Cadillac Escalade ESV
Predicted Cost: $78,195
You may have noticed that the 2020 Cadillac Escalade was already mentioned a few entries back, but the ESV letters at the end of its name are what make this car into a completely different beast. The 2020 Cadillac Escalade ESV is a redesigned version of the Escalade with 300 fewer pounds of weight and a new platform similar to the one on the 2019 Silverado and the Sierra 1500. You can expect to find a new independent rear suspension option which makes rides more comfortable according to Cadillac, as-well-as new tech options, including new gauge displays and a redesigned infotainment system.
The biggest difference between the Escalade and Escalade ESV is the length of the cars. The standard Escalade measures at a length of 203.9 inches while the ESV adds an extra 21 inches to a total of 224, which gives it a much larger cargo, more room for passengers, and a fuel capacity of 31 gallons instead of 26. Both cars remain as some of the most popular cars in the luxury SUV market.
Subaru Ascent
Predicted Cost: $31,995
The 2020 Subaru Ascent is your run-of-the-mill midsize 3-row SUV. Subaru some upgrades to this year's model including a standard rear-seat reminder alert system and power-folding side mirrors. The car is praised for having a high-quality cabin that includes comfortable materials and an above-average infotainment system.
We were also happy to hear that the Ascent comes with improved safety features, including DriverFocus, which detects when you’re tired or distracted while driving by monitoring your eyes. Critics of the Ascent mostly have issues with it's overly sensitive engine and noise sounds and the poor suspension which leads to some pretty rough shakes when traversing over bumps. The Ascent is powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, and can be used for your average heavy-duty work with 5,000 pounds of towing power. You can expect a 23 miles per gallon combined consumption based on ratings from the EPA. Prices for the 2020 Ascent start at $31,995 and go up to $45,045 for the touring version.
Jaguar XF
Predicted Cost: $51,100
The Jaguar XF and the Jaguar XE have been a staple lineup of the automaker for many years, so it’s only fitting that Jaguar pays its dues to the long-running brands by keeping them updated and current. The 2020 Jaguar XF comes with the expected sexy design and incredible ride experience. The company made several upgrades to the car which include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, parking sensors (front and back) and more as standard features.
Although the company shifted most of its focus and resources in recent years to eco-friendly vehicles and its popular SUV models, the XF sedan manages to keep what makes the car great, and pack it all up with a powerful supercharged V6 that equips you with 380 horsepowers. Jaguar decided to give up hybrid and diesel options with the 2020 XF and only provides a gas powered version. You can expect to get 35 miles per gallon out of the car, which puts it at a disadvantage when compared to the BMW 5-series, Mercedes E-class and the Audi A6. The 2020 Jaguar XF starts at $51,100 and goes up to $71,800 for the fully equipped version. It's definitely a comfortable, fun and engaging ride, but only if you can ignore the fact that the Jag is lacking in performance when compared to its competition.
GMC Acadia
Predicted Cost: $29,800
The 2020 version of GMC's Acadia features an attractive and updated design, superior interior infotainment systems and an abundance of storage capacity. The three-row crossover is certainly a good entry for its own sake, but it finds some trouble fitting in due to the car's features not fully justifying $30,000 price tag attached to it. Many fans of the Acadia admire its boxy design and attractive cabin, especially with its 2020 facelift which includes improved LED headlights and an improved grille and rear.
The Acadia comes in a variety of versions from the basics 2.5 liter four-cylinder model which provides 193 horsepower to the improved 3.6 liter V6 which gives it 310 horsepower and a zero to sixty time of just over six seconds. You might want to stay away from the higher horsepower versions though since Acadia spits out 27 miles per gallon on the highway. The five models of the 2020 Acadia are the SL for $30,995, the SLE for $34,995, the SLT for $39,995, the AT4 for $42,495 and the Denali which goes for $47,495.
Acura RDX
Predicted Cost: $37,600
If you’re looking for an excellent SUV that closely resembles the Audi Q5 and BMW X3/4 without having to pay the additional price increase that comes with the brands, you should definitely check out the 2020 Acura RDX — one of the most attractive small luxury SUVs of this generation. The Acura RDX boasts an insanely comfortable interior that provides a quiet and relaxing driving experience you’d expect from an $80,000+ car of the same class. The RDX is definitely not as fast or refined as its German competitors, but it is more than justified by the insanely low price relative to its value.
The crossover has a 10-speed automatic that works smoothly and without any jerkiness. It has a very respectable 272 horsepower thanks to the 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that Acura installed in the model. Although the attractiveness of the Audi and BMW competitors absolutely can't be ignored, it's still the classic Apple vs. Android fight of whether you'd rather pay more to feel better about yourself, or go for the much cheaper but less satisfying device that delivers the good and keeps your wallet happy.