I would appreciate some thoughts on what do you think is currently the best value on the mid-size SUV luxury/premium segment.
My priorities are: Space, Quiet cabin, Somewhat good driving manners and reasonable power. 3-row is a plus but not necessary.
I have been looking at EVs: iX, Q6, etc. However, I am not sure I am ready to jump into the EV terrain at this pricepoint. They are heavily discounted but not sure cost-benefit is there.
Otherwise, I have eyed either Q7, X5, GLE,XC90,… for purchase new or CPO. Leases seem not too good for these but I may miss something.
After some research my conclusion was: Buying straight away a new 2025/26 Q7 55 (v6). These are well discounted and should bring a 3-5 year cost at an effective ~$600/month. Platform is old and interior is not very nice, but it is quiet and big. However, I wanted to hear opinions if you think there are better alternatives or even leases I should consider at ~$600 effective.
I am moving to North Carolina from California. Ideally pickup near North Carolina, but could pickup in California and get transport for free.
Actually thats a good point. I was considering it, but I hate the captain chairs on sport and above. I will have to reconsider, maybe take the Luxe and move on.
Lexus RX is the first that comes to mind. Or TX if you end up choosing to go for a 3 row. Resale value is going to be the biggest determinant of your total cost of ownership and I’m pretty sure both will beat the Q7 easily
I was in the same boat a couple years but definitely wanted three rows at the time. The “superiority” of MB, BMW and Audi felt very superficial if that. For example MBtex and Sensatec are terrible upholstery. Plastics are often mediocre. I ended up getting a Telluride and would look at the GV70 and newly released Palisade if I were in the same position again.
No complaints for the year I had it. No longer needed a third row and resale values were crazy (above MSRP) and I wanted to go electric. So I sold it with no fault on the Telluride’s part.
Driving dynamics are fine for the segment. About as exciting or not as MB and Audi. No deal breakers like the loosey goosey disconnected steering of the Tahoes I used to rent.
From the feedback above, in terms of gas, seems it comes down to leasing QX60 (engine sucks…), buy Toyota/Genesis/Kia with reasonable resale or go burn money on my german friends. Heart says go german but I am cheapo.
Why not Grand Highlander, new palisade or (once released) new telly.
The grand highlander will be super reliable and great resale. The latter two will be loaded with features and feel upscale (and shouldn’t have bad resale).
Otherwise, if preferring to lease, the QX60 as others have mentioned.
If you like the X5 enough to justify the premium over a Telluride then go for it. Question becomes financing brand new vs CPO.
Otherwise “German” means nothing any more. The Q7 is a dinosaur. How can obsolescence be considered luxurious? And nothing about the GLE350 stands up to scrutiny. Not the NVH of the 2.0, not the upholstery, not the plastics, nothing.
