Top 10 SUVs That Can Outperform Sports Cars

In life, owning a sports car is a challenging and expensive endeavor. That’s because, even at the affordable end of the spectrum, not many Americans have the capacity to own what is essentially a toy for adults that costs nearly $30,000 at the very least. You only have two seats and a bit of cargo room, and so it’s nearly impossible for you to own one, unless you’re simply living solo.

As a result, today’s definition of a sports car has changed. That’s why you now have a sports sedan, which I would happily accept as a compromise for combining practicality and sportiness, since their low ride heights still make them relatively agile. SUVs masquerading as sports cars? Let’s just say that, though I’m not entirely opposed, it’s not what I’d call a proper sports car substitute.

But what if you really have no choice, and you can only own a highly practical SUV whilst still scaring the hell out of sports car owners? Which SUVs defy the laws of physics to give you the ultimate driving pleasure, whilst also keeping up with sports cars, not just in a straight line, but through corners as well. For this list, though this includes hybrid models, pure electric models are excluded.

Nissan Armada Nismo

Starting MSRP: $79,530

Base Trim Engine

3.5L Twin-Turbo V6 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

9-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

425 HP @5600 RPM

Base Trim Torque

516 lb.-ft. @ 3600 RPM

Make

Nissan

Model

Armada

Segment

Full-Size SUV

Beginning with our list of SUVs that genuinely can scare a sports car owner, the new Nissan Armada Nismo is one prime example. Essentially the Patrol, but with a different name for the North American market, the Armada Nismo is packed with both sportier looks and a more athletic spirit. This is thanks to a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 whose output has been bumped to 460 horsepower, though its 516 pound-feet of torque remains unchanged. The upgrade is the result of a remapped engine, along with a freer-flowing exhaust. Power is sent through all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic gearbox.

However, while the Armada Nismo looks sportier and should be faster in a straight line, this variant is mostly a cosmetic upgrade over the standard model. Sure, it does get a reworked electric power steering, Nismo-tuned adaptive air suspension, lighter forged 22-inch wheels, and stickier tires, but that’s pretty much it. Due to its minimal chassis upgrades, we expect the Armada Nismo to only perform marginally better handling-wise than the standard model. Therefore, the Armada Nismo will most likely be great on a straight line, but not so much when you give it a few corners, thus being at the bottom of this list.

Cadillac Escalade-V

Starting MSRP: $168,000

Base Trim Engine

6.2l supercharged V8

Base Trim Transmission

10-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

682 hp

Base Trim Torque

653 lb-ft

Make

Cadillac

Model

Escalade-V

Segment

Full-Size Luxury SUV

Before the Cadillac Celestiq’s arrival, the Escalade-V held the distinction of being the brand’s most expensive model to date. Is the $168,000 entry price worth it? That depends on whether you want opulent luxury for seven full-sized adults, while being draped in lavish leather appointments, an expansive pillar-to-pillar 55-inch display, and a 38-speaker AKG surround sound system, among other features. Unlike the Armada Nismo, this behemoth features unique suspension tuning, larger brakes, and 24-inch wheels—the largest ever fitted to an Escalade.

However, there’s only so much you can do to defy its 6,361 curb weight, and so, despite the more extensive chassis upgrades versus the Armada Nismo, this is another SUV that will only scare a sports car owner in a straight line. Throw it into a few corners, and your six passengers will not enjoy the body roll and nose dives this SUV is going to experience.

Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 S

Starting MSRP: $151,050

Base Trim Engine

4L AMG V8 Hybrid

Base Trim Transmission

9-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

603 HP @5750 RPM

Base Trim Torque

627 lb.-ft. @ 2500 RPM

Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)

14/18/15 MPG

Base Trim Battery Type

Lead acid battery

Make

Mercedes-Benz

Model

AMG GLS 63

If there’s one country that’s great at making large and heavy luxury SUVs perform like sports sedans, that would be Germany. The first German luxury SUV on this list is the three-row Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 S, which blends luxury and sumptuous comfort alongside AMG’s penchant for vehicles with a ton of loud personality.

With seating for six or seven (whether you opt for the second-row bench or captain’s chairs), along with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 that produces 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque through an AMG Speedshift nine-speed automatic, this family luxury SUV can sprint from 0-60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. Sealing the deal for its position in this list are technologies like anti-roll stabilization. This is a three-row SUV that can dance toe-to-toe with true sports sedans. However, based on my experience with various Mercedes-AMG vehicles, the nine-speed automatic is less adept at track driving than BMW’s ZF eight-speed.

