The Rise Of The Super-SUV

After our recent article about the review of the first half of the year, there was one type of car that is by far and away the most popular our customers are funding; SUV’s. In 2024 to date, 44% of all cars funded by Oracle Finance are SUV’s, 3% more than the share for 2023. This is despite the 180 supercars, 175 convertibles and the Porsche 911 being our most popular funded model with 175 funded so far this year.

With so many SUV’s being funded by our customers and more models to choose from than ever before, the choice of which SUV to buy is more difficult than ever before. Not only that, but there seems to be even more coming to market, making the decision more and more difficult.

The other interesting statistic from our 6-monthly review of the year was the number of performance models that our customers choose to buy. Of all the BMW, Mercedes Benz and Audi cars funded so far this year, a third were either ‘M’ models, AMG models or RS or Audi Sport iterations.

So, we thought why not combine the two and take a look at the most performance-minded SUV models that are either currently for sale or have recently been announced and available to buy soon. Again, with so many to choose from, the list is only getting longer.

Land Rover Defender 110 Octa

The newest performance SUV to be announced and perhaps one of the most ‘did we really need that’ of them all is the Land Rover Defender 110 ‘Octa’. The Defender line up has always had a performance version in the shape of the 5.0-litre V8, but now Land Rover have taken that idea and gone just that bit further. The ‘Octa’ is more extreme, more capable and of course more powerful than any Defender that has gone before. After 13,960 tests and over 683,000 miles covered, from the deserts of Dubai to the extreme cold in Sweden and even being honed at the Nürburgring, Land Rover’s engineers have fine tuned the Octa to make sure it is a seriously impressive vehicle in all conditions and on all terrains.

With more rugged body styling, wider more knobbly tyres, double the wading depth capability and a more advanced suspension set up, the Octa is certainly even more at home when the going gets tough. With a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 engine producing 635bhp, it can also accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds, to put that in perspective that’s quicker than the original Audi R8 V10.

Did it need all that extra ability? Probably not, when was the last time you saw a Defender stuck anywhere. Did it need all that extra power? Definitely not. But to see what the Defender can really do on or off the road in its ultimate guise is sure to be an impressive prospect and something that not many other vehicles can get anywhere near. The price for all this extra-ness? The Octa starts at just over £145,000 for the ‘base’ version and £158,000 for the ‘Year One’ limited launch edition model.

Aston Martin DBX 707 AMR24

The Aston Martin DBX is now only available in flagship ‘707’ guise meaning as well as the trademark refinement and luxury to the interior, you get near 700bhp from a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine. That means 0-62mph in just 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 193mph, unbelievable figures for a car that can take the whole family and their luggage in complete comfort. If that wasn’t appealing enough for you however they have just introduced the 707 ‘AMR24’ to tempt you even more.

Despite no power increase or improvements to the performance statistics, not that it needed it, the AMR24 takes inspiration from their Formula 1 racing car as well as the official F1 medical car that is often also seen hammering it round the track on a race day. With F1 inspired colour schemes in Black, White (not sure how either of those are inspired by their car) or Aston Martin’s Racing Green with Lime accents to the exterior, interior and brake calipers, the 707 AMR24 looks exceptional. An enhanced standard specification and carbon fibre additions make the car feel just that bit more special, whilst the name plaques and F1 logos ensure people know what it is.

Lamborghini Urus Hybrid

The Lamborghini Urus has already been a huge sales success for the brand, so much so in fact that it is their best-selling model of all time and got to that milestone in the fastest time yet. The demand for the model, all 20,000 units and counting, was so great that the manufacturer had to expand their Sant’Agata factory in order to increase production capability. But in order to move with the times and appeal to even more customers, the brand have announced the next iteration in their line-up, a hybrid assisted Urus SE.

Less to do with eco-friendly credentials, though incidentally it does offer an 80% reduction in emissions, and more to do with an increase in power output, the Urus SE now produces close to 800bhp from its combined 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine and electric assistance. That’s over 130bhp more than the current Performante flagship and allows the SE to accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds as well as being able to drive on electric power alone for up to 37 miles. Despite a 300kg increase in Mass, Lamborghini are adamant that the SE can achieve the same lap times as the current Performante. Lamborghini’s idea of a hybrid clearly not the same then as the conventional concept that most people conjure up, but they’ve been carving their own path since they started so why change now.

Porsche Macan Turbo

Porsche shocked most people when they unveiled that their new Macan would be electric power only and that it would not run alongside a combustion engine or even hybrid variant to ease people into making the switch. But in the same way that they launched the Taycan and showed that an electric car can drive and handle like a Porsche, surely this shouldn’t be cause for concern for potential Macan buyers. So with a base Macan 4 and a flagship Macan Turbo the only options for now, how does the new Macan stack up against its rivals?

Performance SUV fans will surely be impressed with the Macan Turbo’s 630bhp power output, top speed of 162mph and the fact it can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.3 seconds. For those looking for the Porsche driving experience they will also be reassured to know that the driving position has been lowered, the driving modes improved, rear axle steering capability and the handling dynamics enhanced to ensure the Macan remains the best driving compact-SUV around. It may now start at just under £100,000 but it surely is one of the most tempting prospects of EV ownership on the market for pure petrol heads.

Ferrari Purosangue

Ferrari go to great lengths to ensure that they do not admit their Purosangue is classed as an SUV. Park it next to even the low roofline coupe-profiled Urus and they do have a point. Despite this however, the practicality, all-wheel drive capability and spacious interior means it will always be included in a roundup of performance SUV’s. As expected Ferrari have done it their own way and haven’t skimped in any aspect of the Purosangue’s design, engineering or capability.

