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Can you believe we’re already halfway through the 2020s? The passage of time rivals the ridiculously fast people movers on this list. And true to life, everything is speeding up. Four years ago, the slowest SUVs in our top 20 went from zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.0 seconds. Now it takes 3.5 seconds to just to make the cut.
To truly appreciate the insanity of this segment, consider the prominent performance SUVs not on this list. M variants of the X3 and X5 simply aren’t quick enough. The Range Rover Sport SV just misses the mark, along with the Maserati Grecale Trofeo and the Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S. And that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. This list would be twice as long if we expanded to the 4.0-second mark.
As before, we focus on 0-60 mph times instead of outright top speed. Acceleration is far more relevant for buyers in this segment, though we do look at top speeds for tie-breakers when 0-60 times match up. We also compile a list of flat-out speed kings at the end of the post, for those interested in such things.
Expect this list to change through the year as new models debut, but for now, here’s where we stand in the world of fast SUVs for 2025.
It’s a crazy world when a 9,000-pound vehicle ranks among the fastest-accelerating SUVs. The beefy GMC Hummer reaches 60 mph quicker than some notable performance people movers like the BMW X5 M and Range Rover Sport SV, never mind cars like the Ford Mustang Dark Horse. It’s short-lived though, as GMC caps the Hummer to a top speed of 106 mph, the slowest on this list.
Some might consider the midsize crossover to be a ringer on this list. It looks like a Model 3 with a bit more space in the back, but the Model Y does sit a bit higher and it's available with three-row seating (though you probably don’t want to sit back there.) And it's no slouch in Performance trim, with the dual-motor layout capable of a 60 mph sprint in 3.5 seconds.
The Hemi isn’t dead yet. Making an unexpected return for 2025, the three-row Durango is (for now) the only way to get the infamous supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V-8. It still makes 710 horsepower and a raucous eight-cylinder soundtrack, and though it’s near the bottom of our list for acceleration, the Durango Hellcat’s 180-mph top speed places it among the fastest flat-out SUVs in the world.
The first of many Porsche SUVs in the group, the 2025 Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid soldiers on with its familiar twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 paired to an electric motor. Whether you choose the standard SUV or the sloped fastback coupe, you get 729 hybridized horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds.
The fun-loving Mach-E Rally lives for backroads and open trails. Riding an inch taller than the Mach-E GT, Ford gives it the same high-output, dual-motor powertrain that bumps torque to 700 pound-feet with the optional performance upgrade. You (probably) won’t do a 3.4-second sprint to 60 mph on dirt, but few things in life are as fun as throwing huge gravel rooster tails. On pavement, few SUVs will keep up with it.
There’s a caveat to highlight with the updated Kia EV6. Mildly refreshed for 2025, the GT model now has the same output as the mighty Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. That’s 601 in normal operation, or 641 horsepower for temporary bursts. Kia doesn’t mention an official 0-60 time, but the previous version reached it in 3.5 seconds. The Ioniq 5 N shows up later on this list, and with the same dual powertrain underneath a Kia body, it’s safe to assume this new GT will be quicker than the old one. In fact, it could be much quicker.
Rivian is slowly expanding its R1S lineup. The Dual model is one step up from the base Dual Standard, utilizing a dual-motor layout with 665 horsepower. With launch control activated, this three-row SUV has supercar acceleration while still offering good off-road performance. The R1S isn’t really a performance SUV though. With its utilitarian tires and 7,000-pound curb weight, top speed is limited to just 110 miles per hour.
Slow EV sales have prompted AMG to cancel plans for a next-generation EQE, but we expect the current model to stick around for a couple more years. It doesn’t disappoint in the performance realm with its dual-motor powertrain making 617 horsepower in normal guise, or 677 horsepower with the optional AMG Dynamic Plus package. The EQE also receives suspension tuning and upgraded brakes as you’d expect from something wearing an AMG badge, and the changes are noteworthy considering this is a three-ton vehicle with supercar speed.
Line up the latest hybrid AMG GLC63 with the electric AMG EQE, and you'll have a dead-even drag race. That is, until speeds climb into triple-digit territory. As the EV runs out of steam, the GLC's overachieving turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (and rear-mount electric motor) keeps the SUV moving to a top speed of 171 miles per hour.
Say hello to the current Nurburgring record holder for SUVs. Now available in the RS Q8 Performance trim for 2025, the big SUV laps the Nordschleife loop in 7 minutes, 36.69 seconds. Being able to reach 190 miles per hour certainly helps, and off the line, it can rip to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. The twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 generates a healthy 631 horsepower in Performance trim, enough to earn Audi a spot just outside the top ton.
