From sporty to sumptuous
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00:00Luxury SUVs. Can't get enough of them.
00:06And in today's competitive market, it's not enough for a car to just bury us from place to place.
00:14But it also must make us feel like we're living in the lap of luxury.
00:22Welcome to this emergency cone.
00:25Chances are, if you're playing the session, you're in need of immediate stress relief.
00:32There are a few ways of pulling this off.
00:34There's upmarket cabin material, smooth ride quality, state-of-the-art technology, and that highly elusive and oftentimes indecipherable X-Factor.
00:43It must feel luxurious.
00:46So what does that mean?
00:47Well, today we've assembled the best of the best midsize luxury SUVs from Lexus, Acura, Lincoln, and Genesis
00:54to compare and contrast so you can find out which one is best worth your attention.
01:00As a bit of a programming note, you'll see much, if not all, of this video filmed on the twisting mountain roads of Southern California.
01:07This was done purely for aesthetic purposes, as the scenery is stunning.
01:12But you should know that we conducted this comparison across all types of roads so as to capture the most realistic impressions.
01:26So we're kicking off this day with the Lexus RX 500h.
01:32The Lexus RX is basically the gold standard of luxury midsize SUVs.
01:37You can argue this is the car that started the whole movement when it first came out in the late 90s.
01:43The 500h F Sport performance we have today is the sportiest version with a 366 horsepower turbocharged hybrid four-cylinder.
01:53By itself, the 500h costs just under $65,000 minus freight and handling fees.
01:59But this particular car has options like the premium audio system and is the Blackline Special Edition,
02:05which gives it that gray exterior color, 21-inch black wheels, and orange brake calipers.
02:11After all that, the MSRP comes to $74,900.
02:16It's a strong contender for sure, and I'm checking it out with Aaron Gold.
02:21And for being here, Aaron, welcome to my office.
02:25Well, thank you for having me, Kristin.
02:27Well, as our first contender in this luxury comparison, I like the way it drives.
02:32It's very buttoned down.
02:34There's really good low-end power, actually, from the hybrid.
02:38So it gets off the line fairly quickly.
02:41And also in these curvy roads, pretty fun to drive.
02:44See, this is the thing that blows me away because I don't know if the audience knows this,
02:47but I'm a little older than you, Kristin.
02:49What made it away?
02:50I never thought I would ever lead off a Lexus review with, I enjoy driving this Lexus.
02:56I enjoy driving this Lexus.
02:58Yeah.
02:59I mean, before they really were kind of glorified Toyotas in the years past.
03:02This thing's really great.
03:03The platform's really good.
03:05It's maybe not what you buy a luxury car for, although I think sport and luxury have always been a little intertwined.
03:10But this thing is actually amazingly entertaining.
03:13You actually bring up a good point because I feel like when Lexus really made a name for itself,
03:18which is the late 90s and the 2000s, really leaned into that luxury, comfort, executive, you know, direction.
03:25And recently there's been a switch and Lexus decided it wants to pursue sportiness.
03:31So strangely, this RX feels a lot sportier to drive than its actual sports cars like the IS 500.
03:38Just kind of a funny thing.
03:39Yeah, I know.
03:40I think that goes back to a Nokia or Toyota is like no more boring cars out of Toyota or Lexus.
03:45But it's funny because really where Lexus made their name is in solidity and perfect build quality.
03:53And that is what really struck me about the RX because it hasn't given up on that.
03:59Of all the cars I drove for this comparison, the Lexus feels so solid, so well put together.
04:06And that is an important aspect of luxury.
04:09Very true.
04:10And there are upmarket materials in here like the leathers are soft.
04:13This screen is big and it's easy to read.
04:16Even the touch points are very crisp.
04:19They're very responsive.
04:20I do like that they delegated the climate to the lower half of the screen.
04:24It's not like you're like grasping for it blindly when you're on a road that you need to like take your eyes off of it.
04:30That's not happening here.
04:31And it's a very comfortable car.
04:33You feel supported in the seats.
04:35They're nicely bolstered there.
04:37The foam is good.
04:38It's comfortable.
04:39Yeah.
04:40Well, with your driving, I definitely need these bolsters in these curves.
