Luxury SUVs are all the rage right now, and for good reason. Moms and dads are tired of driving their kids around in uncool cars that just don’t offer the same thing as those pre-parent cars. It’s like I always said when I was pregnant with any of my four little ones; just because I’m about to be a mom doesn’t mean I still can’t be stylish and myself. The same holds true for my vehicles. I might not be able to drive the same small sports car that I was accustomed to driving pre-kids, but that certainly does not mean I’m stuck in minivan mom status.
I can still drive something stylish and sophisticated, and I’ve had my range of luxury SUVs and even one sedan in my 8 years of parenting – and I can say that while I just bought a brand new one and couldn’t care less about the 2017 models in terms of my own driving wants and needs, there are some pretty sweet new luxury SUVs making an appearance in the new model year. Parents, take note; these are the luxury SUVs to watch out for if you’re in the market for a new ride.
Audi Q7 -$55,750 (base price)
When I was looking for my new ride, I did drive the 7-passenger Audi SUV. It’s hot; but it’s not big enough in the third row or trunk for my 8, 5 and 2-year-old twins to ride comfortably and still allow me space for strollers, groceries and other items needed so badly by a mom with a hoard much like my own. However, that didn’t stop the fact that it was gorgeous. The new ’17 model is even more impressive. What you will love about the interior is the fact that it’s so sleek and modern. The controls are primarily on the arm rest now versus the actual dash. It has every upgrade imaginable as a standard feature, including leather seats, a sunroof, heated and cooled seats and Bluetooth capabilities to go along with the navigation system. Additionally, it pretty much drives itself with a backup camera, park assist, traffic jam assist and blind-spot monitoring.
Under the hood you will find a 4-wheel drive, a turbo-charged 3.0-liter V6 engine with 272-horsepower. You can even choose one with all the same features and 333-horsespower. The nice thing, too, about this SUV is the fact that you’re going to get 18-32 mpg depending on when, where and how you drive.
Acura MDX – $44,890 (base price)
The brand new 2017 Acura MDX has made some major changes that has drivers more than a little excited. Again, I won’t lie to you and tell you that this 3-row SUV is sufficient if you have more than two kids. It’s not – I drove one when I was car shopping recently, and it’s just ridiculously tiny. The only way you even have a semblance of a trunk is with the third row down, and I’m still pretty positive then it’s only a fraction larger than my Denali’s trunk with the third row up and being used. However, it’s gorgeous and it’s all luxury all the way.
The interior is, as always with Acura vehicles, stunning. Sleek and sophisticated, I don’t even need to tell you that all the luxury features are standard in this vehicle, including navigation and all the ‘assists’ you can imagine. New this model year is a standard emergency braking system, lane-departure warning and forward-collision warning among others. It’s also got a wider, lower body-style that makes it look a bit more masculine and a lot meaner. It’s pretty sweet.
You can choose from a sports hybrid or regular model. The sports model comes with a V6 engine with 325-horsepower versus the regular 290-hp. The regular model comes with 18-20 mpg fuel efficiency and the sports hybrid ranges from 25-26 mpg.
BMW X3 M – $41,475 (base price)
It’s been spotted already, and people cannot stop talking about it. While I love the look of a BMW, I’m going to be honest and say that owning one was the most expensive 13 months of my entire life – and that was with a warranty and did not include the cost of actually owning the vehicle. Now, the new X3 is about as different as you can get while still maintaining the same allure as previous models. It’s the third generation of the X3, and it’s good stuff with its new plug-in hybrid technology. It also comes with newly designed seats that are slimmer and more comfortable than before. The back row is completely collapsible to make for a bigger trunk space when necessary. The sunroof is bigger, and the hybrid models takes on more than 75 mpg. It comes with a 245-hp 2.0-liter engine, and a 95bhp hybrid motor. The interior has all the bells and whistles that come with any luxury SUV.
Mercedes GLS – $67,975 (base price)
Who doesn’t want an SUV with an air ionization system? I don’t even know what that means and I certainly don’t care enough to look it up, but it sounds amazing, right? The brand new GLS series offers more than you could imagine – in every different range that comes along in this class. From a V8 twin-turbo 449hp GLS550 to a V6 362-hp GLS450, you can take your pick. Just know that each one has an almost identical interior with all the upgrades such as leather, sunroof, premium sound system, all the driving ‘assists’ and navigation all as standard features.
The exterior isn’t much different than it’s been in the past, but it does have new LED taillights, which are awesome. What we love is the COMAND touchpad. The biggest changes come within the mechanics of this ride this year, but it just makes the Benz more stylish, faster and sleeker than ever before. People are looking out for this one because it’s going to be the sportiest of the luxury SUVs, and who doesn’t love that? Depending on where you go and how you drive, you’re looking at getting 13-19 mpg in the city and 17-27 mpg on the highway.
GMC Acadia Denali – $45,000 (base price)
To say that the base price of the all new 2017 GMC Acadia Denali dropped a bit is a huge understatement. I drive the 2016 GMC Acadia Denali, and while I don’t have the base model, I can tell you that the price of the base models we did see was significantly higher. The reason being is that the car is smaller and less ‘bulky’ beginning in 2017. While that’s a disappointment to me as this is one of the few non-massive luxury SUVS I can drive with my four kids and still have room for the twins’ stroller, diaper bag, groceries and luggage in the trunk, it’s a big deal for people who want to drive this vehicle on a smaller note.
It’s still going to seat 7 passengers, but without all the trunk space. The gas mileage isn’t changing much, offering drivers 21/26 mpg. The problem is that its losing a ton of towing capacity, down from 5200-lbs. It’s also losing height, width and length. You’re looking at a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with only 194-hp. This, as a whole, is a hugely disappointing change for me already being a driver of this magnificent SUV. Why mess with a good thing? However, it’s what people want and the bigger model will hopefully come back in 2018.
The good news is that it’s going to work well for smaller families without anything to tow and without the need for much space. It’s more like a smaller crossover SUV now, and the price is significantly less expensive. That’s probably what has people so excited about this new version of the Acadia Denali.