Australia's best value premium SUV 2019 winner

Best value car award

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Wheels' Gold Star car award uses data such as depreciation and running costs to calculate what the best value new cars in eight different segments are. To understand how we calculate the numbers and what considerations were put into the algorithm, read the 2019 Gold Star Car Award 101 here.

The top 3 premium SUV contenders

• BMW X3 sDrive20i

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• Mercedes-Benz GLC200

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• Volvo XC60 D4 Momentum

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What the numbers said

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A step up in both quality and price from the usual crossover wagon is the Premium SUV segment.

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Competing neck and neck with the Mercedes on price at $61,990, the German would likely come out on top if it were not for the Volvo’s frugal diesel engine and low insurance cost that give it the win. The only oiler of the three here, the Swede records a claimed combined fuel consumption of 5.4L/100km. It also nudges ahead with the lowest comprehensive insurance quote of $863, while the Mercedes has the highest at $1161 per annum.

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All three premium SUVs share the same three-year warranty period and 12-month/15,000km service interval, though the Mercedes claws back some value with the lowest depreciation value over three years. A close fight, but a sensible win for Sweden.

Wheels' pick

Volvo XC60 T5 Momentum $64,990

Diesel not your thing? Well ditch the stinky hands at the bowser and those rattly NVH issues (admittedly, Volvo’s 2.0-litre oiler is a refined unit) and step up into the T5 XC60.

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For $3000 more compared to the class winner, you get a smooth and gutsier 187kW/350Nm turbo four petrol that will slice 1.6sec off your 0-100km/h sprint as your race the kids to school.