Sales of the 2017 Mercedez-Benz GLS350d are on hold in the U.S. EPA, a Mercedes-Benz spokesman said this week. The diesel SUV, which is the automaker's base offering in the GLS range, is slightly different than the 2016 version that was sold last year and hasn't yet been approved for sale by the environmental agency. Mercedes spokesman Brian Cotter said in an email. The 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 has been the target of two separate lawsuits from the same law firm alleging that the engine could emit more nitrogen oxides than permitted when cold. The EPA asked parent company Daimler in February to submit further information about emissions from its engine as a result from the first lawsuit, according to Reuters. In April, owners filed another lawsuit against Mercedes alleging further testing revealed significantly higher emissions in dyno and road tests. Mercedes has denied that the engine uses a "defeat device" to pass emission tests similar to Volkswagen, which admitted its 3.0-liter diesel engines uses an illegal "temperature conditioning" mode that was timed to the EPA's test cycle. Cotter didn't comment on whether the GLS350d's delay from the EPA was related to the pending lawsuits. The EPA has not commented on the GLS350d's application for certification or if the automaker has submitted test data. According to Mercedes, the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 for 2017 produces 15 more horsepower and is mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. In 2016, the GL350d had a 7-speed automatic.

Sales of the 2017 Mercedez-Benz GLS350d are on hold in the U.S. EPA, a Mercedes-Benz spokesman said this week. The diesel SUV, which is the automaker's base offering in the GLS range, is slightly different than the 2016 version that was sold last year and hasn't yet been approved for sale by the environmental agency. Mercedes spokesman Brian Cotter said in an email. The 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 has been the target of two separate lawsuits from the same law firm alleging that the engine could emit more nitrogen oxides than permitted when cold. The EPA asked parent company Daimler in February to submit further information about emissions from its engine as a result from the first lawsuit, according to Reuters. In April, owners filed another lawsuit against Mercedes alleging further testing revealed significantly higher emissions in dyno and road tests. Mercedes has denied that the engine uses a "defeat device" to pass emission tests similar to Volkswagen, which admitted its 3.0-liter diesel engines uses an illegal "temperature conditioning" mode that was timed to the EPA's test cycle. Cotter didn't comment on whether the GLS350d's delay from the EPA was related to the pending lawsuits. The EPA has not commented on the GLS350d's application for certification or if the automaker has submitted test data. According to Mercedes, the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 for 2017 produces 15 more horsepower and is mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. In 2016, the GL350d had a 7-speed automatic.

Unchanged: Last year the Lexus LX and the Toyota Land Cruiser got a serious round of updates to exterior styling, technology, and powertrain. 鈥檙e now required to opt for the rear-seat entertainment system if you want to get the chilled box in the center console. Cool Fact: Although the Land Cruiser is nearly the same vehicle, only the LX gets niceties such as a head-up display and a height-adjustable air suspension. Sum Up: The spindle grille is starting to grow on us. Best Buy: The smallest crossover from Lexus is selling like hotcakes, and it鈥檚 good, too. Sum Up: Controversial looks, but the experience is all Lexus. Scout GPS Link is added to the Lexus Display Audio infotainment system. A front-drive variant joins the F Sport line. Cool Fact The RX is the best-selling two-row luxury crossover to date. Sum Up: A quiet, competent, strong seller. Minor: The MKC enters 2017 with two useful features now standard: a power liftgate and automatic brake hold (the crossover holds the brake pedal for you at stoplights, automatically releasing when you touch the accelerator pedal). Engine stop-start is standard on front-drive MKCs with the 2.0-liter turbo-four and available on 2.0s with all-wheel drive.

Best Buy: For the power-hungry, go for the 2.3-liter turbo-four, which has 285 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque to the 2.0鈥檚 240 horsepower and 270 lb-ft. Sum Up: The least expensive Lincoln offers lots of build options. Unchanged: The MKT rolls into 2017 with three new colors and an updated front grille that replaces the 2016 model鈥檚 vertical slats with horizontal ones, like other Lincoln SUVs. The front-drive model鈥檚 3.7-liter V-6 produces just over 300 hp, and the all-wheel-drive model is good for 365 hp from a twin-turbo, 3.5-liter V-6. The six- to seven-seat MKT now offers the Sync 3 infotainment system. Cool Fact: The airport-shuttling MKT Town Car for livery fleets can be had with front-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter turbo-four. Unchanged: The Lexus-RX-challenging MKX made its debut for 2016 with two engines and available features including a 19-speaker sound system, a system that can steer the five-passenger crossover into and out of a parking space, and adaptive variable-ratio steering. In a comparison, the MKX finished second鈥攁bove a Lexus RX 350 but behind a Mercedes-Benz GLC300. Cool Fact: Lincoln鈥檚 Black Label series offers a more exclusive buying experience with higher-quality interior materials and interesting cabin color combinations.

Sum Up: Now a real contender in need of a little more refinement. Unchanged:While everyone ogles the Navigator concept, the existing Navigator and extended-length L model add Palladium White Gold as an exterior color. The three-row SUV also gets Sync 3, the brand鈥檚 latest infotainment system. It can tow up to 9,000 pounds in rear-drive form with the standard 380-hp, 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V-6, which puts out 460 lb-ft of torque. Cool Fact: The Navigator concept features enormous gullwing doors and a three-level running board 鈥渟taircase鈥?to welcome passengers. Sum Up: Huge and comfortable, but we鈥檙e ready for the next-gen model. All-New: Maserati鈥檚 first SUV, the 2017 Levante, has arrived, and it comes packing a 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V-6 in two states of tune for strong acceleration and maximum aural pleasure. A new infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration makes its debut in the 2017 Levante.