Best Full-Size SUVs in the US: Luxury, Comfort, and Power

Off-road vehicles from premium brands most often fall into the category of the best full-size SUVs, distinguished by stand-out dimensions, increased comfort, and better maneuverability.

In 2023, based on owner opinions, the top choice was the Lincoln Navigator, which looks like the perfect full-size SUV with a spacious interior, large trunk, powerful engine, and excellent equipment in basic trims. The 2023 Cadillac Escalade took second place in the ranking, and the new Land Rover Range Rover came in third.

Today, we have prepared an overview of these outstanding cars from different years of production.

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The flagship Lincoln Navigator was introduced in 2017, and the manufacturer is constantly improving not only the systems of the large SUV but also adding some touches to the appearance.

The frame is borrowed from a Ford F-150 pickup truck. But the body is entirely aluminum. It would seem that a huge car with a length of 210 inches (the modification with an enlarged base Navigator L is even longer - 220 inches) weighs only 5,855 pounds.

The power unit is a 3.5-liter V-shaped six. However, with the help of two turbines, its power is an impressive 450 hp. A ten-speed automatic transmission provides a torque of 510 lb-ft.

Since the Navigator is a family car intended primarily for travel, the manufacturer tried to make it as comfortable as possible.

So, the front seats can boast heating, ventilation, and a massage system that operates in several modes. In the top-end configuration, the front seats have 30 adjustments. 

Passengers in the second row have captain's chairs, climate control, and two entertainment system monitors. The manufacturer has also provided such an option as the ability to control what your children are watching through the head unit.

The manufacturer has worked seriously on sound insulation; the laminated glass creates “quiet luxury” - this is the quietest car in its class.

Of course, silence and comfort are achieved not only due to best-in-class sound insulation but also the modern adaptive suspension and rear multi-link. Exclusive adaptive suspension controls up/down wheel movement when driving on uneven surfaces and potholes.

The intelligent all-wheel drive system controls six driving modes:

• Normal,
• Conserve,
• Slippery,
• Excite,
• Deep Conditions,
• Slow Climb.

These modes ensure the safe and comfortable driving of the Lincoln Navigator on any terrain and in any weather, making it the best SUV in its class.

The Cadillac Escalade is probably the brightest living embodiment of the best full-size SUV. Oddly enough, despite its almost legendary status, the first generation of the car came out less than twenty years ago. Moreover, initially, the company did not plan to create something like this. It was decided to release the Escalade after the Lincoln Navigator exploded in the American market. In order not to lose in the entire segment, in 1999, the automaker quickly took the Chevrolet Tahoe, slightly retouched its appearance, added premium options and a pretentious logo, and brought it to the market as soon as possible. The decision paid off.

The new fifth-generation flagship Cadillac Escalade SUV retained the frame structure but received a rear independent suspension and a progressive interior with a bunch of gadgets. A rival to luxury models, it has received surprisingly advanced technical filling.

Technically, the huge Cadillac engine is quite simple. It has a timing chain and only two valves per cylinder, which has a positive effect on reliability. Engine 6.2 V8 with 420 hp and a torque of 460 lb-ft is equipped with a Dynamic Fuel Management system (to save fuel, it turns from two to eight cylinders), and the turbo-diesel engine is the legendary Duramax 3.0 I6 with a power of 277 hp and torque 460 lb-ft.

The declared resource exceeds 300 thousand miles. In addition, the design simplicity ensures the loyalty of the fuel system to the gasoline used. The same situation applies to the automatic transmission and all-wheel drive transmission. Only the owner’s carelessness, expressed in rare oil changes, can render them unusable.

The endurance of the all-wheel drive system is a consequence of its simplified design and rare use for its intended purpose. The Cadillac Escalade, unlike its ancestor Tahoe, has an all-wheel drive without a reduction gear and rear cross-axle locking. The main enemy of the Tahoe and the Escalade off-road is their enormous weight: despite their high off-road potential, heavy American SUVs drown in snow, sand, and mud.

Land Rover has been producing vehicles since 1948 - these rugged and reliable full-size SUVs are still popular with European emergency services and the military. The legendary Range Rover is still evolving in design and technical equipment. This car retained all the advantages of its predecessors but became even more expressive, faster, and more harmonious.

Land Rover's flagship model has undergone a generational change in 2023. Despite the similarities between the new Range Rover and its predecessor, this is a completely different vehicle - the first representative of the latest MLA-Flex platform. It has a new top-of-the-line V8 turbo engine, rear suspension with steering, and seating for seven. There will even be an all-electric version.

The main features of the new platform are a five-link rear suspension with steering capability, first used on Land Rover vehicles, and active anti-roll bars with electric drive (instead of hydraulics).

The rear wheels can be electrically deflected by an angle of up to 7.3 degrees - at low speeds opposite to the front wheels and speeds over 30 miles per hour - in one direction, increasing the car's stability. The steering rear axle helps achieve a turning radius of only 36 feet - this is the best result for all currently produced Range Rovers. 

As before, the Range Rover has two wheelbase options: standard and extended. But now, for the first time, the SUV will receive an option with a three-row interior layout with seven seats - it will be available on long-wheelbase vehicles.

The range of engines has been completely revised. The flagship is a V8 4.4 petrol turbo engine with 530 horsepower. More affordable alternatives of Range Rover SUVs are in-line diesel sixes of the Ingenium family with a volume of 3 liters and a power of up to 400 hp. Acceleration to 60 mph is 4.4 seconds. The new V8 has an aluminum block with plasma-coated cylinders, a pair of two-turn turbochargers with ceramic rolling bearings, and liquid intercoolers. Moreover, this is not the own Land Rover engine, but a BMW unit received as part of a cooperation agreement with a German company. More specifically, the N63B44T3 engine is installed on BMW X-crossovers with the M50i index.

All engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission from the ZF German company. The transmission retains off-road capabilities: all vehicles are equipped with a two-stage transfer case with a reduction gear. But instead of a permanent all-wheel drive with a locking center differential, the iAWD system is used with the front axle connected with an electronically controlled clutch.

While brands compete in design, innovations, and engines offering ground-breaking generation updates, the models of previous years lose their value. Visit Indy Auto Man to test drive the best full-size SUVs of previous years to make sure they do not lag in quality and comfort, and buy your perfect vehicle at an attractive price.