BMW Alpina XB7

Starting MSRP: $156,000

Base Trim Engine

4.4L V8 Hybrid

Base Trim Transmission

8-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

631 HP @5600 RPM

Base Trim Torque

590 lb.-ft. @ 1800 RPM

Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)

16/20/17 MPG

Base Trim Battery Type

Lithium ion battery

Make

BMW

Model

Alpina XB7

Surprisingly, a vehicle that’s incrementally better (on paper, at least) is the monstrous BMW Alpina XB7. For refresher’s sake, Alpina is now a fully-owned subsidiary of BMW, and it is positioned as a performance sub-brand with a more luxurious take versus BMW M. The Alpina XB7 is the X7 that BMW M wouldn’t make, but perhaps it really was best that Alpina is handling the development of a high-performance X7.

In typical Alpina fashion, the XB7 balances heightened sportiness with luxury and comfort. As such, it gets elegantly styled 23-inch multi-spoke forged wheels, while the chassis ​​​​​​has been set up with a two-axle adaptive air suspension with Alpina-specific dampers. Active anti-roll stabilization keeps this heavy SUV composed through the corners. The rear wheels also benefit from rear-wheel steering, as well as an electronically variable limited-slip differential (LSD). Finally, there are larger disc brakes, even when compared to the M Performance version called the M60i. Incrementally better (on paper, at least) than the AMG GLS 63 S, the more than $10,000 upcharge is worth it if you want the best of the best.

Bentley Bentayga Speed

Starting MSRP: TBA

Base Trim Engine

4L V-8 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

ZF 8-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

542 HP @6000 RPM

Base Trim Torque

568 lb.-ft. @ 2000 RPM

Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)

14/21/16 MPG

Base Trim Battery Type

Lead acid battery

Make

Bentley

Model

Bentayga

Comprehensively updated for the 2026 model year, the Bentley Bentayga Speed ditches the twin-turbo 6.0-liter W-12 for a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8. While it loses displacement and has four fewer cylinders, its 641 horsepower figure is a 15-horsepower gain. Torque, however, is down by 37 pound-feet at 627. Despite all of this, the Bentayga Speed is 0.3 seconds faster to 62 mph (100 km/h), doing the sprint in just 3.6 seconds. The new Bentayga Speed has not yet been announced for the United States, and so pricing and other information are still something we’re eager to find out.

With the Speed variant, Bentley went all-out with the sportiness factor of this vehicle by giving it the most dynamic chassis setup ever in a Bentayga. The adaptive air suspension has been reworked, while the electric power steering gets a quicker ratio. Launch control has been fitted for the first time in a Bentayga as well. Opt for the optional carbon ceramic brakes, and you get a new ESC Dynamic mode, which allows you to execute precisely controlled drifts. Why you would want to drift a Bentayga Speed is something that only its target market can probably answer.

Aston Martin DBX 707

Starting MSRP: $256,086

Base Trim Engine

4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 Gas

Base Trim Transmission

9-Speed Automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

697 hp

Base Trim Torque

663 lb-ft

Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)

15/20/17 MPG

Make

Aston Martin

Model

DBX707

Segment

Midsize Luxury SUV

The folks at Aston Martin have decided to create an SUV that combines their penchant for creating an athletic grand tourer (GT) with family-friendly practicality with the DBX707. It gets a completely new interior since the 2025 model year, which finally brings in cutting-edge tech and the first implementation of Apple CarPlay Ultra. Oh, but of course, since Mercedes-AMG has involvement in the company’s development, the DBX707 gets a familiar 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 that produces 697 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque. This is sent through all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic.

Though the chassis components are largely unchanged, Aston Martin has tweaked the electronic dampers and air springs for more precise body control. Interestingly, though this isn’t a cheap luxury SUV, it accounts for two-thirds of DBX sales, which is why Aston Martin has decided to discontinue the standard version.

Audi RS Q8 Performance

Starting MSRP: $138,300

Base Trim Engine

4L V8 MildHybrid

Base Trim Transmission

8-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

631 HP

Base Trim Torque

627 lb.-ft.

Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)

14/20/16 MPG

Base Trim Battery Type

Lithium ion (Li-ion)

Make

Audi

Model

RS Q8

Did you know that the fastest SUV around the Nürburgring comes from Audi? Yes, not Porsche, so can you imagine the folks from Stuttgart simply letting this slide? The model in question is the Audi RS Q8 Performance, an even more raucous and aggressively tuned version of the RS Q8, with everything dialed up to 11 for maximum straight-line and track performance.