New for 2025, the Urus SE gets a single electric motor sandwiched between the twin-turbo V-8 and eight-speed automatic transmission. The result is 789 horsepower and 701 pound-feet of combined torque, the latter of which peaks at just 1,750 rpm. It’s the most powerful of all the Urus trims, and with a top speed of 194 miles per hour, it's the fastest SUV of them all in terms of outright speed. But a few others—including the Urus Performante—are quicker off the line.
Thanks to a torque boost from the optional performance upgrade, Ford’s lively Mach-E GT punches way above its class. The dual-motor powertrain lays 700 pound-feet of grip to the ground, and it’s just a tick faster to 60 at 3.3 seconds than its higher-riding Mach-E Rally sibling. And with a starting price of around $58,000, the pony-badged Ford runs side-by-side with far more expensive SUVs. For a little while, anyway. Like the Mach-E Rally, its top speed is capped at 124 miles per hour.
Few vehicles have shock value like the Ioniq 5 N. It’s a practical electric crossover that goes like a ballistic missile when you punch the throttle. With everything set to max attack, 60 miles per hour disappears in 3.3 seconds and you can even enjoy a variety of faux (but entertaining) engine noises along with it. The Ioniq 5 N’s dual-motor powertrain can also be tweaked for surprisingly good characteristics in corners, but such fun drains the battery quickly.
The Purosangue is technically an SUV, but it’s really a V-12 supercar in a crossover body. With a screaming 715-horsepower naturally-aspirated engine and room for just four people, the emphasis here is certainly more on sport than utility. However, it's still a four-door vehicle with an actual boot for storage, all-wheel-drive grip, and a dry weight of nearly 4,500 pounds. That seems very un-Ferrari-like, but mash the accelerator and you’ll eventually reach 192 miles per hour, all while listing to an 8,000-rpm V-12 symphony. That’s very Ferrari-lie.
Going all-electric hasn’t slowed the Macan. Launching in early 2024, Porsche’s “entry-level” SUV is one of the fastest in the world. Its 800-volt architecture is shared with Audi but nothing from the Four Rings will reach 60 miles per hour in 3.1 seconds. The dual-motor arrangement generates a combined 630 horsepower in overboost mode, and it goes 161 mph just through gear reduction versus the Taycan’s two-speed gearbox. But it’s not the fastest Porsche here.
On paper, the Cayenne Turbo GT is a dead match for the Macan Turbo to 60 miles per hour. But the smaller electric SUV runs out of steam long before the Cayenne’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 is done. Porsche bumped output to 650 horsepower in 2024, which didn’t affect initial acceleration but gave the coupe-SUV a top speed of 190 mph. An eight-speed automatic shuffles power to all four wheels, but you’ll pay handsomely for the higher top speed. With a starting price of $205,795, it’s nearly twice as much as the Macan Turbo.
Only the Lamborghini Urus SE can chase down the DBX707, and even then, it’s a game of catch-up the whole way. A 3.1-second run to 60 miles per hour puts the posh Aston ahead of the hybrid Lambo, and on paper, the Urus is only 1 mph faster. This last bastion of pure combustion power delivers 697 horsepower from a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8—no hybrid assist needed. It’s brutally fast and deliciously noisy, all while being a practical five-seat SUV.
Leading us into the sub-three-second range, the sharp-edged Eletre makes 905 combined horsepower from its dual-motor powertrain. A two-speed transmission seeks balance between face-warping acceleration and top speed, which peaks at 165 miles per hour. Lotus only lists acceleration times to 62 mph (100 kilometers per hour) so unofficially, it could be a touch quicker. In any case, it’s earned a spot among the fastest SUVs in the world.
We’ll probably update this list with the long-awaited quad-motor R1S once it finally goes on sale. For now, the Tri with its three-motor arrangement is plenty quick at 2.9 seconds to 60 miles per hour. Rivian also loosens the electronic limiter a bit, letting drivers reach 130 mph provided launch control is activated before setting off. Why the 130-mile-per-hour limit? Like the R1S Dual, this isn’t a hypercar in disguise. It’s a high-riding, three-row people hauler riding on all-terrain tires with legitimate off-road capability and a range of 400 miles…provided you stay away from launch control.
Despite the influx of powerful SUVs, the Model X Plaid still rules them all. Officially, Tesla says 60 miles per hour arrives in just 2.5 seconds. Unofficially, there are numerous instances of the SUV going even faster. And it’s not like this is a stripped-down shell with 1,020 hp. Inside you'll find a steering yoke in place of a wheel. The gullwing rear doors still gullwing. It can tow 5,000 pounds. And it’s fast enough to run side-by-side with any production vehicle in the world, for a little while anyway.
