Must See SUVs of the LA Auto Show 2014

SUVs are a hugely popular segment at the Los Angeles Auto Show and for 2014, Angelenos will get to see everything from the all-new Jeep Renegade to the Land Rover Discovery Sport. Definitely something for everyone who loves a good curb jumper.

The 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport replaces last year’s LR2 and serves as the new entry-point into the SUV-brand’s line-up.  The Discovery Sport will feature seating for up to seven passengers across three rows, and it also provides a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s good for 240 horsepower (and is matched with a nine-speed automatic transmission).  The luxury people mover of course makes four-wheel drive available and comes with a respectable level of off-road capability.

What Changed?  The Land Rover Discovery Sport is an all-new model, but it is mechanically similar to the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque.

When Is It Available?  Early 2015.

How Much?  Pricing has yet to be released for the Land Rover Discovery Sport.

The 2015 Porsche Cayenne gains two updated models this year: the GTS and a new base model powered by the same 3.6-liter, 300 horsepower V-6 that it offered the year before, ending speculation that it would be dropped from the line-up.  What did go away on base Cayennes was the option of a six-speed manual transmission, as all versions of the SUV now feature an eight-speed automatic (along with standard all-wheel drive).  The Cayenne GTS swaps out its eight-cylinder mill in order to snag a twin-turbo, 3.6-liter V-6 for 2015, giving it 440 horsepower.  The GTS also adopts the same aggressive look as the Cayenne Turbo, sits on a lowered suspension, and features big Turbo-model brakes.

What changed?  The GTS offers a new engine, a lowered suspension, styling cues borrowed from the Turbo, a performance exhaust, and a number of other high performance details.  The base Cayenne loses its manual transmission option.

When is it available?  Both will be available in early 2015.

How much?  The entry-level Porsche Cayenne features an MSRP of $58,300, while the Cayenne GTS stickers for $95,500.

For 2015, the X5 M returns to BMW’s lineup after a short hiatus caused by a new-model changeover. The X5 M was originally the BMW we never thought we would see, what with a high center of gravity getting in the way of perfect handling and balance. But after pulling off the trick with two prior generations of X5 M models, here comes the third-generation model.

What’s changed?A 567-hp, twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 is among the most significant additions to the X5 lineup to create the X5 M. An 8-speed automatic transmission, similar to the one in the X5 xDrive 5.0i, sends the power to all four wheels. Bigger wheels and tires on the X5 M are accompanied by a stiffer suspension and driver-controllable drive settings. The interior receives some upgrades, including a lot of M’s, but no radical changes over the rest of the X5 range, save for newly sculpted front seats.

When is it available? Details have yet to be announced, but expect the 2015 model sooner rather than later.

How much? The 2015 X5 M will start at $99,650, or over 25 grand more than an X5 xDrive 5.0i.

If you thought that a high-powered, high-riding BMW sport-utility vehicle was a stretch, then the imagination must run wild to understand the genesis of the X6 M: a hunchbacked relative of the X5 M, itself a paradox of physics. For 2015, BMW is introducing the second-generation X6 M, just months after the introduction of the global X6 on a new platform.

What’s changed? Like the X5 M SUV, the X6 M builds upon the V-8 power of the X6, but offers 567 horsepower. Standard launch control is sure to please 0-to-60 enthusiasts. Exterior styling maintains the X6’s coupelike shape, and the interior receives enhancements like the X5 M does, like upgraded seats, bespoke trim, and M-specific instruments.

When is it available? Exact details regarding availability have not yet been announced.

How much? Pricing for the 2015 X6 M starts at $103,050.

The 2015 Ford Explorer has been given a mild styling refresh inside and out, with highlights including a thinner A-pillar, LED low beam headlights, and a revised MyFord Touch system that features buttons and dials in addition to its touch-sensitive interface.  Bigger changes have been made under the hood, where a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost engine supplants last year’s 2.0-liter unit.  It’s good for 270 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, and unlike its smaller predecessor it will be available with the option of all-wheel drive.  The Explorer’s 290 horsepower, 3.5-liter base V-6 and 365 horsepower, 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 and six-speed automatic transmision carry over.

What changed?  A new engine, a revised MyFord Touch system, and a number of subtle styling changes mark the 2016 Ford Explorer’s refresh.

When is it available?  Look for the Explorer mid-2015.

How much?  The 2016 Ford Explorer sticks to its 2015 pricing, which means a starting MSRP of $30,700.

The 2015 Cadillac Escalade and its long-wheelbase companion, the Escalade ESV, have been fully updated to present luxury shoppers with a formidable do-everything option.  In addition to offering room for as many as eight passengers across three rows, the Cadillac Escalade provides a new flat load floor that can accommodate up to 94.2 cubic feet of total cargo in the regular wheelbase model alone.  Under the hood, the Escalade’s 6.2-liter V-8 offers 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, with a six-speed automatic transmission being standard and four-wheel drive optional.  All versions of the Cadillac suv also come with magnetically adaptive suspension.

What changed? The Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV are all-new for the current model year.

When is it available?  You can buy one right now.

How much?  The Escalade’s MSRP starts at $72,970.