04:43That for sure.
04:44Easy egress, which is important when you're driving, Kristen.
04:47Yeah, the materials are really nice, but see this is the problem.
04:51They're missing, right?
04:52Do you feel like there's something missing?
04:53It's like I look around and go, whose idea of luxury is this?
04:59Kinda.
05:00And I'm not saying everything should be like an old Jaguar with, you know, leather and wood beams hewn from an old ship, you know, hanging from the ceiling.
05:09I like the materials, but the decor just, is this a young person's idea of luxury?
05:15It's very sporty and streamlined, bordering on aggressive, I think.
05:20And maybe it's because this particular trim, everything is just the same color, but it kind of makes it monochromatic and boring.
05:29And it's these, some of these shapes, I mean, part of what I look to in a luxury car is, I want something that feels like an oasis.
05:36I want to relax.
05:38I want something that's gonna set me at ease.
05:40Especially, we live in Los Angeles, tons of luxury cars, tons of traffic.
05:44You need something that can kinda take you away from your, the, whatever the stress is of your daily life.
05:51That's part of why you get in a luxury car, right?
05:53It's just like a little miniature oasis, this nice comfy pod to take you home.
05:57And I find these angular shapes kind of jarring, you know?
06:01And a sporty car, good sporty decor, does put you on edge a little bit.
06:06This is just not relaxing.
06:08But all the time I drove this, I kept thinking, you know, the real solid goodness of the foundation of this car,
06:15I would enjoy this so much more in a different model, with a different trim.
06:20Something oriented a little bit more towards traditional luxury.
06:24Yes, and this is not to say Lexus doesn't make this car indemnity, it does.
06:28But we looked at it, we spec'd one out online, like it comes in a nice red.
06:32But in terms of the, that offulence, that over the topness, that seems to be lacking.
06:38And that doesn't take away from the fact that this is a spectacular daily driving SUV that adds a little spice of fun to your commutes.
06:45Not at all.
06:46We're just looking for that little something extra.
06:49We were looking for luxury cars that kind of give us that, that upscale feel.
06:54And I think the Lexus, like I said, it has the structure that feels like a good thing that you bought, the expensive thing.
07:01But I just don't quite get the nice relaxing Oasis vibe that I got from some of the other vehicles in this, in this comparison.
07:08Yes, agree. Let's go see what else we got.
07:10Erin makes a good point, which is that, at least in a luxury SUV, you want to feel like you're sitting in a relaxing Oasis.
07:18But Lexus, while great in other ways, didn't exactly deliver on that front.
07:24So we're moving on to one of the newest names in the luxury space.
07:32OK, so we've just gotten out of the Lexus RX, and now we are getting into the Genesis GV80.
07:39With me is our special guest, Miguel.
07:42Hello.
07:43Genesis is a relatively late newcomer, an offshoot from the Hyundai Kia Corporation.
07:48And it's already hit the ground running with excellent cars like the GV80.
07:54A recent refresh gives us a sweeping 27-inch OLED screen, which joins the already stunning interior.
08:01Under the hood, you'll find a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 that makes 375 horsepower.
08:07This GV80 is in the top-tier prestige all-wheel drive trim, which means you get the 22-inch wheels, heated and ventilated front and rear seats, and Nappa leather seating services throughout.
08:21Outside of the $1,500 matte green paint, this model didn't come with any other optional extras.
08:27So, MSRP comes to $82,150, the most expensive car here today.
08:36So, I'm so excited to drive this car, to ride in this car, for you to drive me around in this car.
08:42Already, just like looking around, visually it hits.
08:46I know, right?
08:47There's so much to look at.
08:49It's very colorful.
08:50It's very, very colorful.
08:52In a good way.
08:53I know.
08:54Let's get driving, and we'll talk a little more about what we're seeing here.
08:57So, just in terms of layout, it's a lot airier than the Lexus.
09:02You know, like the Lexus, it feels like you're sitting in a cockpit, which some people like.
09:07It matches with the sportiness of the car's nature, but we're not looking for sportiness.
09:14We're looking for luxury.
09:15Luxury.
09:16Luxury is a lot more relaxed, and this layout is definitely a lot more relaxed.
