What is the Best SUV Coupe?

SUVs have become the preferred family car. Some offer three rows of seating for a spacious ride. There are even many electric options available for those who want to drive cleaner and greener. Some car buyers might have heard about an SUV coupe. How does this body type differ from a standard SUV?

An SUV coupe or a coupe SUV is a luxury automobile. These vehicles aren’t offered by standard manufacturers. The design of a coupe SUV is a bit more elegant; the back has a sloping back roof structure. What is the best SUV coupe? The answer depends on the buyer, but the luxury choices include:

  • Porsche Cayenne Coupe (and Porsche Cayenne e-hybrid Coupe)
  • BMW X4
  • Infiniti QX55
  • Mercedes-Benz GLC Class
  • BMW X6
  • Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback
  • BMW X2

Sport and Style Collide in the Body of an SUV

The coupe body design leans sporty. When the coupe mixes with an SUV, the design is sleek, sporty and practical, too. These vehicles are all high-end offerings; again, a coupe SUV isn’t offered in a standard lineup.

For this reason, buyers who want the sleek and sporty coupe SUV might need to set a higher budget for their purchase. Porsche, BMW, Infiniti, Audi and Mercedes-Benz all offer coupe SUVs, so which option is the best? That depends on the driver!

Porsche Cayenne Coupe

The Porsche Cayenne Coupe is offered in a standard engine and a hybrid, too. For those who want the most miles per gallon, the 2022 hybrid offers a battery that can drive up to 13 miles and offers a range of 450 miles for the battery and engine combined. The Cayenne Coupe e-hybrid starts at $88,600. The model also offers a maximum towing capacity of 6,600 to 7,700 pounds.

The standard 2022 Porsche Cayenne Coupe has a starting MSRP of $72,200. It offers a towing capacity of up to 7,700 pounds. The Cayenne Coupe offers space for five. The Cayenne features a 12.3-inch touch screen, Dynamic Light System Plus (DLSP), night-vision assist, and more.

BMW X4

BMW refers to the X4 as a Sports Activity Coupe. It starts at $51,800 and can get up to 21 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway. The X4 offers space for up to five.  It offers a 12.3-inch display, LED lights and 3D headlights and a Live Cockpit Professional (that comes standard).

Infiniti QX55

The QX55 is considered a crossover coupe—so not exactly an SUV. The arch-grille on the front of the QX-55 was inspired by a Japanese bridge. The QX55 includes dual touch screens and augmented reality data that appears on the lower windshield as part of the vehicle’s heads-up display. It also offers numerous safety systems. The QX55 has a starting MSRP of $46,500 and offers space for up to seven. It can get up to 22 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway.

Mercedes-Benz GLC Class

The GLC SUV is actually one of the more affordable options on the list. The GLC Class starts at $43,850. It offers a smaller touch screen than some of its competitors—10.25 inches. However, it also offers voice assist (“Hey, Mercedes…”), includes standard blind-spot assistance/warning, and offers LED lighting. The GLC Class offers decent fuel efficiency—22 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway. It provides space for up to five.

BMW X6

The X6 is another sports activity coupe from BMW. It starts at $67,350, so it is an upgrade from the X4. The X6 offers standard leather seats, the Live Cockpit Professional and many standard advanced safety features. The X6 has space for five and can get up to 21 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway.

Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback

The e-tron Sportback is Audi’s SUV coupe, and it’s powered by electric. It has a starting MSRP of $52,700. The Sportback has an estimated range of 241 miles and features Quattro all-wheel drive. The Sportback also offers an augmented reality heads-up display that features all the pertinent driving data. The e-tron Sportback offers enough space for five. In addition, the 2022 Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback received a Top Safety Pick+ rating/award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

BMW X2

The X2 is the lowest priced luxury sports activity coupe offered by BMW; the X2 starts at only $36,600. This might make it more of an intro-level luxury coupe. It offers space for up to five people and better fuel efficiency than the X4 or X6; the X2 can get 24 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway. It offers front-collision warning, lane departure alerts and speed limit data as standard features. It comes standard with a smaller 8.8-inch display.

Best SUV Coupe

What is the Roomiest SUV Coupe?

