10 of the Best Luxury Crossovers

Luxury crossovers are aimed at buyers who want to combine excellent passenger and cargo room without sacrificing the comfort and features that come with modern premium sedans.  In many cases, this also includes a driving experience that doesn't feel big and bulky but rather more refined than the size and weight of the crossover in question would seem to suggest.  A number of excellent luxury crossovers have sprung up to serve this particular niche, replacing station wagons and minivans in the driveways of well-heeled family shoppers not satisfied with more standard fare.

Let's take a look at 10 of the best luxury crossovers currently available.

Best Luxury Crossovers - 01 - 2012 Cadillac SRX

Before the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon hit the scene, the Cadillac SRX was the closest thing to a traditional wagon that the luxury brand had ever produced.  The 2012 Cadillac SRX seats five passengers while offering 61 cubic feet of total cargo space.  A raft of upscale features, including a panoramic sunroof, surround sound audio, and an adaptive suspension system are available with the SRX, and the crossover comes standard with a 308 horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 engine that also generates 265 lb-ft of torque.  All-wheel drive is optional with the Cadillac, while a six-speed automatic transmission is included free of charge.

Best Luxury Crossovers - 02 - 2012 Infiniti FX

The 2012 Infiniti FX is the sports car of the luxury crossover segment.  The Infiniti FX shares aspects of its platform with the Infiniti G sedan, which gives it an aggressive rear-wheel drive oriented feel from behind the wheel, along with handling that is a notch above many of its competitors.  The mid-size FX - which can also be had with all-wheel drive - seats five passengers and can haul up to 62 cubic feet of gear, and it starts out with a 303 horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 under the hood.  Upgrading to the vehicle's available 5.0-liter V-8 introduces 390 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque into the mix, and both engines are managed by a seven-speed automatic transmission.

Best Luxury Crossovers - 03 - 2012 Audi Q7

The 2012 Audi Q7 was developed in part to counterbalance domestic luxury crossovers boasting significant towing power.  The Audi Q7 bears the exquisite interior design that one would expect from the manufacturer, extended to all seven passengers, and with 72.5 cubic feet of cargo space available the large crossover additionally features excellent practicality.  The vehicle's 6,600 lbs of towing capacity are best appreciated via the selection of its available 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine, which puts out 225 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque.  Also available are two different versions of Audi's 3.0-liter supercharged V-6, one of which returns 280 horsepower and the other 333 horsepower.  Quattro all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission come with each and every version of the Q7.

Best Luxury Crossovers - 04 - 2013 Acura RDX

The 2013 Acura RDX has been redesigned in order to offer compact luxury crossover shoppers a more well-rounded package.  The five-passenger Acura RDX is provides better fuel efficiency than the model it replaces despite coming with a larger and heartier engine.  The Acura's 3.5-liter V-6 can be counted on to provide 273 horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque, and while the vehicle's advanced SH-AWD system may no longer be available, a still-capable all-wheel drive arrangement is available as an option.  A six-speed automatic transmission is also offered with the RDX, and total cargo capacity is listed at 61 cubic feet.

Best Luxury Crossovers - 05 - 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class hasn't received as extensive a makeover as its compact Japanese competitor from Acura, but it manages to present a fresh face and a renewed interior for the current model year.  On top of its five passenger seating and 54.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity are handling and ride quality that are much more sedan-like than what was found in years past.  The Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class also boasts a more powerful base V-6 (3.5-liters, 302 horsepower), as well as the availability of a 2.1-liter, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that contributes 190 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque to the cause.  A seven-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard with the crossover, and the V-6 also comes with an automatic engine start/stop feature to help improve fuel mileage.

Best Luxury Crossovers - 06 - 2013 Buick Enclave

The 2013 Buick Enclave is known for its cavernous, yet quiet interior, a characteristic that has been improved thanks to a mid-cycle revision that also sees an update to its styling.  With a passenger capacity of up to eight, and room for copious amounts of luggage (as much as 115.2 cubic feet), the Buick Enclave is a formidable full-size luxury crossover match for would-be SUV rivals.  The Enclave is powered by a 3.6-liter V-6 engine that makes use of a dual exhaust system to help produce 288 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque.  A six-speed automatic gearbox is standard with the Buick, while all-wheel drive can be outfitted as an option.

Best Luxury Crossovers - 07 - 2013 BMW X3

The 2013 BMW X3 is an excellent handler, a comfortable five-passenger transporter, and a relatively frugal machine at the fuel pump.  The compact BMW X3 luxury crossover is lucky enough to borrow from the BMW 3 Series when it comes to its platform and drivetrains, which gives it a leg-up when it comes to cornering and road-holding.  Entry-level versions of the X3 come with a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is rated at 240 horsepower, while top-spec editions feature a turbocharged six-cylinder mill that provides 300 horses and 300 lb-ft of torque.  All-wheel drive is standard with the X3, as is an eight-speed automatic transmission and 63.3 cubic feet of total cargo space (with the rear seats folded forward).

Best Luxury Crossovers - 08 - 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is advertised as the 'S-Class of crossover SUVs,' which might sound like a bit of hyperbole until you drive the mammoth seven-passenger rig.  Inside, the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class shows off its quiet tuning, its ability to absorb bumps in the road, and its effortless steering and acceleration - all qualities that one associates with the brand's flagship sedan.  Of course, the S-Class can’t carry around just under 94 cubic feet of cargo, not to mention tow anywhere near the 7,500 lbs that the GL-Class can.  The Mercedes-Benz crossover can be had with a 3.0-liter, turbodiesel V-6 that produces 240 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque, a 362 horsepower, twin-turbo 4.7-liter V-8, or a 429 horsepower version of that same gas-powered, eight-cylinder engine.  All-wheel drive and a seven-speed automatic transmission are included with each motor.

Best Luxury Crossovers - 09 - 2012 Infiniti EX

The 2012 Infiniti EX looks for all intents and purposes like a tall-riding wagon, thanks to its sleek roofline.  A very compliant sedan-based platform further enhances that impression, particularly when the roads turn curvy and the Infiniti EX gets to strut its stuff at a higher rate of speed.  The compact luxury crossover is big enough inside to handle five passengers and up to 47.4 cubic feet of cargo, but small enough outside to be easy to park in an urban environment.  A 3.5-liter V-6 engine carries the day for the Infiniti, and the 297 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque that it contributes to the cause are shepherded by a seven-speed automatic transmission and a standard all-wheel drive system.

Best Luxury Crossovers - 10 - 2013 Lexus RX

The 2013 Lexus RX is the final entry on our list of luxury crossovers, and it's another family hauler that has been revamped to offer more arresting styling.  The Lexus RX is one of the best-selling crossovers in the business, and it has achieved this status through a compelling mix of comfort, advanced features, and practicality.  The RX offers five passenger seating, an astonishing (for a mid-size vehicle) 80 cubic feet of total cargo space, and V-6 power from a 3.5-liter unit that delivers 270 horses and 248 lb-ft of torque.  A six-speed automatic transmission is included with the Lexus crossover, and all-wheel drive can be added as an option.