10 Luxury SUVs With the Best Resale Value

2018 Lincoln Navigator front three quarter hero ・ Photo by Lincoln

If you’re the sort of shopper who’s already looking ahead to the next trade-in, you want to make sure the car you buy has good resale value. In the luxury SUV class, you can get high-end premium content inside and out, from climate-controlled seating to LED headlights. Many also showcase the kind of performance that puts the “sport” into sport-utility vehicle. Off-road capability and cutting-edge technology are in the mix as well.

And while a fair number of vehicles can serve up all those advantages, when we checked in with top sources, we found some notable differences in terms of depreciation. This article presents the fruits of that research. (Of course, we did skip the lemons.)

2018 Lexus NX

As you might expect, Lexus makes several of the luxury SUVs with the best resale value. At the compact end of the size spectrum, the 2018 Lexus NX gets a further value boost this year from new content and refreshed styling. Among the latest upgrades: All NX models now come standard with the Safety System+ bundle and a one-year complimentary subscription to the brand’s mobile Wi-Fi service. Another welcome new option is a hands-free rear liftgate.

Also, these same advantages are available in the NX 300h hybrid, which boasts electrically enabled all-wheel drive and EPA ratings of 33 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg combined.

Photo by Lexus

2018 Lexus LX

Unlike most of the luxury SUVs with the best resale value, the 2018 Lexus LX 570 combines its upscale benefits with rugged body-on-frame construction. As a result, largest of the Lexus SUVs has a big-time towing capacity of 3.5 tons. You can thank a standard 383-horsepower V8 for that impressive strength.

For comfort, you can enjoy heated and ventilated seats in not just the front row, but in the second row, too. The third row? That leverages a standard power-folding mechanism. Four types of wood are also available to dress up the vehicle’s cabin. With all of them, you can complement LX570’s style cues with a 19-speaker Mark Levinson audio system and 12.3-inch infotainment display with split-screen capability.

Photo by Lexus

2018 Cadillac Escalade

The 2018 Cadillac Escalade is another good choice if you’re interested in full-size luxury SUVs with the best resale values. That’s partly because the iconic popularity of the Escalade means it’s always in demand in the pre-owned marketplace.

It also helps that the 2018 model offers a full-size range of ultra-luxury features like massage-function climate-controlled front seats, full LED lighting, mobile Wi-Fi, and a mighty V8. Backed by 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque — and a new 10-speed automatic transmission — this engine propels the Escalade from 0-60 in less than six seconds. And because of its body-on-frame construction, the Escalade can tow 8,300 pounds. In addition, a sweet new Maple Sugar interior, with semi-aniline leather seats, debuts for 2018 in the Escalade Platinum Collection.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Porsche Macan

Porsche used to be best known for its high-performance sports cars. Nowadays, however, it’s a great source for luxury SUVs with the best resale value. Consider the compact 2018 Macan. It checks all the boxes for uplevel content, from a cabin detailed in premium materials — such as real wood, carbon fiber, and brushed aluminum — to the newest generation Porsche infotainment technology.

On the other hand, the Macan also stays true to its Porsche-performance roots. All models deliver brisk acceleration, with the Turbo model setting the pace. Configured with a standard twin-turbo V6 and the optional Performance Package, it can sprint from 0-60 in 4.2 seconds. But the Macan is still practical enough to hold more than 53 cubic feet of cargo.

Photo by Porsche

2019 Porsche Cayenne

If you prefer the mid-size luxury SUVs, Porsche can also meet your needs in that segment. The redesigned 2019 Cayenne was introduced earlier in 2018 with all the typical premium touches plus a major influx of new technologies. For example, the available night-vision system has thermal imaging to detect people and animals “before they are visible to the naked eye.”

New performance technologies include an available rear-axle steering system. On the topic of performance, the 2019 Cayenne S packs a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 and new eight-speed automatic transmission. Working together, they can push this new Porsche from 0-60 in as little as 4.6 seconds.

Photo by Porsche

2018 Land Rover Discovery

Fresh from winning the SUV of the Year trophy from the FourWheeler network, the 2018 Land Rover Discovery blends award-winning off-road capability with the best in British elegance. The Discovery’s tastefully decorated cabin can display handcrafted wood veneers, supple stitched leather, and three rows of heated seating. Cooled seats are available for the first two rows, and the front seats provide relaxing massage functionality in the HSE Luxury trim.

Moreover, along with that old-school luxury, the Discovery brings modern technologies that are anchored by a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital “Interactive Driver Display,” a next-generation head-up display, and a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system.

Photo by Land Rover

2018 Land Rover Discovery Sport

Land Rover’s luxury SUVs with the best resale value also include the Discovery’s compact-sized sibling. Don’t let the Sport model’s more agile dimensions fool you, though. Not only does it match many of the premium features of the traditional Discovery, but it also supplies some that the bigger vehicle can’t.

A case in point is the display-based technology array. Like the Discovery, the Sport version offers a 12.3-inch Interactive Driver Display, a full-color head-up display, a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system, and a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen. But the Discovery Sport’s Touch Pro Duo infotainment system brings a second, separate 10-inch touchscreen for an even higher level of driver control. The Discovery Sport can tow more than 7,700 pounds, too.

Photo by Land Rover

2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

If cost is no object, and you’re comparing ultra-luxury suvs with the best resale value, we recommend the 2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Although the updated version of the classic Geländewagen won’t get to dealerships until later in 2018, it will be more than worth the wait.

Right off the bat, the 2019 model will set new G-Class benchmarks for cabin appointments. Highlights include available climate-controlled seats with impeccable diamond-stitched surfaces and the ability to provide multiple massage functions. At the same time, the G-Class raises the bar for off-road capability and can now ford rivers up to 27.6 inches deep. To ensure premium performance both on and off the road, a standard twin-turbo V8 is on board with 416 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser

It may surprise some folks, but we do have one mainstream-brand choice among the luxury SUVs with the best resale value. It’s the 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser. This is a true body-on-frame sport-utility vehicle, complete with a towing capacity of 8,100 pounds, three rows of seating for up to eight people, and a robust four-wheel-drive system with a two-speed transfer case.

Yet the Land Cruiser is also truly luxurious: It offers semi-aniline perforated-leather surfaces, heated and ventilated seating, and a variety of cutting-edge safety technologies. Indeed, standard equipment includes a pre-collision system, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, a lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot monitor, a rear cross-traffic alert, and a rearview camera.

Photo by Ron Sessions

2018 Lincoln Navigator

Although we've put the 2018 Lincoln Navigator last on our list, this fully redesigned full-size SUV is a first-class selection, since it offers an incredible wealth of premium features. In the cabin, you can ensconce yourself in 30-way power-adjustable front seats that are fully climate controlled. You can activate the front-seat massage function for further comfort. The Navigator is also adorned with real-wood trim, hand-wrapped leather, and upholstery sewn with French seams.

It’s not lacking for technology, either. You can order the Navigator with mobile Wi-Fi, a 10-inch touchscreen, Revel audio, and a comprehensive package of driver-assistance measures. Lincoln can even compete against the traditional important brands with a 12-inch driver-configurable all-digital instrument panel.

Photo by Lincoln