What are the Fastest World’s Top 10 SUVs (Updated 2022)

Overview

Sport utility vehicles have come to stay. Some people may consider them too big, too heavy, and even too ugly, but the truth is that they have prospered in the global market. The main reason for that meteoric success turns out to be quite simple: they have successfully managed to combine qualities of many market segments in one vehicle.

Now that they are no longer a new entry in the market, automakers have made sure to play with all their resources to keep them selling well. One of them is performance: by adding powerful engines, improving their aerodynamics, and using cutting-edge technology to aid their dynamic behavior, they have created automobiles that defy the laws of physics.

This list is going to show you the epitome of SUV evolution. The top 10 listed here are the fastest SUVs released in the past few years, along with some mentions of other related models. If we were living in the 1990s, they would surely have what it takes to deserve a poster on your bedroom walls or to be the wallpaper of your desktop.

#10: 2020 Dodge Durango Hellcat

Base price: $ 80,895

Overview

Simply put, this is one of the world’s fastest SUVs and the most powerful ever produced. Dodge is already preparing itself for an electric-vehicle future starting in the next few years, but it is definitely going to enjoy the current moment of this market while it lasts. This model simply ignores its midsize dimensions and weight and manages to perform even better than the Charger that uses the same engine because it comes with AWD as standard.Some downsides of this SUV come from belonging to a generalist brand: the cabin does not worry about looking or feeling premium, the base price is only acceptable to true enthusiasts, and having such a large engine equipped with aging technology makes this Hellcat a confirmed gas guzzler. On the other hand, the fact that such a model will never be produced again is the perfect excuse to overlook those issues and let yourself enjoy the Durango.

Source: Dodge

Tech specs

• Acceleration: 0-100 kph in 3.6 seconds
• Engine: 6.2L supercharged V8
• Power: 710 hp
• Torque: 645 lb-ft
• Weight: 5,710 lb

#9: 2020 Audi SQ7

Base price: $ 80,995

Overview

A good consequence of the SUV market having become so large is that there is at least one model for pretty much everyone. Even though we are focusing on performance here, some people might want their SUV to preserve rational qualities like practicality and internal space and there is nothing wrong with it. In that case, the largest model currently produced by Audi will surely deserve a high position on their top 10 list.

The boxy silhouette ensures plenty of room for seven occupants while the Audi brand implies high build quality and sporty appearance. The “S” badge, in turn, enhances all that with the sportiness of a twin-turbocharged V8, an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and standard Quattro all-wheel drive. This is sufficient to ignore its 5,311 lb and deliver performance to a level that can only be matched by the more casual Q8, whose RS version is surely one of the fastest SUV models available as well.

Source: Audi

Tech specs

• Acceleration: 0-100 kph in 3.5 seconds
• Engine: 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8
• Power: 500 hp
• Torque: 568 lb-ft
• Weight: 5,311 lb

#8: 2019 Maserati Levante Trofeo

Base price: $ 171,475

Overview

In a category dominated by so many North American and German models, it may be refreshing to enjoy some Italian flair. The elegant, yet imposing Levante offers a tasteful balance of turning heads when stopped and in motion. While the GTS version reaches 100 kph in a little more time, the extra money asked for the Trofeo version is returned as even more power, improved dynamics, and some exclusive visual details.

Now, if you truly want that Italian flair, you have to know that it is not only made of strong suits such as being one of the quickest SUVs available that is part of what makes it unique. The ride lacks refinement in some situations, especially in relation to some direct rivals. The higher trim levels are much more expensive than the base ones, and the fact that this car is made by a company as big as Stellantis means that there will be parts shared with lesser models here and there.

