USED CARS - Luxury SUVs Reviews

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Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	USED CARS - Luxury SUVs Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Car and Driver >> Details/Subscribe	5 Best Trucks Csaba Csere, Tony Swan and Aaron Kiley Mar. 2005		Car and Driver's staff perform this comparison test annually. It is a list of their favorite trucks in a variety of categories. Five small sport-utility vehicles are covered, along with seven large SUVs and six luxury SUVs. Editors also discuss pickups and vans. The Cadillac SRX wins the luxury SUV category for the second year in a row. Editors note that towing capacity, which maxed at 3,500 pounds last year, has increased to 4,250 pounds. Editors praise its styling and call this luxury model the "class of its class." The number of entrants here impresses us, as does the thoroughness of Car and Driver's testing and its reputation as an automotive authority.
2. Motor Trend >> Details/Subscribe	Road Test: 2004 Lexus LX 470 vs. Lincoln Navigator Ultimate 4x4 vs. Land Rover Range Rover HSE vs. Infiniti QX56 AWD Arthur St. Antoine 7/4/2005		Motor Trend's stated intention is to test the "biggest and most luxurious SUVs on the market" in an off-road trail test performed in Death Valley, California. All tested vehicles are equipped with V8 engines and four-wheel-drive transfer cases. The Cadillac Escalade was not included because it does not have a transfer case with low range. It is noted that at the end of the test, all the participating editors had scored the test vehicles in the same finishing order. The Land Rover Range Rover HSE wins a unanimous first place score. Motor Trend's Arthur St. Antoine claims that on-road handling is without equal in this class, but "when the pavement gives way to boulder-strewn canyons, the Rover marches on utterly unperturbed." The Lexus LX470 also gets high marks, finishing second. Motor Trend notes that while on paper, the LX470 is an also-ran, facts and figures alone can't tell the whole story. One writer states that "Ride quality, power-steering feel, power delivery--every place you touch it, the LX is polished and refined."

USED CARS - Luxury SUVs Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	USED CARS - Luxury SUVs Ratings Comments on Reviews

3. Motor Trend >> Details/Subscribe	Riders on the Storm Chris Walton 6/4/2005		This article takes a look at the sportiness of four high-end luxury SUVs. The emphasis here is on cornering, braking and acceleration. To a lesser extent, roominess and comfort are also examined. This article comes up short in that editors do not measure off-road ability at all. The Porsche Cayenne S does well here against competitors like the Infiniti FX45, Cadillac SRX and BMW X5 because it has the sportiest feel when driving, the best brakes and the best cornering ability. At almost $70,000, the Cayenne is by far the most expensive vehicle in the test—costing $8,500 more than the second-priciest X5.
4. Car and Driver >> Details/Subscribe	Gitche Gumee Games: What would Hiawatha drive? Tony Swan Apr. 2004		Five full-sized SUVs priced between $39,000 and $45,000 are included in this report. The vehicles are driven on-road, off-road and in snow. They are evaluated on comfort, roominess, performance, off-road capability and other measures. This level of detail impressed us. The article loses some appeal though, in that it is not geared towards luxury SUVs—but merely expensively optioned regular SUVs. The Dodge Durango beats out the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada and Toyota Sequoia. The Dodge wins praise for its powerful optional 5.7-liter 'Hemi' V8 engine, for cornering well, and for utilizing space well (adults can fit in all three rows of seats, and get in easily, despite its relatively short length).
5. Motor Trend >> Details/Subscribe	Battlestars - 2004 Nissan Pathfinder Armada SE, Dodge Durango Limited, Chevy Tahoe LT, Ford Expedition NBX, Toyota Sequoia SR5 Ron Sessions Mar. 2004		This comparative review involves a thorough thrashing of five vehicles on a two-week, over-the-mountains road trip. The primary selection criteria were a full-size SUV with three rows of seats, a separate frame, V8 power and high towing capacity. Four-wheel drive was also required. The Durango is the winner in this evaluation. Power and ride are lavishly praised: "A perfect storm of generous power, delightful ride quality, and precise handling" writes one tester.
6. InsideLine.com >> Details/Subscribe	2004 Ultra Luxury Midsize SUVs Comparison Test Ed Hellwig Jan. 2005		In this test of upscale midsize SUVs, Ed Hellwig states that his target is a buyer who wants it all and is willing to pay for it. Included in this test are the Lexus GX470, Land Rover's Range Rover, the Volkswagen Touareg and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo. The Lexus GX470 wins first place honors with the Range Rover placing second due in part to the Range Rover's $20,000 price premium. We like the thoroughness of this review and its "second opinions" section, providing an opportunity for point-counterpoint analysis of the vehicles and their performance. The specifications and performance section included at the end of the article provides comparative information in a handy table format.
7. InsideLine.com >> Details/Subscribe	2004 Midsize Luxury V8 SUVs Comparison Test John DiPietro Oct. 2004		This comparative review of the Cadillac SRX, Lincoln Aviator, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz ML500 and Infiniti FX45 targets midsize luxury SUVs with V8 power. Although the Volvo XC90 gets a V8 for 2005, it was not introduced in time for this test. Two distinct groups of vehicles are included. Performance-oriented unibody vehicles include SRX, X5 and FX45. More traditional SUV architecture with body-on-frame design includes the ML500 and Aviator. First place goes to the Cadillac SRX, with the BMW X5 coming in second. John DiPietro states that "the SRX was the clear winner by dint of its well-rounded performance and value proposition." Like Inside Line's other roundups, a "second opinion" section and comparison chart is included.
8. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Top Picks 2005 Editors of Consumer Reports Apr. 2005		Consumer Reports tests dozens of cars and trucks each year for safety, reliability and performance, and picks a handful across various vehicle categories to recommend. Consumer Reports ranks highly with us because its editors are thorough and consider data some dedicated car magazines ignore, such as fender-bender repair estimates and crash-test information. This reviewer does not test performance and off-road ability as thoroughly as the dedicated auto magazines, however.

