Best Compact Luxury SUVs

Based on the giant-slaying G70 sedan, this compact luxury SUV combines fashionable looks with a richly appointed cabin, pleasing road manners, a modicum of off-road ability and the latest safety and tech features. For those unfamiliar, Genesis is Hyundai’s stand-alone luxury brand. And it’s been racking up not only major automotive awards but also posting quality scores often topping every luxury brand, including perennially-dominant Lexus.

Power comes from the same turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder and twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engines as the GV80, but this new smaller machine weighs 600 to 800 pounds less, so there’s a significant bump in speed and responsiveness. The G70 costs a bit more to start than, say, an Acura RDX or Lexus NX, at $42,900 for a base version. But the Genesis feels a class above those models (especially the Lexus) in design, luxury and features, even on the entry-level version.

Now in its second generation, the Audi Q5 is a compact luxury crossover and the brand’s answer to rivals like the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. The Q5 seats five and makes blending advanced tech and comfort in a fastidiously-executed package its calling card. Equipped with standard all-wheel drive and a 201-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, there’s also a plug-in hybrid and the performance-skewed SQ5, which is a whole separate animal with a stout V6 engine generating 354 horsepower. There are also two bodies, with the coupe-like BMW X4-rivalling Q5 Sportback having been added in 2021.

Pricing starts at $43,500 for the base Premium, moving up to the $49,000 Premium Plus and $54,500 Prestige trims. This decent five-passenger SUV will appeal to Audi fans but may not have the flair to appeal to buyers of higher-priced extroverted competitors. Likewise, it probably won’t pull value-minded types from better-priced competition like the Acura RDX. For 2023 changes are minimal, but adaptive cruise control is a welcomed standard feature.

Rather than battle the competition with look-at-me styling and punchy performance, the XC60 addresses flashy foes like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Lexus NX and Genesis GV70 with quiet aplomb. It’s not a performance vehicle, but now that the lineup is fully hybridized it has better fuel economy, which, with high gas prices, is a relief. The plug-in RXC60 Recharge is even more compelling at the pump. 

2022 model year revisions include reworked lower fascia and a new mild-hybrid powertrain lineup that introduces more efficiency. The base B5 model offers a combined output of 247 horsepower and the B6 295 hp. The T8 is rated for 400 hp and can drive 19 miles on pure electric power; the performance-focused Polestar Engineered iteration brings 415 hp. The Recharge offers 35 miles of pure battery power. Momentum, Inscription and R-Design trims are available across the powertrain options. The line to add features. 

Pricing starts at $44,545 for the mild-hybrid version and $58,295 for the Recharge plug-in hybrid. The PHEV does add cost, and at the very top end the Polestar-engineered model rings in at a heady $75,245, but most are more approachable than that.

The BMW X3 overtook the 3 Series as the automaker’s best-selling U.S. model in 2018 and it hasn’t looked back since. The X3 got a light refresh and lost its plug-in hybrid option last year, but improved on all the best features of past versions without losing any of the core traits buyers like. 12.3-inch infotainment and driver’s displays are now optional and standard on the higher trims. Additionally, the M40i now boasts a 48-volt mild-hybrid system for its engine and the X3 M has more power.

This Bimmer has never abandoned the brand’s trademark handling and ride attributes and near-telepathic powertrain response, and that, combined with its compelling combination of practicality and luxury, makes the X3 a solid choice for anyone who still gets grin when the road turns twisty. Add in its plus excellent cargo space and surprising fuel efficiency, and it’s clear why its still at the top of the small luxury SUV pack.

The smallest of Lincoln’s armada of crossovers and SUVs, the Corsair is a stylish and distinctively American machine like its bigger brothers. As with those other Lincolns, it has a smooth ride and a comfortable, roomy, whisper-quiet interior that looks and feels appropriately luxurious. Power comes from either the standard 250-horsepower 2.0-liter or optional 295-horsepower 2.3-liter four-cylinder engines. The new Corsair hybrid model uses a 14.4-kWh lithium-ion battery and pair of electric motors in tandem with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine for a total of approximately 266 horsepower. It can be charged from either a standard 120V household plug in about 10.4 hours or from a 240V outlet in about 3.5 hours. Even better, the battery doesn’t intrude on the 27 cubic feet of cargo volume.

Regardless of powertrain, the Corsair, like the other Lincoln SUVs, is a cruiser, not a bruiser. The Corsair includes a raft of safety technology, and for its size and it’s also a capable cargo hauler. Pricing starts at approximately $40,085, including a $1,395 destination fee, for the Standard trim; Reserve starts at $44,470 and the top-tier Grand Touring PHEV at $55,280. However, options can inflate those prices quickly, putting it in competition with larger SUVs or European rivals, which often have more brand cachet and put more emphasis on performance and handling.

