These Are the Top Compact Luxury SUVs Ranked from Best to Worst

Although companies like BMW and Porsche made their names building sedans and sports cars, compact SUVs such as the X3 and the Macan, respectively, have become core products for these brands over the last decade or so. Nearly every luxury brand on the market now sells a small crossover that fits into this segment, and some of them are legitimately great to drive. There’s a wide range of models available, from four-cylinder base trims to high-horsepower performance trims. The best premium compact crossovers combines the dynamic fun of a sport sedan, the versatility of an SUV, and the comforts of a luxury car into one platform. Here are some of our favorites ranked in order of preference.

2025 Porsche Macan

Base price: $64,895

The high price of entry and relatively small cargo area mean the Porsche Macan is not for everyone, but crossover buyers willing to spend a premium for a focus on driving dynamics will find the most exciting SUV-shaped offering on the road. Those interested in the best possible driving experience at the best possible price will be looking at the Macan T, which combines the performance elements of the more expensive GTS with the four-cylinder engine found in the base car. An electric Macan is also part of the lineup and it offers even more horsepower.

Read more about the Macan T, a performance standout

2025 Genesis GV70

Base price: $47,650

Genesis may still be a young luxury brand, but the GV70 is a highly competitive product that offers exactly what shoppers are looking for in this segment. Its stylish exterior, plush interior, and powerful engine options make it an enticing choice. The optional twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 is particularly quick, but even the base 300-hp 2.5-liter turbo-four is no slouch, and all-wheel drive is standard across the board.

Here’s what makes it such a compelling offering

2025 BMW X5

Base price: $51,125

The BMW X3 has long been a mainstay of this segment, and it’s entirely redesigned for 2025 with a funky new look. The engine choices are beefed up as well, starting with a 30 xDrive model with a 255-hp turbo-four and rounding out the lineup with a six-cylinder M50 xDrive putting out 393 hp. BMW is also working on an electric version called iX3 that will be the first of the “Neue Klasse” models to ride on a new platform.

Tested: 2025 BMW X3 30 xDrive

2025 Maserati Grecale

Base price: $71,395

The Maserati Grecale fits in the same mini-segment as the Macan, prioritizing a sporty driving experience and costing a lot more than other competitors. The resulting car scales all the way up to 523 horsepower in Trofeo trim, but the four-cylinder base model is not exactly slow, either. There’s also an electric version with 550 horsepower called the Grecale Folgore.

Read our review of the high-output Grecale Trofeo

2025 Audi Q5 / SQ5

Base price: $51,195 (Q5) / $63,195 (SQ5)

The Audi Q5 may not be as sporty as its Porsche cousin, but it brings Audi’s signature Quattro all-wheel drive at a significantly lower price point. The standard Q5 is offered with a 2.0-liter turbo-four, and the performance model is the SQ5 with a 362-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 and a torque vectoring rear differential. Both the Q5 and SQ5 are redesigned for 2025 (though the outgoing model is still on sale for the 2025 model year) and are also offered in a Sportback body style with a more sharply sloped rear roofline.

Audi Could Start Building Cars in the U.S.

2025 Mercedes-Benz / Mercedes-AMG GLC-Class

Base price: $50,400 (GLC 300) / $68,250 (GLC 43) / $87,200 (GLC 63)

The GLC-class is Mercedes’ compact-crossover offering, and it’s available in a wide variety of versions. The base GLC 300 SUV, with a 255-hp turbo-four engine, has the broadest appeal, and is also offered in a slightly swoopier GLC Coupe format. The AMG versions pack extra power, aggressive visuals, and upgraded chassis, starting with the 416-hp GLC 43. Pictured here is the top-dog GLC 63 S E Performance, a plug-in hybrid with the same 671-hp powertrain from the C 63 sedan. No matter which you choose, the GLC acts the part of a Mercedes with solid driving dynamics, a posh interior, and, of course, the all-important three-pointed star badge.

More on the GLC 63

2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Base price: $50,990

With its distinct styling and Italian character, the Stelvio is a unique choice among compact luxury SUVs. It’s great to drive, with even the base model providing good power from its 280-hp turbo-four and sharp steering response for a crossover. The high-performance Quadrifoglio model was sadly discontinued after 2024, but it offered an even more sensational experience from behind the wheel thanks to its 505-horsepower twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6.

We Drive Swiss Mountain Passes in a Stelvio Quadrifoglio

2025 Volvo XC60

Price: $48,345

The XC60 is a stylish crossover that brings what Volvo does so well in the larger XC90 to a smaller footprint. It has been on the market since 2017, and that age is starting to show, but it is still a good option offered at a competitive price point. Powertrain options include a 247-hp turbo-four with a 48-volt hybrid system in the B5 and a 455-hp plug-in-hybrid setup in the T8. The PHEV version is legitimately quick and is offered with an enticing Polestar Engineered performance package.

The XC60’s styling stands out

2025 Lexus RX

Base price: $50,475

The Lexus RX practically invented the idea of a compact luxury crossover when it first arrived in the 1990s, and it has proved to be a sales leader. The latest generation of the RX arrived for 2023 and follows a similar formula as its predecessors, hewing more towards comfort and quietness than sportiness and performance. The addition of the RX 500h F Sport Performance model helped change that a bit, as it has a 366-hp hybrid setup that makes for a quick RX. But if you’re looking for a more sedate luxury SUV, you’ll have the choice of the turbo-four RX 350, the hybrid RX 350h, and the plug-in-hybrid RX 450h+.

Review: New RX Is the Same as It Ever Was

2025 Acura RDX

Price: $46,050

The RDX isn’t as exciting as other Acura models like the Integra Type S hot hatchback, but it offers a few performance-oriented features to entice enthusiasts. Acura’s SH-AWD system is optional and lends the RDX a more athletic character, and its 272-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter engine is competitive among other compact luxury SUVs in terms of acceleration. Drawbacks include a finicky touchpad-based infotainment system and some low-rent interior materials, but the RDX is on the cheaper side of this segment especially when compared to German offerings from Mercedes and BMW.

Our Review of the RDX PMC Edition

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