10 Best Luxury SUVs With Self-Driving Features for 2021

Brady Holt driving Cadillac Escalade Super Cruise ・ Photo by Prisca Lo Surdo

Luxury vehicles are often at the forefront of style, comfort, and technology. And the latter includes advanced self-driving features, which until recently were the stuff of science fiction. 

Typical self-driving features include adaptive cruise control, which maintains a minimum distance from the car in front of you even as it changes speed; automatic emergency braking, which slams the brakes by itself if it detects a likely collision; blind-spot monitoring, which alerts you if you might be changing lanes into another vehicle; lane-departure warnings, which alert you if you drift over the line; and lane-keeping assistance, which autonomously makes steering corrections to keep you in place. And especially once you’re buying a luxury vehicle, some systems can also help swerve to avoid a collision or even let you take your hands entirely off the steering wheel. Still, a car is about much more than just its driver-assistance technology, which is why we’ve also considered other factors in choosing the 10 best luxury SUVs with self-driving features. Keep reading to learn about our picks. 

1. 2022 Lincoln Nautilus

Priced less than some compact crossovers, but roomier and fancier than its top mid-size competitors, the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus is an overlooked luxury gem. That’s especially true after it got an all-new interior last year, featuring improved materials and a stunning yet user-friendly 13.2-inch touchscreen. Prices start at $42,500. 

The five-passenger Nautilus also boasts a diverse collection of self-driving features, part of the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite. Adaptive cruise control unfortunately costs extra, part of an expanded suite called Co-Pilot360+, but it’s bundled with driver aids that include automatic self-parking, evasive steering assistance, and reverse automatic braking. Standard features include forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot monitoring. Though it’s quick and agile, the Nautilus is more about relaxing comfort than sporty performance — a perfect complement to self-driving features. 

Photo by Lincoln

2. 2022 Acura MDX

When you want to carry the family in your luxury SUV, the newly redesigned 2022 Acura MDX is a winner. This mid-size crossover avoids excessive bulk — it features sharp handling and a smooth, punchy V6 engine — yet it still has three usable rows of seats and smart functional touches like easy-folding seats. 

What’s more, even at its base price of $47,200, the MDX has a full complement of “AcuraWatch” self-driving features, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot monitoring. We wish the MDX had richer cabin materials and simpler infotainment controls, but this is otherwise a superb luxury SUV with solid self-driving features. 

Photo by Acura

3. 2021 Tesla Model Y

You’ll find several all-electric SUVs on our list of the best luxury SUVs with self-driving features, and the 2021 Tesla Model Y is the first. Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self Driving Capability systems are remarkably smooth in routine conditions, and this compact luxury SUV presents nifty computer-generated views of the obstacles and other landmarks — red lights, lane markings, other traffic, and more — that the system has identified and is navigating around. 

However, the systems’ names and smoothness lull some drivers into a false sense of security; unlike a few competitors’ systems, they do not officially sanction hands-free driving. Still, as long as you’re willing to pay attention and step in as needed, you’ll love the Tesla self-driving experience. Autopilot is standard equipment on the Model Y, currently priced from $53,990. And the huge 15-inch touchscreen complements the vehicle’s high-tech vibe. The Model Y is also fast and agile, it’s roomy for five passengers, and it even has a tiny third-row seat available. Depending on the version you choose, it can travel up to 326 miles per all-electric charge. 

Photo by Tesla

4. 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E

The Model Y’s closest rival also features advanced self-driving technologies. That’s the new 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, whose all-electric range is up to 300 miles per charge. You may not think of a Ford as a luxury vehicle, but the Mustang Mach-E delivers high-end comfort, performance, and technology. It also has high-end prices, spanning from $42,895 to past $60,000. (Unlike Teslas, electric Fords do still qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit, which lessens that sting.) 

As the vehicle’s name suggests, the Mustang Mach-E is a sporty SUV with retro design cues and plenty of driving fun. When you don’t want to drive it yourself, Ford’s upcoming BlueCruise system will allow hands-free driving on more than 100,000 miles of designated U.S. roadways. The system isn’t currently available, but Ford will unlock the capability later this year for new and existing owners of eligible Mach-E models. Even without BlueCruise and on roads beyond the system’s capability, every Mach-E includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance. Some models also include a self-parking feature. 

Photo by Ford

5. 2021 Cadillac Escalade

If you’re looking for a hands-free driving system you can buy and use today, the main option is General Motors’ Super Cruise. It has twice the number of eligible roads as BlueCruise, too, at more than 200,000 miles across the U.S. 

