The Takeaway: Compromise Isn't Bad After All
A luxury crossover must be better than a crossover, and all four delivered luxury, sporting character, and convenience to levels neither the minivan nor the basic sport utility vehicle can reach. But the best luxury crossover must offer the greatest compromise of all three.

The Lincoln MKT is arguably the best car here for passengers, especially second-row passengers who can relax and enjoy the car's entertainment tech and soft ride. It's also an unsightly creature, and neither Lincoln's meager brand cachet nor the MKT's chic interior can outweigh the MKT's baroque styling.

The BMW X5 is a sports car with a cargo cover, and the driving experience gets better the harder you push it. It also has the best badge of the group, by a large margin. But the BMW's third-row seat is an expensive option, its low-speed ride is busy, and its steering is heavy. It is a fantastic sport utility vehicle, but it's not a good three-row luxury crossover.

Stepping out of the X5 and into the Infiniti JX is a journey from one school of thought to another. The X5's purchase price is an investment in enthusiastic driving and a blue-chip brand name; with the Infiniti you purchase top-tier technology and innovative design. But Infiniti clearly invested more capital in safety features and creature comforts than the driving experience, and the JX's techno-wizardry doesn't make up for an unengaging drive.

Our choice of the four is the Acura MDX. It doesn't boast the prettiest exterior or the classiest interior, and isn't the quickest of the bunch, but it competes well in all categories and blends sportiness, usability, and panache. And that's what defines the three-row luxury crossover.