Many car buyers who achieve reasonable success in their careers desire an Executive SUV, which combines luxury, performance, status and a degree of family-friendly practicality. These are the 3 finalists in this category of the 2025 CarsAwards.
Most premium brands offer road-biased SUVs that combine prestige and practicality in superbly refined packages. The Executive SUV category winner of the 2024/25 Cars.co.za Awards, sponsored by Absa (2025 CarsAwards) has a refined drivetrain performance and -road manners, while its cabin is comfortable, trimmed in upmarket materials and features the most up-to-date technology.
The Executive SUV category
The Executive SUV category of the 2025 CarsAwards was guided by both eligibility factors and pillars of success.
Eligibility factors for this category included a list price between R1 000 000 and R1 300 000 at the time of semi-finalist voting to ensure both exclusivity and status. Eligible vehicles in this category had to be medium-sized (Audi Q5/Mercedes-Benz GLC size), including their “coupe” variants.
Pillars of success for this category included powertrain technology, luxury, brand strength, design and quality appeal, driving dynamics, as well as space and practicality.
WINNER:
BMW X3 30e xDrive M Sport
The previous-gen BMW X3 was still a strong contender in the Executive SUV category of 2023/24 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards, in which it was narrowly pipped by the Mercedes-Benz GLC. Expectations were high that the all-new, locally-built X3 would take the win in 2024/25 and, well, it didn’t disappoint.
Powered by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine with plug-in hybrid assistance, the BMW X3 30e is a powerful offering with 220 kW, enough for a claimed 0-100 kph time of 6.2 sec.
2025 BMW X3: All You Need To Know, presented by David Taylor:
It also promises good efficiency, with BMW claiming an average consumption of only 1.1 L/100 km (with the batteries fully charged) and 7.9 L/100 km with them discharged.
The X3, which achieved a combined score of 79%, is backed with a 2-year/unlimited km vehicle warranty (with an 8-year/100 000 km battery warranty) and a 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan.
View the Price & Specs of the BMW X3 30e xDrive M Sport
Find a BMW X3 for sale on Cars.co.za
RUNNERS UP:
Lexus NX 450h+ F Sport
The recently launched 2nd-gen Lexus NX finished tantalisingly close to the summit of the Executive SUV category of the 2024/25 Cars.co.za Awards, sponsored by Absa. Its flagship 450h+ F Sport variant’s combined score was only 9 tenths of a per cent lower than that of the BMW X3 (78.1% versus 79%).
The strikingly styled newcomer features a plug-in petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain with a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine as its base. The 450h+ F Sport’s total power output is 227 kW and Lexus claims an average consumption of 1.3 L/100 km (with the batteries charged) for this derivative.
The Lexus NX is backed with a comprehensive 7-year/105 000 km warranty and maintenance plan, as well as an 8-year/195 000km hybrid battery warranty.
View the Price & Specs of the Lexus NX 450h+ F Sport
Read a Launch Review of the Lexus NX
Find a Lexus NX for sale on Cars.co.za
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300d 4Matic AMG Line
The 2nd-gen Mercedes-Benz GLC underwent a facelift in 2023 to keep it competitive in the Executive SUV segment. ‘Benz’s update succeeded, as it went on to win this category of the 2023/24 CarsAwards.
Watch Ash Oldfield’s video review of the Mercedes-Benz GLC:
The GLC 300d 4Matic AMG Line, which achieved a combined score of 73.5%, has a great turbodiesel engine under the bonnet, giving the ‘Benz ample performance that doesn’t come at the expense of fuel consumption.
The variant’s 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine delivers 215 kW and a meaty 550 Nm of torque, plus Mercedes-Benz claims an average consumption figure of 5.5 L/100 km.
The GLC is backed with a 2-year/unlimited km warranty and a 5-year/100 000 km warranty.
View the Price & Specs of the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300d 4Matic AMG Line
Read a review of the Mercedes-Benz GLC
Find a Mercedes-Benz GLC for sale on Cars.co.za
More about the #CarsAwards
The winners of the 2024/25 Cars.co.za Awards, sponsored by Absa (as well as the recipient of the prestigious Brand of the Year title) was announced on 27 February 2025.
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