The flagship Super Cruise vehicle is the newly redesigned Cadillac Escalade. This full-size luxury SUV boasts a smoother ride, roomier interior, and more technology than ever. It’s not economical or agile, but at least when you let go of the steering wheel, you’re not missing out on an engaging driving experience. You’ll pay up if you want many self-driving features, though; a base Escalade costs $76,195, and that money only buys automatic emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control is only available starting around $87,000, and Super Cruise brings you well into the $90,000s. Another caveat: As we write, a shortage of semiconductor chips caused GM to suspend production of Super Cruise, but you might find an already-built Escalade equipped with the feature. And we’re sure it will return as soon as possible. 

Photo by General Motors

6. 2022 BMW X5

If you don’t need the most possible interior room and the least possible time holding the steering wheel, the 2022 BMW X5 will suit you better than the Escalade. This superbly well-rounded mid-size luxury SUV drives well whether you favor relaxed comfort or sporty performance, and it includes most of its self-driving features within its $59,400 base price. 

BMW also has a compelling, though less comprehensive, alternative to Super Cruise: Extended Traffic Jam Assist. This extra-cost upgrade lets you take your hands off the steering wheel at speeds up to 37 mph, driving for you on congested highways but not at higher speeds or more challenging conditions. Still, it’s arguably more helpful to have this assistance in more fatiguing traffic than on the open road. And as with Super Cruise, you can use the system more broadly as long as you’re willing to hold the steering wheel. 

Photo by BMW

7. 2022 Genesis GV70

The 2022 Genesis GV70 surges into the compact luxury crossover scene with big horsepower, sporty handling, plenty of design pizzazz, lots of features for the money — and a healthy complement of self-driving features as standard equipment. Only reverse automatic braking costs extra, with the other typical features included even at the base price of $41,000. 

This is a driver’s crossover, with a choice between a 300-horsepower four-cylinder engine or a 375-horsepower V6. Sharp steering and handling are also endearing. But when you’re not on a fun back road, you can also let the car take over on dull freeways or during soul-crushing stop-and-go rush hour. 

Photo by Genesis

8. 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer

Jeep surged into the luxury suv world this year with two killer entries: the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. They combine beautifully finished interiors with smooth rides and acres of space. 

The Grand Wagoneer is the leader both for luxury and for self-driving features. Its available Active Driving Assistant suite includes adaptive cruise control and smooth lane-keeping assistance, and a hands-free upgrade is promised within a few months — Jeep’s rival to Super Cruise and BlueCruise. The Wagoneer gets lousy gas mileage from its 5.7-liter V8 engine, and the Grand Wagoneer is even thirstier with its 6.4-liter V8. And this is a big, bulky vehicle that we wouldn’t recommend for crowded spaces. But there’s otherwise a lot to love about this big luxury SUV. 

Photo by Jeep

9. 2022 Volvo XC40

The 2022 Volvo XC40 is a subcompact luxury SUV that brings high-end design, build quality, and technology at a lower price than you might expect. It’s priced from just $34,100 with a long list of self-driving technologies, while adaptive cruise control and the smooth Pilot Assist suite are bundled with other convenience features for a modest $1,500 extra. 

Better still, the XC40’s upright, boxy shape gives it more passenger and cargo space than many of its competitors. That means you can consider the XC40 as an alternative to larger, more expensive compact luxury SUVs. What’s more, eco-minded customers can even choose a fully electric variant called the XC40 Recharge; it starts at $55,300 before a $7,500 federal tax credit, and it can travel an EPA-estimated 208 miles per charge. 

Photo by Volvo

10. 2021 Tesla Model X

We’ll return to Tesla for our final luxury suv with self-driving features. Like the smaller, less expensive Model Y, the mid-size Model X delivers slickly functional Autopilot driving assistance, wildly fast all-electric performance, and exceptional efficiency. It also features automatic self-parking and a remote-control “summon” feature for driverless low-speed maneuvering, like out of your garage. 

A recent update brought a more beautifully finished interior, a nice upgrade that helps justify a price tag that’s nearly twice the Model Y’s: $99,900 and up as we write. It also has more room, including a more usable third-row seat. The current base Long Range model goes from 0-60 in a blistering 3.8 seconds and travels an estimated 360 miles per charge. We’re not sold on the everyday usability of the new yoke-style steering wheel or the long-running “falcon wing” rear doors, but this is a cool, fast, and eco-friendly luxury SUV with excellent self-driving features.

Photo by Tesla