Over the past 20 years, compact crossovers and SUVs have gone from a curiosity to some of the most popular cars on the road. That revolution has come for the luxury market, making cars like the BMW X3 and Porsche Macan core products for companies that made their names building sedans and sports cars. A great premium compact crossover combines the dynamic fun of a sport sedan, the versatility of an SUV, and the comforts of a luxury car into one platform. Here are some of our favorites.
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2024 Porsche Macan
Price: $62,550
The high price of entry and relatively small cargo area mean the Porsche Macan is not for everyone, but crossover buyers willing to spend a premium for a focus on driving dynamics will find the most exciting SUV-shaped offering on the road. Those interested in the best possible driving experience at the best possible price will be looking at the Macan T, which combines the performance elements of the more expensive GTS with the four-cylinder engine found in the base car. An electric Macan is also joining the lineup and it offers even more horsepower.
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Read more about the Macan T, a performance standout
2025 Genesis GV70
Price: $47,050
Genesis may still be a young luxury brand, but the GV70 is a highly competitive product that offers exactly what shoppers are looking for in this segment. Its stylish exterior, plush interior, and powerful engine options make it an enticing choice. The optional twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 is particularly quick, but even the base 300-hp 2.5-liter turbo-four is no slouch, and all-wheel drive is standard across the board.
Here's what makes it such a compelling offering
2025 BMW X3
Price: $50,675
The BMW X3 has long been a mainstay of this segment, and it's entirely redesigned for 2025 with a funky new look. The engine choices are beefed up as well, starting with a 30 xDrive model with a 255-hp turbo-four and rounding out the lineup with a six-cylinder M50 xDrive putting out 393 hp. BMW will surely bring back the high-performance X3 M version, too, but we'll likely have to wait a bit longer.
2024 Maserati Grecale
Price: $69,995
The Maserati Grecale fits in the same mini-segment as the Macan, prioritizing a sporty driving experience and costing a lot more than other competitors. The resulting car scales all the way up to 523 horsepower in Trofeo trim, but the four-cylinder base model is not exactly slow, either. There's also an electric version coming soon called the Grecale Folgore.
Read our review of the high-output Grecale Trofeo
2024 Audi Q5 / SQ5
Price: $46,495 (Q5) / $58,895 (SQ5)
The Audi Q5 may not be as sporty as its Porsche cousin, but it brings Audi's signature Quattro all-wheel drive at a significantly lower price point. The standard Q5 is offered with a 2.0-liter turbo-four or a plug-in-hybrid setup, and the performance model comes in the form of the SQ5. It packs a 354-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 and a torque vectoring rear differential. Both the Q5 and SQ5 are also offered in a Sportback body style with a more sharply sloped rear roofline.
The SQ5 is a new kind of muscle car
2025 Mercedes-Benz / Mercedes-AMG GLC-Class
Price: $50,400 (GLC300) / $70,000 (est, GLC 43) / $100,000 (est, GLC 63)
The GLC-class is Mercedes' compact-crossover offering, and it's available in a wide variety of versions. The base GLC 300 SUV, with a 255-hp turbo-four engine, has the broadest appeal, and is also offered in a slightly swoopier GLC Coupe format. The AMG versions pack extra power, aggressive visuals, and upgraded chassis, starting with the 416-hp GLC 43. Pictured here is the top-dog GLC 63 S E Performance, a plug-in hybrid with the same 671-hp powertrain from the C 63 sedan. No matter which you choose, the GLC acts the part of a Mercedes with solid driving dynamics, a posh interior, and, of course, the all-important three-pointed star badge.
2024 Alfa Romeo Stelvio / Stelvio Quadrifoglio
Price: $47,545 (Stelvio) / $94,965 (Stelvio Quadrifoglio)
With its distinct styling and Italian character, the Stelvio is a unique choice among compact luxury SUVs. It's great to drive, with even the base model providing good power from its 280-hp turbo-four and sharp steering response for a crossover. The high-performance Quadrifoglio model, which will be discontinued after 2024, offers an even more sensational experience from behind the wheel thanks to its 505-horsepower twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6.
We Drive Swiss Mountain Passes in a Stelvio Quadrifoglio
2025 Volvo XC60
Price: $48,345
The XC60 is a stylish crossover that brings what Volvo does so well in the larger XC90 to a smaller footprint. It has been on the market since 2017, and that age is starting to show, but it is still a good option offered at a competitive price point. Powertrain options include a 247-hp turbo-four with a 48-volt hybrid system in the B5 and a 455-hp plug-in-hybrid setup in the Recharge. The PHEV version is legitimately quick and is offered with an enticing Polestar Engineered performance package.
2024 Lexus RX
Price: $49,950
The Lexus RX practically invented the idea of a compact luxury crossover when it first arrived in the 1990s, and it has proved to be a sales leader. The latest generation of the RX arrived for 2023 and follows a similar formula as its predecessors, hewing more towards comfort and quietness than sportiness and performance. The addition of the RX 500h F Sport Performance model helped change that a bit, as it has a 366-hp hybrid setup that makes for a quick RX. But if you're looking for a more sedate luxury SUV, you'll have the choice of the turbo-four RX 350, the hybrid RX 350h, and the plug-in-hybrid RX 450h+.
Review: New RX Is the Same as It Ever Was
2024 Acura RDX
Price: $45,700
The RDX isn't as exciting as other Acura models like the Integra Type S hot hatchback, but it offers a few performance-oriented features to entice enthusiasts. Acura's SH-AWD system is optional and lends the RDX a more athletic character, and its 272-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter engine is competitive among other compact luxury SUVs in terms of acceleration. Drawbacks include a finicky touchpad-based infotainment system and some low-rent interior materials, but the RDX is on the cheaper side of this segment especially when compared to German offerings from Mercedes and BMW.
Our Review of the RDX PMC Edition
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