Since the dawn of the so-called super SUV, there’s been several hard-hitting models to blast onto the road, locking horns for top honours as the SUV that reaches the 100 km/h marker from a standstill the quickest. We look at the five available in SA. (Note: there were ties for the third and first places.)
5. Jaguar F-Pace SVR — 4.0 seconds
Boasting a eardrum-tearing 5.0-litre V8, coupled with an eight-speed self-shifter, the F-Pace SVR, which we tested in 2022, completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in a claimed 4.0 seconds, thanks to its supercharged powertrain’s 405 kW and 700 Nm of torque, available from 6 250 r/min and 3 500 r/min, respectively. The pinnacle F-Pace weighs 2 058 kg.
4. Bentley Bentayga Speed — 3.9 seconds
The second of the three British performance SUVs on this list, the Bentayga Speed sports a 6.0-litre W12, sending 467 kW and 900 Nm, the latter available from a mere 1 500 r/min, to all four corners. According to the British luxury marque, these figures allow the 2 508 kg barge to sprint to 100 km/h from a standstill in 3.9 seconds, before topping out at 306 km/h.
3. Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Q4 — 3.8 seconds
Spearheading the Stelvio line-up, the Quadrifoglio Q4’s 2.9-litre turbocharged V6 is sublime. The Italian automaker claims the 375 kW/600 Nm, 1 859 kg Stelvio dispatches the obligatory 0-100 km/h sprint in 3.8 seconds. The top speed is rated at 283 km/h.
3. Audi RS Q8 quattro — 3.8 seconds
The remaining super SUVs in third place are all of German descent, with the first featured coming in the shape of the Audi RS Q8 quattro. The brand with the four rings’ apex SUV has a claimed 0-100 km/h sprint time of 3.8 seconds and an (electronically governed) top speed of 250 km/h. However, the latter can be increased to 280 km/h when ticking the correct option box. As a reminder, the RS Q8’s 4.0-litre V8 produces 441 kW and 800 Nm.
3. BMW X3/X4/X5/X6 M Competition — 3.8 seconds
Yup, you read the heading correctly… Although the pinnacle X3/X4 and X5/X6 models have different powertrains — a 375 kW/650 Nm 3.0-litre inline-six and 460 kW/750 Nm 4.4-litre V8, respectively — owing to their power-to-weight ratios, these M Competition models have the same 0-100 km/h sprint time, 3.8 seconds. However, the X5/X6 M Competition variants have a top speed 5 km/h more than their midsize siblings (290 km/h vs 285 km/h).
3. BMW iX M60 — 3.8 seconds
The sole electric SUV on this list, the iX M60’s (as a reminder, we tested the xDrive50 model in 2022) electric-motor arrangement produces 455 kW and a whopping 1 015 Nm of torque (the most of any SUV on this list), allowing the 2 670 kg EV to complete the obligatory 0-100 km/h sprint in the same time as its internal-combustion bretheren listed above.
3. Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S/GLE 63 S — 3.8 seconds
Like their Bavarian rivals, we’ve grouped the (currently-available; coupé only) GLC 63 S and its larger sibling, the GLE 63 S, together, as they’re all equipped with the Affalterbach-based brand’s bellowing 4.0-litre V8, producing 375 kW/700 Nm range-topping GLC and 450 kW/850 Nm in the GLE 63 S SUV and Coupé. However, although less powerful, with a kerb weight of 1 945 kg, the GLC 63 S reaches the 100 km/h marker from a standstill in the same time as its larger (and heavier; 2 420 kg for the SUV and 2 445 kg for the Coupé) more-powerful brothers.
BMW XM LABEL RED
Before we continue, we’d like to note that the BMW XM Label Red is not yet available in SA and, thus, has been excluded from the list. However, when the most powerful SUV arrives, the 550 kW/1 000 Nm BMW will join the list in third place, with a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 3.8 seconds.
2. Lamborghini Urus S — 3.5 seconds
The Urus S’ 490 kW and 850 Nm, churned out from a 4.0-litre V8, allows Lamborghini’s “ultimate lifestyle super SUV” to dispatch the 0-100 km/h sprint in 3.5 seconds, thus making it the second-quickest SUV currently available in SA. The 0-200 km/h time comes in at 12.5 seconds, before this Urus reaches a top speed of 305 km/h, one second less than the Urus Performante, which tied with three other super SUVs for first place.
1. Aston Martin DBX707 — 3.3 seconds
When we sampled the DBX707, we were left in awe. The acceleration felt immense. Although claimed, it felt that the 3.3 seconds is achievable. Aston Martin’s apex DBX employs an AMG-sourced 4.0-litre V8, tuned to deliver 520 kW and 900 Nm. The top speed is rated at 310 km/h, making it not only one of the quickest SUVs, but the fastest of all vehicles on this list.
1. Ferrari Purosangue — 3.3 seconds
It’s worth noting Ferrari doesn’t consider the Purosangue an SUV. However, we’ve decided to include the tall-riding four-door in the list. The Purosangue is equipped with the Italian automaker’s 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12, making it the only atmospheric SUV on this list. The power and torque output are rated at 533 kW and 716 Nm. These figures allow for a 0-100 km/h matching the Aston Martin, Lamborghini Urus Performance and the quickest SUV around the Nürburgring, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT.
1. Lamborghini Urus Performante — 3.3 seconds
The most-focused Urus in Lamborghini’s line-up, the Performante’s 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 produces a devilish 666 CV (490 kW), with 850 Nm of torque available from 2 300 r/min. The Performance sprints to the three-figure marker from a standstill in 3.3 seconds, before topping out at 306 km/h.
1. Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT — 3.3 seconds
Boasting the most powerful internal combustion V8 in Porsche’s arsenal, the first Cayenne to don the “GT” moniker produces 471 kW and 850 km/h for a claimed 0-100 km/h sprint time of 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 300 km/h.