The 2015 Chevrolet Surburban and the shorter-wheelbase Chevrolet Tahoe share the same basic pickup platform, but three rows of seating and a whopping (up to 121.1 cubic feet in the Suburban) amount of cargo space.  Towing for the Suburban and Tahoe also checks in strong, with the pair’s standard 355 horsepower, 5.3-liter V-8 making it possible haul up to 8,300 lbs of trailer weight.  The Chevrolets each make use of a six-speed automatic transmission, can both be spec’d with four-wheel drive (including a low-range option), and the LTZ trim level offers an adaptive suspension system for smoother handling.

What changed? The Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe are all-new for 2015.

When is it available?  Both of these SUVs are currently on sale.

How much?  The more affordable of the pair, the Chevrolet Suburban, features a base MSRP of $44,895.

The 2015 GMC Yukon and the extended Yukon XL ride on the same platform as the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban.  There are several key differences, however.  Stylistically, the GMC models are much more angular than their Chevy brethren, and while the Yukon starts out with the same 5.3-liter V-8 as its bowtie-wearing siblings, it also introduces the luxury-laden Denali trim, which packs a 420 horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 along with standard magentic ride control.  The Yukon Denali also features unique exterior styling cues that set it above the standard Yukon.  Four-wheel drive is available with each Yukon configuration, and a six-speed automatic transmission is included free of charge.

What changed?  Both the Yukon and Yukon XL are completely redesigned for 2015.

When is it available?  GMC dealerships are fully stocked with these full-size SUVs right now.

How much?  You’ll pay $46,990 for an entry-level Yukon.

The 2015 Jeep Renegade is an adventurous step forward for the rugged SUV-maker as it explores the potential of the subcompact SUV segment for the first time.  The boxy Renegade is also the first ‘imported’ Jeep, which rides on a platform borrowed from corporate parent Fiat.  Front-wheel drive is standard with the Jeep Renegade, but four-wheel drive is optional, and an off-road edition of the SUV will of course be available.  The vehicle’s base 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 160 horsepower, while a larger 2.4-liter mill good for 184 horses is also in the cards.  Transmission choices for the Jeep include a mix of six-speed manual and automatic units.

What changed? The 2015 Jeep Renegade is an all-new entry into the Jeep line-up.

When is it available?  January of 2015.

How much?  No official word yet, but expect pricing to start at below $20,000.

The 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport takes the place of last year’s LR2 as the entry-level family-focused member of Land Rover’s SUV portfolio.  Able to seat an additional two passengers compared to the LR2’s five, the Discovery Sport is larger and more versatile than its predecessor, and it also launches the ‘Discovery’ family of vehicles in North America (which will eventually grow to include an LR4 replacement as well).  Four-wheel drive, a 240 horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (turbocharged, of course), and a nine-speed automatic transmission are all available with the new sport-utility vehicle.

What changed?  The Land Rover Discovery Sport is an all-new model.

When is it available?  The first quarter of 2015.

How much?  Pricing is expected to hover around the $40,000 mark for the Discover Sport.

The 2015 Lincoln Navigator presents the first significant update to have been made to the full-size luxury suv in quite some time.  Aside from its revamped styling and high end interior, the Navigator benefits from a long-overdue power plant transplant that sees it swap its aging eight-cylinder motor for a much more powerful 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6.  Boasting a more robust 380 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque.  The Lincoln’s basic platform remains the same, which means that it can seat up to eight passengers and that its extended-wheelbase L model boasts an incredible 128.2 cubic feet of total cargo space.

What changed? New styling, a fresh engine, and a revised interior highlight the 2015 Lincoln Navigator.

When is it available?  It’s on sale right now.

How much?  The base Navigator retails for $61,480.

The 2015 Infiniti QX80 is an enormous full-size luxury SUV with exceptional road presence, a personality trait that has been buttressed by its refresh for the current model year.  The QX80 gains several exterior styling tweaks along with a substantially revised interior that culminates in the range-topping Limited trim (added for 2015).  Mechanically, the Infiniti holds its course by carrying over last year’s 5.6-liter V-8 engine which produces 400 horsepower.  All-wheel drive is optional with the QX80, while a seven-speed automatic transmission is standard.

What changed?  Revised styling outside and a much nicer interior join the Limited trim on the list of what’s new for the 2015 Infiniti QX80.

When is it available?  The QX80 is on sale now.

How much?  You’ll pay $63,280 for the privilege of parking this Infiniti suv in your driveway.

The 2015 Land Rover Range Rover SVR represents the initial sport-utility effort from Jaguar / Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations team, which is charged with squeezing as much performance as possible out of the brand’s existing models.  Claimed to be the fastest SUV in the world, the Range Rover SVR boasts 550 horsepower from a supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 that allows it to hit 60-mph from a standing start in just 4.5 seconds.  The four-wheel drive Land Rover also boasts an eight-speed automatic transmission, a revised suspension system, and a track record for SUVs at Germany’s famed Nurburgring with a lap time of eight minutes and 14 seconds.

What changed?  The SVR edition of the Range Rover makes numerous high performance adjustments to the current SUV’s package.

When is it available?  You’ll have to wait until early 2015 to buy a Range Rover SVO.

How much?  Land Rover has pegged the price of the SVO at $111,400.