Offering an unbeatable mix of utility, performance, and versatility, midsize SUVs are the new go-to choice for many of today’s drivers. As is often the case, this level of popularity results in a lot of diversity. From affordable, fuel-efficient hybrid models to V8-powered speed machines that can go toe-to-toe with some of the fastest vehicles on the road, it’s hard to put midsize SUVs into a single box. This is especially true of the luxury segment, where automakers have embraced the challenge to create a new generation of extravagant SUVs that combine top-tier performance with stunning design, advanced safety features, and some of the most head-turning tech that the industry has ever seen. The selection is wide, and it’s only getting wider, which is why we’ve compiled a short list of our three favorite luxury midsize SUVs currently on the market. Join us as we see what the segment has to offer and explore some of the top picks for 2025.
#1 – BMW X5 M60i
BMW has a reputation for combining luxury and performance that few other brands can match. While the automaker might be known for its slick sedans and low-slung coupes, BMW has brought the same fusion of power and refinement to the SUV segment with models like the X5. The 2025 X5 lineup includes the rear-wheel drive sDrive40i, all-wheel drive xDrive40i, and the plug-in hybrid xDrive50e, but if you have the cash to spend, the high-performance M60i is hard to pass over. Since the late 1970s, BMW’s M subsidiary has been producing satisfyingly souped-up versions of many of the brand’s most popular models. Equipped with countless performance-related modifications, including upgraded suspensions, transmissions, aerodynamic elements, and some of the most powerful engines in BMW’s well-stocked arsenal, each M-badged model in an unhinged automotive experiment all its own.
Just take the BMW X5 M60i, for example. While the regular X5 provides ample power with a turbocharged inline-six that offers 375 hp or a PHEV that provides 483 ponies thanks to the addition of an electric motor, the M60i leaves the rest of the lineup in the dust with a 523 hp twin-turbo V8 that can hit 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. In addition to the uber-powerful engine, the M60i also gains an aero kit, stylish Shadowline exterior trim, an M-tuned adaptive suspension, differential, exhaust, and brakes, and even a steering wheel that’ll make you feel like you’re rounding the Nürburgring every time you hit the highway.
But the M60i doesn’t just excel from a performance perspective. The sporty midsize SUV has also been graced with a sumptuous suite of exclusive features that have long given BMW an edge in the competitive luxury segment. The SUV’s tech credentials are on full display the moment you climb into the cabin with an expansive, curved infotainment screen and a digital gauge cluster that combine to occupy almost 30 inches of dashboard real estate. The infotainment display runs BMW’s iDrive 8.5 infotainment system, which is consistently ranked as one of the industry’s top offerings. The iDrive 8.5 system not only offers all the expected goodies like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in navigation, and a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot, but it also brings a little next-gen convenience into the mix thanks to BMW’s Intelligent Personal Assistant (IPA).
While we normally wouldn’t recommend enjoying an IPA behind the wheel, BMW’s voice-activated assistant actually improves road safety by allowing drivers to select a destination, check on vital stats, and control the HVAC system, music, and heated and ventilated seats without ever taking your hands off of the wheel. The IPA can even use AI to learn about your individual preferences, allowing the system to craft a bespoke experience for every driver. If you feel like interacting with your X5 in a more traditional manner, BMW’s iDrive touchpad controller gives front-seat occupants another option for manipulating the infotainment system. It’s a more intuitive approach than the typical touchscreen-based system—though the SUV also offers that option—giving drivers the ability to shuffle through menus and navigate settings from a natural position. The M60i rounds out its interior with premium materials, a Harman Kardon surround sound system, a head-up display, and multi-color ambient lighting that can be used to create a one-of-a-kind aesthetic for whatever mood may strike you.
#2 – Lexus RX 450h+ Luxury
If you’re clinically underwhelmed by the current roster of luxury SUVs on offer, your local Lexus dealer offers the perfect prescription in the midsize RX crossover. The long-running SUV has reinvented itself with the debut of the fifth-generation model, which embraces a new platform, larger dimensions, and fresh suspension components that combine to create a spacious cabin with up to 46.2 cu.ft. of cargo volume and plenty of room for up to five adult passengers.
The Premium+ might represent the best all-around value out of the RX’s expansive eight-model trim ladder, but those seeking the ultimate in luxury will have a hard time ignoring the aptly named Luxury trim. The RX is already pretty plush from the get-go, with a sunroof, ventilated front seats, and a wireless smartphone charger offered as standard features on all but the base trim. So how does the Luxury trim live up to its name? The premium leather upholstery certainly helps, as does the massive 14-inch touchscreen infotainment display and thematic ambient interior lighting that gives the cabin a sleek, modern look. The Luxury trim solidifies its tech-centric approach with a futuristic head-up display that projects vital driving information, including turn-by-turn GPS directions, heading, and even the current speed limit. A panoramic glass roof lends the RX a bright and airy feel, while the distinctive 21-inch wheels up the SUV’s curb appeal while setting it apart from the rest of the 2025 lineup.
