The Automobile industry is a fantastic business that echoes around the world. It was always a symbol of progress, technology and many times an ostentatious symbol. One important segment is the luxury SUV segment that has experienced tremendous growth in the past 10 years. Originally, SUVs were meant to be useful and professional vehicles restricted to certain people (adventurers, explorers, farmers…). With the arrival of luxury SUVs, the whole segment was leveled up in terms of pricing but also in terms of market share.
The Global SUV Market, An Interesting Growing Market
Last year, the Global SUV market grew to 26.6 million cars produced. This volume of production is supposed to reach almost 51 million cars by 2023. This important growth is explained by:
- Increasing consumer inclination towards compact SUVs
- Rising consumer demand for a car that is comfortable and can perform the occasional off-roading
- Growing adoption of hybrid and electric SUVs
Moreover, increasing investments by leading auto manufacturers such as Jeep, Toyota, Honda, etc., in their SUV product lines is expected to positively influence the global SUV market in the coming years. At the New York Auto show, automakers unveiled another flock of SUVs ranging from a revamped Toyota RAV4, Toyota Motor Corp’s top-selling model in 2017, to flashy new luxury Cadillac and Lincoln SUVs. Premium brands such as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV’s Maserati that once dealt exclusively in low-slung sports cars are getting into the game.
What About The Luxury SUV Segment?
Luxury SUV is a marketing term used for specific types of SUVs to promote a sense of exclusivity and increase the brand value of such vehicles. Luxury SUVs are often offered at significantly higher price tags as compared to other types of SUVs. SUVs are vehicles with a high ground clearance, capability for an all-wheel or four-wheel drive, high center of gravity, high seating, and tall interior packaging. SUVs are termed light trucks because of their utility-based design. These vehicles are characterized by their high fuel consumption and increased curb weight. A majority of the SUVs are made with the towing capacity to increase their utility.
Technavio’s market research report identifies that the increasing preference for safety and comfort will be one of the primary growth drivers for the global luxury SUV market till 2021. The need for additional safety features in the luxury vehicles is increasing due to the rising number of road accidents. As a result, the number of potential buyers for luxury SUVs will continue to increase in the forthcoming years. Technavio’s market research analysts predict that in terms of units, this market will grow of about 25% by 2021. The luxury SUV market is highly competitive. The major market players are trying to develop and introduce technologically advanced models of luxury SUVs. The vehicle manufacturers in the SUV cars market are encouraged to develop luxury electric SUVs due to the increased fuel economy standards. The top 20 Key vendors in this market are:
- Audi
- BMW
- Daimler
- Jaguar Land Rover
- Volvo
- Acura
- Alfa Romeo
- Bentley
- Cadillac
- GMC
- Infiniti
- Lamborghini
- Lexus
- Lincoln
- Maserati
- Porsche
- Rolls Royce
- Tesla
- Toyota
- Volkswagen
Our Editor’s Top 5 Best SUVs in 2018-2019
At LuxuryActivist.com we have made a sharp choice of the best 5 Luxury SUVs we would recommend. The choice is made based on performance, exclusivity, design and price. Hopefully you will feel inspired for your next purchase. Follow the selection.
Mercedes AMG GLE 63S, Hyper Luxury With A Rocket Engine
Since AMG became a world renowned automobile preparer and designer, it brought some spice to the Gentle Mercedes. The AMG GLE 63S is an amazing luxury SUV, definitely focused on performance. The dynamics begin when anticipation accelerates the driver’s pulse. And it can easily be increased: Under the hood of the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S lurk 585 horsepower (430 kW) – they master every gait, from quiet trot to unleashed gallop, thanks to the DYNAMIC SELECT driving program selection. Meanwhile, its interior is comfortable and full of precise details.
Bentley Bentayga, Get Luxury Off-Road
Bentayga is unlike any other sport utility vehicle in the world. It is also the fastest SUV ever built. This powerful, all-terrain, all-purpose car offers an exceptional driving experience. As well as having the most technically advanced engine in its category, it has Mulliner Driving Specification fitted as standard and a choice of more paint colours than any other SUV. Bentayga brings together outstanding performance and unparalleled levels of luxury on and off-road. With its all-new W12 petrol engine, Bentayga has redefined what an SUV engine can do. The Bentayga 6.0 litre engine achieves 0 to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds (0 to 100 km/h 4.1 seconds) and accelerates to a top speed of 187 mph (301 km/h), making it the world’s fastest SUV.
2019 Lexus LX 570 Three Row , Design And Efficiency
With generous eight-passenger seating and unmatched off-road capability, the three-row 2019 LX 570 can tackle even the toughest terrain. Meanwhile, the available Mark Levinson® 19-speaker system provides the perfect soundtrack for your daily adventures. A 5.7-liter V8 with 403 lb-ft of torque adds to the power behind the prestige. From Crawl Control to Multi-Terrain Select, advanced systems on the LX are ready to tackle off-road challenges.
2019 Range Rover Sport – Luxury and Dirty Roads
If there is one brand who knows what a dirty road is… well, this is Range Rover. Over the past decades, it has dominated the market for adventure SUV and in the last 10 years, Range Rover has spiced up its game by adding a luxury and design touch into their cars. Next year, Range Rover will be presenting a new version of its Sport model. A powerful SE V6 3.0L, developing 340hp for a top speed of 209km/h and a 0-100km/h within 7,2s.
2019 Audi SQ8 – The Monster Within
Launched in June 2018, the Audi Q8 came as an outsider in the niche world dominated by BMW X6, the Mercedes Benz GLE Coupe and of course the Porsche Cayenne. With a solid 2018 business around this new model, Audi is already thinking in expand the line. The first evolution for 2019 is the addition of the “S-badge” into the line. Audi already started working on a SQ8 for 2019 and we believe the result will be really impressive. The SQ8 will definitely become the top model for Audi and will challenge many of their competitors. Some rumors say that Audi is also working on a RS version that would push even further the boundaries of the Q8 line. We should expect to see the SQ8 model presented at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Until then, see here some exclusive footage of the SQ8 speed testing at the legendary Nurburgring track.
One last thought for the Porsche Cayenne. It is the mythical luxury SUV that has lost a bit of breath in the recent years but still occupies a key position in this highly demanding market.
José Amorim
Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for reproduction purposes only.