09:20I think this is a perfect interpretation of luxury, right?
09:24You know, you have the quilted leather seats.
09:27Like we said, a lot of different color materials that match really well.
09:31You know, they're not just playing with colors to play with colors.
09:34They look premium.
09:35They look sophisticated.
09:36It adds a good vibe to the cabin, right?
09:40Yes, like, you know, you touch the leather.
09:42They're buttery.
09:43They're creamy.
09:44And it is true.
09:45This olive green leather, which it doesn't present immediately as olive until you really
09:51look at it a little more and the sun hits it right.
09:53And then there's this beautiful saddle color that goes up the pillars and across the ceiling.
09:58And then this kind of art deco white material.
10:01I'm not really sure what it's called.
10:03It's also very nice.
10:04It's still plastic, but they could have gone with piano black.
10:07And then they didn't.
10:08They did something different.
10:09Different.
10:10And something that nobody is doing, too.
10:12Oh.
10:13I mean, we haven't seen this white color in any other car that we have here or in any
10:17car in the industry.
10:18No, it almost looks like a like a wallpaper you'd have in a house or a backsplash in a
10:22kitchen.
10:23It's very attractive.
10:24And unique.
10:25Yeah.
10:26So that and then we have the Alcantara headliner.
10:29Right.
10:30That's also premium, like just elevates the experience.
10:34Right.
10:35And I think that's why Genesis is doing so well right now.
10:39It's because it's just elevating that experience in the luxury game.
10:43It's doing Bentley stuff, but at a fraction of the price.
10:48Exactly.
10:49It's close enough, I think, in vibe that it will suffice for the price point, which is,
10:55you know, like around $80,000.
10:56This is the most expensive car that we have here today.
11:00But I think it looks like it is worth $80,000.
11:04I mean, you don't need anything else.
11:06You have seat massages.
11:07You have all the technology.
11:09You have safety equipment.
11:11You have.
11:12There is also in-car cologne.
11:14Yes.
11:15I noticed it when I was driving.
11:16It's so subtle.
11:17It just popped, actually, as you just talked about it.
11:20I love how that's, you know, the experience is not just visual or, you know, sensory, like with how it drives, but also how it smells.
11:30Right?
11:31Like they play with all of your senses.
11:33And that's part of luxury today.
11:35I mean, I do like it.
11:36I think it's, it raises the bar.
11:39Again, it just, it's something else that others don't have.
11:42And once you get in and your car smells nice, it just makes you happier in a way.
11:49Yes, it does.
11:50And also in terms of technology, this OLED screen, it is very, very bright today.
11:56We both have sunglasses on.
11:57I have no problem reading the screen and the motions are very quick.
12:02They're very fluid.
12:03The resolution is very high.
12:05The screen is very usable and it does match very intuitively with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, whatever phone mirroring software that you used to use.
12:13But it also toggles back and forth between the Genesis apps and your Apple CarPlay pretty seamlessly.
12:19Yeah.
12:20Like I think it's attention to detail that Genesis has been standing out for, right?
12:23And you can see it here in the GV80.
12:25It's the small things.
12:26And I will agree with you on that.
12:27It's very small things.
12:28It's obviously on all of the high touch, high visual points, but even in places that you always don't think to look.
12:33So like this door card right here, there's also leather down here that you don't always look at.
12:39The feel of the turn signals in the cradle is very muted and soft.
12:44And the way that these dials turn, the click, is also very refined.
12:49You know, there's these special little things, these little details that just add to the big picture of luxury.
12:56But also, how is it driving?
12:58It drives really well, honestly.
13:00It's very quiet.
13:01Something that, you know, premium luxury buyers are looking for, right?
13:05But then it's also sporty.
13:07I mean, you have a three and a half liter twin turbo V6 with plenty of punch, right?
13:12Over 300 horsepower.
13:14It's quick.
13:15I don't want to say it's sporty, but it is.
13:18It has everything you need and nothing you don't, right?
13:21It delivers without over delivering or without, you know, going like the extra mile.
13:27I think it does a good job for what it is, for what it was meant for.
13:31Yes, I agree with you, especially on the not sporty part.
13:34The Lexus is a sporty SUV.
