TOP MID-SIZE LUXURY SUVS
The bestsellers in Canada for 2017 offered reliability, style, power and versatility
A full generation ago, and longer, the size and make of your car was one of the surest indicators of status. Cadillac and Lincoln throughout the 1960s, and Mercedes, Lexus, BMW and Jaguar later on. Today, while these (and other) upscale brands are still worthy of an admiring glance, it’s their respective SUVs that are generating the big sales.
Last year was another banner year for sales of crossovers and SUVs big and small, with the luxe segment particularly buoyant. These were the top-selling mid-size luxury models in Canada 2017, and a look at what’s coming for 2018.
1 Lexus RX ($56,500 to start)
Reliability and a solid reputation for more than 25 years have been the hallmarks of the RX and why it’s the best-selling model in the Lexus lineup. For 2018, Lexus offers a choice of traditional gasoline or advanced gas-electric hybrid powertrains and a total of nine model and trim combinations, including a new Navigation Package for the RX 350 and a number of performance-oriented F Sport editions.
As before, the RX series is offered with a choice of two powertrains. The RX 350 features a 3.5-litre V6 that delivers up to 295 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque. The six-cylinder is mated to a sequential shift-mode eight-speed automatic with lock-up torque converter and transmission cooler.
The RX 450h features the powerful and efficient Lexus Hybrid Drive. Built around a 3.5-L Atkinson-cycle V6, a high-torque electric motor, powerful storage battery and sophisticated power management system, this hybrid delivers 308 net system horsepower and impressive fuel efficiency. The Lexus Hybrid Drive works in concert with a continuously variable transmission.
2 BMW X5 ($68,500 to start)
In its current form, the thirdgeneration X5 has been around a few years; the 2014 model was its last major design. Yet, with a quartet of powertrains to choose from, plus a definite focus on both sport and luxury, the mid-size Bimmer more than holds its own.
Three models comprise the main body of the X5 lineup: the xDrive 35i, with a 3.0-L turbocharged inline six, the xDrive 50i, with a twinturbo 4.4-L V8, and the xDrive 30d, powered by a six-cylinder turbodiesel. All are connected to eightspeed automatic transmissions.
In 2016, BMW added the xDrive 40e, which combines a 2.0-L Twin Power turbo four cylinder with an electric motor, powered by a lithium-ion battery. This newest version can travel approximately 21 km on pure electric power, which makes it ideally suited to short commutes and quick trips around town. Working in concert, the gasoline engine and electric motor put out 308 hp and produce 332 lb-ft of torque, enough to propel the vehicle to 100 km/h in just 6.5 seconds.
3 Cadillac XT5 ($46,375 to start)
Replacing the SRX, the Cadillac XT5 was completely new for 2017. The five-seat, mid-size crossover relies on the unique lightweight design of its chassis for increased fuel economy and an enhanced driving experience.
XT5s are powered by a 310-hp 3.6-L V6, the same as is in the ATS and CTS sport sedans as well as the CT6. The engine features cylinderdeactivation technology, which allows it to automatically switch to a fuel-saving four-cylinder mode under low or moderate loads. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard.
The XT5 is more than 295 kg lighter than the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, achieving this, says Cadillac, with no compromise to body rigidity and crash performance.
Cadillac’s Rear Camera Mirror system is available on 2018 models. It enhances the driver’s rear vision by 300 per cent, using a video display applied over the conventional inside rear-view mirror. A high dynamic range camera records wider images behind the car, streams the image to video processing software that “removes” obstacles such as the roof, rear pillars and rear seat passengers.
4 Acura MDX ($54,090 to start)
Restyled and refreshed last year, the MDX raised its game with new exterior styling, larger wheel and tire options, and an expanded complement of features and technologies, including the AcuraWatch suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies.
Power is provided by a 3.5-L direct-injected V6, rated at 290 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque. An available Sport Hybrid Super HandlingAll Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) powertrain version was added midway through the model year, making MDX the third model in Acura’s lineup to use its three-motor Sport Hybrid powertrain with electric torque vectoring.
Unique elements of the MDX Sport Hybrid’s design and engineering include the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD powertrain with three electric motors and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, an advanced Electro Servo braking system, new and model-exclusive active damper technology, and an expanded-range Integrated Dynamics System with four distinct modes, including new Sport+ mode.
Also added during 2017 was the top-line Elite trim level, offered in a six-passenger seat configuration.
5 Audi Q7 ($65,900 to start)
Audi’s biggest SUV — until the Q8 arrives sometime this year — the Q7 added a new engine to the 2017 lineup. The brand’s ubiquitous gasoline-powered 2.0-L turbo-four, pumping out 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque was possibly a salve for the departed turbodiesel. Yes, the base engine is lacking a couple of cylinders, but the new Q7 2.0T is, says Audi, actually more fuel efficient and just a bit quicker than the previous-generation Q5 and its 3.0-L supercharged V6. Speaking of which, the 333-hp V6 is still available in the Q7. Both engines are hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission and Audi’s Quattro permanent all-wheeldrive system.
The Q7, Audi adds, is among the lightest models in its segment; the curb weight of the base version is kept under two metric tonnes (without driver). The body alone saves 71 kg, thanks to the innovative multi-material construction with numerous aluminum parts.