Best used luxury SUVs

You want luxury, you got it. Our top choice here, the BMW X7, really does let you have it all – big space, big comfort, and a big personality.

Indeed, the only thing bigger than the X7’s gigantic front grille is the car itself, so if you’ve got a big budget for a used car and a big family and you want to impress the neighbours, this is the one for you.

Yet despite its size, the X7 doesn't feel like the big SUV it is. Indeed, threading an X7 down a congested urban street is no harder than in a much smaller car. Plus, if you go for our favourite engine – the 3.0-litre (whisper it) diesel-fuelled xDrive40d – then you'll always have plenty of power without sacrificing fuel economy.

As a bonus, the interior is as flashy as it is sturdy, and refinement is so impressive that someone in the third row can have a conversation with those up front without raising their voice. It's wonderfully refined, has an amazing ride and an upmarket interior second to none.

Obviously not cheap new, but used prices are really good value. Reliability's looking good, too. 

"Now, if you've never seen an X7 before in the flesh, don't be surprised when you do - it's huge. A great statement and a really great car." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2021 BMW X7 xDrive40d MHT, 55,000 miles, £51,950

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Land Rover knows a thing or two about building luxurious SUVs, and the Range Rover Sport is a prime example of the firm’s expertise.

Like the full-size Range Rover, you get a high driving position that gives you a great view of the road. And yet, the centre console is raised to give it a slightly sportier feel. The ride is also smooth and supple, making it the ideal companion for long journeys.

Our favourite version is the entry-level engine, the D300 diesel, because it blends impressively punchy performance with silken refinement. Indeed, its 296bhp is officially enough to get you to 62mph in 6.6sec, and that feels plenty quick enough despite being the least powerful option in the line-up. Every Range Rover Sport feels stable and relatively agile, but the BMW X5 offers even more grip through corners. 

Even taller passengers won't struggle for space in the rear seats, but unlike older Range Rover Sports, the latest model only has room for five – if you want a seven-seat Range Rover, you'll need to spend more on its bigger brother.

For years, reliability has been an issue with Land Rover products, making it difficult for us to recommend them as used buys. In our most recent reliability survey, the Range Rover Sport finished in third place out of 16 cars in the luxury car class with a good overall score of 94.9%. 

“I found that my holiday luggage fit with ease inside the Range Rover Sport's boot – and even better, there's no penalty in terms of space if you go for the plug-in hybrid model.” – George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2020 Range Rover Sport P400e, 55,000 miles, £28,000

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The original BMW X5 rewrote the rule book on how big, tall and heavy SUVs should handle, and subsequent generations only added to its overall appeal.

Now, this fourth-generation BMW X5 is a real class leader with a terrific ride and excellent refinement. Go for one of the excellent 3.0-litre diesels to get the best value used, or the plug-in hybrid model for its potential economy. 

Don't think that by spending less than you would on its X7 sibling you'll be living in a bargain basement SUV, either, because it's truly hard to fault the quality of materials used inside the X5. Every surface you're likely to touch regularly is coated in plush-feeling materials, but what's especially impressive is that attractive, tactile finishes are used even in places you won't see or touch often.

Then there's the X5's infotainment system, which remains one of the best in the business to use thanks to its rotary controller – a feature also shared with the X7. Reliability is looking good, too, and used prices are definitely tempting. 

"It might look big and butch but I find the BMW X5 is a delight to drive. Add in the plug-in hybrid's refinement and I think it's remarkably civilised." - George Hill, used cars writer 

We found: 2021 BMW X5 xDrive40d M Sport, 48,000 miles, £30,999

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While previous versions of the Land Rover Defender were as luxurious as an apple at a state banquet, this latest version really upped the ante, mixing premium materials and cossetting on-road manners with the off-road prowess which has made the Defender name famous.

You can have your Defender in a variety of lengths, ranging from the shortest '90' models to the enormous '130' version with up to eight seats, but it's the middle-ground seven-seat '110' models which we think make the most sense.

Opting for the D250 diesel engine means effortless progress, even with every seat filled – indeed, Land Rover says the 0-62mph sprint can be cracked in around 7.0sec.

Your rear passengers will find they have a palatial amount of leg and head room – although both the Audi Q7 and BMW X5 have slightly lower floors, so the rear seats in those models are likely to be more comfortable over big distances.

Used prices now look very attractive, and its reliability has been good so far, with the Defender finishing in fourth place out of 16 cars in the luxury car class in our most recent reliability survey. 

“When I tested the Land Rover Defender 110 against its Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90 rivals, I found that I could fit seven carry-on suitcases into its boot below the load cover – but both of its rivals could take more.” – George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2021 Jaguar I-Pace EV400 S, 40,000 miles, £18,995

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It might seem odd that the smaller sibling is so far ahead of the full-fat Porsche Cayenne in our top 10, but the Porsche Macan is an agile blast.

Unlike most SUVs, the Macan is designed to appeal to keen drivers. In fact, it's aimed at buyers who've outgrown a Cayman but don’t want to give up the Porsche badge or the driving enjoyment that goes with it. Think of it as the best of both worlds – a car that's fun but also practical.

And the best bit is it matches the Cayenne for luxury, and adds a whole extra dollop of driver enjoyment, thanks to it being smaller and lighter. It's not as spacious as some, but it is more fun than most of them, and it's relatively good value used, too.

It's also known to be rather reliable and, although it's not cheap (it is a Porsche, after all, and depreciation is fairly minimal), it is worth the extra.

