In the 21st century, high horsepower is not just limited to supercars and super sports cars; This also includes SUVs. Many car manufacturers have taken the SUV path, including prestigious companies like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin. Here we take a look at the 10 most powerful SUVs in the Indian market.
porsche cayenne electric
The original Cayenne was once considered the standard of high-performance SUVs, especially in its incredible Turbo variant. In the Indian market, the Cayenne, in its new generation, is sold in both standard and coupe-SUV guises, with petrol-diesel engines and as an electric vehicle.
Those who want the best power will have to go for the new Cayenne Electric, prices for which have recently been announced for the Indian market. This electric car has been launched in both standard and turbo engines, in which the turbo engine delivers an incredible maximum power of 1140 bhp and can accelerate to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds. The Cayenne Electric also has several major differences from its stable-engine model, such as a different platform and more technology inside the cabin.
Petrol-diesel SUV buyers looking for outright performance will have to make do with either the 348 bhp V6 in the base SUV or the 493 bhp V8 in GTS spec – there is no Cayenne Turbo at the moment, though it was once available in India. Performance is quite brisk, with the base model hitting 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds, while the GTS hits it in 4.7 seconds.
Powertrain: Electric Maximum Output:
1140 bhp / 1500 Nm
lotus electra
Go back a few decades, and the words Lotus and SUV would never have been spoken in the same sentence, but the 2020s are upon us, and here we are – Lotus has officially arrived in India, and there’s an all-electric SUV in its segment. The Electra is the brand’s first attempt at an SUV, and depending on the variant chosen, features either a single-motor or dual-motor AWD powertrain under the skin. The former produces 597 bhp and 710 Nm of torque, while the latter bumps the output to 896 bhp and 985 Nm, though all this comes at the expense of performance range. The standard 112 kWh battery offers a range of up to 600 km with the single motor setup, which drops to 490 km in the AWD model.
Powertrain: Electric Maximum power:
896 bhp / 985 Nm
Lamborghini Urus SE
The Urus has become Lamborghini’s best-selling and fastest-selling model since its global debut in 2017. Sharing its underpinnings with the Bentley Bentayga and the Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q8, the Urus is powered by VW Group’s twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine across all variants, with the new SE adding electric motors to the mix for even more power.
In standard S or Performante spec, the engine produces 657 bhp and 850 Nm of maximum power. In the SE this has been detuned to 612 bhp and 800 Nm, although the addition of an electric motor to the hybrid powertrain takes the total power to 789 bhp and 950 Nm. All variants will accelerate to 100 kmph in 3.5 seconds or less and will reach a top speed of over 300 kmph.
Powertrain: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 + electric motor Maximum power:
789 bhp / 950 Nm
ferrari purosangue
Although Ferrari flatly refuses to call the Purosangue an SUV, it is nevertheless a versatile, high-riding, high-performance vehicle capable of carrying four adults and a large amount of luggage. The Purosangue is perhaps the most exclusive high-end performance SUV available on the market, with Ferrari producing only a limited number of units per year and waiting periods lasting years.
At the heart of this super SUV is Ferrari’s naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine that produces 715 bhp at 7,750 rpm and 716 Nm of peak torque at 6,250 rpm. This engine has a top speed of over 300 km/h and does 0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds—not bad for a 2 tonne SUV. In true Ferrari style, each unit of the Purosangue is made to order, and each unit comes with a number of customization options.
Powertrain: 6.5-litre V12 Output:
715 bhp / 716 Nm
astin martin dbx
Available on sale in India from 2021, the DBX is Aston Martin’s first SUV and competes with cars like the Urus. Initially launched with AMG’s 542 bhp twin-turbo V8 engine, Aston Martin has given many updates to its SUV over the years, such as its design has been refreshed, the cabin has been significantly improved and the power of the V8 engine has been increased to 697 bhp and 900 Nm.
Globally, a new S trim is also available which delivers an output of up to 717 bhp, depending on the options chosen, while reducing the SUV’s weight by approximately 47 kg. Aston claims that it accelerates to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and its maximum speed is 310 km/h.
Powertrain: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 Maximum output:
697 bhp / 900 Nm
BMW XM
The first SUV designed and developed from scratch by BMW’s legendary M division, the XM has been on sale in India for the past few years and is currently BMW’s only M-badged SUV in the country. Although its design has been different, but XM is not lagging behind in terms of power. It is powered by BMW M’s 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine which is mated to an electric motor generating 644 bhp and 800 Nm of peak torque. This power propels the SUV from 0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds, while its top speed is limited to 250 km/h.
For those lucky enough, BMW also briefly introduced the even more powerful XM Red Label in India, with power and torque increased to 737 bhp and 1,000 Nm, although this variant is no longer on sale.
Powertrain: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 + electric motor Maximum output:
644 bhp / 800 Nm
Audi RS Q8
Another model to follow the Urus, Cayenne and Bentayga, the Audi Q8 is also based on the VW Group’s MLB EVO platform and is one of the most affordable super SUVs from the VW Group in India. The RS Q8 leaves no stone unturned with its 4.0-litre V8 engine, which produces 631 bhp and 850 Nm. This SUV can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in less than 4 seconds and can reach a top speed of 250 km/h (Limited) or 305 km/h if you choose the Driver Package. The only drawback of the RS Q8 is that it has been in the market for a long time without any major updates.
Powertrain: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 Maximum output:
631 bhp / 850 Nm
porsche makan electric
One size smaller than all the other cars in the list, the Makaan Electric can also make it to the list of super SUVs in India due to its excellent output for its size. This smaller variant of the Cayenne is available in three variants in India, in which the most expensive Turbo makes 630 bhp and up to 1,130 Nm of torque, due to which this SUV accelerates to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and its top speed is 260 km/h.
Powertrain: Electric Maximum Output:
630 bhp / 1130 Nm
land rover defender octa
No one would have ever imagined that the Defender would fit into the mold of a super SUV, but the folks at JLR have created a completely new and monstrous machine with the Defender Octa. The tried-and-true 5.0-litre AJ V8 engine has been replaced by a BMW-sourced 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 626 bhp and 750 Nm of torque (800 Nm in Dynamic Launch mode), and if you’re wondering why these figures look familiar in the JLR line-up, it’s the same engine as the Range Rover SV. Power, which is the most powerful variant of the RR available on sale in India.
These figures mean that the 2.5 tonne Octa is capable of reaching 100 kmph in four seconds and will have a top speed of 250 kmph.
Those who prefer the older V8 models still get the option of 90, 110 and 130 body styles in the standard Defender range. For the Octa, you are limited to the Defender 110 body style only.
Powertrain: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 Maximum output:
626 bhp / 800 Nm
Range Rover SV / Range Rover Sport SV
The flagship variant of the Range Rover series in India, the SV variant, is powered by a BMW-sourced 4.4-litre V8 engine that produces 626 bhp in the Sport and 606 bhp in the full-fat Range Rover LWB SUV. Being the flagship model of the range, the SV model has all the features expected from a flagship Range Rover. In terms of performance, the Range Rover Sport SV accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in just 3.6 seconds, while its larger version can do the same from 0 to 5 seconds – after all, the Range Rover LWB is known for driving style more than performance.
Powertrain: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 Maximum output:
626 bhp / 750 Nm (Range Rover Sport).
606 bhp / 750 Nm (Range Rover)
