Back in 1975, the then all-new Porsche 911 Turbo , with its voluptuous flared fenders and whale-tail rear spoiler, set the benchmark for automotive performance. Powered by a 3.0-liter, air-cooled turbocharged flat-six engine developing 260 hp, it could sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in 5.
5 seconds. Only sports cars were supposed to be capable of feats like these, but four decades later there are a number of SUVs that can best those numbers with ease. Lavish people haulers dominate the current market, doing so with engines that easily double that early Porsche’s output while being able to blast from zero to 60 mph more than two seconds quicker.
Put that original 911 Turbo up against, say, the all-electric, 830 hp GMC Hummer SUV , and it would be left in the dust. Today’s coolest, fastest, most powerful, and utilitarian performance machines are SUVs. And unlike the 911 Turbo and its modern-day equivalent, they might even be happy in the dirt.
Here are our top 11 models in the class. — Best Overall: Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT — Best Looking: Aston Martin DBX707 — Best Value: Audi RS Q8 — Best Luxury Features: Bentley Bentayga Speed — Best for Enthusiasts: BMW XM Label Red — Best for SUV Skeptics: Ferrari Purosangue — Best American-Made Option: GMC Hummer SUV — Best Supercar Alternative: Lamborghini Urus Performante — Best In-Cabin Tech: Lotus Eletre R — Best Electric Option: Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV — Best for Making an Entrance: Mercedes-Benz G-Class.