Luxury SUV shoppers had plenty to watch in 2022. Several of the industry’s biggest names were preparing redesigned flagships, while automakers were also pushing high-performance and electrified SUVs into territory once reserved for luxury sedans.
The result was a particularly interesting year for buyers who wanted a large SUV with premium interiors, serious performance and the latest technology. Some of the models below were completely new, while others arrived with major updates that changed their position in the market.
Here are 10 luxury SUVs that generated plenty of interest heading into 2022.
1. Range Rover
The new Range Rover was one of the biggest luxury SUV launches surrounding the 2022 model year. Land Rover gave its flagship a cleaner design and a new platform while keeping the high seating position and all-terrain character that have long defined the nameplate.
Engine choices varied by market, with six-cylinder powertrains and a twin-turbocharged V8 available. A long-wheelbase version also returned, giving buyers more rear-seat and cargo space.
The bigger story, however, was where the Range Rover was heading next. Land Rover had already confirmed plans for an all-electric version, signaling that even its most traditional luxury SUV was moving toward electrification.
2. Lexus LX
The Lexus LX entered 2022 as a completely redesigned SUV. Underneath, it continued to use Toyota’s body-on-frame architecture, but almost everything around it was modernized.
The old V8 was gone. In its place was a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 producing 409 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission replaced the previous eight-speed unit.
Inside, Lexus moved the LX further into luxury territory with a much more contemporary dashboard and new technology. Higher trims focused heavily on rear-seat comfort, while the F Sport version added a sportier appearance and chassis tuning.
For buyers wanting a luxury SUV that could still handle difficult terrain, the redesigned LX was one of the most significant arrivals of the year.
3. BMW XM
BMW surprised the market with the XM, an SUV that was never intended to be a conventional family hauler.
It was the first standalone BMW M model since the M1 and combined a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with an electric motor. The plug-in hybrid system delivered 653 horsepower and 800 Nm of combined torque in the initial version.
That combination gave the XM a very different personality from BMW’s other SUVs. It was extremely powerful but could also use electric power for shorter journeys.
The XM showed how performance SUVs were beginning to change. Instead of choosing between a large engine and electrification, buyers could increasingly have both.
4. Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
Mercedes-Benz was also preparing a major addition to its electric lineup in 2022: the EQS SUV.
The model brought the technology and luxury focus of the EQS sedan into a taller, more practical body. Depending on configuration, the SUV offered rear- or all-wheel drive and was positioned as a premium electric alternative to the company’s conventional GLS.
Its importance went beyond simply being another electric vehicle. Mercedes was building an entire family of battery-powered luxury models, and the EQS SUV represented one of the clearest signs that electrification was reaching the top end of the SUV market.
5. Cadillac Escalade-V
The Escalade had already become a familiar name among full-size luxury SUVs, but the V-Series version took the formula in a completely different direction.
Under the hood was a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 producing 682 horsepower and 653 lb-ft of torque. That made the Escalade-V vastly more performance-oriented than the regular model.
Yet it remained a large three-row SUV with the space and technology expected from an Escalade.
For buyers who wanted enormous dimensions without giving up straight-line performance, the Escalade-V was difficult to ignore.
6. Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Jeep returned to the full-size luxury SUV fight with the Grand Wagoneer, giving buyers another alternative to established models from Cadillac, Lincoln and the German brands.
The Grand Wagoneer was built around a body-on-frame platform and offered three rows of seating. Its cabin was packed with displays and premium materials, while the available 6.4-liter V8 produced 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque.
It was a significant move for Jeep. The brand was no longer competing only on off-road ability. With the Grand Wagoneer, it was targeting customers who wanted substantial size, comfort and technology in addition to four-wheel-drive capability.
7. BMW X7
BMW’s largest SUV received a substantial update around the 2022 period, keeping it firmly in the conversation among premium three-row SUVs.