While Lexus has previously offered a few hybrid versions of the RX, such as the RX 350h and RX 500h, the RX 450h+ is a new plug-in version that has recently joined the lineup. Equipped with the same PHEV powertrain found in the Lexus NX 450h+, the RX 450h+ offers an engaging, even thrilling ride thanks to its 2.5L four-cylinder engine, three electric motors, and all-wheel drive setup. While not always the biggest concern in the luxury segment, this plug-in hybrid does happen to offer some of the best fuel economy in its class with an EPA-estimated 83 MPGe and 37 miles of electric driving range. Those figures mean the RX can easily surpass some of its closest competitors, allowing drivers to bypass the gas station as they go about their busy day. Packed with more than 300 hp and outfitted with all the high-end features you’ll find on the Luxury trim, the RX 450h+ Luxury offers an alluring choice for any driver looking to embrace an efficient SUV that makes no excuses in terms of performance and luxury.
#3 – 2025 Porsche Cayenne S Coupe
The Porsche Cayenne represents the spiciest entry on our list, injecting the standard luxury SUV recipe with a little extra flavor that’ll get your blood flowing every time you hit the throttle. This performance-first approach comes as little surprise when you look at the rest of the Porsche stable, which includes such legendary models as the 911 and 718, as well as recent all-electric additions like the Taycan. The Cayenne might not be able to match the scintillating 2.2-second zero to 60 mph time you’d get from the Porsche 911 Turbo S, but it’s not far behind, with the top trim also hitting the same speed in under three seconds. In order to achieve that sort of pace, you’d have to invest in the $200,000-plus Cayenne Turbo GT, but the mid-range Cayenne S trim holds its own with a 3.9-second sprint at roughly half the price. This combination of performance and luxury makes it the obvious pick for drivers seeking a practical daily driver that offers the best in comfort, convenience, and safety tech while still delivering the sort of performance on which Porsche has built its reputation.
The Cayenne’s base trim is already a standout from a performance perspective with a turbocharged 3.0L six-cylinder engine that delivers 348 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque, but the Cayenne S provides an obvious upgrade in the form of a turbocharged 4.0L V8 engine. With the ability to produce 468 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque, the Cayenne S is easily one of the speediest midsize luxury SUVs available on today’s market. The crossover keeps all that power in check thanks to a set of eye-catching red brake calipers that peek out from behind the custom 20-inch wheels, but the Cayenne S doesn’t just look the part. Porsche has packed the midsize model with all the hardware needed to make the most of the 468 hp engine, from adaptive steering that improves high-speed performance and low-speed control to adaptive dampers that provide a smooth, refined ride no matter how high the tachometer might climb.
The Cayenne also features a long list of advanced driving tech both inside and out, from the revolutionary Matrix headlights that offer over 64,000 individually controlled pixels to a 10.9-inch touchscreen display for the front passenger. A full slate of advanced driver assistance systems ranges from forward collision mitigation and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert to lane departure mitigation and a road sign assistance feature that’ll display the current speed limit directly on the dashboard.
The Cayenne S looks every bit the performance SUV, but if you really want the true Porsche experience, there’s an optional equipment package for just that purpose. The Sport Chrono Package adds a few custom drive modes and a launch control feature that’ll help you achieve that 3.9-second zero to 60 mph time, while the Off-Road Package allows the SUV to venture into new territory with underbody protection that includes rock rails and skid plates along with improved towing support and an upgraded digital display with additional telemetry features. The Premium Package Plus represents an obvious addition for those seeking the classiest version of the Cayenne, with a Bose sound system, heated front and rear seats, and four-zone climate control added to the mix.
Drivers who are in the market for a more practical daily driver might gravitate towards the standard SUV body style, but the Cayenne Coupe provides some important advantages if you want to maximize the SUV’s performance potential. Slightly shorter and designed with a streamlined roof that allows the vehicle to better cut through the air at higher speeds, the Cayenne Coupe delivers the classic Porsche feeling that has long drawn drivers to the vaunted German brand. The Cayenne Coupe does sacrifice one rear seat in the name of speed, but you’ll hardly notice as you complete your morning commute in record time.
Make an Elegance Entrance Wherever You Go
While BMW X5 M60i, Lexus RX 450h+ Luxury, and Porsche Cayenne S Coupe all made our list of luxury SUVs to look out for in 2025, the segment is full of enticing midsize options. The Mercedes-Benz GLE, Genesis GV80, and Audi Q8 all have a lot to offer, as do more rugged off-road-focused models such as the Land Rover Defender. It’s really hard to go wrong when choosing between these opulent models, and the decision often comes down to a matter of personal taste and your unique driving needs. The Cayenne S Coupe might blow the doors off the competition in a straight-line sprint, but the aerodynamic design could make the Porsche a less practical choice for those seeking a reliable family vehicle. The Lexus RX 450h+ Luxury’s class-leading fuel economy is certainly a nice perk, but operating costs tend to fall pretty far down the list of priorities when you’re shopping in the luxury segment. Regardless of which model you choose, these midsize luxury SUVs ensure you’ll make an elegant entrance wherever you go.