Mercedes-Benz’s GLC replaced the squared-off GLK-Class in 2016 and within five years it had become Mercedes-Benz’s best-selling global model. Not one to rest on its star or laurels, the automaker has totally redesigned the GLC for 2023 with far more efficient mild-hybrid engines, a beautifully redesigned and screen-heavy cabin, and more cargo room. All this has helped the GLC stay competitive in an increasingly crowded market.

For now, only the base GLC 300 is available at dealerships, but later in the year Coupe and AMG versions will drop, and plug-in hybrids (already on sale in Europe) will likely follow. The New GLC 300’s base engine is a little more powerful than before, with 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, and considerably more fuel efficient, with a 4 mpg gain in combined fuel economy, than before. It’s still the most luxurious-feeling model in this class, and one of the roomiest.

All those are huge positives, but the GLC still has a little less cargo space than its rivals (despite a 2.5 cubic-foot gain). Mercedes-Benz also makes many of its (very good) active safety features extra-cost options, which costs it some points in our evaluations.

The second generation Lexus NX debuted last year, entirely redesigned with a variety of new powertrain options and a much improved interior. Though it borrows its platform and some of its powertrains from its corporate cousin the Toyota RAV4, you’ll never know it from behind the wheel. The lineup runs from the NX 250, NX 350, NX 350h (hybrid) to the NX 450h+ (plug-in hybrid).

The  NX 250 is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 203 horsepower; front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive (AWD) optional. At the top of the lineup, the NX 450h+ shares its 302-horsepower plug-in hybrid setup with the RAV4 Prime.

In between, the NX 350 includes a 275-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter engine, up from 235 hp in the old NX 300. The 350h has a combined total of 239 horsepower, up from 194 in the old 300h. Both hybrids come with all-wheel drive as standard, and the gas-only options are available with front- or all-wheel drive.

It also gains 28% more cargo space, though its hold is still on the small side. The $57,000+ PHEV is pricey, but buyers looking for a premium five-passenger SUV under $50,000 will find a dizzying array of competent, quiet and luxurious choices in the NX lineup, the NX250 starting at $39,755 and the more powerful NX350h at $43,105, including destination.

BMW calls the X4 a “Sports Activity Coupe, ” Teutonic brand-speak for its fastback body style version of the more upright X3. Like other “crossover coupes,” it trades utility for style. Mechanically, the X4 is a virtual doppelganger for the X3 but costs more and has less room. No wonder, then, that BMW sells seven X3s for every X4. But it does have its fans.

For 2022 BMW gave the circa-2018 second-generation X4 a light visual refresh and added some formerly optional equipment, and the SUV gets no real changes for 2023. Even the base model 30i is a good performer, and all X4s are good corner carvers by SUV standards, but the M40i and X4 M are much more exciting. The xDrive 30i starts at $52,795 (including a $995 destination fee), and the X4 M40i at $63,395. The downsides compared to the X3 are those of all crossover coupes—you’re paying more money for a less practical SUV.

The 2023 Jaguar F-Pace is a five-seat crossover SUV with a lot to like: aggressive looks, a roomy and comfortable interior, a solid selection of active safety features and standard equipment that includes navigation and a terrific 14-speaker, 380-watt audio system. Four trim levels are available, with three distinct engines. The P 250 and P 250 S are powered by a 2.0-liter, 16-valve inline four-cylinder with 246 horsepower. The R-Dynamic S 400 gets a mild hybrid 3.0-liter, 24-valve inline-six making 395 horsepower. There’s also a high-performance variant, the SVR, with a twin-supercharged, 5.0-liter, 32-valve V8 cranking out 550 horsepower. All F-Pace models are all-wheel drive.

Base price for the F-Pace P 250 is $53,550 (including destination). Satellite Navigation with What3Words software is now standard. The P 250 S is $57,150; the R Dynamic S 400 is $65,950 and brings 149 additional horsepower and sport-tuned suspension. It’s a significant leap in power and price to the F-Pace SVR ($90,650). It has 155 more horsepower than the R Dynamic S, features unique 20-inch wheels, a combination leather, suede and cloth interior, plus heated and cooled front performance seats. Though the F-Pace is pricier than two excellent competitors, the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, it’s a bit of an outlier in the segment, and you won’t see yourself coming and going with any frequency.  

