We got this question from @JasonWardNY on Twitter:
Who makes the best luxury SUV’s? I think I’m over having a car, I want someone larger.
Well Jason… this is a question that is impossible to answer in Twitter characters so I will start with a few things to consider…
Parking. Fuel consumption. Maintenance.
SUV’s tend to be more expensive to operate across the board. I have spoken to many, many people who went from car to SUV back to car for this reason. BUT, it mostly depends on the type of vehicles you buy in general and how you plan to use it.
I drive European vehicles so I’ve seen little difference in cost based on size. They’re all expensive to maintain and we suck that up for the European experience. European vehicles are extremely sturdy and their performance is unmatched. You have to pay for that. But consider this also:
If you too choose to venture into European vehicles, the first thing you should do is resign yourself that when your vehicle needs repairs or maintenance, you’re gonna pay for it – in both senses of the phrase.
I’ll split them up for you by origin…
English vehicles like Land Rover, Jaguar and Mini will give you the highest level of luxury fit and finish. They generally know how to fix they’re vehicles, but it is costly.
German vehicles like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen and Porsche are solid, heavy vehicles – all of them – but even their own people struggle fixing them. SO, it’s costly WITH frustration.
Volvo is of Swedish origin and has come a long way in luxury. They are also ahead of the game in technology and green production. But they don’t make deals on purchases and fixing them will be costly.
Finally are Italian vehicles. As a first go-round with European vehicles, I would suggest avoiding this category all together. This is a different level of ownership for which you might want to have previous experience. I’M headed that direction but I haven’t gotten there yet sooo, Enough said…
Japanese SUV’s: You will find your widest selection in this category. Lexus, Infiniti, Acura… even Kia and Hyundai have stepped up their luxury SUV game. But don’t rule out Toyota, Mazda or Subaru. Some of their SUV’s offer a lot of luxury at a better value. This is also your best option for pre-owned vehicles.
And while Japanese vehicle are very reliable, the caveat is that their parts are not as sturdy, their construction is not as sturdy and their performance is not as strong.
American SUV’s: Cadillac and Lincoln clearly lead the way, but, reliability is questionable. longevity is also an issue. Don’t expect them to last very long.
However, the good news is that you can get them serviced anywhere, the parts are readily available and it’s all very cost effective. You just might be doing that a lot…
Most importantly, do you homework. A new year always means auto show season. It’s the perfect place to do one-stop-shopping. Also, Consumer Reports puts out an annual auto issue in March of every year. More information than you will know what to do with, but…
Your question answered in 538 Twitter characters… 👦🏽
Keep us posted…
