Best Luxury SUV for off-road handling?

emilywd

Hello All!

I am trying to help my mother, a real estate broker, find a new car for her business. She is looking for a luxury SUV with these top priorities:
1. Comfort (smooth-riding and roomy)
2. Safety
3. Looks (she loves the Lexus look)

She emphasizes looks, since "the nicer the car, the better for her reputation". Her car is like her office on wheels! Also, she needs an AWD that offers off-road capabilities since most of her showings are on undeveloped land.
Any suggestions, comments, and advice is truly appreciated!

Michaell

emilywd said:

Hello All!

I am trying to help my mother, a real estate broker, find a new car for her business. She is looking for a luxury SUV with these top priorities:
1. Comfort (smooth-riding and roomy)
2. Safety
3. Looks (she loves the Lexus look)

She emphasizes looks, since "the nicer the car, the better for her reputation". Her car is like her office on wheels! Also, she needs an AWD that offers off-road capabilities since most of her showings are on undeveloped land.
Any suggestions, comments, and advice is truly appreciated!

When you say "undeveloped land" do you mean dirt trails? Or no roads at all? I think the level of off-road capability might differ based on the answer to that question.

But, off the top of my head, I'd say Lexus GX460.

suydam

You're probably right, but I think the Jeep Grand Cherokee looks so much better, and all tricked out is a pretty lux vehicle in its own right.

driver100

emilywd said:

Hello All!

I am trying to help my mother, a real estate broker, find a new car for her business. She is looking for a luxury SUV with these top priorities:
1. Comfort (smooth-riding and roomy)
2. Safety
3. Looks (she loves the Lexus look)

She emphasizes looks, since "the nicer the car, the better for her reputation". Her car is like her office on wheels! Also, she needs an AWD that offers off-road capabilities since most of her showings are on undeveloped land.
Any suggestions, comments, and advice is truly appreciated!

Just an opinion but I think the Jeep Grand Cherokee is more of an off road vehicle, whereas the Lexus has AWD capability, but isn't really made to go over rugged terraine.

qbrozen

emilywd said:

3. Looks (she loves the Lexus look)

Not sure why/how there is any discussion after that.

A good set of tires and, as long as she's not rock crawling, I'm sure the Lexus will get her where she needs to go.

Michaell

qbrozen said:

emilywd said:

3. Looks (she loves the Lexus look)

Not sure why/how there is any discussion after that.

A good set of tires and, as long as she's not rock crawling, I'm sure the Lexus will get her where she needs to go.

The GX is much more off-road capable than the RX .. I believe the GX is related to the 4Runner under the skin.

kyfdx

Unless she is an experienced off-road driver, she probably shouldn't be driving anywhere an RX350 can't go..

But, if she likes the GX460 and can afford it and pay the fuel bills, have at it!

[Deleted User]

I'm with you on this one, Michaell. The Lexus will handle difficult terrain and look decent. Either that or a Range Rover or Discovery Sport. Most SUVs these days are designed for little more than snowy roads and graded dirt roads.

emilywd

Michaell said:

When you say "undeveloped land" do you mean dirt trails? Or no roads at all? I think the level of off-road capability might differ based on the answer to that question.

But, off the top of my head, I'd say Lexus GX460.

I mean dirt trails--thank you for pointing that out! And thank you for the suggestion.
I have also been looking into the Acura MDX and the Mercedes GL series. Thoughts on those?

Michaell

emilywd said:

Michaell said:

When you say "undeveloped land" do you mean dirt trails? Or no roads at all? I think the level of off-road capability might differ based on the answer to that question.

But, off the top of my head, I'd say Lexus GX460.

I mean dirt trails--thank you for pointing that out! And thank you for the suggestion.
I have also been looking into the Acura MDX and the Mercedes GL series. Thoughts on those?

If you are talking graded dirt trails, I think most any luxury SUV will be able to handle them.

I think the Acura is much less expensive than the MB, but not sure if price is an issue here.

skyisthelimit

Either a Land Rover or a Ranger Rover