like followings. The Land Rover Range Rover and Hummer H2 are known for their off-road prowess. Cadillac's Escalade and Lincoln's Navigator are popular among Hollywood celebrities and professional athletes.

Regardless of brand, all players in this category have their own appeal for well-heeled shoppers who want and need more than what any coupe, sedan, or smaller SUV has to offer. Whether it's carrying friends and equipment to the country club, towing a horse trailer to the equestrian center, or tackling rough terrain to get to a vacation home in the mountains, a premium large SUV is the way to go if you want to be seen. The muscular profiles cut by these vehicles tell everyone that you've arrived and will settle for nothing less than doing it in style.

Premium Form and Function

Premium large SUVs often borrow chassis and powertrains from other, more mainstream pickup trucks and SUVs. The Cadillac Escalade shares its basic design with the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon; the Lincoln Navigator with the Ford Expedition; and the Infiniti QX56 with the Nissan Armada. The Audi Q7 rides on a stretched version of the Volkswagen Touareg platform, and Mercedes-Benz's GL-Class is a slightly longer version of the company's M-Class.

Regardless of their roots, most premium large SUVs use traditional, truck-type body-on-frame construction. That allows these vehicles to have robust trailer-towing ability in addition to ample room for people and cargo. Thanks to sophisticated all-wheel-drive and 4-wheel-drive systems, many can also traverse terrain that doesn't include asphalt and concrete.

Q7 and GL-Class stray from the crowd with their crossover-style unibody construction. That means these two premium large SUVs tend to ride better than their body-on-frame rivals, but they're not quite as capable off-road, nor are they able to tow as much. The GL-Class does offer an optional off-road package that includes a low-range gear for its all-wheel drive system, locking center and rear differentials, and a driver-adjustable suspension.

All premium large SUVs have available V8 engines. The lone V6 entries are the Audi Q7 3.6 and the Mercedes GL320 CDI. The latter is a turbodiesel engine. Most entries have standard 6-speed automatic transmissions. The Infiniti QX56 has a 5-speed automatic, while the GL-Class uses a 7-speed.

A couple models Consumer Guide classifies as premium large SUVs aren't SUVs in the traditional sense. The Cadillac Escalade EXT, for example, is a large 4-door crew cab pickup truck similar to the Chevrolet Avalanche. It has a 5.3-foot cargo box, which expands to 8.2 feet via a drop-down "midgate." Hummer's H2 is available as the SUT, which is also a 4-door crew cab truck, but it doesn't have the EXT's midgate.

Think Safety

Premium price tags on these vehicles mean advanced safety features come standard. Stability control (or an antiskid system) is a common feature. Antiskid systems are designed to keep a vehicle on its intended path on slippery roads. Some also incorporate sensors that can detect and try to prevent a rollover.

Airbags abound as well. Front side airbags and curtain side airbags are standard fare. Some also have the ability to deploy in the event of a rollover. If you're feeling adventurous, vehicles such as the Range Rover have hill descent control that limits the vehicle's speed when going down steep inclines.

Rugged Outside, Opulent Inside

A premium large SUV conveys a rugged image with brawny exterior styling. Inside, however, they're designed to pamper drivers and passengers alike with luxury and convenience features.

In addition to navigation systems with touch screens, passengers get treated to heated front seats, which are hard to do without in wintry climates. Some have seat temperature adjustments that go the other way, blasting bottoms with waves of cooled air. Premium large SUVs can delight the ears, too, with available brand name, high-end audio systems. For the mobile executive, a Bluetooth hands-free cell phone link systems are also popular in this class.

Those riding in the back also can be treated to heated seats, along with DVD entertainment systems that include wireless headphones. The Range Rover is available with an entertainment system that has two separate screens mounted in the front headrests. The screens can be configured independently so little ones don't have to fight over what gets watched.

A Pretty Penny

Premium large SUVs (obviously) aren't cheap. Sticker prices start at or greater than $50,000 and can approach six figures depending on model and option selection. That also doesn't include the cost of fuel. Most vehicles in this class need premium-grade gas for best performance, and they also burn it at a rather prodigious rate--figure less than 15 miles per gallon for most.

But for the folks who have the means to purchase a premium large SUV, fuel economy is of little consequence. They demand quality, attention to detail, and rugged styling. Some balance these attributes better than others, so be sure to thoroughly drive your choices before signing on the dotted line. In this class, the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide choose the Cadillac Escalade as a Best Buy. Our Recommended picks are the Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GL-Class.