SUVs with the Most Horsepower for 2023
These are the SUVs ranked by their maximum horsepower based on iSeeCars' analysis of all new and used models within the last 5 years.
The subcompact SUV with the most horsepower is the MINI Countryman (301 hp), with the BMW X1 being the luxury subcompact SUV with the most horsepower (312 hp). The Jeep Cherokee ranks #1 for the small and compact SUVs with the most horsepower (270 hp).
The luxury small and compact SUV with the most horsepower is the Jaguar F-PACE (542 hp) and the midsize SUV with the most horsepower is the Dodge Durango (710 hp). Topping the list for the luxury midsize SUVs with the most horsepower is the Porsche Cayenne (650 hp), while the Ford Expedition ranks first for the large SUVs with the most horsepower (440 hp).
The luxury large SUV with the most horsepower is the Cadillac Escalade-V (682 hp), with the Dodge Durango being the crossover SUV with the most horsepower (710 hp). The Porsche Cayenne ranks #1 for the luxury crossover SUVs with the most horsepower (650 hp).
The three-row SUV with the most horsepower is the Dodge Durango (710 hp) and the luxury three-row SUV with the most horsepower is the Cadillac Escalade-V (682 hp). Topping the list for the hybrid SUVs with the most horsepower is the Toyota Sequoia (hybrid) (437 hp), while the BMW XM ranks first for the luxury hybrid SUVs with the most horsepower (738 hp).
The plug-in hybrid SUV with the most horsepower (PHEV) is the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (Plug-in Hybrid) (375 hp), with the BMW XM being the luxury plug-in hybrid SUVs with the most horsepower (PHEV) (738 hp). The Tesla Model X ranks #1 for the electric SUVs with the most horsepower (1,020 hp).
The luxury electric SUV with the most horsepower is the Tesla Model X (1,020 hp) and the 7-seater SUV with the most horsepower is the Dodge Durango (710 hp). Topping the list for the hybrid 7-seater SUVs with the most horsepower is the Toyota Sequoia (hybrid) (437 hp), while the Cadillac Escalade-V ranks first for the luxury 7-seater SUVs with the most horsepower (682 hp).
The electric luxury 7-seater SUV with the most horsepower is the Rivian R1S (835 hp), which is also the electric luxury 7-seater SUV with the most horsepower.
Today’s most powerful SUVs provide supercar-like acceleration and top speed while retaining a modicum of off-road ability and SUV practicality. Luxury models from high-performance brands, like the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Bentley Bentayga Speed, Ferrari Pursangue, and Lamborghini Urus, are among the fastest SUVs you can buy. Buyers less worried about cargo space can buy coupe-like models, featuring a lower, more aggressive roofline, such as the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT.
These SUVs typically feature a twin-turbo or supercharged engine sending power through an automatic transmission and advanced all-wheel-drive system. Models like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid supplement their twin-turbocharged V8 engines with an electric motor. These hybrid powertrains deliver increased lb-ft of torque, with the plug-in hybrid versions even offering short all-electric driving ranges.
Some of today’s quickest SUVs feature an electric drivetrain, including the Tesla Model X Plaid and Ford Mustang Mach-E. These electric SUVs lack the muscle-car-like exhaust rumble found in V8 models like Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat and Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, but they can still get from zero to 60 mph faster than many sports cars.
Remember that while horsepower gets more attention, torque is what actually turns a vehicle’s wheels and provides forward (or reverse) motion. Electric vehicles provide instant torque immediately, which is why they feel so quick at low speeds compared to internal combustion engines that have to rev up from idle to achieve maximum power and torque. Generally speaking, torque is what moves a car at lower speeds while horsepower is what keeps it moving and accelerating at higher speeds.
Below you’ll find the most powerful SUVs in 18 categories, ranked by their maximum horsepower. These lists also include new and used car pricing, fuel efficiency ratings, and cargo volume specifications for each model.
How We Rank These Cars
The Cars with the Most Horsepower lists rank vehicles by their maximum horsepower.
The maximum horsepower is the highest horsepower across all trim levels for a given vehicle model. In the event there is a tie, we use iSeeCars proprietary rating of the overall quality of the car (iSeeCars Score) to break the tie.
The overall iSeeCars Score is an analysis of three factors: reliability, resale value and safety. It is calculated based on the latest research and analysis by our data science team. The data analysis comes from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with NHTSA and IIHS Safety Ratings.
Vehicles are scored in three categories:
Reliability | 33.3%
The reliability score represents an analysis of iSeeCars' proprietary research on the longest-lasting vehicles.
Value Retention | 33.3%
The value retention score is based on our data science team's statistical analysis and prediction of 5-year depreciation from MSRP to determine which cars hold their value best, using US Bureau of Labor Statistics data to adjust for inflation.
Safety | 33.3%
The safety score is calculated based on the last five years of crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and incorporates the latest Top Safety Pick information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