13:37This is a more relaxed driving style.
13:40It'll pick up if you want it to.
13:43But there's a lot more languidness in the way the suspension is tuned.
13:48The roads here are not indicative of the roads that most people drive on.
13:52These are very curvy roads.
13:53But, you know, you can imagine driving on a big boulevard or a highway.
13:57The suspension will just pick up all of that, you know, nasty road chatter and then just get rid of it.
14:02So you don't really hear it in here.
14:04So it rides very nice.
14:05The GV80 is still a little, you know, it could just a little bit more work.
14:11I think this mid-cycle refresh that it went through a couple of years ago, it really did help into making it better.
14:17But I think it can still work a little more in just getting those vibrations out of the cabin and keeping the cabin a little bit more refined.
14:27But I think, you know, it's nitpicking because overall, from a driving perspective, this is an SUV that's going to deliver on basically every front.
14:37OK, so I think we've got a feel for the GV80 and, you know, let's head back and see what else this day brings us.
14:45All right.
14:46That Genesis is going to be a tough one to beat.
14:49Time to see if the Acura MDX stands a chance.
14:53Now we are in the Acura MDX and with me is Zach Gale at the wheel.
15:00The current fourth gen MDX underwent a facelift earlier last year, with the biggest update being the removal of that infernal touchpad controller for the infotainment.
15:09The screen is also bigger now with built in Google apps.
15:13However, the 355 horsepower 3 liter twin turbo engine in this Type S model remains unchanged.
15:20Weirdly, in our testing, the Type S wasn't actually any quicker than the standard model that's equipped with a lower power engine.
15:28Most mysterious.
15:30All that aside, though, this MDX Type S has $600 in urban gray paint to make for a total MSRP of $77,200.
15:41This Acura, upon first impression, is resplendent in piano black trim, which I think is pretty universally disliked for its smudginess and kind of makes the cabin dated.
15:54I mean, they updated this MDX recently with a nicer screen and they got rid of that very fiddly touch center thing.
16:02Right.
16:03And they've now since made it a charging pad, which is much better.
16:06But how do we feel about this interior as a luxury product?
16:10It feels luxurious in a very vaguely just general way.
16:16There's not much in here except this knob right down here, the drive mode knob that is, to me, uniquely accurate or different.
16:24You know, you get in that Genesis and you just feel like you've made it.
16:29You know, it makes you feel successful and like you've made an excellent choice.
16:33This car is fine.
16:35It's OK.
16:36It's just there's nothing that really stands out quite as much.
16:40Yes.
16:41And I have to agree with you.
16:42The cabin materials are nice.
16:44The seats are comfortable.
16:46They are supportive.
16:48I nothing really screams different or it takes a risk.
16:54For me, I when I look at this interior, even after they've refreshed it and improved it.
16:59I like that the green is now a touch screen and it almost feels like they designed the entire interior out in all directions from that silver drive mode.
17:10And I think that's cool.
17:11But beyond that, there's just nothing here that if you were, you know, if you didn't know this was an Acura,
17:17you would say, OK, yeah, this is this is fantastic.
17:20I love this.
17:21I think if you love Acuras, you'll love this car because objectively, there's nothing wrong with it.
17:27It does all the things correctly.
17:29It looks good.
17:30It's functional.
17:31The thing I don't particularly love is the transmission selection set up here in the middle that, you know, it kind of lines it all up in a row, almost like a spine.
17:41And then you interact with it that way.
17:44That was kind of reinventing the wheel.
17:47But the other thing I do want to talk about is this is the Type S MDX.
17:51And so for those of us who, you know, have knowledge in the tuner culture, like Type S meant like this hot it up Acura.
17:58Do we feel like this is Type S from behind the wheel where you are right now?
18:02Uh, a little bit.
18:04It's kind of Type S-ish for me.
18:06Like Type S Lite.
18:07Yeah, exactly.
18:08And I, I have to mention how much I love the design of this car and not so much in this trendy color that everyone's been doing this like cement gray.
18:17I'm kind of over that.
18:18But the design itself, I feel like it looks lean and premium and a little bit luxurious and very, very sporty.
18:26I love that.
