Meet the SUVs & crossovers that do 0-100kmh in under five seconds
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT
0-100kmh in 5.0 seconds
This is what happens when you mate a giant 6.4-litre naturally-aspirated V8 to a chunky, go-anywhere SUV. Truth be told, the SRT is a bit of a bargain, even at £64,000. A similarly potent Cayenne is basically double.
Audi RS Q3
0-100kmh in 4.8 seconds
From unquestionably massive to handily small. The RS Q3 has just five cylinders, but a healthy 335bhp. Pedants might argue the Q3 is more hot hatch than SUV, but they would be incorrect. It’s our list, and we’ll do what we want with it.
Porsche Macan Turbo
0-100kmh in 4.8 seconds
Like the Cayenne, only less objectionable in almost every way. Audi Q5-based Macan Turbo is expensive - at north of £60k - but reassuringly Porscheish.
Range Rover Sport SVR
0-100kmh in 4.7 seconds
Take one Range Rover Sport. Cross-breed with F-Type V8 and snarly exhaust. Add loud noises. Result is predictably sonorous and surprisingly rapid.
For a bit of context, watch what happened when we raced one against a BMW i8.
Mercedes-AMG GLA45
0-100kmh in 4.4 seconds
Like the A45 AMG hot hatch, only a bit taller. As per the A-Class, there’s over 350bhp on offer from the turbo four, which makes for a most rapid thing. Also pretty good on ice.
Mercedes-AMG GLS63
0-100kmh in 4.6 seconds
The GLS is, arguably, too big for Britain. Even threading a sensible diesel version of the old, more or less identical GL down a typical British B-road requires plenty of concentration. Having 577bhp under your right foot must only complicate matters. In a good way.
Mercedes-AMG GLE63/Coupe
0-100kmh in 4.2 seconds
From the artist formally known as the Mercedes ML, the GLE and its new, BMW X6-like cousin – the GLE Coupe – hit 100kmh in 4.3 and 4.2 seconds respectively.
Whether this makes a 577bhp, V8-powered mega-SUV any more appropriate is open to debate. All we know is that we rather liked the GLE 63, despite ourselves.
BMW X5M/X6M
0-100kmh in 4.2 seconds
The most impressive thing about BMW’s X M cars isn’t their power, the speed or the way they look. It’s that, more than any other car, they unite other motorists in unparalleled, possibly unjustified, displeasure. Quick, though.
Porsche Cayenne Turbo S
0-100kmh in 4.1 seconds
The Turbo S will do 274kmh. We know this, because we’ve done it (on a runway, obviously). Porsche says it’ll actually reach 283kmh, and we believe them.
And we wouldn’t be surprised if that number was a bit conservative. As is Porsche’s way.
Bentley Bentayga
0-100kmh in 4.1 seconds
The big Bentley is the most powerful (conventionally-powered) SUV here. With 600bhp on tap, Bentley claims the unfortunately-named Bentayga is good for 300kmh. Oh, and it starts at £160,000. No wonder Mrs Queen of England is lined up for the first car off the line…
Tesla Model X
0-100kmh in 3.2 seconds
Even without ‘Ludicrous’ mode, the Model X will still hit 100 in under four seconds. But the extra $10,000 the ‘Performance’ model commands is well worth it, for that name if nothing else.