2005 Luxury SUV Comparisons, Reviews & Road Tests

Study these four vehicles carefully, and you'll notice something missing: compromises. Time was, a Series II Land Rover was ideal for hauling gear or slogging through the bush, but if you wanted a burst of speed, you had to drive it over Victoria Falls. For a Sunday morning romp in the California foothills, you might choose a low-slung Corvette or a Lotus--nothing but grins, at least until the party headed off-road and left you high-centered on a tarantula. Or perhaps your priority was sumptuous trappings and lots of electronic gizmos to fiddle with, in which case you'd simply lock away your camping gear and driving gloves and wrap yourself in a tufted-leather Buick the size of Oklahoma.

Ah, the wonders of modern science. An emerging class of premium GT SUVs truly lets you have it all--and not a gram of carbohydrate in sight. Off-roading planned for the weekend? Each of the four players here is equipped with four-wheel drive and respectable ground clearance. Hauling gear? Fold those seats as needed and open that large rear door. Want a soothing ambience for the commute home? Every one of these machines is bursting with comforts, from GPS navigation and high-zoot stereos to automatic climate control, rich leather, and fine wood decor.

And, oh yes, there's speed. Horsepower ratings for the group range from a heady 310 to a thundering 469. Quarter-mile times are in the mid-14s or better. Tires are fat. Brakes are huge vented discs at all 16 corners. Make sure the golden retriever in the back seat is wearing his padded collar.

This elite ueber-ute class is a uniquely German commodity, at least until the new, 390-horse Range Rover Sport (MT, February) hits our shores this summer. Yes, there are swift SUVs from Japan and the U.S. (the Infiniti FX45, the new Hemi-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee, and the Cadillac SRX come to mind), but none offers the all-around combination of off-roading prowess, on-road reflexes, opulence, and--let's be honest--prestige of these four Deutsche treats.

The Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG has the oldest roots of the quartet, the original "Gelaendewagen" on which it's based dating back to 1979. If the square-shouldered, flat-paneled shape says "G.I. Joe" to you, give yourself a merit badge: Like the Hummer H1, the G-Class is a street version of a vehicle originally developed for military use (albeit a military that drinks Beck's, not Budweiser). Though the shape is immediately familiar (in Beverly Hills, battle-ready G-Classes are as common as lips the size of Jimmy Dean sausages), this new 2005 G adds some serious whiz, courtesy of an AMG-built, supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 developing 469 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque (up from 292 horsepower and 336 pound-feet in the standard G500). The G55 is also set apart from its normally aspirated sibling by larger front brakes, chrome light cages and trim, and 18-inch AMG alloy wheels with 285/55R18 performance tires. That such a vehicle would be popular in Beverly Hills makes more sense when you consider the base price, which will stop your breath quicker than a choke-hold: $100,620.