The 2017 Bentley Bentayga is the first SUV from the automaker and is befitting the name. The Bentayga may fall closer to the Continental than it does the Mulsanne, but we're guessing most only care that it's a Bentley. If bigger is better, then best must be city buses with quilted leather, polished chrome, and lacquered wood on every visible surface.
Pros Abundant luxury Incredible speed Silent interior Alarmingly flat
Cons Shocking price tag Undeniable resemblance to Q7 Small-ish back seat Thirsty W-12, even with cylinder deactivation
Everything about the Bentayga is mega, from the price to the performance. With a 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 under the hood, the Bentayga promises a sprint to 60 mph in 4 seconds, making it one of the quickest production SUVs around. Advanced suspension components work to keep this hefty SUV flat when cornering yet comfortable on the highway. There's even some off-road capability thrown in for good measure.
Pros Incredible luxury and craftsmanship Powerful engine and quick acceleration Legitimate off-road capability Optional seating for up to seven
Cons Base model is lacking in features, especially for the price Limited rear-seat and cargo room
Bentley calls the Bentayga the fastest, most powerful, most luxurious, and most exclusive SUV in the world. That’s a big claim, and Bentley is correct except where “most powerful” is concerned. The British luxury company seems to have forgotten about the Austrian brick with Stuttgart parents conceived in Affalterbach: the Mercedes-AMG G65. This might be the fastest, quickest internal-combustion SUV ever, but just like the ability to seat seven people (which will be an option), the 187-mph top speed is a marketing tool that most will never take advantage of. The reality is that the Bentayga isn’t going to sell on its cornering behavior; it’ll sell on its price and its looks. when you consider what you can get for half as much money. Namely, a Range Rover. Which, in supercharged V-8 form, is certainly quick enough (0-60 in 4.4 seconds) and is almost as luxurious inside. Then again, the Range Rover doesn’t stand out from the crowd in Beverly Hills or Dubai. And that’s likely the most important reason for choosing a Bentayga—at least until the world’s chic shopping districts are littered with them.
Need a vehicle that can do it all? The 2017 Lexus LX 570 can seat up to eight and has the ability to tow a trailer. You can tackle a backcountry trail with it, too. But read more to learn how some rival SUVs can achieve similar feats without as much compromise.The 2017 Lexus LX 570 carries over unchanged.
Pros A smooth ride over rough roads Advanced off-road capabilities Plenty of standard features.
Cons Impractical third-row seat lacks passenger space and doesn't fold flat V8 engine's poor fuel economy and sluggish acceleration Infotainment interface can be distracting to use.
Amazingly refined, the Lexus LX 570 hides its utilitarian roots exceptionally well. Think of the 2017 Lexus LX 570 as a UN Peacekeeper in a tuxedo. Underneath its glitzy, eye-catching exterior and behind its soft leather and glossy wood sits a Toyota Land Cruiser, one of the most capable and over-engineered vehicles to ever hit the road.
Pros Brawny powertrain Softer, warmer cabin materials Real towing capability As spacious inside as the exterior suggests
Cons Clunky third-row seating can't be removed Dismal fuel economy Clumsy handling Pitching-and-heaving ride
The 2017 Lexus LX ranks 6 out of 8 Luxury Large SUVs. The 2017 Lexus LX is as rugged as it is luxurious, offering exceptional capability when the pavement ends and an opulent cabin. It also has an excellent predicted reliability rating. However, many of its competitors have more cargo space and better fuel economy estimates.
Pros Exceptional off-road ability Top-notch interior Great predicted reliability rating
Cons Poor fuel economy estimates Less cargo room than rivals
