No merchant wanted to be the first to stake out
new luxury territory in unproven ground, especially when the economy was starting to go south.
The Fully Loaded package brings the MINI into
luxury territory with heated seats, a premium stereo, keyless entry, LED headlamps, rear view camera and integrated navigation.
Kia and Hyundai are out to prove that they can put together luxurious - feeling cars and crossovers, but, as Rory points out, these units almost price themselves into
true luxury territory.
Bottomline: The rates at the Grey Havens Inn are dependent on room and season, ranging from $ 155 - $ 395 / night, putting them into
luxury territory during high season (my Ocean Room was $ 254 / night during our stay in peak season).
Start considering price, however, and competition makes decision making very difficult, especially since adding on the options, like Buick did with this $ 44,135 loaded tester, brings you firmly
into luxury territory.
A fully loaded Escape Titanium with all the trimmings will exceed $ 38,000; that's
luxury territory, and several thousand more than a Honda CR - V, but we have to admit the Escape is a very nicely equipped compact crossover SUV.
Forging further into
the luxury territory, it's now possible to spend as much as $ 70,000 after taxes on a Ford Explorer (the vehicle we drove rings in an at MSRP of $ 58,599 plus delivery and taxes).
EX trims get a chrome grille that starts to punch higher than the Accord's weight class into
luxury territory.