Long-Term Test Verdict for 2011 Infiniti QX56 – Escalating the Lux-ute Standard

Name-brand devotees of the gargantuan-size luxury-ute class are missing out. Sure, the Cadillac Escalade has the chrome-tastic appeal and pop culture status to keep units of the nearly 6000-pound SUV moving out of dealerships, but many wealthy buyers might not realize what other gems exist in the stratospheric $60,000-$100,000, seven-to-eight-passenger luxury-SUV class.

First Test: 2011 Buick Enclave CXL AWD — Still a Looker, but Getting Rough Around the Edges

First introduced in the 2008 model year, the Buick Enclave eight-passenger quasi-luxury crossover has most of the bases covered, but there haven’t been any significant updates to the model since it first arrived in showrooms. Back then, we said the Enclave re-justified the brand’s existence. Thing is, we also said the big crossover still needed work.

TrueCar Inventory: SUVs Hottest, Small Cars Spend Longest Time At Dealers

Luxury SUVs are hot, TrueCar’s March TrueTrends report suggests. Vehicles in that category spend an average of 36 days in inventory before being sold. Subcompacts, on the other hand, don’t find homes so quickly, with an average of 95 days in inventory.

MT Then and Now: 1999, 2002, 2009, 2011 Cadillac Escalade

Reading Motor Trend’s review of the 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum, you might get the sense that we think the Cadillac of full-size luxury SUVs is dated. Nevertheless, the Escalade continues to sell in decent numbers this late in the SUV’s lifecycle, producing easy profit for General Motors.

First Drive: 2011 Acura RDX FWD

The Acura RDX was designed to be among the sportiest in its segment, and except for a couple issues, the driving experience of the 2011 model is engaging as with our 2007 RDX long-termer. And that long-termer didn’t benefit from the changes Acura made for the 2010 model year.

First Drive: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg U.S. Spec

Photo by Zach Gale

A mere $1305 is all that separates the five-passenger 2011 Volkswagen Touareg from the seven-passenger Audi Q7. So who is really going to purchase a Volkswagen over a similarly priced Audi?