Many of the luxury SUV coupes only have space for five—they offer two rows of seats. However, the QX55 provides three rows of seats and room for seven.

For those who want the most space possible for their coupe SUV, the Infiniti is the most spacious option. In addition, it’s also a moderately priced luxury model starting at $46,500.

What’s the Most Budget-Friendly SUV Coupe?

Luxury buyers might still have a budget. Some who want luxury are just delving into this class of automobiles. The least expensive SUV coupe is the BMW X2.

BMW typically refers to their SUVs as sports activity coupes. The X2 is priced at $36,600. While its standard features aren’t nearly as luxe as higher-end BMW models, the X2 still offers a sleek design and high-end features. Those who want the BMW name could choose this sports activity coupe.

Hybrid Options Could Improve Fuel Efficiency

Those who want SUV coupe options that are better for the environment might choose either an electric or hybrid model. The Porsche Cayenne is offered in an e-hybrid. The model could offer more fuel efficiency compared to standard SUV models.

However, buyers should expect to pay significantly more for this hybrid than other options on the list. The Cayenne hybrid is more than $88,000; those who add more options can easily bump the price into the $90K range.

Leasing Could be a Way to Save

Choosing a luxury automobile comes with a higher price tag, but there could be a way to decrease the monthly payment amounts. Leasing can be a more affordable option than buying, especially for those who don’t rack up too many miles on their vehicle.

Leasing is like renting a vehicle, but a lease lasts about two to three years. During the lease period, the leasee makes monthly payments on their vehicle. However, these payments are typically lower than a loan payment (for the same car).

While the monthly cost might be lower, there are some downsides to a lease agreement. Leasing a car comes with driving stipulations; there are mileage restrictions tied to a lease. If a driver exceeds the mileage outlined in the lease, there are typically fees related to the overage.

However, leasing also means that the dealership handles basic maintenance needs like oil changes. This could be appealing to some buyers.

Since a lease isn’t long-term, the buyer can simply turn in the vehicle when the lease ends. Some individuals elect to buy the vehicle, though, if the price is right.

All the details of a lease are outlined in the lease agreement. Those who are leasing need to read the agreement to understand mileage restrictions, maintenance responsibilities and more.

However, for buyers who don’t drive often or who don’t take long trips, leasing could be a more affordable option that allows them to afford a luxury vehicle like an SUV coupe.

Used Models Could Be an Option, Too

Some car buyers never buy a new car. They feel that new cars aren’t worth the investment. Instead, they may purchase a newer used car. Buying a used car means that the car has already been subjected to some depreciation. Once a car drives off the car lot, it can lose between nine to 11 percent of its value.  

Pre-owned or used cars can be more affordable for luxury buyers who don’t want to spend luxury dollars. Prices of used or pre-owned cars can be influenced by a few factors:

  • Make/model
  • Condition
  • Mileage
  • Age

As the price and availability of new cars is subject to supply and demand, prices might be higher in some areas. Car shoppers can check out dealerships in their area to find out if there are used models of the SUV coupe that they want. In addition, Kelley Blue Book (KBB) also lets shoppers search for available models; the site will include cars at different dealerships.

Shoppers also can wait to buy a 2022. As the newer 2023 models start driving into dealerships, the 2022 models could offer better prices. Again, though, prices are subject to supply and demand and availability. If a luxury model is popular, car shoppers might not be in luck.

Best SUV Coupe

Electric SUV Coupes

As more manufacturers switch to electric, their lineup could include more plug-in electric SUV coupe models. Audi already offers the e-tron Sportback; some manufacturers also could classify their models as just SUVs instead of denoting them as SUV coupes.

However, buyers can expect their electric options to expand soon. The Polestar 4 SUV coupe is an upcoming model that is expected from Polestar in 2023, according to an article from Car and Driver.

The Best SUV Coupe

There are numerous luxury SUV coupes on the market, and the best one might be a matter of opinion. The least expensive luxury option, though, is the BMW X2, and the Infiniti QX55 is the most spacious—offering space for seven. Buyers can test drive their favorite options to find the best SUV coupe for their needs and their style, too.