USED CARS - Luxury SUVs Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	USED CARS - Luxury SUVs Ratings Comments on Reviews

9. Edmunds.com >> Details/Subscribe	Editor's Most Wanted Vehicles for 2005 Editors of Edmunds.com Oct. 2004		Each year, the editorial staff at Edmunds.com looks at a large sampling of cars in a wide variety of categories and price ranges, voting for the best vehicles of the year. Among luxury SUVs, the Volkswagen Touareg wins the under $45,000 category with Honorable Mention given to the Cadillac SRX. The Land Rover Range Rover wins among SUVs priced over $45,000 with honorable mention to the Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470. This article is limited only in its lack of back-to-back performance testing.
10. Consumer Guide Car and Truck Test >> Details/Subscribe	New Car Reviews Editors of Consumer Guide As of Mar. 2005		Consumer Guide's editors rate vehicles on acceleration, fuel economy, ride quality, steering/handling/braking, quietness, controls, materials, room, comfort, cargo room and value within class. Crash test data and warranty information is also displayed. We like this guide but it is downgraded because it lacks head-to-head comparisons. Additionally, testing isn't as thorough as that of other review sources, like Car and Driver. The Acura MDX, Cadillac SRX and the Lexus RX330 are all listed as Best Buys among premium SUVs. Consumer Guide is an excellent source for pricing and options information.
11. Kiplinger.com >> Details/Subscribe	2005 Car Buyer's Guide Editors of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Dec. 2004		Kiplinger's annual auto issue factors in issues such as service costs, fuel efficiency, resale value and insurance costs. We welcome this financial focus to evaluating cars, but since side-by-side tests are not performed, this review does not rank higher in our chart. The Cadillac SRX wins the best-in-class award for large SUVs.
12. Money.com >> Details/Subscribe	2005 Best Car Values Lawrence Ulrich Feb. 2005		Money Magazine's annual best-car-values awards are based on objective comparisons of price, power, features, safety and interior comfort, as well as test drives. For 2005, the best-value ranking for luxury SUVs goes to the Land Rover LR3. The Cadillac SRX is runner-up.
13. Motor Trend >> Details/Subscribe	2005 Sport/Utility of the Year Editors of Motor Trend Oct. 2004		In the most recent installment of Motor Trend's annual SUV torture test, SUVs are thoroughly tested for their off-road ability, comfort and value. The 2005 contenders are the Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape Hybrid, Ford Freestyle, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Infiniti QX56, Land Rover LR3 and Nissan Pathfinder. The Land Rover LR3 wins due to its outstanding on-road refinement and off-road ability. Editors agree that the Land Rover sets a new benchmark for its segment in terms of design, packaging, technology and functionality. In limiting the SUV of the Year award only to new or heavily updated vehicles, Motor Trend's editors limit this review's appeal to us, and only the LR3 falls into the luxury category covered in this report.
14. CarSmart.com >> Details/Subscribe	2005 SUV of the Year Christian J. Wardlaw Mar. 2005		Editors at CarSmart select the best new or redesigned vehicle for its 2005 SUV of the Year award. The Land Rover LR3 wins this year. The LR3 is described as "a quantum leap in performance, quality, and design". Other vehicles are not compared or contrasted, however, limiting the usefulness of this article.

USED CARS - Luxury SUVs Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	USED CARS - Luxury SUVs Ratings Comments on Reviews

15. Motor Trend >> Details/Subscribe	Mid-Lux Sport with Utility Chris Walton & David Newhardt Jan. 2003		The Lincoln Aviator does well in this three-model roundup for its crisp styling, spirited handling, powerful brakes and power (it hit 60 miles per hour in a best-in-test 7.6 seconds and can tow more than 7,000 pounds). However, the "one that does it all", is the Lexus GX470. It blends real on- and off-road abilities and manners with pampering and electronic amenities. This review is comprehensive and thorough, but its age keeps it from ranking higher in our chart.
16. Motor Trend >> Details/Subscribe	2004 Volvo XC70 vs. 2004 Volkswagen Touareg vs. 2004 Chrysler Pacifica Jack Keebler & Todd Lassa Oct. 2003		Three crossover vehicles priced around $41,000 are included here; they mix station-wagon efficiency, sport/utility capability, and minivan room. Performance, space, comfort and styling are all analyzed, but only in on-road situations. The Volvo XC70 (which is an aggressively styled all-wheel-drive station wagon) wins out over the Volkswagen Touareg and the Chrysler Pacifica. The magazine praises it for balancing fuel economy, acceleration, ride, handling and all-weather capability, and for its people- and cargo-moving room. The Touareg (a V6 model) is criticized for being underpowered and the Pacifica for its fit/finish and styling. While very few high-end SUVs are ever driven off-road, it would have been nice to at least include some trail driving. This review's age keeps it from ranking higher in our chart.