Sport-utility vehicles used to lean way more toward utility, not sport. But the modern SUV has evolved into something, uh, faster. Many SUVs today are insanely powerful, fast in a corner, a little outrageous, and sometimes even Italian-sportscar beautiful. These ten performance SUVs prove that, if you want, you can crank out a 12-second quarter mile — all with a car full of groceries, babies, furniture, or whatever else you might need to knock out on a Saturday. These are the 10 sporty SUVs that should make us think a little harder about what’s going on in the car world.
2026 Dodge Durango Hellcat
710 HP
- Base Trim Engine
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3.6L Pentastar V6 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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295 HP @6400 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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260 lb.-ft. @ 4000 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
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18/25/20 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
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Lead acid battery
- Make
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Dodge
- Model
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Durango
The Dodge Durango Hellcat doesn’t whisper; it bellows. This is the last of the true muscle SUVs — an unapologetic 6.2-liter supercharged V8 bolted into a family hauler. It’s absurd and wonderful, a burnout waiting to happen even in “Eco” mode. Every press of the throttle feels like a parting shot from the internal combustion era.
Inside, it’s surprisingly civilized. The cabin’s been updated enough to feel current — big screens, leather everywhere, and enough space to comfortably fit six people who’ll need their hair rebrushed after launch control. It’s less refined than a European rival but far more entertaining.
For all its madness, there’s something pure about the Durango Hellcat. It’s a reminder that speed doesn’t have to come with silence or restraint. It can be loud, thirsty, and a little ridiculous — and still completely irresistible.
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2025 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance
671 HP
- Base Trim Engine
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2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Plug-in Hybrid
- Base Trim Transmission
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MCT 9G Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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671 hp
- Base Trim Torque
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752 lb-ft @ 5250–5500 rpm
- Make
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Mercedes-Benz
- Model
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AMG GLC 63 SUV
- Segment
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Compact Luxury SUV
Mercedes’ latest AMG GLC isn’t just quick — it’s almost frightening. The hybridized 2.0-liter turbo engine and electric assist combine for 671 horsepower, a number that once belonged to supercars. Yet it’s wrapped in a compact, elegant body that still looks at home in the Whole Foods parking lot.
The experience is quintessential AMG: loud, purposeful, and slightly mischievous. The electric motor fills in torque instantly, making every traffic merge feel like a standing start at Monza. Inside, it’s all digital luxury — sculpted seats, mood lighting, and the best infotainment in the game. If there’s a downside, it’s complexity. Between hybrid systems, drive modes, and settings, it can feel more like a spaceship than an SUV. But when it all comes together, it’s magnificent.
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2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio
505 HP
- Base Trim Engine
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2L I-4 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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280 HP @5200 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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306 lb.-ft. @ 2000 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
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22/28/24 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
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Lead acid battery
- Make
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Alfa Romeo
- Model
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Stelvio
Few SUVs feel this alive. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio doesn’t just handle well — it dances in the way only Italian sports cars can. Underneath its sculpted body lies a Ferrari-derived 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6, burning with 505 horsepower and more character than half the segment combined.
Driving it is an experience that transcends specs. The steering is ultra-quick, the chassis playful, the exhaust theatrical. You can sense the engineers cared about joy as much as lap times. It’s one of the rare SUVs that encourages you to take the long way home, just for the corners. But Alfa’s charm comes with quirks. The infotainment is dated, and long-term reliability is, uh, not guaranteed. Still, it’s hard to care about things like that when talking about an Alfa.
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2024 Porsche Macan GTS
434 HP
- Model
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Macan GTS
- Engine
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2.9-liter twin-turbo V6
- Transmission
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7-speed dual-clutch automatic (PDK)
- Horsepower
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434 hp
The Porsche Macan GTS may be the best argument yet for small SUVs. It drives like a sports car that happens to have a hatchback — precise, agile, perfectly balanced. The 434-hp twin-turbo V6 is eager without ever feeling strained. It’s not the most powerful on this list, but it may be the most rewarding.
The interior is classic Porsche minimalism: snug seats, perfect driving position, and tactile controls that make every input feel intentional. It’s a machine built around the driver rather than the spec sheet.
You’ll pay for that perfection — Macans are famously expensive once you start ticking boxes — but few SUVs translate Porsche’s DNA so purely. It’s the enthusiast’s crossover. But more than many on this list, the Macan really stands up against being a proper sports car.
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2025 BMW X5 M60i
523 HP
- Model
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X5
- Engine
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3.0-liter BMW M TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder
- Transmission
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8-speed Sport Automatic
- Horsepower
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375 HP @ 5,200-6,250 RPM
The BMW X5 M60i is power in a tailored suit. Beneath the restrained design lives a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 mild hybrid, good for 523 horsepower. It’s a blend of civility and savagery — one that can commute peacefully, but then devour an on-ramp.
BMW’s latest iDrive system finally makes sense again, and the interior feels both futuristic and familiar. The seats are perfect, the materials rich, and the fit and finish feel properly German. The M60i doesn’t need to shout about its capabilities; it lets the performance speak.
