2023’s Best Small Luxury SUVs: The Reliable Rides You’ve Been Waiting For
For small SUVs, adding the luxury label only further complicates things. The best SUVs have a spacious cabin, plenty of cargo space, and a reasonable price – one can dream, right? Except these small luxury SUVs check all of those boxes pretty quickly. If you trust Genesis, BMW, and Buick to make a solid vehicle, then these three options with high predicted reliability scores are worth a look.
What is the best small SUV of 2023 with the fewest problems?
If the 2023 Genesis GV70 isn’t on your list of best SUVs, here are three reasons it should be. First, the small GV70 SUV has a predicted reliability score of 84 out of 100 from J.D. Power and U.S. News. That’s one of the highest scores in the entire luxury small SUV segment.
| The Best Small Luxury SUVs | MSRP | Predicted Reliability | Cargo Capacity |
| 2023 Genesis GV70 | $43,150 | 84/100 | 28.9 cubic feet |
| 2023 BMW X3 | $46,200 | 85/100 | 28.7 cubic feet |
| 2023 Buick Envision | $33,400 | 85/100 | 25.2 cubic feet |
This Genesis model has only been on sale since 2022, but it has proven to be a worthy competitor. It has two trims, 2.5T and 3.5T, and two engine options. The 2.5T has a turbo four-cylinder with 300 hp and starts at $43,150, while the fully loaded 3.5T has a twin-turbo V6 with 375 hp and starts at $55,250. Both have a high-end interior and a long list of standard systems.
The IIHS awarded the 2023 Genesis GV70 the Top Safety Pick Plus award. It also earned a score of superior in the front-crash prevention test. Some standard safety systems include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Additionally, the GV70 has 28.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 56.9 cubic feet with both rows folded.
Which SUV is best for driving in 2023?
Many agree that the 2023 BMW X3 is one of the best SUVs for driving. It combines agile handling and engine options that can improve any commute. BMW’s lineup of SUVs is known to offer a fun ride, but the X3 also has a predicted reliability score of 85 out of 100.
BMW offers several engine types and trim levels, from $46,200 to $72,900. The base sDrive30i has 248 hp, while the M40i gets 382 hp and all-wheel drive. The M has a twin-turbo inline-six with 473 hp for those who want more. The base engine gets a respectable 23 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, which drops as you go up the trim levels.
Thanks to BMW’s long list of safety features, the small X3 SUV earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus award. It earned high marks on the main crashworthiness tests and the crash avoidance and mitigation tests. The NHTSA gave the 2023 X3 a five-star overall safety rating, too. The 28.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 62.7 behind the first row isn’t bad either.
What’s the best SUV for under $35,000?
Even if the 2023 Buick Envision isn’t on your short list of the best compact SUVs, it has much going for it. Starting at only $33,400, the Envision has a comfortable ride and plenty of room for five passengers. It isn’t the most luxurious option in the class but it has a predicted reliability score of 85 out of 100.
Buick offers the compact Envision in three trim levels that range from $33,400 for the base Preferred trim and $45,660 for the fully loaded Avenir. All trim levels receive the same turbo four-cylinder with 228 horsepower. It gets the job done at 23 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive models get 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.
There is a long list of standard driver-assistance features included in the Envision. Systems like forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring are included. That was enough to earn a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA. There is also 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 52.7 behind both rows. For a solid combination of reliability, safety, and features, these are some of the best SUVs on the market.
