2017 Best Luxury Compact SUVs for the Money

The Best Compact SUVs for the Money

The 2017 Lexus NX was recently named U.S. News & World Report’s Best 2017 Luxury Compact SUV for the Money. To get the award, the NX went up against some stiff competition in the luxury compact SUV class. The best SUVs in the class have a low initial cost, low long-term costs, and are made of high-quality materials.

Click ahead to find out what SUVs battled against the NX in our rankings.

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2017 Volvo XC60

If you’re looking for comfort, convenience, and good fuel economy all in one place, the 2017 Volvo XC60 may be the SUV for you. It ranks No. 11 out of 14 luxury compact SUVs and achieves an overall score of 8.1 out of 10.

The X60’s cabin is a bit dated, but still offers natural materials that give it a refined appearance. It has abundant cargo space and two good engine options. A number of available safety and convenience add-ons can make the drive experience even better.

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2017 Audi Q5

The 2017 Audi Q5 is an athletic SUV that focuses on performance but also delivers a good ride experience for passengers. It comes in at No. 5 out of 14 luxury compact SUVs in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings with an overall score of 8.6 out of 10.

The Q5’s agile handling and quick acceleration make the Q5 a driver’s SUV. Its front seats are comfortable but don’t offer as much adjustability as competitors. Numerous tech features are available to better the Q5’s drive and ride experience. The model has plenty of cargo room and a power liftgate is standard.

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2017 Jaguar F-Pace

The 2017 Jaguar F-Pace has an overall score of 8.8 out of 10 and comes in at No. 2 out of 14 luxury compact SUVs. Now in its second year on the market, the F-Pace functions well as both a daily driver and a vehicle you can have some fun with on the weekends.

The F-Pace is quick and offers a sporty drive that is comparable to the Porsche Macan’s. It’s not a true off-roader, but it handles slippery surfaces and gravel roads with relative ease. All-wheel drive is standard, there’s plenty of legroom in both rows of seating, and the F-Pace has a large amount of cargo space.

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2017 Buick Envision

The Buick Envision was new to the U.S. market in 2016 and has received a number of upgrades for 2017, helping propel it to an overall 8.1 out of 10 score in U.S. News & World Report ratings. It ranks No. 11 out of 14 luxury compact SUVs.

For 2017 the Envision has gotten three new trim levels, a new base engine, and GM’s Teen Drive safety software. The best performance comes from the upgraded turbocharged engine. Its ride is composed and quiet. The SUV’s cabin is generally filled with well-made materials. The Envision’s seats are wide and comfortable, although cargo space is average for its class.

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2017 BMW X3

The 2017 BMW X3 earns an 8.7 out of 10 overall score from U.S. News & World Report, finishing at No. 3 out of 14 luxury compact SUVs. Its energetic drive is matched with a luxurious interior, though many luxury features do not come standard. There is plenty of passenger and cargo room. The X3 has good safety and reliability scores.

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2017 Infiniti QX50

The Infiniti QX50 is fun to drive, but it hasn’t been redesigned in a number of years and it’s beginning to show its age. Still, the QX50 is highly rated by U.S. News & World Report, earning an overall score of 8.2 out of 10.

Under the hood of the QX50 is a strong 325-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. The SUV accelerates quickly, and switching into Sport mode can deliver an athletic experience. Its cabin is quiet and ride are both smooth. 

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2017 Audi Allroad

The Audi Allroad is the U.S. News & World Report’s top ranked wagon. It has earned an overall score of 8.7 out of 10 and reviewers say that it tops its competition in nearly every evaluation category.

Audi’s Allroad is a vehicle that easily accepts changes in driving conditions on the fly. Its engine is powerful enough and its seven-speed automatic transmission is smooth shifting. The Allroad’s cabin is spacious, with enough seating for up to five people. A number of optional luxury features can make the Allroad one of the best-equipped vehicles on the market. It even has good cargo space.

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2017 Lincoln MKC

The Lincoln MKC is all about riding in comfort and getting to your destination in style. It ranks No. 8 out of 14 luxury compact SUVs in U.S. News & World Report rankings, achieving an overall score of 8.4 out of 10.

Under the hood, the Lincoln MKC has capable engines, though they don’t provide the type of enthusiastic drive you get from BMW or Audi models. The MKC gets average fuel economy from either of its engine choices. Its interior is a mixed bag of high and low-end materials, though upgrading the cabin of the MKC gets you some impressively luxurious appointments. The SUV’s second row seating is cramped, but its cargo area is average for its class.

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2017 Acura RDX

The 2017 Acura RDX has an overall U.S. News & World Report score of 8.5 out of 10 and places No. 6 out of 14 luxury compact SUVs. It is packed full of features, has a strong V6 engine, and offers a comfortable ride.

The RDX is all about comfort. Although it’s not sporty like the Lexus NX, it has agile handling. It achieves average fuel economy scores and the cabin is quiet. The RDX has enough room in the back seat for adults and a cavernous cargo area. It achieves excellent safety scores and has average reliability.

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2017 Lexus NX

The Lexus NX has a low starting price, but offers buyers a lot of bang for their buck. It has great build quality inside and out, achieves high safety ratings, and has good predicted reliability.

If you’re looking for a solid daily driver, the Lexus NX may be for you. Its competitors have more powerful engines, but the NX offers smooth acceleration and good ride quality. The SUV holds well through the corners with little body roll while providing a connected drive. Other vehicles in its class offer more cargo space, although the NX has abundant passenger space for up to five people.

• See 2017 Lexus NX Photos
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• Read the 2017 Lexus NX Full Review
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More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report

If you’re looking to get a great deal on one of these vehicles, head over to our best lease and financing deals pages. There, we’ve compiled a list of all the best incentives manufacturers are currently offering.

If you want to buy instead, be sure to use the U.S. News Best Price Program, where shoppers save an average of $3,279 off their new car purchase.