The Driving team picks the best luxury crossovers, including best luxury PHEV and EV
Today, the world revolves around utility vehicles and, more specifically, crossovers — the increasing popularity of these versatile rides is found in the numbers. In 2018, the breed accounted for 47.9% of new vehicle registrations in Canada. That number had grown to 59.3% by 2022 and it was up another 3% in 2023. Now, this really does speak volumes!
Picking the best luxury crossover in key market segments produced a diverse array of candidates and an equal number of opinions. However, after totalling up the ballots Driving.ca arrived at the list of best luxury crossovers. The Team also picked the best plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and full-electric (BEV) luxury crossovers for good measure. Here are the results by segment.
Best small gas crossover: Porsche Macan
The Macan and Macan T models arrive with a 2.0L turbo-four that makes 261 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Not bad, but it cannot stay with the 2.9L turbo-V6 unit. This is where your Macan search should begin. The Macan S brings a rewarding 375 hp, 384 lb-ft of torque and a run to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, which is 1.6 seconds faster than the turbo-four Macan.
Go one step further and the Macan GTS brings 434 hp, 406 lb-ft of torque and a run to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. Remarkably, the power and performance only bumps the fuel consumption from 11.0 L/100 km for the four-cylinder to 12.2 L/100 km. According to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), this represents a premium of $408 per year for a crossover that stops, steers and handles like a proper Porsche. Adding the adaptive air suspension and torque vectoring plus options really do make the driver forget the GTS is a crossover!
Inside, the cabin is a driver-centric affair. The main screens put the right information front and centre and the amenities are as expected. Move rearward and the back seat is cozy and the cargo space rates 488-litres seats-up and 1,503L folded.
Best alternative small gas crossover: BMW X3
The best alternative was an equally easy pick. The BMW X3 has been a perennial favourite that’s marked by its ability to be a seriously sporty drive and a well-equipped family vehicle with 810L of seats-up cargo space. Again, the model of choice gets the six-cylinder engine. The X3 M40i xDrive’s 3.0L turbo-six works with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to produce 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. Again, the old rule applies here — 382 always beats 248 hp! If economy is the name of the game, there’s the X3 xDrive30e PHEV.
Best medium gas crossover: Genesis GV70
Another of its assets is both engine choices have a place in the lineup. The 2.5L turbo-four makes 300 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, which is enough for most. The 3.5L turbo-V6 amps the output up to 375 hp and 391 lb-ft at 1,600 rpm. Both engines work with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a solid all-wheel-drive system. The latter is proactive, so it does the right thing at the right time.
So, why move up to the turbo-V6 GV70? The main reason is the adaptive suspension with Road Preview. It uses a camera to scan the road ahead and ready the suspension for an upcoming bump, which adds that something extra to the drive. The adaptive side also improves the handling when the hammer is down.
Inside, all GV70s come loaded — the turbo-V6 upgrades include Nappa leather wrapping 16-way seats, a better sound system and Highway Driving Assist II. It brings a semi-autonomous driving experience that allows the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel. Just be ready to pick up the reins when needed. As for the rest of its, there is a roomy back seat and 819L of cargo space with the seats up and 1,610L when folded flat.
Best alternative medium gas crossover: Mazda CX-70
Best large gas crossover: BMW X7
The X7’s cabin is beyond rich. From the reconfigurable instrumentation and infotainment screens that sit under a single curved piece of glass, the opulence touches everything from seat comfort to the latest safety mod cons including Drive Recorder. In the event of a collision the 20 seconds before the crash and the 20 seconds after are automatically recorded and saved. Switching this seven-seater into a cargo hauler opens up 1,375L with the third-row folded and 2,560L with all seats flat.
Now, if you feel like splashing the cash the Alpina XB7 version amps up the output to 631 hp, which makes it one of the quickest crossovers available — 100 km/h coming in at 4.2 seconds, and this for a three-row crossover! It also hones the handling and fancies up the cabin. It will hit Canadian roads later this year.
Best alternative large gas crossover: Audi RS Q8
Best plug-in hybrid crossover: BMW X5 xDrive50e and Lexus RX 450h+
The X5 xDrive50e has been massaged and given more of everything. It features a reworked 3.0L turbo-six that operates on the more efficient Miller cycle. It works with an electric motor incorporated into the eight-speed automatic transmission to drive all four wheels. It’s good for 194 hp, which is up 83-hp from before. The result is a net system output of 483 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Likewise, the electric side gets its juice from a larger 19.2-kWh battery, so it now delivers up to 63-km of electric-only driving, which is up 13-km. The other plus is the two power sources work together in a seamless manner so there’s no abruptness when one hands off to the other.
Inside, the X5’s upgrades include BMW’s digital Curved Display. It puts the 12.3-inch instrumentation and 14.9-inch multimedia screens under a single piece of glass that consumes more than half the width of the crossover. It is imposing, but easy to master thanks, in part, to the advanced voice control system. Elsewhere, the rear seat is comfortable and has enough width for three adults; the cargo capacity is slightly smaller than the gas model because of the battery, but it still delivers 500L behind the rear seats and 1,700L with the seats folded.
Joining the RX lineup this year is the 450h+. It uses a 2.5L four-cylinder that twists out 182 hp and 167 lb-ft of torque, and works with two electric motors and a generator. Up front the electric motor makes 180 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque. The rear electric motor adds an all-wheel-drive extension, as well as 54 hp and 89 lb-ft of torque. When the system is working as a unit it delivers a peak output of 304 hp and a run to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds, so it’s not shy.
The electric side gets it power from an 18.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which gives it 60-km of electric-only driving. One of the plusses is the 450h+ delivers regen braking. It is far from a one-pedal experience, but useful nonetheless.
The cabin follows the RX 450h+’s ride — it is cosseting and quiet. As such, the 450h+ goes full-zoot with the pride of place going to the 14-inch multimedia screen. It is clean and clear, giving easy access to all the usual apps including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as hosting a 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system. The 450H+ has a roomy rear seat with 949-mm of legroom and 838L of cargo space behind. The cargo capacity maxes out at 1,308L with the seats folded.
Best electric crossover: Genesis Electrified GV70
The 77.4-kWh battery delivers a driving range of 383-km. In an age where the norm lies in the low-to-mid 400s, it is a little shy, although practical experience proves the Electrified GV70 will deliver over 400-km of range when regen braking is factored in. There is a wide selection of regen levels — in an urban environment the i-Pedal setting is the best as it delivers a one-pedal drive. On the highway relaxing the regen makes for a less jerky ride.
What the Electrified GV70 lacks in overall range it more than makes up for in its charging ability. Thanks to the 800-volt architecture it can fill the battery from 10 to 80% in 18 minutes when plugged into a 350-kW DC fast charger. If you need a quick splash-and-go to get home it accepts a 100-km of range in just five minutes. When at home a full charge from a Level 2 outlet takes 7-hours and 20 minutes.
Best alternative electric crossover: BMW iX M60
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