Source: Maserati

Tech specs

• Acceleration: 0-100 kph in 3.5 seconds
• Engine: 3.8L twin-turbocharged V8
• Power: 582 hp
• Torque: 538 lb-ft
• Weight: 5,175 lb

#7: 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S

Base price: $ 114,945

Overview

From the times when it pretended to have off-road interests and went by ML-Class, this model has certainly gone a long way. Now that it is part of a quickly increasing lineup of SUVs, the rebranded GLE fiercely defends its position by being more sophisticated than the GLC, more practical than its own Coupé sibling, and nimbler than the GLS bigger brother. The AMG version with the S package only makes everything better.

While the twin-turbo V8 is shared with many other AMG models, there are some specific features such as the all-wheel-drive focused on the rear axle, limited-slip differential, engine mounts that become stiffer under sporty driving. The active suspension lowers the ride by 0.4 inches to reduce drag at high speeds. Keep in mind that this model has a Coupé version which uses roughly the same mechanics to be yet another of the fastest SUV models available.

Source: Mercedes

Tech specs

• Acceleration: 0-100 kph in 3.4 seconds
• Engine: 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8
• Power: 603 hp
• Torque: 627 lb-ft
• Weight: 5568 lb

#6: 2020 BMW X4 M Competition

Base price: $ 81,395

Overview

If more people could afford coupé crossovers in their performance versions, they would definitely not complain so much about this body style. The fastest X4 available uses its fastback and standard all-wheel drive to reach impressive acceleration and grip: little more than three seconds to get to 100 kph and 0.97 g of lateral acceleration. Those figures make it one of the quickest SUVs available and a better performance car than many coupés and roadsters.

Another reason for such figures is that it weighs around 1,000 lb less than the midsize and full-size which populate this list – the X4 M can match their dynamic behavior using a smaller engine, which certainly makes it more efficient and eco-friendlier. If you need something to make this deal even sweeter, keep in mind that it is also affordable: how about spending less than half of what those models cost and getting similar performance?

Source: BMW

Tech specs

• Acceleration: 0-100 kph in 3.3 seconds
• Engine: 3.0L twin-turbocharged inline-six
• Power: 503 hp
• Torque: 442 lb-ft
• Weight: 4,539 lb

#5: 2021 Bentley Bentayga V8

Base price: $ 179,925

Overview

This is a great example of how SUVs can be superlative vehicles. Bentley’s very first venture into the fastest SUV models manages to be imposing on the outside, spacious on the inside, fancy as few cars can be, affordable only to the 1%, and as if it was not enough, fast. Very fast. Fast enough to ignore its 5,470-lb weight and dash to 60 mph more quickly than a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, according to the specialized press.

Before enjoying the absurd power of the Bentayga, the prospective buyer will be seduced by the large number of possibilities offered by Bentley to customize its cabin, even including the option of requesting additional items – the intention is to give the SUV your own identity. Such a combination of qualities can also be acquired in a somewhat more opulent version: the Bentayga may also use a W12 engine with up to 600 hp.

Source: Bentley

Tech specs

• Acceleration: 0-100 kph in 3.3 seconds
• Engine: 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8
• Power: 542 hp
• Torque: 568 lb-ft
• Weight: 5,470 lb

#4: 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio

Base price: $ 81,590

Overview

If you want to trade in some of the Levante’s size and luxury for even more performance, it is not even necessary to leave Stellantis: the smaller cousin Stelvio is Alfa Romeo’s very first attempt to have one of the fastest SUV models available and uses an all-new platform to keep up with the Giulia sedan’s reputation. Since it has been in the market for a couple of years now, the specialized press has concluded that the compact Italian manages to beat even the Germans.

Here, maximum performance is offered at the Quadrifoglio variation, which uses a 2.9-liter V6 with two turbos to reach an impressive 505 hp. Combined with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a complete mechanical reinvention, this model makes it difficult for you to choose any other if your priority is performance. While its trim quality could be better, it allows you to spend less than half of what some SUVs on this list cost.

