The Lotus Eletre will reach America’s shores in the fourth quater of 2024, but the British automaker unveiled the pricing and opened the order books earlier in April. The base model is slightly more palatable, retailing for $107,000, but if you want to play around in the big leagues, you need an R, which costs $145,000. This gets you 905 horsepower and 727 lb-ft of torque, a 0-62 mph time of 2.95 seconds, and a top speed of 165 mph.
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Obviously, you’re going to struggle to find a gas-powered SUV to match that 0-62 mph figure, which should come down to at least 2.8-ish seconds for a 0-60 mph time. It’s a time that not even a brand-new V12-powered Ferrari Purosangue can match, and it costs twice as much as the Lotus. We’re at a point now where we just have to accept that electricity is faster, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun with a go-faster gas-powered used SUV that retails for $72,500. As an added benefit, we’ve gone for some of the best-sounding performance SUVs. In no particular order, here are five alternatives we’d buy for half the price.
1
BMW X5 M: Obvious Choice, But With Good Reason
Model
2021 BMW X5 M
Engine
4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8
Power
567 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
553 lb-ft @ 2,200 rpm
0-60 MPH
3.8 seconds
Top Speed
155 mph (limited)
Does It Growl?
It’s a bit muted, but there are fixes available.
There are many fine 2021 BMW X5 M models available for $72,000. You can expect a mileage of roughly 40,000, though most people opted not to include the $9,000 Competition Package. This lowers the engine output slightly, but it’s still a seriously rapid car. The steering doesn’t communicate much, which is a pity because, in recent years, BMW has learned how to tune an EPAS system properly.
To many people, performance SUVs don’t make sense, but think of them as grand tourers for the whole family. The way this thing covers ground is alarming, to say the least, and on certain bumpy roads, its adaptive suspension and permanent all-wheel drive traction would leave a traditional RWD supercar for dead. The X5 M feels a bit cold and clinical because it’s so efficient at going fast. A word of caution if you’re in the market. The speed at which this car settles down and feels comfortable is way beyond the speed limit, and the cops aren’t going to believe you when you say you didn’t realize you were doing 110 mph.
2
Porsche Cayenne: Loads Of Options To Choose From
Model
2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS
Engine
4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8
Power
567 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
553 lb-ft @ 2,200 rpm
0-60 MPH
4.2 seconds
Top Speed
167 mph (limited)
Does It Growl?
The same dirty, dirty noise as the Bentley Continental GT V8
The Porsche Cayenne has been the default performance SUV since its first generation. There isn’t another SUV on this list that ticks as many boxes as this car, and it shows when browsing the used market. The good news is that there are several options available for $72,000. You can get a base 2022 model with almost no mileage, or a 2019 Turbo with 30,000 miles on the clock. Naturally, you can choose between the normal SUV and the Coupe.
There’s a new Cayenne GTS in town
2025 Porsche Cayenne GTS Strikes The Sweet Spot With 493-HP V8 And Two Body Styles
After the rest of the Cayenne range was comprehensively reworked, Porsche has added a new GTS to the mix.
Our choice is a 2021 GTS. Traditionally speaking, every Porsche that carries the GTS badge tends to be the sweet spot in the range. In this case, you get the same twin-turbocharged V8 as the Cayenne Turbo, but with the power dialed back to levels that are less inclined to get you into trouble with the law. The 2021 GTS received the Sport Design Package, 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels, a sport exhaust, Alcantara interior trim, and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) dampers as standard. When new, it cost the same as the base Eletre, but thanks to depreciation, you can get a GTS with 26,000 miles on the clock for $72,000.
3
Grand Cherokee Trackhawk: A Suburban SUV With Hellcat Power
Model
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
Engine
6.2-liter supercharged V8
Power
707 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
645 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
0-60 MPH
3.5 seconds
Top Speed
180 mph
Does It Growl?
Angry V8 noises at the rear, supercharger whine at the front
We were quite surprised to find out that you can get a Grand Cherokee Trackhawk for $72k. It’s going to be a 2018 model with 56,000 miles on the clock, but it’s not like the Hellcat engine is known for being problematic.
Our first meeting with this car was not ideal. We attended the global launch of the then-new Jeep Wrangler in Austria at the Red Bull Ring, and as a treat, Jeep gave us a fleet of Trackhawks to play with. Unfortunately, the roads around the Ring are typical narrow European roads, which can only fit about three-quarters of a Trackhawk. The second issue was the 40 mph speed limit, which you get to in a little over a second.
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It’s off-road ability up against a supercharged V8 producing 707 horsepower.
Back home, it felt much more at home. The full-time 4WD system provides loads of grip, but with that much torque under your right foot, it’s not hard to induce oversteer. What we loved most was the mechanical feel of the thing. If you turn slowly on a loose surface, you can hear the front wheels straining with the power split between the front and rear axle. Still, it is an epic car and we’re certain values will go up as more electric SUVs are introduced.
4
Range Rover Sport SVR: The Swiss Army Knife Of Performance SUVs
Model
2019 Range Rover Sport SVR
Engine
5.0-liter supercharged V8
Power
567 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
516 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm
0-60 MPH
3.5 seconds
Top Speed
180 mph
Does It Growl?
How was this car even legal?
Yes, Land Rovers are not the most reliable cars around, but the SVR is here because it’s a multipurpose tool. Porsche dropped all proper off-road aspirations after the first-generation Cayenne, and BMW and Mercedes-Benz never even bothered. Building a Range Rover that can’t off-road properly is a sin for Land Rover, which is why the second-gen Sport is as happy getting down and dirty as it is on a track.
The Sport SVR was also one of the last JLR products to be equipped with the magnificent 5.0-liter supercharged V8. Most of Land Rover’s performance models are now BMW-powered. The SVR’s replacement is equipped with a BMW engine, and while it produces way more power (626 hp and 553 lb-ft), it can’t match the 5.0’s soundtrack. That supercharged engine could upset a hippie from a mile away. We have no idea how it passed US noise regulation tests.
5
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio: It Requires Dedication
Your faithful correspondent has driven every car on this list, and nothing comes close to the driving experience the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio provides. There is a caveat, however. If you’re only occasionally in the mood for spirited driving, this car will drive you mad. Allow me to embellish. Its 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 is essentially the same engine you’ll find in the Ferrari 488, minus two cylinders. The steering rack is super quick and feels like it was stolen directly from the Ferrari 458. It sounds like heaven, right?
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In reality, you can never not engage with this car. The steering is so quick and accurate that if you look down for a second to change a song, the car would have changed three lanes. The refinement is way under par, and you can actually hear and feel tiny stones hitting the underbody while hooning along. I love that about it, but I realize that others might grow tired of the experience after 10 miles. It’s the most engaging SUV I’ve ever encountered and feels more like a hardcore AWD hatch than an SUV. But not a modern hatch, more like a Lancia Delta Integrale.
It’s a masterpiece, but you have to go into this relationship knowing what you’re getting into. Thankfully, various Alfa Romeo dealerships will sell you a 2023 model with less than 100 miles on the clock for $72,000. The V6 models are being axed, and Alfa Romeo obviously wants to get rid of them as soon as possible. What a pity.