18:27I love the four different exhaust outlets that it has on the back when everyone else is going the opposite direction and hiding theirs under the bumper.
18:35Here's Acura coming on and saying, hey, you know, we're unapologetically showing four outlets on the back.
18:41But from behind the wheel, it kind of under delivers.
18:47It is definitely sporty, but it's just sort of sporty to me.
18:52I was driving up here earlier and I was hitting a lot of highway miles.
18:56The suspension is certainly performance oriented, but at the same time it is choppy over rough pavement.
19:03So there's a lot of jounce that enters the cabin, which is not very luxurious.
19:07And like you said, it's it's sporty, but not very sporty.
19:11But then it's sort of luxurious, but not that luxurious.
19:14So it makes me wonder, like, what's the focus?
19:17What is the focus?
19:18Yeah. And I'll say something else about the sportiness.
19:21There's a lot to sportiness beyond straight line acceleration.
19:25Having said that, I want more acceleration.
19:29I want a little bit better acceleration than what we've tested from this car.
19:35It needs to be a little bit more of a difference than the standard MDX.
19:40Yes, I think I'll agree with that.
19:43And on top of that, I do think this car is probably the oldest that we're comparing today.
19:51If not the oldest, close to the oldest.
19:54And it kind of does feel that way.
19:56It feels like a car that did debut a few years ago and everything else has just gotten more modern around it.
20:04Yeah. And, you know, the technology in some senses has moved on.
20:09They've done a great job updating it.
20:11But there are some things that I think would be improved by maybe even a new platform or perhaps even a new engine.
20:19I mean, this thing gets 19 miles per gallon.
20:21And we've talked about how that's not super important in this segment.
20:24But how about 352 miles to a tank of fuel?
20:29Like that's that's by far the worst in this test.
20:32And what that translates to is you spending more time at a gas station.
20:38And I feel like that's not very luxurious.
20:40The good thing about the Acura is it is extremely spacious.
20:43So technically, this is a three row.
20:46The third row itself is, I would say, more vestigial than a useful third row.
20:52But it's there.
20:53It's there for emergency purposes.
20:55But with it down, the trunk is cavernous.
20:57Oh, it's so nice.
20:59And underneath the floor, there's this absolutely enormous and super useful compartment where you can put even more stuff.
21:06So Acura really has that part down.
21:08And I guess there are some things where, you know, its age doesn't get in the way.
21:12And cargo space is definitely one of them.
21:14Exactly.
21:15Well, I think we have given the MDX Type S the shakedown that it needs.
21:20And we're going to head to the last aspect of this comparison, which is the Lincoln Nautilus.
21:28Before we get to driving the Nautilus, some quick specs.
21:32This particular model is the top tier black label trim.
21:36So you get upgraded LED headlights, 24 way adjustable massaging front seats, a 28 speaker surround system, 22 inch wheels, a 3 cent air freshener system and the Rejuvenate in-car spa feature.
21:50Total MSRP comes to $79,295.
21:54This is a car that is very familiar to and very beloved by Motor Trend because not only was it the 2025 SUV of the year, it also won our best tech award for infotainment.
22:07I mean, it had to, right?
22:09Because you get into this car, you look at it and the first thing that hits you in the face, that big wow factor is this giant pillar to pillar screen that is set far back into the dash and it's customizable.
22:20It's nice.
22:21Even in this very, very harsh daylight, it's very easy to read.
22:25It is a very cool, radical idea of screens.
22:29We, as I think an entire species of humans reject screen heavy layouts, but it turns out we only reject bad screen heavy layouts and this one is very nice.
22:40I will say the center screen could be cantered upwards a little bit to make it a little easier to read if you have a slightly higher driving position, but that's, you know, a pretty small complaint.
22:51Other luxury features like how the inside is upholstered.
22:55There's really nice leather in here.
22:56It's soft.
22:57It's opulent.
22:58It's supple.
22:59The seats are very comfortable and it's very quiet.
23:03So just like the GV80, the Nautilus also has a scent factor to it.
23:08It has a digital scent and there's three scents that you can choose from.
23:12And there are three settings, three strengths.
23:15I will say they're all a bit on the sweeter side, but you know, as, as Miguel and I discussed, it's kind of nice to get into a space and have a, have a signature smell to it.
