July 8, 2025

This piece is sponsored by Sioux Falls Ford Lincoln/Luxury Auto Mall.

From the newest styles to the most cutting-edge tech, those who lead luxury brands in Sioux Falls have a front-row seat to the latest the auto industry offers.

We sat down with managers of four luxury brands and asked them a tough question: Which is your current model of choice?

Here’s what they had to say:

BMW: Manager Tyson Elder, Luxury Auto Mall

Manager’s choice: 2025 X3

Why he loves it: It’s our freshest, most recent redesign. The X3 is now in its fourth generation, and everything – style, design, performance and luxury – has all been enhanced. I love the design. It’s very futuristic and cutting edge as far as the exterior, with giant new kidney grills and an option for grills that glow with an LED bar, so you know it’s a BMW coming at you. The stepless bumper goes all the way to the rear with a very sleek look, not pronounced like some cars. We’re bringing the future of what our cars will look and feel like into the X3.

What’s new about it: A lot! In addition to what I mentioned on the outside, there also are several new color combinations as part of the full redesign — interior and exterior. Inside, we’ve eliminated a lot of the buttons, so most everything is operated through touch screen. We maintain the traditional BMW iDrive controller, plus we’ve added new materials and fabrics on the inside. There’s also more headroom. The car is a little bigger, but when a car grows an inch, it feels like growing a mile. If you’re familiar with the older style, this is definitely going to feel bigger. We’ve also enhanced driver assistance options like automated lane change and adaptive cruise control. The car will even park itself for you, whether you’re in the car or standing outside it, thanks to a remote-controlled parking feature.

What drivers tell us about it: This is our midsize SUV, so it’s great for five passengers and fits the mold for most people, especially small families. It’s like car meets SUV in size, and it’s popular for pricing too. Most BMW drivers find this fit their budget.

What’s available now: Inventory-wise, we’re stacked, and pretty much once a week there are more coming. Being our newest redesign, we’ve offered them on special. We want them to go on the road. We have 10 now with more coming this month, and we’ve gotten creative with color combinations. It’s our second-most-popular vehicle sold for BMW, so customers are responding.

Browse today at Luxury Auto Mall.

Cadillac: Manager Aaron Boerema, Luxury Auto Mall

Manager’s choice: Cadillac Escalade

Why he loves it: It’s really one of those vehicles that sets itself apart from everybody. There are vehicles that are the same size, but nobody actually competes with the Escalade. It just far and above stands on its own. There’s the legacy factor that appeals to people, and then once you’re in it, the ride quality is unmatched. The stance is unmatched. The look is outstanding.

What’s new about it: The 2025 just had a body-style change, the first since 2021, so they did a little redo on the front. But every time they go through body change, they’re very conscious of what they do because it’s such a flagship vehicle, so nothing is too outside the box. You’ll now find the headlights that used to go across the front of the grill have come down to the sides, and they’re using really small LEDS to give the same brightness without taking up as much real estate on the front of the grill.

Inside, there’s a 55-inch screen that goes across the vehicle, and it’s very pleasing to look at without a lot of buttons. It’s all touch screen, and there even are power open and close doors. Just squeeze the handle and it opens the door, and swipe a button and it closes.

What drivers tell us about it: Drivers for this absolutely love it. Everybody who has gotten one has been nothing but pleased with the ride quality and just the overall setup of the vehicle. They like the size, they don’t think anything in it is a waste, and it’s such a smooth ride. You’ve got all kinds of power. And they appreciate what Cadillac has done with aesthetics on the inside. Everything you touch is soft. There’s no hard plastic. They’re using all soft points, and they pay attention to the little details a lot.

What’s available now: Every Escalade I have is sold, and every one I have coming in is sold, but what’s nice is most all people come in and pick what they want. Right now, we’re out about six months, so you’ll be looking at 2026, and there’s no body-style change with that. It also has a really cool cousin this year  — the Escalade IQ electric version. It has crazy range, 460 miles, and everything the Escalade has — just electric. We do have a couple on the lot, and if you want to order, we are seeing faster delivery times on those.

Browse today at Luxury Auto Mall.

Lincoln: Jonathan Swift, Sioux Falls Lincoln

Manager’s choice: Lincoln Nautilus

Why he loves it: It’s like the Goldilocks vehicle. It’s just right the right size and style and perfectly combines technology and driving experience. It just does it all so well. People who need a three-row might need more space, but for the vast majority of guests, it seems to fit perfectly. Whatever they put a premium on, it has it and gives it to that guest.

What’s new about it: It was redesigned in 2024, so we’ve had it out in this iteration since 2024, but it was a top-to-bottom, inside-out redesign. Lincon’s mission was to make “an oasis on wheels.” It’s very comfortable, from the 24-way, perfect-position seats in the front row to the almost couch-like second row. The 48-inch panoramic display has spa-like imagery. It’s just so well done. I think Lincoln recognizes there are a number of ways your senses can create a luxury experience, that they’ve tapped into that. There’s even an option for aroma therapy.

What drivers tell us about it: I hear from drivers how quiet it is and how comfortable it is. Lincoln as a brand puts a premium on the user experience, and I think they knocked it out of the park. It’s refreshing to hear customers repeat back what Lincoln is aspiring to create. And you hear a lot about the technology. A lot of brands are trying to integrate more technology into their vehicles because customers are putting a premium on it, but Lincoln does this seamlessly and in a way that’s well thought out and enhances the overall experience. It also was named MotorTrend’s 2025 SUV of the year, which is a big endorsement for the vehicle.

What’s available now: We have inventory, but they’re selling so fast it can be hard to keep them in stock. We just ordered a lot of 2026s and are expecting dozens of new arrivals.

Browse today at Sioux Falls Ford Lincoln.

Mercedes: Andrew Ness, Luxury Auto Mall

Manager’s choice: Mercedes GLS 450

Why he loves it: It’s our largest SUV and my favorite vehicle on the lot right now. I just bought one personally, and I love it. It’s large enough you feel like you’re driving a large SUV, but it drives like a car. It’s the best of both worlds – a big vehicle that drives small.

What’s new about it: Mercedes just redesigned the front end in 2025, so it’s got a really fresh look with a new grill and headlights on the front. They just added driver assistance, which brings additional safety features. Without input from the driver, it can keep you on track in your lane heading down the road. There are sensors and radar all around the vehicle to ensure you avoid any blind spots. Essentially, it’s designed to make driving more stress-free.

What drivers tell us about it: Customers tell us all the time that most large SUVs feel like you’re driving a truck, but the GLS is easier to park, has a sharper turn radius, and it feels like a car but with the benefit of size. It’s been a really good vehicle for us for a long time, and it’s the best-riding vehicle we have with the best suspension and every pinnacle-level feature.

What’s available now: Inventory is consistent. We’re selling a lot of them, but we have a good selection now with nice color combinations and option packages, plus we’re offering $7,500 off MSRP.

Browse today at Luxury Auto Mall.