On the SUV radar

Bentley Bentayga

It can raise itself to travel over bumpy terrain and lower its ride height for stability on the highway, as it thunders along to its top speed of 301 kmh. There’s very little the most powerful SUV in the world can’t do, it seems, which is only to be expected of a car that will cost seven figures here.

Maserati Levante

Italian SUVs are rare, probably because they tend to be boxy instead of stylish. But leave it to Maserati to change all that. The brand is on an ambitious expansion path — it sold 6,200 cars globally in 2012 but wants to sell 75,000 in 2016 — and is counting on the Levante to deliver sales next year.

Mazda CX3

The iconic MX5 may get all the attention, but it’s cars like the CX3 that will bring home the bacon for Mazda. A compact crossover that competes with the likes of Honda’s HRV, the CX3 will give family-oriented buyers something practical and user-friendly to consider when it’s launched here next year.

Mercedes GLC-Class

Think of the GLC as a C-Class on stilts. It sits one rung down from the GLE-Class on the Mercedes SUV ladder, but should have a wider audience than that car thanks to lower pricing. It joins the Mercedes lineup here in early 2016, with cars like the BMW X3 and Lexus RX firmly in its sights.

Jaguar F-Pace

It may be late to the SUV party, but Jaguar is trying the hardest. Next year’s F-Pace makes use of aluminium construction to keep weight down, which is meant to give its crossover the kind of agility that escapes some SUVs. It will be the British brand’s first such car, but if Porsche can find success with SUVs, why can’t Jag?