Quote:
Originally Posted by RM7
IME, people are misrepresenting the gap between a “luxury” brand and a high end spec “regular” one, like a CR-V or RAV-4. At these levels, its much less than people make out, because people base this on cars they owned 10 or 20 years ago, all the time the gap is closing as they add more and more to the “regular” cars. I think as you go up in models, to say X7 or high end 100+K Mercedes SUVs, yes, you get quite a gap in every area compared to a 40K one, but at the 40-50K area just not that much more if anything in a “luxury” one and they are just riding on people’s perception and memories more than any actual gap.
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Agreed. To be honest, the gap between a low spec X5 and a high spec Grand Cherokee or Explorer is virtually non-existent. Arguably, the BMW is worse, lacking features and amenities that the more pedestrian cars have. A base X5 has plastic seats and dash, a loaded Grand Cherokee has nappa leather seats and dash and much more.
The premium and luxury makes are barely better than the mainstreams now. There are certain places where the luxury makes still hold an advantage, but they're a lot less in my.ber than they used to be.
Where BMW does still hold an advantage is top spec powertrains. Most mainstream rivals don't compete at that powertrain level anymore. Explorer ST is a great example, it tops out with a 400hp turbo 6. It has nothing to compete with the turbo V8 offerings from BMW, MB, or Audi. ST smokes the German 6 cylinder competitors, but has nothing to even attempt to compete with the V8s. And that's a damn shame