Super-SUVs: Meet the cars making the school run sexy
Power meets practicality in a new generation of super-SUVs that blend style, space and a superior driving experience
It’s a conundrum many a well-heeled new parent has found themselves faced with. For years you’ve loved the thrill (and admiring glances) of driving your Pininfarina or Ferrari around town. But now there are car seats and nappy bags and scooters and lunch boxes to think about. All of which leaves little room for a turbocharged V8 engine.
Or does it? Welcome to the world of super-SUVs.
So named for their easy blend of sportscar-worthy power, estate-level comfort and that crucial high driving position that allows you to lord it over all the other drivers stuck in traffic on the King’s Road, if you’re in need of a car that retains the cool factor but still has enough room in the boot for your labrador, look no further.
Aston Martin DBX
The British marque’s first, full-size five-seater, the Aston Martin DBX looks sensational and competes with anything else on the market in the beauty stakes. Beautifully styled both inside and out, Head of Vehicle Engineering and Procurement Drummond Jacoy says it was approached in exactly the same way as the team would a traditional sportscar. Its one stumbling block? The Aston’s Achilles’ heel is the outdated dashboard technology that doesn’t keep pace with the thrilling performance of its twin-turbo V8.
Top speed: 181 mph
Power: 542 bhp
Miles per gallon: 19.73 mpg
From £162,625, astonmartin.com
Bentley Bentayga V8
They say beauty is in the eye of the holder but, when compared to the others SUVs in this line-up, the Bentley Bentayga is somewhat left in the dust on looks alone. What it lacks in visual appeal, however, it more than makes up for in luxuriousness. The exquisite cabin is a design masterclass, equipped with the very latest connected services and high-resolution graphics. The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 is kept in check with Bentley’s Dynamic Ride system, while 3.0-litre hybrid and 6.0-litre W12 petrol engines are also available.
Top speed: 180 mph
Power: 542 bhp
Miles per gallon: 13.5 – 30.4 mpg
From £162,500, bentleymotors.com
Porsche Cayenne Coupe GT
The Porsche Cayenne Coupe GT feels more like a low-slung sports car than an SUV. It may beat the Aston and Lamborghini on price to the tune of a decent house deposit but that doesn’t mean Porsche has cut any corners on build quality and performance. The V8 turbo is a brilliant machine, while the GT is also available with hybrid options that will raise the appeal for many buyers (and significantly increase that miserly miles per gallon spec).
Top speed: 150 mph
Power: 335 bhp
Miles per gallon: 22.6 – 24.4 mpg
From £68,400, porsche.com
Land Rover Range Rover P530
The P530 is loaded with a 523bhp twin-turbo BMW engine that gives the ultimate, go-anywhere luxury limo a serious turn of speed. This Range Rover on steroids is a blast to drive, particularly thanks to an enormous and luxuriously outfitted interior, and few drivers will need more performance from their SUV. The waiting list for a Range Rover is lengthy, so don’t expect to own one until 2024. It’s worth the wait though: this is a Chelsea tractor to be proud of.
Top speed: 155 mph
Power: 523 bhp
Miles per gallon: 24.2 mpg
From £141,500, landrover.co.uk
Lamborghini Urus S
The brand-new Lamborghini Urus S certainly packs a punch. The most powerful SUV on this list by some margin, thanks to a 4.0-litre V8, it may also be the most expensive – but you get a lot for your money. It looks stunning, which does just enough to soften the blow of crawling along Oxford Street when all you really want is to let its market-leading acceleration rip. You can also pack the whole family in with comfort while the interior benefits from a top-notch infotainment system and some sleek supercar-inspired finishes.
Top speed: 190 mph
Power: 657 bhp
Miles per gallon: 14 – 19 mpg
From £188,000, lamborghini.com
