The Extra Touches that Can Seal a Premium Deal
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Curious as to what features make a luxury SUV, a true, luxurious one?
It’s no secret the luxury SUV is an incredibly popular segment. Merging the ideal all-around practicality of an SUV and car with those extra touches of premium luxury features that you can’t get in a normal car. However, luxury doesn’t always mean luxurious.
With the market growing at 11.8% annually, a plethora of manufacturers now offer models in this category. So many to be precise, it can often leave the buyer feeling overwhelmed. So they go with the SUV most closely resembling one they already know and love.
The problem with that approach is buyers pay top dollar prices for vehicles without truly getting the premium experience they expect.
Top Takeaways
Premium Interior Materials & Comfort
Advanced Technology & Infotainment Systems
Performance Features That Matter
Safety Systems You Actually Need
Increase in Long-Term Vehicle Value
Why Luxury SUV Features Are Actually Important
Shopping at a luxury & performance collection dealer means you’re buying a premium vehicle. These features aren’t frills or luxuries, they’re what you’re actually paying for.
The features you choose in your luxury SUV can make your daily commute something you look forward to.
The problem is most people don’t realize the features they choose right now will define their vehicle’s resale value, comfort and daily satisfaction for years into the future. That is why knowing precisely what to look for and which features to prioritize is so important.
Premium Interior Materials & Comfort Features
Before we get started, there’s an important thing to keep in mind. The interior of the vehicle is where you and your passengers will be spending every second of your time with it. If the materials, features and comfort levels feel cheap then, frankly, none of the other things really matter.
Key features to look for here are:
Hand stitched leather seating with plenty of adjustment options
Real wood or carbon fiber trim rather than plastic trim with a wood grain look to it
Ambient lighting that’s customizable to your mood
Climate control for multiple zones
Heated and ventilated seating both in the front and the rear
Other features to look for include memory settings to save your preferred position of your seat, mirrors and climate controls. The materials used on the most premium of luxury SUVs not only look great but also stand the test of time.
Advanced Technology & Infotainment Systems
This is where it starts to get interesting. Luxury SUVs are becoming increasingly complex computers on wheels. The technology should make your life easier, not harder. That’s why it’s important to understand precisely which tech features are essential.
Look for:
Large touchscreen display (12+ inch display)
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Premium sound system (Bose, Harman Kardon, Bang & Olufsen, etc.)
Wireless charging for your smartphone
Head-up display that projects your vital information on the windshield in front of you
Response time of the infotainment system should be immediate. Look for systems that seamlessly integrate with the rest of your digital world and have voice controls that actually work.
Performance Features That Add to Luxury
You may be wondering how performance features affect luxury?
Luxury SUVs are all about how those performance features integrate and work together. Consumers favor vehicles that offer comfortable interiors, advanced safety and security features, superior drivability and driving experience.
Look for performance features such as:
Powerful engine options that are either turbocharged or hybrid variants
Adaptive suspension which tunes itself to road conditions for both comfort and handling
Drive modes (Sport, Comfort, Eco, etc.)
All-wheel drive or some form of intelligent four-wheel-drive system
Smooth-shifting automatic transmission with 8 or more speeds
The suspension should be able to effortlessly absorb bumps in the road but also provide feedback to the driver. The engine should be smooth and confident with no perceivable lag or hesitation when accelerating.
Advanced Safety Systems You Can’t Ignore
Here’s one most buyers fail to consider. Safety features are so much more than just protecting you and your passengers in the event of a collision. They’re there to actually prevent collisions from occurring in the first place.
Look for the following must-have safety features:
Adaptive cruise control that automatically maintains a set distance from the car in front
Lane departure warning and lane keeping assist
Blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert
Automatic emergency braking
360-degree camera system
Parking sensors all the way around the car
The best luxury SUVs go one step further with systems that can now actually steer the vehicle out of the way of an impending collision. Some even include lane keeping features that will automatically change lanes for you on the highway.
It’s all about these systems operating invisibly in the background, only alerting you if and when they really need to.
Comfort & Convenience Features
This is where luxury SUVs really start to stand out. The various additional features that make each journey that much more enjoyable. These are the features you’re likely to be using almost every single time you drive.
Essential comfort and convenience features include:
Power liftgate (hands-free opening preferred)
Keyless entry and push-button start
Panoramic sunroof or moonroof
Massage function in the front seats
Easy folding rear seats
Multiple USB charging ports throughout the vehicle
Don’t forget the small but important things like automatic high beams, rain sensing wipers and auto-dimming exterior mirrors. You might not think you need or even use them much, but you’ll sure notice them if they’re not there.
Connectivity & Smart Features
Wondering what modern luxury really is all about?
Connectedness without distraction. Staying in touch with your digital life but not letting it intrude on your driving.
The smart features to be looking out for include:
Built-in WiFi hotspot
Over-the-air software updates
Remote start and climate control via your smartphone
Digital key integration that works with your phone
Smart home systems integration
Some luxury SUVs will even be able to precondition the cabin interior before you get into the car based on calendar events on your smartphone. Features like that is where true luxury really shows itself.
Increase in Long-Term Vehicle Value
Let’s cover one more thing before we finish. Features chosen also play a direct hand in the long-term value of the vehicle. Luxury SUVs with the correct package options maintain their value much better in the long term.
Features that can significantly increase resale value include:
Advanced safety packages
Premium sound system upgrades
Larger infotainment screen sizes
Interior leather upgrade packages
Advanced driver assistance packages
Technology is constantly advancing. Features that sound ultra-modern today will be the baseline expectation in three years. By spec’ing the most advanced features currently available, you’ll future-proof your vehicle and also help maintain its long-term value.
Final Thoughts
Picking the right features for your luxury SUV isn’t a matter of selecting all the available options. It’s more about prioritizing and understanding what truly improves your daily driving experience.
Start with the basics–interior quality, materials, comfort features and technology that you’ll actually use and benefit from every single day. Then layer on the comfort and convenience features you’ll use every single time you drive.
Interior quality and comfort – the basics you use everyday
Safety and driver assistance features – never compromise on these
Technology that works and integrates into your life
Feature packages that have the greatest long-term value
Test drive with all the right features active
Take your time with this decision. The right luxury SUV with the right features will make every journey an absolute joy.
The post Top Features to Look for in a Luxury SUV first appeared on Clean Fleet Report.
