Why Luxury SUV Prices Are Plummeting In 2020

The auto industry is a complicated place full of insider secrets and if you don’t know them you could end up paying much more than the next customer who has done their homework.

Chances are you grew up riding around in the family SUV as a child. Those early versions may seem primitive to what is available on the market these days, but surprisingly, prices have remained relatively similar.

The traditional Sport-utility vehicle category has changed quite a bit with the introduction of smaller car-sized “crossover” models that have seen a huge jump in their portion of the category. These mid-sized SUV’s gained momentum with not only their smaller profiles, better gas mileage and modern amenities, but very attractive pricing to boot.

SEGEMENTATION

That popularity and demand of small and mid-sized SUV’s brought lower prices and aggressive deals from manufacturers. One of the brands seeing the largest growth in this segment is Subaru. Their line of small SUV’s have become popular with women, students and first time buyers.

While this is not a “luxury” brand by any means, it has bearing because this segment has in many respects “stolen,” a large part of the clientele from the luxury category. The big winner is the consumer though. Subaru offers multiple small SUV’s like the Forrester, perennial favorite the Outback and the new wildly popular Crosstrek, all under $35,000.

Other brands have taken notice and have deepened their commitment to the affordable SUV market as well. Ford Offers a deep line-up of SUV, and what they call CUV(crossover utility vehicle) models. With the original sports utility vehicle, the Explorer still intact, they have added the Edge, the Flex an updated Expedition, the Eco-Sport and the Escape to their impressive SUV offering. Thats an impressive line-up considering only one is over $50,000.

TOP LUXURY SUVs

By definition the word luxury means: “The state of great comfort and extravagant living.” The word itself conjures images of large homes, high-end yachts and all the finer things life has to offer to the elite. The same goes for the automobile market. Leather seats, advance operating systems,

One of the top SUV’s available today is the 2019, Land Rover Range Rover 5.0L V8 Supercharged SVAutobiography Dynamic. Clocking in at a cool $208,200 for the fully loaded option, this new offering from Range Rover pulls out all the stops. Featuring a 5.0L V-8 557 hp inter-cooled supercharger engine this 8-speed automatic is more vehicle than one would ever need, but when shopping for an SUV of this caliber, need has nothing to do with it.

While the aforementioned Range Rover is a banger, it doesn’t quite hold a candle to the Elite offerings by Rolls Royce and Bentley. The Bentley Bentayga Black Edition sells fully equipped for a cool $390,000. Its 6.0 twin-turbo W12 drops an earth shattering 600 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. The space age tech paired with Bentleys legacy as an elite status symbol make this a vehicle for the chosen few.

The top of the list is none-other than a Rolls Royce. The 2019 Cullinan model takes its name from the diamond in Britain’s Crown Jewels. The Cullinan is a jaw-dropping $425,000 and features a 6.7 liter twin-turbo V12 engine that produces a staggering 563 horsepower. Its gorgeous and worthy of James Bond for sure, but is this really what you’re after? Why drop the unnecessary cash when a multitude of options await.

While these are out of reach for most of the human race, that doesn’t mean you cant afford a vehicle that offers similar amenities without the sticker shock.

GET THE MOST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK

To say the sports utility market is competitive is an understatement. With massive inventories that need to be cleared, manufacturers are offering deep discounts and incentives to lure customers onto their lots. Take Chevy for instance. Their Legendary and perineal winners are the Tahoe and Suburban, selling millions of units over the decades. While those models are proven, the reintroduction of the revamped Blazer and their mid-size offering, The Traverse, come fully loaded for very reasonable pricing and manufacturer rebates. Always negotiate off the dealer cost, not the MSRP. Before you start down the path of negotiation, check the internet for discounts and incentives so when you’re better prepared when it comes time to purchase.

End of month and end of year discounts are always most aggressive when dealers are trying to make their sales quotas.

INVENTORY

When looking for a vehicle, especially a luxury SUV, look at the lots, scour the web and see whats selling the best and whats older, off colored or just isn’t a hot seller. These are going to be the vehicles that the dealers want off the lot in the worst way.

Subaru for instance charges an extra $1000 if you want their white Crosstrek just because its so in-demand. On the flip side, they offer a color best described as “pumpkin” and they will slash a $1000 off the price if you take the godforsaken burnt orange vehicle off their lot.

A little research will go a long way when it comes to finding the most car for the least amount when you’re searching for your next Luxury SUV.

1. https://www.stcloudsubaru.com/featured-new-inventory.htm, 2. https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/articles/best-color-to-buy/