Cars -- 8 days ago
Words: Rory FH Smith
Words: Rory FH Smith
When the Range Rover stormed on to the scene back in 1969, it unwittingly laid the foundations for the modern luxury sports utility vehicle, otherwise known as the SUV. Now ubiquitous in almost every environment – from urban centres to the countryside – this mode of car is showing no signs of slinking away into the bushes any time soon.
What started with a practical, go-anywhere vehicle with touches of luxury (and, by that, we mean vinyl seats and a radio), the market has moved on considerably since the early days.
For decades, Range Rover had the industry wrapped, that is until Porsche popped into the fight with its Cayenne at the turn of the millennium, opening the floodgates for more and more manufacturers. In came Bentley with its Bentayga, in 2015; Rolls-Royce with the Cullinan, in 2018; and Aston Martin with the DBX, in 2020. Now embracing electric, the luxury-SUV arms race continues, with the likes of Lotus joining with its battery-powered Eletre, and Polestar with its 3 model.
With more than enough to choose from, here’s our pick of the finest luxury 4x4s on the market…
The all-electric Polestar 3 brings a fresh perspective to the luxury-SUV market with its Scandi-chic focus on sustainability. With prices starting from £69,900, it costs almost £20,000 less than its electric competitor, the Lotus Eletre (more below). Its rakish styling hints at its aerodynamic efficiency and, as expected, it’s laden with the latest safety systems and technology, given that it’s a relative of the Volvo stable. On the inside, its clean, pared-back design and focus on well-made, eco-friendly materials put it high on the wishlist for those who’re looking for something that pushes the envelope.
By combining a 174hp electric motor with a 591hp 4.0L twin-turbo V8, Porsche has created what it bills as the most powerful Cayenne of all time – and by receiving the Turbo spin, this is one of the marque’s top-end performers in its history. It goes from 0–60 in only 3.5 seconds, and can go on to hit a top speed of 183mph, pushing it towards the faster end of the SUV market, and the Sport Chrono Package provides an ‘even sportier setup of the chassis, engine and gearbox.’
Created as a sort of spiritual successor to the Land Rover Defender, the Ineos Grenadier is the debut set of wheels from Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co. Everything is informed by function: the wings at the front are flat so you can place a cup of tea or tools on them, and the switches are reassuringly chunky – big enough to prod and twist, even with wet hands or when you’re wearing gloves. Powered by a BMW-derived 3.0L straight-six engine – either petrol or diesel – the Grenadier relies on a tried-and-tested component, firmly ticking that reliability box. The diesel kicks out 246bhp and 550Nm maximum torque, and the petrol produces 282bhp and 450Nm – that’s more than enough to get you out of a tight spot when the going gets rough.
By far the most controversial SUV to date, when Rolls-Royce pulled the covers off the Cullinan, back in 2018, it took a while for the world to wrap its head around the figures. Weighing in at 2.7 tonnes, powered by a silky-smooth 6.7L V12, and well over £300,000 with a sprinkling of personalisation, the Cullinan was – and still is – a land yacht with a ride quality and level of comfort like no other car on the market. Read our full review of the follow-up model here.
In Lotus’s prime, back in its mighty Formula-1-winning days, few would have predicted that the UK carmaker would eventually turn its hand to electric SUVs. But roll with the times because Lotus has seen the dawn of electric as a chance to redefine its product portfolio. Packing a punch with its 109kWh battery, the Eletre can cover off the 0–60mph dash in just 4.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 160mph. Keeping with a long-standing Lotus value, the brand has kept the weight as low as possible, with the Eletre coming in at 2.5 tonnes, despite its enormous battery.
Few cars – SUVs or not – match up to the Aston Martin DBX707 when it comes to performance. A ballistic supercar challenger disguised as an SUV, the 707 put Aston back on the map, kickstarting its new product assault under its current owner, Lawrence Stroll, and entry into Formula 1. Though there’s no doubting its performance with a 0–60mph time of three seconds, and a top speed just shy of 200mph, the 707 is also a practical, high-riding tourer with more than enough room in the back seats and boot.
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