Just how fast did this family SUV go around the Nürburgring? Well, it executed the run in 2024, setting the lap record for an SUV by completing the track in 7:36.698, about two seconds faster than its sibling from Stuttgart. Audi has achieved this feat with measures such as electronic anti-roll stabilization, extra-wide tires, carbon ceramic brakes, rear-wheel steering, and a grippy Quattro AWD system.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT

Starting MSRP: $210,600

Base Trim Engine

4L V-8 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

8-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

650 HP @6000 RPM

Base Trim Torque

626 lb.-ft. @ 2300 RPM

Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)

15/20/17 MPG

Make

Porsche

Model

Cayenne Turbo Coupe

Segment

Performance SUVs

The Audi RS Q8 Performance may currently have the record for the fastest SUV around the Nürburgring since 2024, but that’s mostly because Porsche has not yet taken its corporate cousin, the Cayenne Turbo GT, around the track after it received a mid-cycle facelift. The pre-facelift Cayenne Turbo GT went around the Nürburgring in 2021, completing the track in 7:38.925. Now, in 2025, the Cayenne Turbo GT is more powerful than ever.

Just how powerful? Well, it now produces 650 horsepower (+19 horsepower), though torque dips slightly to 626 pound-feet (-1 pound-feet). This is all sent through an eight-speed auto that drives all four wheels. This is good for a 0–60 mph time of just 3.1 seconds, and combined with the new two-valve dampers for the Porsche Active Suspension Management, we do not doubt that it will be faster around the Nürburgring versus the RS Q8 Performance. But of course, that can only be proven if Porsche does attempt a record run for the Cayenne Turbo GT.

Lamborghini Urus SE

Starting MSRP: $241,843

Base Trim Engine

4.0 V8 Plug-in Hybrid

Base Trim Transmission

8-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

789 hp

Base Trim Torque

701 lb-ft

Make

Lamborghini

Model

Urus SE

0-60 MPH

<3.4 Seconds

Segment

Midsize Luxury SUV

Finally, we’re going into Italian exotic SUV territory with the first plug-in hybrid SUV on this list—the Lamborghini Urus SE. This is now your only way to own Sant’Agata’s bold super SUV, as the Urus S and Urus Performante have already been discontinued. Whether you think it’s a fitting replacement for the Performante is up to you, but Lamborghini hopes its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 and electric motors are enough to convince you that it should.

The Urus SE’s 789-horsepower system output makes it the most powerful Urus ever, but, unsurprisingly, its large 25.9-kWh battery doesn’t help its weight. Sure, it can travel up to 37 miles of manufacturer-estimated electric range, but it also makes it a tenth slower to 60 mph versus the Performante. Lamborghini is no doubt capable of making the Urus SE dance on a racetrack, but it won’t be a replacement for the Performante by any means.

Ferrari Purosangue

Starting MSRP: $433,686

Base Trim Engine

6.5L V12 Gas

Base Trim Transmission

8-Speed Automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

715 hp

Base Trim Torque

528 lb-ft @ 6250 rpm

Fuel Economy

11/15/12 mpg

Make

Ferrari

Model

Purosangue

Segment

Midsize Luxury SUV

Finally, we come to the final boss of this list, which is a super SUV with true supercar mechanicals. The model I’m talking about is the Ferrari Purosangue. After years of resisting and being vocal about supercar manufacturers creating SUVs, the Maranello brand eventually gave in and produced the Purosangue anyway. Let Ferrari say whatever they want, including the fact that “it isn’t an SUV” but a “Ferrari Utility Vehicle”, but by virtue of being taller, heavier, and more practical than any Ferrari before it, we won’t give in to the “FUV” narrative and still call it an SUV.

Despite its impressive power figures, its 0-60 mph time nearly matches that of its lesser German performance SUV, but that’s only half the story. You see, the Purosangue has a naturally-aspirated V-12–one that encourages you to rev it out as the sound fills the cabin. Its platform isn’t based on any mass-market premium SUV; instead, it is blessed by Ferrari with its own platform. As such, not only does it feel special, but it also has chassis advancements such as independent four-wheel suspension control created by Multimatic. If you think the anti-roll stabilization of its German rivals is impressive, Ferrari’s independent suspension control is on another level. Thus, it earns the top spot here in our list of SUVs that sports car owners secretly fear.