23:25Like we all know that person with a signature scent.
23:27Well, now your car can have a signature scent.
23:30And another thing that the Nautilus does that I have actually not really seen in any other car before is it has that rejuvenate almost like in-car spa function.
23:39Basically, you put the car in park and you turn it on and this waterfall graphic comes on on the screen and the seat reclines a little and it starts to massage you.
23:50And a very smooth talking lady comes on and she talks down your anxieties and your nervousness.
23:57She does nothing for general existential dread.
23:59Maybe that's in the software update, but it's a good thing to have at the end of the day where you can just kind of like pull into your driveway instead of going right into the house and dealing with the chaos in there.
24:08Take a few moments for yourself, hold space and enjoy.
24:15From behind the wheel, though, I like the way it drives.
24:18This kind of oblong steering wheel takes a little bit to get used to, but while you're doing it, the ride is nice.
24:25It's supple, it's pliant.
24:27The acceleration is also not bad.
24:29It is very quiet in here.
24:32The Genesis had a decent amount of body roll and you really felt like it was leaning in the corners.
24:39This Lincoln is a lot tidier, so you drive it with a little more confidence.
24:45It's nowhere near as sporty as the RX or the MDX, but it does walk a fine line in the middle.
24:54So without a doubt, things are quite quality in here.
24:58You kind of see the Ford-ness a little if you look a little harder.
25:03Like this door panel down here, out of sight, that's made of some thinner plastic.
25:08And in the back seat, there aren't climate controls for those passengers, just vents.
25:14And if you look at this Qi, it kind of looks just like a key from, I don't know, like a Ford F-150.
25:25You know, you want to spend $80,000 on a Lincoln.
25:28You kind of want it to look, it's stuff, it's associated stuff to look a little different than all the Ford stuff.
25:36You know, you're going to pay all that much money for it.
25:38So here we have them, luxury midsize SUVs in all their various forms.
25:51Of course, there needs to be one winner.
25:54And so without further ado, in fourth place, the Acura MDX.
25:59This is a good car and no one would fault you for buying it.
26:02But among everything that we've gathered here today, it finds itself outclassed and a little outdated.
26:08It doesn't seem like it can make up its mind between being either a luxury or sporty SUV.
26:14In third place is the Lexus RX.
26:17As much as we enjoy driving this car, as much fun we have in it, and as much as we love its powertrain and all that low-end power it provides,
26:26it doesn't really elevate that luxury experience.
26:29It doesn't go beyond that X factor that we talked about.
26:33So that's what keeps it in third place.
26:35And in second place, this one was a big debate.
26:40But we decided to give second place to the Genesis GV80.
26:45Don't get us wrong, this thing hits on all the right notes.
26:49The cabin materials and design are exceptional.
26:52It drives quietly.
26:54And its advanced adaptive driver assistance system is among the best this side of the hands-free setups you can get on other cars.
27:02The only reason it's not in first is because of tough competition from the Nautilus.
27:07So, yes, in first place of this luxury midsize SUV competition is the Lincoln Nautilus.
27:15Right off the bat, the wow factor of that pillar-to-pillar screen hits you right in the face.
27:20And it has fun features like the digital scent and the rejuvenation spa.
27:24Although, we do wonder how frequently people are going to use those things over the course of ownership.
27:29That remains to be seen.
27:31Yet, having worked in the service industry before, I think that entitles me to the opinion that luxury is like good service.
27:38You have to anticipate someone's needs before they even have them.
27:42You need to elevate the experience without being gimmicky.
27:45And you have to be thoughtful without being pushy.
27:48So, the Nautilus does all this stuff.
27:51It's also a fantastic place to sit.
27:54The hybrid powertrain makes it a great car to drive.
27:57And it's awesome to look at.
27:58It's got the works.
28:00Furthermore, we think it offers features an owner would enjoy everywhere from the first year of ownership all the way to the 15th.
28:07It's something that you'll want to hang on to for the long term.
28:10And truly, isn't that the point of a luxury product?
28:14For the full comparison article, head on over to MotorTrend.com.
28:20Thank you so much for watching and we will catch you on the next one.