Everyone like to read about the Lamborghini Urus or the Porsche Cayenne, but there are other contenders in the market for luxury SUVs. Crossovers are dead, and the only remaining few are outcasts at the dealership. Full size SUVs are back with a vengeance, so everyone has been scrambling to go bigger and better.
Surely you can appreciate the GM triplets: Escalade, Yukon, and Suburban. In fact, the Chevy Suburban has been in constant production since 1935! But you might not realize that Germany has three new big models for your consideration. We thought it would be a good ieda to compare them so that you can choose the one that fits your needs.
Mercedes-Benz GLS
The 3rd generation Mercedes-Benz GLS is all new for 2020, and it was released at the New York Auto Show. With three rows and seating for six, the 2nd and 3rd rows fold to offer 94 cubic-feet of cargo room. The Mercedes-Benz GLS engine is either the single turbo straight six in the GLS 450.
If you have a need for speed the GLS 580 has a 4.0L twin turbo V8 with EQ Boost. This mild hybrid Mercedes-Benz GLS engine offers 504 horsepwer and 700 lb-ft of torque to all wheels when the system is fully charged. You might be shocked to learn it is built in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and sold around the world.
BMW X7
The biggest from Bavaria is the BMW X7. It was unveiled in October of last year, and our dealers have been flooded with orders. The BMW X7 specs include seating for 7, and 90 cubic feet of cargo space with seats folded. Both models of the BMW X7 are AWD, bestowed with BMW’s xDrive system. The BMW X7 xDrive 40i engine is a de-tuned version of the M3.
It is a twin turbo 3.0L straight six offering 335 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque. That is not enough for an AWD SUV, so the BMW X7 xDrive50i engine is the same as the smaller BMW X5M engine. The 4.4L twin turbo sends 456 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque to all wheels. It is also built exclusively in the U.S. in Greer, South Carolina and sold around the world.
Audi Q8
You might have overlooked the Audi Q8 because it has so many siblings. A majority of the same parts are shared with the Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne, and the Volkswagen Toureg. It was unveiled in Malaysia in March of 2019 as a competitor for the two above. The Audi Q8 specs don’t include a 3rd row, which limits seating to 5. Cargo room is also limited to 60 cubic feet because of the fastback rear hatch.
The body is essentially an Urus without the sharp angles. Designed for efficiency, the only Audi Q8 engine offered is a 3.0L turbocharged V6. It sends 335 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque to the quattro AWD system. This makes it more powerful than the Q7, which makes sense. The confusion is that it is slightly shorter and a few inches wider. Instead of being made in the U.S., it is assembled alongside its siblings in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Tell us which one of these appeals to you, and click the boxes to check the inventory from our dealers. Stay with us for all the latest in luxury and exotic news.
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