Like all segments of the SUV market, the luxury compact SUV category has been growing in leaps and bounds in recent years – to the point where, in North America as well as in Europe, overall sales of utility vehicles have surpassed those of sedans.
It’s evident that the popularity of these vehicles has been driven by the wishes and needs of consumers whose checklist includes safety, roominess, comfort and a touch or more of sportiness.
This last element has been particularly exploited by car manufacturers, with the regular launch of new model versions whose performance capabilities are the envy of many a sports sedan or coupe.
A sub-category of the ongoing trends in the SUV marketplace has been the introduction of models like the BMW X6 that take direct inspiration from coupes, and convertible-like models such as the Range Rover Evoque. On top of this, a multitude of electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid SUVs are on the near-horizon, if not already here. Tesla gave us the X, and the major auto makers are set to follow in their footsteps before the end of this decade.
Here then is a Top 10 of luxury compact SUVs on the market
Audi Q5
The first-generation Q5 has undeniably been a big success for Audi, and the second generation, unveiled last autumn, raises the bar in the segment even higher. The SQ5 version of the SUV is scheduled to appear shortly at Audi dealerships.
