10 Best Small Luxury SUVs

2019 Cadillac XT4 ・ Photo by Cadillac

Today’s best small luxury SUVs are a far cry from past models. Older entries - even from premium brands - used to offer noticeably less upscale equipment than their sedan counterparts. That’s not true anymore, however. Instead, the vehicles we cover below can supply just about everything you’d expect from a small luxury car. This includes heated and ventilated seats, leather- and wood-trimmed cabins, and sophisticated safety and infotainment technologies. The big difference is that you also get more capability from a sport utility.

Our favorite choices provide healthy amounts of storage space, which is especially important in the small-vehicle segments. They all have standard or available all-wheel-drive systems, too, so you can be ready for adventure. Finally, we keep our focus on size by only covering SUVs from the compact and subcompact categories.

2019 Acura RDX

Acura completely redesigned the RDX for the 2019 model year, and the brand should be pretty happy with the results. The all-new RDX earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, was named to the WardsAuto top-10 list for infotainment technology, and helped the nameplate set an all-time annual sales record.

The RDX also wears striking design cues both inside and out. A perfect example in the cabin is a futuristic center console that bridges the area between the center stack and the center armrest area. Open-pore ash wood and hand-stitched leather surfaces are available for the interior, as well. Meanwhile, for the RDX exterior, the latest Acura “Jewel Eye” LED headlights are on display.

Photo by Acura

2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Okay, Alfa Romeo does refer to the Stelvio as a “midsize” vehicle, but it’s actually a few inches shorter than some compacts, like the aforementioned Acura RDX. With this in mind, we’re going to add the Stelvio to our gallery of the best small luxury SUVs anyway. It’s certainly one of our best-performing choices; in fact, the Stelvio set a Nürburgring record for fastest lap time by a production SUV of any size.

The 2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio takes things to the next level by introducing newly standard Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, newly available heated rear seats, and new packages with carbon-fiber exterior accents. Carrying over unchanged is the Stelvio’s unique front-end styling and a list of track-friendly options, such as Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes and Sparco racing seats.

Photo by Alfa Romeo

2019 Cadillac XT4

Although Cadillac recently announced it was cutting down its sedan lineup, the brand continues to offer one of the best small luxury SUVs. The all-new 2019 Cadillac XT4 features premium cabin materials like carbon fiber, genuine wood, and diamond-cut aluminum. These create a lavish setting for the XT4’s optional heated and ventilated front seats, which also can give folks a relaxing massage.

As you enjoy that kind of Cadillac comfort, you can take advantage of high-end technologies, as well. Here you’ll find mobile Wi-Fi, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and advanced safety measures like Cadillac’s digital Rear Camera Mirror. The XT4 also looks the part with standard LED signature headlights and dramatic aluminum-alloy wheels that can be up to 20 inches in diameter.

Photo by Cadillac

2019 Infiniti QX30

If you’re shopping for more of an entry model, the best small luxury SUVs include the 2019 Infiniti QX30. This is the starting point for Infiniti’s SUV lineup, with a surprisingly practical MSRP of just over $31,000. But the QX30 boasts an exotic exterior design, so it definitely stands out from pricier rivals with more conventional styling.

The nimble dimensions for the QX30, and its sporty engine choices, also mean it is more fun to drive than key rivals. Further, if you want true lux details, you can upgrade the QX30 with goodies like heated Nappa leather seating and LED headlights. Just remember that these uplevel features all are packed into a vehicle that’s a few inches shorter in length than a 2019 Honda Civic hatchback.

Photo by Infiniti

2019 Jaguar I-Pace

The 2019 Jaguar I-PACE is next in our gallery of the best small luxury SUVs, but we aren’t the only ones to like this all-new entry. The experts from the Green Car Journal also were impressed with the vehicle, recently naming it their 2019 Luxury Green Car of the Year. The award-winning difference for the I-Pace is an all-electric powertrain that lets you travel an EPA-certified 234 miles on a single charge.

