Top 5 Luxury SUVs to keep an eye on in 2021
SUVs are becoming more and more popular on the Australian car market. Many well known and reputed car manufacturers have been at the helm of this trend, not afraid to go big for an audience demanding the luxury of a prestige car and the utility of a mid-sized vehicle. Here are four luxury petrol and electric SUVs coming off the line in 2021 for you to keep an eye on.
Best Luxury SUVs 2021
BMW iX Range
Image: BMW
Engine: Electric
Arrival: Late 2021
One of the latest in the globally renowned Munich brand’s lineup of battery electric vehicles, the BMW iX range is a stylish expression of luxury and cutting edge EV innovation. After six years of development, the iX is set to shake the luxury SUV market in Australia with an array of state-of-the-art drive-assist technologies and premier performance.
This SUV range includes the most compact model, the iX, as well as the respectively larger iX3 and iX5 models. The range’s highly customisable interiors and imposing external features are a new ostentatious take on BMW’s typically minimalist design which is sure to impress on the road.
Prices are set to be announced mid-year in 2021, but consumer analysts expect the iX and iX3 models to be priced under its competitor, the Mercedes Benz EQC, at $139,700.
Jeep Grand Cherokee, 5th Generation
Image: Jeep
Engine: Petrol, with plug-in electric hybrid to be released later this year
Arrival: January 2021
A high powered car from a high powered auto-maker, the 5th generation Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV line launched into the Australian market after long developmental delays and potential market espionage, which saw design renderings released ahead of time.
Despite these setbacks, the newest Grand Cherokees rank well among their competitors in the mid-range of luxury SUVs. Loaded with a V6 engine as standard, and a V8 upon request (for all of you speed demons out there), the newest Grand Cherokee is a smooth ride that can also hit the trail with ease. For anyone looking to take the whole family along for a ride, the Grand Cherokee L is also available, which features an added row of passenger seats for greater carrying capacity.
Jeep has also announced that a plug-in electric hybrid model of the Grand Cherokee will be available in 2021, another sign of this electrifying trend in the luxury SUV market.
Second Generation Lexus NX
Image: Lexus
Engine: Petrol or Plug-in electric Hybrid to be released later this year
Arrival: 2021
Lexus has long been a trusted name in Australia’s luxury car industry, and their latest SUV release, the NX certainly lives up to expectations. With options of either the turbocharged NX300 petrol or the NX300h advanced hybrid engine, this SUV provides top-tier performance while aiming for lower emissions.
Comfort and luxury are at the core of this design, and several drive-assist technologies work to ensure a smooth and stylish ride. With electric power steering that adjusts for your speed, as well as high-performance car body dampers that minimise vibration in the cab, the Lexus NX strikes the perfect balance of performance and luxurious comfort.
Prices range from around $64,000 to $72,000 driveaway, depending on which model best suits you.
Audi Q5
Image: Audi
Engine: Diesel/petrol mild electric hybrid
Arrival: Late 2020, with RS Q5 model in 2021
The Q5 is a fresh redesign from the iconic luxury auto-maker, Audi. Combining the company’s elegant, understated design with detailing that suggests “sporty and capable”, the Q5 range brings luxury into the everyday.
With the very latest in intuitive, performance-enhancing technology, the Q5 lets you adjust its key driving characteristics according to conditions, to ensure a safer, smoother ride. The Q5 range also features an innovative ‘start-stop’ feature, which allows the engine to switch off when safe, to cut back on vibration and emissions, before restarting in near-perfect silence.
A technological tour de force, and luxurious ride to top it off, the Q5 should be a strong contender for anyone looking to buy a luxury SUV this year. Prices start from $88,000.
These are just some of the exciting luxury SUVs coming off the line this year that prove that you don’t have to sacrifice performance for comfort and style. Check out their makers’ official websites for full specifications and sale price.
Yachts more your thing? See our list of the best charter yachts for hire, here.