Bucking the trend of hatchback-like small crossovers with sloping roofs, the compact Mercedes-Benz GLB SUV is tall and square. Though its proportions are roughly the same as the automaker’s huge GLS-Class, the GLB is the product of a clever re-engineering and stretching of the smaller GLA-Class. Open the doors, however, and you appreciate the impressive amount of interior room, the GLB boasting more overall cargo volume and rear-seat legroom than most in its class; it can even be equipped with a tiny third row.

Power comes from the same turbocharged, 221-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine as the GLA, but there’s also a hotter 302-horsepower AMG GLB35. The front-wheel drive, base-model GLB 250 starts at $39,650 and adding 4Matic AWD adds $2,000. The high-performance AMG GLB 35 is considerably faster and more expensive, but it also rides much more harshly, which might be a consideration for family buyers. An entry-level Benz, the GLB is clearly a premium machine, but it isn’t as luxe as its larger siblings, and many features cost extra. 

 The two-row Acura RDX SUV has been a part of the automaker’s lineup for over 15 years and was one of the earliest compact luxury crossovers. The current third-generation RDX debuted in 2019, receiving some mild style updates last year. It offers sharp styling and a lively turbocharged powertrain. Still, it isn’t as plush as much of its competition and lacks the customization options of some premium rivals, including the Lexus NX, Porsche Macan, Mercedes GLC-Class, Genesis GV70, BMW X3 and many others.

The trim lineup runs from the base RDX, Technology Package, A-Spec, Advance Package and PMC Edition. All use a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 272 horsepower paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission and front- or all-wheel drive (AWD). Acura’s trims are a little different than most in that it offers a single trim with the ability to add packages to fine-tune the vehicle to taste without spending too much time perusing the options list.

The good news is that it’s a relative value pick—pricing starts at $42,745 including destination—in its segment; stick with our choice and take it easy on the dealer accessories and the investment will pay dividends in smiles and practicality. 

The Porsche Macan is laser-focused on fun, putting signature Porsche performance and excitement in a taller-riding package. Simultaneously dramatic and demure, the Macan feels as much an ultra-high-performance AWD hatchback as a traditional SUV. Just be advised that the Macan is among the least-practical SUVs in its class, with limited cargo space and a somewhat tight back seat. That said, it’s a good bet most Porsche Macan fans aren’t spending much time measuring cargo hatches or trying to squeeze twins into the back seat.

The dearly priced Macan also underlines the old saw that “You get what you pay for.” That’s especially true for a 375-horsepower Macan S at $69,850 or a 434-horsepower Macan GTS at an eye-opening $84,350. Those prices do bring an interior upgraded with Porsche’s latest infotainment tech. V6-powered Macan models, especially, make clear who they’re for: Drivers first, shotgun passengers second. Everyone else can hang on and enjoy the ride—and, ideally, pack light. 

The Stelvio roared onto the scene in 2018 as an alternative to the German and Japanese sport crossovers. Named after the infamous Stelvio Pass in Italy with its 48 hairpin turns more than 9,000 feet above sea level, the Italian SUV excels when the road turns twisty but also functions as a comfortable daily driver. It also looks the part of a Milanese fashionista, which it can genuinely claim to be.

The Stelvio is available in six trims: Sprint, Ti, Veloce, Lusso and new-for-2023 Estrema trims are powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 280 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque. The Quadrifoglio goes after AMGs and BMW Ms with a twin-turbo V6 pushing out 505 ponies. Pricing starts at $48,095, including $1,595 for destination in the base Sprint trim with rear-wheel drive.

The Alfa deals out more power and performance than any other model except the Porsche Macan, but it also costs more than more useful mainstream rivals like the Acura RDX and Genesis GV70. Alfa made big upgrades to the Stelvio’s safety systems and tech last year, but it still suffers from a dearth of both cargo space and aging technology. Still, it’s unadulterated fun in any trim.

Land Rover’s Discovery Sport is almost a decade old now, but it’s aged like a fine wine. It sleek styling still closely resembles larger and more expensive members of the Land Rover family, including the midsize Discover and large Range Rover, and its interior is a cut above many other small premium machines. It also offers something only the Mercedes-Benz GLB does in this class, a tiny optional third row. It’s small, but if you need it you can have it for $1,720.

The “Disco Sport” also enjoys much of the off-road capability this brand is known for, and can ford almost two feet of water and traverse terrain most other vehicles on this list can’t. But on the road its 2.0-liter 246-horsepower engine is overmatched by its weight, resulting in lackluster acceleration and pretty poor fuel economy by class standards. Passengers (apart from those in the optional third row) get plenty of space though, and there’s good cargo room too (again, sans third row). A maverick choice, the Disco Sport is also the cheapest way to saddle up with a product from this brand.