The refreshed X7 gained a redesigned front end and a more modern cabin. Inside, BMW introduced its curved display arrangement, bringing the SUV in line with the brand’s newer electronic interface.
Six-cylinder and V8 engines were offered depending on version and market. The X7’s appeal remained straightforward: it combined BMW’s driving character with three rows of seating and the equipment expected from a flagship SUV.
It was particularly relevant for buyers who wanted a European luxury SUV without moving to a much larger, truck-based model.
8. Lincoln Navigator
The Lincoln Navigator continued into 2022 with a refreshed design and upgraded technology.
Its 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 produced 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, providing enough muscle for a vehicle of its size while maintaining the Navigator’s focus on relaxed highway travel.
The cabin remained one of its strongest selling points, with generous space across three rows. The Navigator L offered an extended body for customers who needed additional cargo capacity.
Lincoln also improved the SUV’s driver-assistance technology, making the Navigator more competitive in a segment where advanced electronic features were becoming increasingly important.
9. Mercedes-AMG GLS 63
The Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 appealed to a different type of luxury SUV buyer. Rather than focusing exclusively on comfort, it brought serious AMG performance to a three-row vehicle.
Its 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 produced 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. A 48-volt mild-hybrid system provided additional electrical assistance, while AMG’s performance hardware helped manage the SUV’s substantial power.
It was an unusual combination: a vehicle capable of carrying a family in three rows while offering performance figures normally associated with much smaller vehicles.
10. Toyota Sequoia Capstone
Toyota’s redesigned Sequoia was not marketed as a traditional luxury SUV, but the new Capstone grade pushed it into premium territory.
The third-generation Sequoia arrived with Toyota’s i-FORCE MAX hybrid system, combining a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 with an electric motor. The system produced up to 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque.
The Capstone added upscale touches to the full-size SUV, giving buyers a more luxurious alternative within Toyota’s lineup.
Its arrival was also significant because it demonstrated how hybrid power was becoming increasingly common in large SUVs. Electrification was no longer limited to compact crossovers and small cars.
Why these SUVs mattered in 2022
The luxury SUV market was changing quickly.
Traditional buyers still had plenty of choices with large engines, three rows and substantial towing capability. At the same time, manufacturers were introducing hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fully electric models at the top of their ranges.
That created an interesting split. The Lexus LX and Range Rover continued to appeal to customers who wanted luxury combined with genuine off-road capability. Models such as the Escalade-V and AMG GLS 63 targeted drivers more interested in performance.
Then there were vehicles such as the BMW XM and EQS SUV, which pointed toward a future where electrification would become a much bigger part of the luxury SUV formula.
What buyers should have considered
Choosing between these SUVs was less about finding one universally “best” model and more about deciding what mattered most.
A buyer who regularly traveled off-road would likely have very different priorities from someone spending most of their time on highways with passengers in the second and third rows. Likewise, an EV-focused customer would have little reason to choose a large V8-powered SUV simply because it offered more horsepower.
Running costs were another consideration. Large V8 SUVs generally demanded more fuel than six-cylinder, hybrid or electric alternatives. Electric models could reduce fuel consumption but brought different considerations, including charging access and the availability of suitable infrastructure.
Trim levels also mattered. Equipment, seating arrangements, drivetrain choices and performance could change considerably depending on the configuration and market.
The luxury SUV market was only getting bigger
The most interesting thing about these 10 SUVs was not simply their size or price. It was the direction in which the segment was moving.
Automakers were no longer treating luxury SUVs as oversized versions of existing passenger vehicles. They were becoming technology showcases, performance machines, family transportation and increasingly, electric vehicles.
For shoppers looking at the 2022 market, that meant more choice than ever. The right SUV ultimately depended on whether comfort, performance, off-road ability, passenger space or electrification was at the top of the list.
And with even more electric and high-performance models already on the horizon, 2022 looked less like the end of an era and more like the beginning of a major shift in the luxury SUV market.