While there are two large three-row luxury German SUVs on the market right now, the BMW X7 has long been number one on a lot of publications' lists. It combines everything you'd expect and more from a German luxury performance SUV. All the practicality, gorgeousness, power, and everything else in mind, it really feels like it was made for a real driver, and thus, making it the ultimate driving machine.

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The BMW X7 came out for the 2019 model year. The designers were very clear about their intentions. They wanted to redefine what something that could carry seven passengers looked, felt, and drove like. The interior looks and feels like an executive class lounge and feels like a 7 Series on stilts as opposed to just another SUV. Plus, as of 2026, the X7's will come with the same theater screen the 7 Series touts.

BMW, in general, always sets the gold standard when it comes to anything engine-related. They make some of the best on the market. Thanks to precision engineering and a dedication to excellence, the brand has redefined the standard for luxury performance.

The numbers are truly nothing to shake a stick at, especially as you climb the trim ladder from the base xDrive40i to the potent M60i. Not to mention that it has one of the best towing capacities in its class when properly equipped. There's even a third more insane Alpina version that cranks the horsepower up to 631 ponies.

All of that to say, most people buying these will be able to afford those hefty repair bills because they also want to commit to the opulent nature that the BMW X7 brings, and it brings it, alright. Adding the glass controls option, you get a Swarovski crystal gear selector that has a floating illuminated 'X'. The previously mentioned theater screen is a 31.3-inch display that descends from the ceiling to give you built-in Amazon Fire TV. Theater mode cocoons you by adjusting the rear seats, pulling the blinds, and dimming the lights when activated. Truly a thing of beauty.

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Peeling back the crystal gear knobs and the massage chairs for just a moment, and what do you see? A family SUV that has three rows. What does an average family actually need from a three-row family SUV like that? Legroom, cargo space, USB-C charging ports aplenty. Not to mention, a powertrain that will stand to be reliable for longer than five years, or at least have a lengthy warranty to cover it.

Now, having a gold standard vehicle doesn't mean silver standard repair bills. The gold standard demands the best and gets the best. Therefore, CarEdge has stated that the X7's cost of maintenance within the first five years is around $6,597, which is currently $1,000 above the industry average. You could also forget the X7 and go the Mercedes route. CarEdge also estimates that you have a 56 percent chance of something catastrophic happening within the first five years of ownership, which is not only 17 percent worse than everything else in its class, but is also comparable to something you'd expect, like a Range Rover.

The powertrain? Unmistakable. The interior? One of a kind. The options are plentiful. Where does the X7 lose people? Depreciation. The BMW X7 depreciates 55.6 percent after five years. That's nearly $38,000. Pair that with the likelihood of a major repair happening within that time frame. Why bother? BMW's are genuinely the best of the best, but if you have lost that much money on an asset from the get-go, is it really worth it? Some would argue, yes. If you want, you could get one used that's cheaper than a Tacoma.

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The Hyundai Palisade started life as the underdog in the segment. Now, with the new redesign that was just released, it might be top dog. It also earned the "luxury-lite" badge as opposed to just "standard" when it first came onto the scene. We'll get into the features, but the overall redesign has put it a cut above the rest and is closing in on something like the likes of the X7 (not entirely, of course, nothing beats actual Swarovski crystal and a theater in your back seat).

Something old, something new. There are now two powertrains to choose from, with the Palisade as opposed to the singular V6 of yesterday's generation. Now you have a slightly detuned V6 and an all-new hybrid option if you want to save at the pump!

2.5-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid

34 MPG combined with a 619-mile range

What the V6 lacks in power, it makes up for in towing capacity. What the hybrid lacks in towing capacity, it makes up for with unbeatable range, power, and MPG, giving you power and value. It might not be over 500 horsepower, but it can still get up to speed with the best of them.

The Hyundai Palisade now has an incredible, flagship-like interior. It's an Art Deco-style dashboard that spans the two A-pillars and the rounded center console that houses a wireless phone charging pad and even the driver-side massage option. It's truly a new vehicle, and they made their best product better. Notable features include:

Curved dual 12.3-inch displays (one for the gauge cluster and one for the infotainment)

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Available 14-speaker Bose premium sound system

Available Digital Key 2.0 (giving you the ability to lock and unlock your car with smartphone or watch)

These select SUVs are built to make extended weekends as easy as possible.

Nobody can touch the fact that the BMW X7 is quite literally the blueprint (even though it's newer than most) for what a luxury, large, three-row family SUV should be. Extraordinary, unfortunately, it has a ceiling. For the vast majority of people out there, they want to sit well below six figures, and most are not happy that the average cost of a new car in the United States is approximately $50,000. The Hyundai Palisade is for you if you need quality, a good ride, and are okay with everyone else also having one.

Even though this is a new generation, they were quick to show off its safety chops. The 2026 Hyundai Palisade has already been awarded IIHS' 2025 Top Safety Pick+. It includes standard features like Forward Collision-Avoidance Assistance, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Safe Exit Assist, and Remote Start Park Assist. The moderate overlap crash test received an acceptable rating. It didn't receive "good" because of the lap belt in the second row occupancy, but the rest of the crash test proved to be "good."

This is where Hyundai quite literally shines. According to RepairPal, the Hyundai Palisade has an annual repair cost of only $500. The X7's is double that. Then, of course, there's the unbeatable warranty. The Palisade comes with a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty (whatever number comes first). It could be a no-brainer according to this data, or you might really just want the prestige of the BMW X7. The choice is yours.

Found an error? Send it info@www.topspeed.com so it can be corrected.

Sources: Hyundai, BMW, RepairPal, CarEdge, IIHS

Source: https://www.topspeed.com/korean-suv-bmw-comfort-without-price-tag/