If you’re more interested in speed than distance, that same propulsion system can leverage 394 hp and 512 lb-ft of torque, for a 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 124 mph. The I-Pace then checks the usual luxury boxes for leather seating, real-wood cabin trim, and uplevel technology.

Photo by Jaguar

2019 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

Some of the best small luxury SUVs can blend daring design cues with off-road capability for exciting adventures. The 2019 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque is a case in point. On the outside, the Evoque has a modern, cutting-edge appearance that’s enhanced by standard LED headlamps and distinctive side vents. Those can be topped off by three different roof options: a fixed panoramic glass roof, and black or silver contrast-color roofs for a two-tone exterior.

The Evoque cabin, with its nearly all-digital controls, is likewise elegant and sophisticated. That saidyou also can rely on Land Rover’s traditional trail-friendly approach to driving, since the Evoque serves up more than 8.3 inches of ground clearance and can wade through almost two feet of water.

Photo by Land Rover

2019 Lexus NX

The 2019 Lexus NX can bring hybrid power to our list of the best small luxury SUVs. To be specific, the setup in the NX 300h delivers a total of 194 hp. Of course, the real advantage is at the gas pumps, where the NX hybrid achieves EPA ratings of 33 mpg city/30 mpg highway/31 mpg combined, despite having electrically enabled all-wheel drive as standard content.

The NX also showcases Lexus luxuries such as climate-controlled front seats that can be covered in soft leather surfaces. Another notable highlight for the NX 300h is a comprehensive package of standard safety technology. It bundles adaptive cruise control, automatic forward emergency braking, pedestrian detection lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, lane-keeping assistance, and a rearview camera.

Photo by Lexus

2019 Lincoln MKC

The best small luxury SUVs can provide benefits that go beyond the vehicle itself. Consider the 2019 Lincoln MKC. Sure, it’s available with supple Bridge of Weir leather for its seats, and genuine rosewood or ash for its cabin accents. And the MKC also features high-tech content like mobile Wi-Fi and automatic emergency braking. For performance, two athletic turbocharged engines are on the menu, including a 2.3-liter unit that kicks out 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque.

Yet what really sets this vehicle apart from the crowd is the Lincoln Black Label programs. It’s a collection of services and experiences reserved only for members. These advantages range from access to gourmet restaurants to a “frictionless” approach to getting through airport security.

Photo by Lincoln

2019 Porsche Macan

Enthusiasts searching for the best small luxury SUVs can find what they need at their friendly neighborhood Porsche dealer. That’s where you’ll find a compact SUV that can reach a top speed of 169 mph and race from 0 to 60 in a mere 4.2 seconds. We’re talking about the 2019 Porsche Macan Turbo and its 440-hp twin-turbo V6 engine.

Now, you will need the Porsche Performance and Sport Chrono packages for maximum velocity, but those bundles also mix in their share of comfort features. The Performance sport steering wheel, for instance, is heated and set off by leather upholstery and an Alcantara lining for the roof. Other packages are dedicated to luxury and offer the usual high-class materials and high-tech features.

Photo by Porsche

2019 Volvo XC40

The 2019 Volvo XC40 launched with a lot of buzz, but part of that was because it’s the first entry in Volvo’s vehicle-subscription program. Now, after it’s been out a while, it’s obvious that the XC40 is one of the best small luxury SUVs no matter how you pay for it. Buy, lease, or subscribe, the XC40 has a stunning exterior design that can be enhanced with a contrast-color roof, “Thor’s Hammer” LED lighting, and bold aluminum-alloy wheels up to 20 inches in diameter.

Volvo also one-ups much of the competition when it comes to opulent cabin materials: The ultra-lux Inscription trim features a cut-crystal gear-shift knob by Orrefors. Nor is there any shortage of safety technology; after all, the XC40 is still a Volvo.

Photo by Ron Sessions