The handling is predictably excellent, but the weight never fully disappears. Still, if you want a high-speed family shuttle with impeccable manners, this is it. But criticizing an SUV for being heavy is kind of like getting mad at water for being wet.
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2025 Audi SQ8 e-tron
496 HP
- Base Trim Engine
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EV
- Base Trim Transmission
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Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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429 HP
- Base Trim Torque
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596 lb.-ft.
- Base Trim Fuel Economy Equivalent (city/highway/combined)
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62/63/63 mpge
- Make
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Audi
- Model
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SQ8 e-tron
- Segment
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Midsize Luxury SUV
The Audi SQ8 e-tron is what happens when silence meets muscle. Three electric motors deliver 496 horsepower, but it’s the torque that stuns — instant, endless, and eerily smooth. It’s a performance SUV for people who love the idea of power but hate noise.
Audi’s interior craftsmanship remains second to none. The cabin feels like a sanctuary: cool materials, perfect lighting, and an interface that actually behaves. Every detail feels engineered for ease.
The trade-off, as ever with EVs, is range. It’s quick, but not a road-trip hero. Still, as an everyday luxury cyber machine, the SQ8 e-tron is deeply convincing. These are likely to become a very fine vehicle once EV infrastructure and quirks back off.
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2025 Range Rover Velar P400 Dynamic HSE
395 HP
- Base Trim Engine
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2L Ingenium I4 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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247 HP @5000 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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269 lb.-ft. @ 1300 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
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22/26/23 MPG
- Make
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Land Rover
- Model
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Range Rover Velar
- Segment
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Compact Luxury SUV
Few SUVs wear their power as gracefully as the Range Rover Velar. Its straight-six mild-hybrid engine makes 395 horsepower — more than enough to move its sculpted body with purpose. But it’s not just about speed; it’s about composure. The Velar moves like a ballet dancer in loafers.
Inside, the design is minimalist British cool — floating screens, fine leathers, and silence that feels curated. The Velar’s appeal lies as much in its calmness as in its capability. Range Rovers are iconic. They represent an entire wing of the luxury SUV space.
Off-road, it’s competent, on-road, it’s elegant. The infotainment can still be finicky, but when your SUV looks this good standing still, it hardly matters.
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2025 Genesis GV70 Sport Prestige
375 HP
- Base Trim Engine
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2.5L I4 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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300 HP @5800 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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311 lb.-ft. @ 1650 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
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22/28/24 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
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Lead acid battery
- Make
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Genesis
- Model
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GV70
Genesis has made something remarkable here — a Korean SUV that feels distinctly European. The GV70 Sport Prestige delivers 375 horsepower from a turbo V6, but the real story is refinement. The chassis tuning, the materials, the steering feel — it’s all first class.
Slip into the cabin and you’d swear you were in something costing twice as much. Quilted leather, knurled metals, a sense of craftsmanship that feels intentional. It’s proof that Genesis isn’t just chasing the Germans; it’s redefining luxury on its own terms.
If there’s a nit to pick, it’s brand recognition. Genesis still feels niche, but for those who know, it’s a killer luxury SUV. Give it a few more years, and Genesis will be as household a name as Audi or anything else.
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2026 Mazda CX-70 Turbo S Premium Plus
340 HP
- Base Trim Engine
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3.3L Turbo SKYACTIV-G I6
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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280 HP @5000 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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332 lb.-ft. @ 2000 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
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24/28/25 MPG
- Make
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Mazda
- Model
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CX-70
- Segment
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Midsize SUV
The Mazda CX-70 Turbo S proves that performance doesn’t need to come with pretension. Its 340-hp inline-six and rear-biased all-wheel drive platform give it a subtle athleticism rare at this price. It’s sporty the way a tailored jacket is — structured, confident, and never loud. These are sporty as you want them to be, but still a proper crossover.
Mazda’s interior game has leveled up, with beautiful materials and real attention to design. It feels more “boutique” than “mainstream,” especially in the Premium Plus trim. Mazda is on something interesting that is kind of hard to put a finger on. No, it won’t outrun an AMG, but it also won’t cost you one. It’s the driver’s choice for people who still appreciate the art of understatement.
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2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance
480 HP
- Base Trim Engine
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Electric
- Base Trim Transmission
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Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Other
- Base Trim Horsepower
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264 HP
- Base Trim Torque
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387 lb.-ft.
- Base Trim Fuel Economy Equivalent (city/highway/combined)
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106/98/102 mpge
- Base Trim Battery Type
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Lead acid battery
- Make
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Ford
- Model
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Mustang Mach-E
The Mach-E GT Performance brings muscle-car swagger to the electric age. With 480 horsepower and instant torque, it’s every bit as quick as its gasoline namesake. The styling leans bold, the acceleration brutal, and the handling surprisingly polished.
The interior feels futuristic, if a little minimalist. The central touchscreen controls nearly everything, which takes getting used to, but the cabin space and seat comfort are excellent. It feels high-tech without being sterile. The Mach-E isn’t perfect — range anxiety remains a factor, and charging infrastructure can frustrate. But for an electric SUV with attitude, this one’s got bite.
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