Source: Alfa Romeo

Tech specs

• Acceleration: 0-100 kph in 3.2 seconds
• Engine: 2.9L twin-turbocharged V6
• Power: 505 hp
• Torque: 443 lb-ft
• Weight: 4,221 lb

#3: 2020 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid

Base price: $ 163,150

Overview

Long gone are the times when we were baffled at the simple existence of an SUV made by Porsche. Now, after almost twenty years, this symbol of modern times has graced us with its fastest iteration ever: it uses a hybrid setup good for 670 hp of combined power and 633 lb-ft of combined torque that come from the Volkswagen Group’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 plus an electric motor. The transmission is an eight-speed automatic.

Cayenne is limited to 83 mph when using only the battery and goes up to 183 mph when it lets the gasoline engine work. If being one of the quickest SUVs in the world is not enough, the electric motor was borrowed from the 918 Spyder supercar, specialized tests have obtained 1.01 g of lateral acceleration, and you can choose between driving to obtain all that or the fuel consumption of up to 44 MPGe. The base price is not friendly, but it definitely delivers a lot.

Source: Porsche

Tech specs

• Acceleration: 0-100 kph in 3.2 seconds
• Engine: 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8 plus electric motor
• Power: combined 670 hp; 541/134 hp gasoline/electric
• Torque: combined 633 lb-ft; 568/295 lb-ft gasoline/electric
• Weight: 5,623 lb

#2: 2019 Lamborghini Urus

Base price: $ 203,995

Overview

In the age of omnipresent SUVs, any automaker that claims it will never produce one is surely lying; this market segment sells too well to be ignored. Since the Volkswagen Group already had a luxury platform used by Audi and Bentley, it was easy to adapt it to another model. The Urus appeared in 2018, six years later than the concept, and employs a 4.0-liter V8 engine with two turbos to become the quickest gas-burning SUV.

Now, if you think that it is just a touched-up Volkswagen with a powerful engine, take a closer look. It is not directly related to other Lamborghinis only because the company does not have a history of making SUVs, but all the styling cues used on the current coupés are there: from the angular shapes to the typically Italian sense of intensity. If you want, even more, the independent tuner Kar Tunz has a special package to make it one of the world’s fastest SUVs.

Source: Lamborghini

Tech specs

• Acceleration: 0-100 kph in 3.1 seconds
• Engine: 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8
• Power: 641 hp
• Torque: 627 lb-ft
• Weight: 5314 lb

#1: 2021 Tesla Model X Plaid

Base price: $ 121,190

Overview

Oh, the miracles of electric motors. They pollute the environment much less than internal combustion engines, they deliver their full torque from the very first moment, and they are small and adaptable enough for the automaker to apply as many of them as it wants. In this case, Tesla has used three of these points to make the Model X the world’s fastest SUV: it has 1020 hp of electric power and an acceleration time of two seconds and a half.

While the external design may be bland and maybe closer to the crossover realm than to typical SUVs, keep in mind that it allows you to choose between mind-boggling acceleration and simple urban dynamics with large internal space for people and cargo and minimal recharge cost. The only problem is that it is being largely outperformed by the Models 3 and X in the global market, which may take it away from this top 10 list soon.

Source: Tesla

Tech specs

• Acceleration: 0-100 kph in 2.5 seconds
• Engine: three electric motors
• Power: 1,020 hp
• Torque: not available
• Weight: 5,390 lb

How to choose the fastest SUV according to your need?

If you enjoy the thrill of driving, it’s quite inevitable that you’ll be looking out for a super-fast vehicle. SUVs are traditionally not associated with excellent speed, but thanks to today’s automakers, there are plenty of vehicles that tick the box.

Now, to choose the fastest SUV, you have to take care of a few things, such as your budget, your daily requirements, the fuel economy of the vehicle, and so on. As you can understand from the models mentioned above, speed comes at the cost of an elevated price point, and that is something unavoidable at the moment. You also have to consider whether you’re buying the SUV for adventurous off-roading, or regular rides– and once you’re able to figure out these factors, check the model specifications to pick the right vehicle for you.

FAQs