6 days ago
11
Here is every new or updated model eligible for the Drive Car of the Year 2025 – Best Luxury SUV Under $150k category.
Drive Car of the Year 2025
Now in its 20th year, the annual Drive Car of the Year awards program continues to be the Australian new car buyer’s most-trusted advisor.
At Drive, we test drive more than 200 new cars every year, evaluating each against its innate promise to sort the best from the rest. We divide the 400-plus new passenger cars, SUVs, 4WDs and utes into 19 price-banded categories focused on the end-user. Then we analyse the strengths and weaknesses of every car to find the cream of the automotive crop.
Drive Car of the Year 2025 is a go!
Drive Car of the Year 2025 – Best Luxury SUV under $150K
Family practicality with more than a touch of bling, luxury SUVs occupy a big space in the top end of town. Value for money, while still a consideration, takes a back seat to what it means to be luxury.
Plush interiors brimming with quality materials, the latest in in-car technology, and a comprehensive list of safety systems underpin this category. Most importantly, contenders in this segment need to offer a driving experience that is second to none, at once powerful yet refined on the road.
The $150,000 price cap means we have looked across every SUV category to single out the best of the best. Not constrained by segment size, the contenders in this category straddle both the medium and large SUV segments.
Last year, the new Mercedes-Benz GLC claimed the Drive Car of the Year 2024 – Best Luxury SUV Under $150K title, the judges lauding its blend of style, luxurious cabin appointments and efficient yet willing powertrain. It's back this year to defend its title but will face some stiff competition from an armada of new and updated metal from some of the leading luxury car makers as well as some unexpected contenders from more mainstream brands.
Age has not wearied the Audi Q7 which received a significant update this year, with new exterior styling as well as interior refinements designed to keep it looking fresh as this generation approaches its 10th year on sale in 2025. With fresh styling outside and in, and a choice of three powertrains coming in under our $150,000 cut-off, the Audi Q7 continues to impress.
Like its wagon sibling, the sleeker Audi Q8 has also benefitted from a mid-life update that keeps the coupe-like large SUV fresh in the face of competition. Minor external style changes coupled with updated interior trims brought with it some price rises. But, there are still two variants – one diesel, one petrol – that sneak in under our $150,000 ceiling for this category.
The Genesis GV80 continues to impress with its style, lavish appointments inside the cabin and effortless powertrain married to a relatively affordable – for the segment – price tag. The stars of the GV80 range are three-fold. There's the lusty twin-turbo V6 under the bonnet, impeccable road manners thanks to some fine suspension tuning and of course, a cabin that oozes with quality and, yes, luxury. All three variants in the range are eligible in this category.
Like the GV80, the updated Genesis GV70 – the Korean brand's medium SUV – benefited from an update in 2024, with exterior design changes, a redesigned interior, more technology and a swag of standard equipment that was once only available as part of costly options packs. Yes, prices have gone up, but the extra kit more than offsets those increases, cementing the GV70 as one of the value options in the medium luxury SUV segment.
Japanese brand Mazda has made no bones about its premium aspirations. And the latest statements of those luxury intentions are a pair of large SUVs – the CX70 and CX80.
Despite the numerical order, the Mazda CX-70 is the larger of the two. It's essentially the twin of the flagship Mazda CX-90, but with the third row deleted meaning there's only seating for five. But that hasn't detracted from its premium qualities, and if anything, has added to it thanks to extra cargo space inside. Add in a raft of quality materials throughout and a choice of petrol or diesel powertrains, means the CX-70 has earned its place amongst the contenders.
The Mazda CX-80 mirrors the CX-70's premium playbook, albeit in an ever so slightly different package. The seven-seat equivalent of the five-seat only CX-60, Mazda's family hauler blends seven-seat practicality with style and more than enough substance in terms of standard inclusions to warrant being considered amongst the established premium players.
Porsche's best-selling Macan underwent a seismic transformation this year, ditching its array of petrol engines and in their place, a line-up of battery-electric drivetrains. The electric Macan promises up to 654km of range, depending on the variant, placing it right near the top of EVs with the longest driving range, while inside, top-notch materials and well-thought-out ergonomics make sitting inside the Macan feel pretty special
Like the Mazda twins, the Volkswagen Touareg is evidence that mainstream brands can play in the premium sandpit. Updated for model year 2024, the Volkswagen Touareg adds more equipment and for less money, the German brand slashing prices across the range. What was already a compelling package is now a whole lot more competitive.
Which cars are eligible for this category?
Drive’s rules require that, for a car to be eligible, it must:
While our list of contenders is long and worthy, there were some notable omissions. The updated Mercedes-Benz EQB electric SUV, for example, did not arrive in time for judging, making it ineligible for this year's award.
And it's worth noting the price range of some models extends beyond our $150,000 cut-off. That means only the variants with retail prices less than $150,000 are considered for the Drive Car of the Year – Best Luxury SUV Under $150K category.
| Contenders | Not here in time |
| – Cars that are all-new or significantly updated since they last contested Drive Car of the Year. – New categories are open to all cars that fit category requirements. – Last year’s winner is an automatic inclusion. | – These cars meet category requirements, but are not due to arrive in time for Drive Car of the Year 2025 judging. |
| Audi Q7 Audi Q8 Genesis GV70 Genesis GV80 Mazda CX-70 Mazda CX-80 Mercedes-Benz GLC (defending) Porsche Macan Electric Volkswagen Touareg | Mercedes-Benz EQB (not provided by Mercedes-Benz for assessment) |
The winner of the 2025 Drive Car of the Year – Best Luxury SUV Under $150K will be announced in February 2025.
Before then, we will announce the finalists, all of which deliver comfort and practicality in equal measure with a focus on cabins that look and feel special. The contenders will also bring the latest in technology as well as a a powerful yet refined driving experience.
Read more:
Rob Margeit is an award-winning Australian motoring journalist and editor who has been writing about cars and motorsport for over 25 years. A former editor of Australian Auto Action, Rob’s work has also appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Wheels, Motor Magazine, Street Machine and Top Gear Australia. Rob’s current rides include a 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class and a 2000 Honda HR-V Sport.
