We hit the road in a trio of SUVs for luxury intenders.
Not everyone interested in purchasing a vehicle from a luxury automaker is aiming for six-figure sedans, oversized SUVs, or the latest EV. Indeed, many of these shoppers are simply looking for upscale design, current tech, and a refined driving experience, all while keeping things relatively grounded on the pricing front.
Three Small But Upscale SUVs
As part of the annual Spring Rally held by the Midwest Automotive Media Association, we recently had the chance to sample some new and redesigned small SUVs from premium brands to see if they’re worth your consideration. Despite some inclement weather, the highways and byways around the legendary Road America racetrack in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, were ideal for putting these rides through their paces.
Acura ADX
What’s Cool: Thoughtful interior design; good handling; strong reputation for reliability and resale value; reasonable starting MSRP
What’s Not: Loud engine noise; not particularly quick; too expensive when fully optioned
Premium subcompact SUVs have been an integral part of the automotive landscape for more than a decade. It’s only for model-year 2025, however, that Honda’s luxury division is getting in on the action. The Acura ADX borrows its platform and other key components from the Honda HR-V. That DNA is most evident in the rear three-quarters styling. We hoped Acura could have done a bit more with the exterior design to distinguish it from its mainstream sibling. The interior is more distinctive, with materials and finishes that are more upmarket than those in the HR-V.
Where ADX differs substantially is in the powertrain. It uses a 190-horsepower, 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, like what you’ll find in the larger Honda CR-V. Despite the extra muscle compared to HR-V, ADX doesn’t feel particularly fast. The engine also protests loudly when you try to push it, making the driving experience feel less refined than it should be. ADX makes up for these shortcomings with nimble handling and intuitive, well-integrated controls.
At $35,000 to start, ADX is one of the more affordable premium subcompact SUVs. However, our loaded all-wheel-drive A-Spec with Advance Package test sample carried a sticker price of more than $45,000. For that, we would seek a different vehicle (see below) or even a used example of Acura’s own larger, more powerful, and more fun-to-drive RDX.
2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale 2.0
What’s Cool: Punchy drivetrain; agile handling; intuitive controls and infotainment system
What’s Not: Cramped passenger compartment interior and cargo area; small dealer network
Meet another premium subcompact SUVs that shares its design with a mainstream model. The Alfa Romeo Tonale is a more upscale version of the Dodge Hornet. When Tonale made its North American debut for the 2024 model year, it came only as a gas/plug-in electric hybrid configuration. Though powerful and offering up to 33 miles of electric-only driving range, critics were not enamored with the drivetrain’s behavior. We said of the similar hybrid Hornet R/T, “Unfortunately, once that [battery] charge depletes, the Hornet’s small and stressed engine takes over, churning out nearly as much noise as power.”
For 2025, Alfa Romeo is addressing this concern by offering a new gas-only Tonale. This version has a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that produces a healthy 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive is standard as is a 9-speed automatic transmission. This drivetrain feels much more suited to the Tonale’s mission as a sporty alternative to other premium subcompact SUVs. Power delivery is smooth and the transmission provides prompt, crisp shifts. It also sounds far more refined than the ADX’s motor. Handling is lively, with the Tonale 2.0L tackling Elkhart Lake’s winding back roads with aplomb.
Tonale is dynamically sound, but what will likely put off most shoppers is its diminutive size. The front seats are quite cozy, and there’s not enough rear legroom for a 5-foot-8-inch adult to sit behind another of similar size. Alfa Romeo claims maximum cargo capacity of 27 and 54.7 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks raised and folded, respectively, but in practice, the space feels much tighter than that. Still, with a sticker price of around $43,000 for a well-equipped 2.0L model, the Tonale is a more compelling option than the ADX, provided you live near a dealer as Alfa Romeo’s network is far smaller than that of most competing luxury brands.
2025 BMW X3 M50
What’s Cool: Fast; great handling; intoxicating exhaust note
What’s Not: Polarizing exterior styling; cheap-feeling interior; steep price when fully loaded
The final vehicle in this roundup is the largest and most expensive. The BMW X3 enters its fourth design generation for the 2025 model year, sporting new styling and tech, along with revised drivetrains. We classify X3 as a premium compact SUV so it doesn’t directly compete with the ADX or Tonale. Instead, it does battle with the likes of the Acura RDX, Lincoln Corsair, and Mercedes-Benz GLC among others.
Though slightly shorter in overall height than the outgoing model, the 2025 X3 is longer and wider. For better or worse, the exterior design adopts BMW’s current design language with elements that you’ll find across most of the brand’s other products. Most buyers will likely choose the 30 xDrive model, which has a 255-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Our test example at Road America was the top-line X3 M50 xDrive, which pairs a turbocharged 6-cylinder engine with a small electric motor to produce a combined 393 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque.
The M50 is crazy fast with strong power delivery across the entire RPM range. Its 8-speed automatic transmission fires off lightning-fast shifts. Handling is also top-notch as you would expect from a BMW with excellent steering feel, grip and balance.
Where this compact SUV let us down was its interior. While its revised iDrive control system was functional, and we were comfortable in the front and rear seats, the quality of the materials was sub-par. The cabin looked and felt like something out of a mainstream compact car, rather than a high-end, sporty SUV with an as-tested price of more than $76,000. That makes the X3 tough to recommend, at least in M50 form.
Listen to the Car Stuff Podcast
Small But Upscale SUVs Pictures
Click below for enlarged images
2025 Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring: Review, Prices, and Specs