WHAT IS THE FASTEST SUV IN THE WORLD? WE'VE GOT THE TOP 10

When brands like Land Rover and Jeep helped to popularize the sport utility vehicle over half a century ago with models like the Land Rover Series I and original Wagoneer, these rugged vehicles had one thing in common: they weren’t associated with speed in any way. The original Land Rover Series I, for instance, ran out of puff before it reached 60 mph. How things have changed since then.

We've now driven the Aston Martin DBX707, Lamborghini has released the Urus SE, and Porsche has unleashed the heavily facelifted Cayenne lineup. Despite curb weights of around 5,000 pounds and aerodynamics that suffer due to their sheer size, these fast SUVs are astonishingly rapid when speed limits don't apply and the road is long and straight. The list is ranked from fast to hellishly fast.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid/Turbo E-Hybrid Coupe (183 MPH)

Porsche unveiled a comprehensively upgraded Cayenne lineup recently, and with it has come a slight reshuffling of trim names. In a previous version of this list, the 670-hp Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid made this list with its top speed of 183 mph. In its place is the latest Turbo E-Hybrid (without the ‘S’), which makes an exceptional 729 hp combined from its 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 and electric motor. This has cut the 0-60 mph time down to 3.5 seconds, but the top speed remains 183 mph. The more sportily styled Turbo E-Hybrid Coupe has identical performance specs. These plug-in hybrid Porsche super SUVs have a dual personality, as they’re able to hit 84 mph on electric power alone - 1 mph higher than the previous iterations.

Maserati Levante Trofeo (187 MPH)

We have a few issues with the Levante Trofeo. It has a rock-hard ride, parts of the interior are shared with much cheaper models from the Stellantis stable, and it costs a lot more than some similar German SUVs. And, although it’s not the quickest-accelerating SUV here, the Trofeo is dramatically quick at the top end. Courtesy of its 3.8-liter twin-turbo Ferrari-derived V8 engine, the Trofeo will eventually reach 187 mph. That’s what 572 hp and 538 lb-ft will do for you, and it sounds wonderful when used in anger too.

Lamborghini Urus S (189.5 MPH)

The first member of the Urus family on this list is the S, which falls just short of the 190-mph mark. Only the truly speed-greedy will be able to ascertain a clear difference in performance between this Urus and its faster siblings. Its outputs of 657 hp and 627 lb-ft match those of the Performante, but it’s marginally slower to 60 and slightly down on the Performante’s top speed. That’s not to say the Urus S isn’t a breathtaking performance SUV, with a raucous V8 soundtrack, surprisingly accurate handling, and the brazen styling that typifies Lamborghini.

Audi RS Q8 (190 MPH Optional)

While in standard form, the RS Q8 is limited to 174 mph, an optional package lifts this limiter to 190 mph. This makes use of the full 591 hp and 590 lb-ft available from its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 and results in a 5,490-lb family SUV that belies its weight completely. Its performance is no surprise, though, as it shares underpinnings with several cars on this list, including the Porsche Cayenne, Bentley Bentayga, and a certain Lamborghini Urus. The fact that it looks as good as any of those and only costs $125,800 in standard form just sweetens the deal further, making it a fast affordable SUV compared to many on this list.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT (190 MPH)

Like the other Cayennes, the red-hot Cayenne Turbo GT has also been upgraded, moving it a few notches up this list. Power is up to 650 hp, but it isn’t weighed down by the electric plug-in hybrid hardware of the Turbo E-Hybrid Coupe, so the top speed rises to 190 mph on summer tires. That’s 4 mph higher than the previous Cayenne Turbo GT, which made 631 hp. The Turbo GT isn’t the fastest gas-powered SUV in the world, but it’s the joint-quickest, hitting 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and covering the quarter-mile in only 11.6. It’s also among the most agile of the mid-size performance SUVs.

Bentley Bentayga Speed (190 MPH)

The Bentley Bentayga Speed is not only the most comfortable vehicle on this list, but it's very nearly the fastest. A mighty 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 engine mostly operates in the background but its 626 hp and 664 lb-ft are not to be taken lightly. The Bentayga Speed is even more special in light of the fact that the mighty W12 engine is being retired.

Flat out, the Bentayga Speed will reach 190 mph, just about edging ahead of the Urus. When we drove the Bentayga, we found that the throttle required a lot of pressure to get access to the SUV's full power, but it was designed like this to make progress as smooth as possible. While some of these SUVs are all unrestrained noise as they work their way up to their top speeds, the Bentayga Speed is a much more relaxing way to break the law.

Lamborghini Urus Performante (190.1 MPH)

The idea of a (second) Lamborghini SUV once seemed ludicrous but the Urus has a habit of silencing any doubters once they get behind the wheel. And then Lamborghini updated it and gave it a hardcore Performante version that added an extra half a mile per hour on top of its already incredible top speed.

That's courtesy of a diet that shed 104 lbs, new aerodynamics, and an increase in power from its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 yielding 657 hp and 627 lb-ft, good enough to sprint to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds and top out at 190. It even set a Pikes Peak record at 10:32.064, and it has a specific Rally driving mode for dirt tracks.

Ferrari Purosangue (192.6 MPH)

Ferrari may disagree with our classification of this being one of the fastest SUVs in the world, but only on the grounds that Ferrari doesn't build SUVs, it builds FUVs (Ferrari Utility Vehicles). Whatever you classify it as, the Ferrari Purosangue is a lifted four-seater with a penchant for speed, and thanks to a front-mid-mounted 6.5-liter V12 with no turbocharging, 715 hp, and 528 lb-ft guided to all four corners, it'll hit a top speed of "more than" 192.6 mph. It also has the title of being the most powerful SUV to not rely on electricity for propulsion.

Thanks to its lower stance than many SUVs on this list, and its innovative new suspension, the Purosangue probably handles better than anything here. Whether you call it sacrilege or not, the Purosangue is a new breed of prancing horse that means business.

Aston Martin DBX707 (193 MPH)

Saudi Arabia is home to the longest straight road in the world, according to Guinness World Records. This stretch of Highway 10 is 149 miles long. If you could somehow find a way to close it off and line up the DBX707 alongside any other SUV on this list, it's the Aston Martin that will eventually get its nose in front of all except one, thanks to its 193-mph top speed. The smooth Autobahn is probably a safer bet, though. At 3.1 seconds to 60 mph, the DBX707 also matches the Cayenne Turbo GT for the quickest acceleration. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 makes 697 hp and 663 lb-ft, and it's paired to a nine-speed wet clutch transmission. Even though electric SUVs like the Tesla Model X Plaid are quicker off the mark, EVs run out of puff at higher speeds and the DBX707 will eventually pass it. It has taken something truly special - and a plug-in hybrid system - to dethrone the Aston.

Lamborghini Urus SE

The new Lamborghini Urus SE blasts straight to the top of this list, exceeding the Aston Martin’s top speed by a whisker. Then again, at this stupendous level of performance, it’s all about the slightest of margins. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 is now joined by a plug-in hybrid system, combining for 789 hp and 701 lb-ft. That’s enough to hit 193.9 mph. The 0-62 mph time is 3.4 seconds, so it’s incredibly quick considering its curb weight of roughly 5,500 pounds. On electric power alone, the Urus SE can reach 81 mph, so it falls just short of the Cayenne PHEV in a silent top speed battle. When all systems are operating at their peak, however, the Urus SE is a bruiser and - for now - the world’s fastest SUV.

2024-06-05T03:44:59Z dg43tfdfdgfd