There was much eyebrow raising when Porsche launched the original Cayenne SUV in 2002, but along with the smaller Macan SUV, it’s now Porsche’s best-selling model by a considerable margin. No surprise that other performance brands like Maserati and Lamborghini have followed suit in launching their own SUV models.

The latest Cayenne sees Porsche refine the performance SUV formula, making this by far the best-handling SUV around, despite the vast amount of competition. The interior has improved from the previous model, with fewer buttons and a much more slick design.

Models range from the sensible plug-in hybrid Cayenne E-Hybrid up to the thunderous Turbo. There’s even a Turbo S E-Hybrid, which combines both to provide no less than 680PS and a 0-62mph time of just 3.8 seconds. If you want something a little more sleek, you can always look at the Cayenne Coupe.

If you’re talking about the best luxury SUVs, you simply have to talk about the Range Rover, the car that arguably started the whole idea of 4x4s being more than just utilitarian off-road machines. The latest model rules the roost when it comes to combining unparalleled comfort with genuine off-road capability.

This is a car that’s as happy on the school run as it is tackling sand dunes and rock-strewn river beds: something which we’ve experienced first-hand. Make no mistake, the Range Rover has lost none of its off-road capability. It remains incredibly refined, wafting effortlessly along like a limousine at any speed, with a wonderfully cosseting ride and barely any outside noise thanks to an acoustically laminated windscreen and windows. A roomy, sumptuously trimmed interior that's simply brimming with luxury equipment completes the package

BMW isn’t short of SUVs in its line-up, but the X7 dwarfs them all. This is a huge seven-seater that rivals the Range Rover, and at five metres long, it’s big inside and out. You won’t be squeezing this into any small parking spots. 

Fortunately, the X7 comes with BMW's Parking Assistant Plus as standard. This has 360-degree cameras and a reversing assistant, able to reverse the car for up to 50 metres by following the same route it took going forward: great for reversing out of a parking bay, for example.

When behind the wheel, you might expect to be intimidated by the size of the X7 in the first instance, but it's not as difficult to drive as its huge dimensions suggest. True, it’s not exactly a looker, but there’s acres of space inside the seven-seat cabin and it’s wonderfully comfortable on long-distance drives. 

The Volvo XC90 of a few years ago was a pivotal car for Volvo as the firm moved upmarket to become a bona fide premium brand that could genuinely rival the likes of Audi and BMW. The new EX90, meanwhile, continues that journey, but with an eye one the forthcoming all-electric age.

It's still very fresh out of the box, so prices are very high, and will be for some time. But that doesn't detract from the fact that the all-electric EX90 is a seriously impressive luxury SUV. It looks handsome and desirable from the outside, while the roomy seven-seater interior is plushly trimmed and stuffed full of clever tech, such as Google-integrated infotainment and myriad safety measures that we reckon some car companies haven't even thought of, let alone successfully developed.

The all-electric powertrain delivers performance and refinement in abundance, and its a comfortable and  relaxing car to drive most of the time, yet surprisingly nimble when you want it to be.

The Audi Q7 may be the obvious choice here, but for something with a little more style, the Q8 floats our boat. Designed to rival the BMW X6 and the lesser spotted Mercedes GLE Coupe, the Q8 sacrifices outright practicality for style and handling.

Despite having less room inside, the Q8 is actually more expensive than its Q7 sibling. But then it does feel that bit more special and will certainly get more attention. Compared to the bloated X6, the Q8 is a handsome design. On the road, the Q8 manages to nail that balance of offering dynamic handling, while also being a properly comfy SUV. The ride is slightly more fidgety than in, say, a Range Rover Sport, but overall this feels like your archetypal big, refined luxury 4x4.

The Bentley Bentayga is one of the more expensive cars on our list, but it’s still worthy of inclusion because it’s just such a great all-rounder. Like with all Bentleys, perhaps the most compelling reason to buy one is the sheer class and quality you feel on the inside of the car, with the finest materials and a truly hand-built feel: no carmaker does interiors quite like Bentley. And while it’s not the roomiest or most versatile car on our list, it should be plenty practical enough to satisfy even the well-heeled folk who might buy one.

On the road, the Bentayga strikes a wonderful balance of abilities, combining a cosseting ride with sharp and alert handling, while a range of monstrous engines serve up huge amounts of power along with a soul-stirring soundtrack. It’ll be as expensive to run as it is to buy, but if you can afford to seriously consider buying one, the thought of putting fuel in it isn’t likely to worry you.

New electric SUV models have been flooding onto the market like there's no tomorrow in recent years, and although the Jaguar I-Pace pre-dates the vast majority of them, it's still one of the best-driving cars of its type. Few rivals can match its mix of deft handling, involving steering and a comfortable ride.

Okay, so it's no longer a class-leader in terms of performance or range, but it's still very competitive in both areas and so will satisfy drivers who are keen to enjoy its superbly well-rounded driving experience. It also has a roomy interior that looks and feels the part in a luxury SUV, and plenty of luxury equipment is provided as standard.

The Range Rover Velar is one of the more affordable cars on our list, but it’s arguably also one of the most stylish, with its swept-back lines and retractable door handles, so it proves that buying on a budget needn’t mean compromising on elegance. Happily, it looks just as swish on the inside as it does on the outside, with modern design, plush materials and lots of tech. There’s also plenty of space in the five-seat cabin, and a big boot.

It’s a typical Range Rover on the road as well, with a cosseting ride that irons out all but the worst road imperfections, and thanks to its comparatively compact size, it handles pretty keenly for a Range Rover, too. And of course, it wouldn't be a proper Range Rover without some serious off-roading ability, and thankfully, the Velar has that base covered, too.

The latest Mercedes GLE is a vast improvement on its dated predecessor in every area, most notably the interior, which now finally has the feel of a luxury SUV, crucial when it rivals the excellent BMW X5 and Audi Q7. It’s also bigger than before, which means better cabin space and a bigger boot.

Built in the US, the GLE can’t match the BMW in the handling stakes, but it is at least comfortable thanks to Mercedes S-Class-inspired air suspension, which scans the road ahead and adjusts itself to mitigate the impact of potholes and the like.

The 400d 4Matic is the model to go for thanks to its big 3.0-litre diesel engine. The 300d uses a smaller 2.0-litre diesel which, although more economical, isn't quite as refined.

A car that needs little introduction, the Tesla Model X is the car that spearheaded EVs in the SUV market. With stunning performance, a long driving range of around 300 miles, and refined driving manners, the Model X has shown that the switch to an electric SUV needn’t mean having to comprise. Crucially, it also beat other manufacturers such as Jaguar and Mercedes, to the punch.

It's a hugely practical choice, too. The huge cabin has loads of space, and thanks partly to its threatrical gullwing rear doors (we won’t judge you for pretending to be in Back to the Future), getting access to the space is also very easy. You can have up to seven seats in your Model X, and of course, Tesla's famous touchscreen system comes as standard.