"If this top 10 were based on driving pleasure alone you'd choose this one above all others. Even though it's getting on a bit it's still great to drive." -Mark Pearson, used cars writer

We found: 2021 Porsche Macan S, 60,000 miles, £27,000

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If the BMW X5 was the car to show the world how to make big SUVs handle like a well-sorted estate car, then the Porsche Cayenne was the one to make them feel like a sports car.

Admittedly, its ride can be a bit firm, but the upside is that it can negotiate a country road far faster than any other off-roader. It steers and handles like some of the smaller Porsches, if with not quite the ultimate agility, and it is far more satisfying to drive than anything else in this class, except for the lighter Porsche Macan that finishes just above it here. 

And it isn’t just quick in the corners; there’s a Turbo S version with 562bhp. We’d stick with the very impressive 3.0-litre diesel, mind, for the best blend of punch and efficiency.

Reliability can be a little mixed, and parts are expensive, but few can match the all-round appeal of this very luxurious and deeply sporting SUV.

"So much has been said about the Cayenne over the years, but I've always rather liked them. It still feels like a Porsche to me. Practicality and poshness? Tick." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2020 Porsche Cayenne S 3.0 diesel Platinum, 51,500 miles, £34,995

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If you like your luxury old-school and very much worn on the outside, the Bentley Bentayga is the SUV for you. It's about as subtle as a Kardashian shopping in a Co-op. 

The short-lived 4.0-litre diesel V8 is the most economical engine, and we've highlighted one we found in our classifieds below, but the more numerous version is the 6.0 W12.

It has the same sense of occasion as any other Bentley, with a beautiful interior and a great infotainment system. Performance is effortless, and our favourite version, the V8 S, offers a more engaging drive – even if there's a little more road noise than you'll find in the plug-in hybrid alternative.

Being a Bentley, the Bentayga is the priciest entrant on this list, but most were ordered with a considerable list of expensive options, making them better value than they first appear. It'll be pricey to buy and to run, but what the heck, think what the neighbours will say. 

"What can I say, so posh! The V8's great, and it drives surprisingly well. One for the wealthy." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2019 Bentley Bentayga V8 S, 79,000 miles, £59,995

Read our full used Bentley Bentayga review

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The Jaguar F-Pace makes a good used buy. It's fun to drive and reasonably practical, plus there are plenty of examples available on forecourts for a competitive price.

It's luxurious inside, especially so if you opt for one of the top trims. There is also a huge range of petrol and diesel engines to choose from in a number of states of tune, from humble and economical diesels to a rapid 375bhp 3.0-litre supercharged V6 petrol, and a bonkers 542bhp 5.0-litre V8 in the F-Pace SVR, if you really fancy pushing the boat out.

In fact, the F-Pace SVR is the range-topping version. It's been honed by Jaguar's 'special vehicles department', injecting a huge dollop of excitement into the F-Pace.

It strikes a sweet balance between ride comfort and handling finesse, with a V8 engine that sounds spectacular. It has a plusher interior and is more rewarding to drive than an Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, is more forgiving to live with than a BMW X3 M Competition and more practical than a Porsche Macan.

In previous years, the reliability of the F-Pace has had a question mark over it, but in our most recent reliability survey it finished in 30th place out of 76 cars in its SUV class, with a good overall score of 94%. 

"The F-Pace has always looked so sharp, in my book. It's good to drive in nearly every form, especially so in SVR trim. And luxurious inside. Reliability is looking a lot better these days." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2021 Jaguar F-Pace SVR 5.0 V8, 55,000 miles, £29,000

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The Volvo XC90 is another practical luxury SUV, comes with loads of safety technology, has an interior that looks and feels wonderfully opulent, and can be found for very reasonable money.

It doesn’t matter all that much which version you go for because all of the trim levels are very well equipped. You can pick up an early 2015 or 2016 car for as little as £20,000, but we'd spend a bit more and put a three or four-year-old low-mileage example on our driveway. 

Like the Audi Q7, the Volvo XC90 has fallen in this top 10 from its usual position in the top three. This is because of a poor showing in our most recent reliability survey, where the XC90 scored 90.9% and finished in seventh place out of 16 cars.

We've also learnt of a problem with the XC90's ERAD drive system on older hybrid models - and the T8 hybrid is one of our favourite XC90 versions - which can cost several thousand pounds to repair. 

"In some ways, this XC90 is almost as good in my book as the Q7. It might not be quite as refined, but I prefer the way it looks." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2021 Volvo XC90 D5 Momentum Pro, 63,000 miles, £27,000

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If you're a regular reader of these top 10s, you might have noticed that the Audi Q7 has fallen from its usual place up near or at the top of this list to a lowly number 10. Why so?

Reliability, alas. In our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, the Q7 finished in last place out of 16 cars in the luxury SUV class with a poor overall score of 78.6%.

However, previous years have seen better results for the Q7, so if you're prepared to overlook this year's poor showing, you'll still have a great luxury SUV. 

The Q7 has won multiple What Car? awards for the very reason that it is an impeccable family car, an excellent long-distance tourer and an outstanding luxury vehicle. Few cars this side of £100,000 have a plusher and quieter interior. 

"I find a day in a Q7 as relaxing as a trip to a spa town. That you can have such a practical after for such modest amounts makes it a real star car. Shame about the reliability reports this year, though." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2021 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI S line, 58,000 miles, £28,500

Read our full used Audi Q7 review

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