It may be their first ever four-door, four seater car but the rear doors are rear hinged and frameless for added design flair. The engine is a 6.5-litre V12 that produces 715bhp and is mid-front mounted with the gearbox at the back for better weight distribution. With all that power on offer, 0-62mph takes just 3.3 seconds and the top speed is 193mph meaning it certainly has the statistics to match its main rivals. Apart from it doesn’t really have any. The lower ground clearance, roof line and overall stance means it isn’t really competing with other SUV’s, and the price point is way above most of its non-rival SUV rivals other than the Cullinan, so Ferrari are trying to position itself above every other performance SUV. The claimed 2-year wating list says that even at a starting point of over £300,000 and an average delivered cost of over £400,000 Ferrari are succeeding in a big way.

Audi RS Q8 Performance

Despite being a sister car to the Urus, the RS Q8 has thus far shown no sign of returning with hybrid power to match the Lamborghini’s recent announcement. Despite this Audi have released details of a ‘Performance’ version of their current RS Q8 that offers even more power and performance for a fraction of the cost of a Urus. In fact, the 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 is now Audi Sport’s most powerful engine they’ve ever put into one of their production cars, now producing 631bhp (and just 20 short of the Urus S) and 627 Nm of torque to allow the 0-62mph sprint to take just 3.6 seconds.

The party piece of the RS Q8 has always been that it offered 90% of the power, speed and handling abilities but in a more discreet and subtle packaging that was a lot less ‘look at me’ and much more understated. This new variation pushes the appeal to 95% of the Urus’ capability and still manages to be £30,000 or so less expensive at the same time. If you want your ultra-SUV to be less shouty and obvious yet still be able to offer supercar pace and luxury in abundance, then the RS Q8 Performance could be all the car you would ever need.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid Coupe with GT Package

Yes it may have one of the longest model names ever but Porsche have discontinued the previous simpler titled Cayenne Turbo GT in favour of their new hybrid assisted variant, hence the lengthy title. Whereas the ‘old’ Turbo GT had a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 that had to ‘make do’ with 649bhp, the updated Turbo E-Hybrid Coupe with GT Package now has a combined 729bhp from the same engine and additional electric motors. It also offers up to 50 miles of electric only driving at up to 84mph which should please your neighbours early in the morning as well as offer guilt-free city driving.

Porsche have a habit of using hybrid assisted V8’s to offer the best of both worlds when it comes to miles per gallon efficiency at the same time as impressive performance capability. In this respect, their Cayenne now offers that same party trick that their Panamera has been able to offer for many years now. Despite being able to accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.6 seconds it can also offer up to 157mpg proving it really can be an SUV for all occasions. That’s if the starting price of £165,000 hasn’t put you off in the first place.

Range Rover Sport SV

The previous Range Rover Sport SVR will surely go down as one of the most iconic performance SUV’s of all time. The combination of a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine, the 550bhp+ power it offered and the roar from the switchable sports exhaust meant you could be a hooligan when you wanted to be, yet the luxurious interior and ability to cruise along a motorway meant it could be as refined and as comfortable as the best of them too. The current Range Rover Sport SV looks to take that ability even further.

An all-new 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine produces 635bhp making the latest SV the fastest and most powerful Range Rover yet. 0-62mph takes just 3.6 seconds and the top speed is 180mph, yet the way it performs in the corners is perhaps the most impressive part. The ‘6D Dynamics’ air suspension system means pitch and body roll are virtually eliminated, whilst the use of carbon fibre in abundance, even for the 23” wheels, allows the weight being thrown around to be kept to a minimum. The latest SV may be fairly understated and sophisticated in the looks department, especially when compared to the SVR, but the increase in performance more than makes up for that. The SVR may be about to lose its iconic status after all.

Mercedes Benz G63 AMG

Talking of iconic performance SUV’s, none are more legendary than the Mercedes Benz G63 AMG. The ‘G-Wagon’ on paper shouldn’t really work at all. The blend of retro styling and the boxy profile combined with the upmost in luxury and latest technology, then mixed with huge amounts of power, performance and a loud rumbling soundtrack sounds like too odd of a combination. Yet the recipe for G63 AMG works incredibly well. As popular now as they ever have been, the demand for the G-Class is seemingly always on the rise and now there is an ‘all-new’ version on the market.

Calling it ‘all-new is a bit of an oxymoron as to most people it looks exactly the same as the last one, and the one before that. Upon closer inspection there is very slight aerodynamic improvements in an attempt to make the square sided G63 cut through the air a little better, the panel gaps are narrower than they have ever been and the technology on the inside is bang up to date. The 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 has the mildest of mild-hybrid assistance and the G63 AMG now produces just over 600bhp meaning the Gelandewagen is now capable of 0-62mph in just 4.3 seconds. The handling has now been given a complete overhaul to make it the best performing G-Wagon too, not that too many are found above 20mph in anywhere other than a city centre, but its nice to now it can.

Lotus Eletre R

The Lotus Eletre is the brand’s first SUV, first mainstream all-electric car and first model released with its new-age direction for the future. It may be a world away from Lotus products of old and completely against the ethos of lightweight and simplicity, but it is claimed to still offer Lotus levels of driver focused handling and driver enjoyment. What it also offers in ‘R’ form is over 900bhp, a 0-62mph time of under 3 seconds and a top speed of 165mph. Apart from the top speed that is much more impressive than every other SUV mentioned so far in this article.

Lotus’ new direction also means that as well as F1 levels of airflow management and aerodynamic efficiency, it also features an abundance of technology assistance and interior levels of comfort, refinement and equipment levels at the complete opposite end of the spectrum to the previous offerings of the Elise, Exige or even the Evora. It may not conform to what the Lotus brand has traditionally been all about, but if the rest of the forthcoming line up is as impressive as the Eletre, they will be a very appealing prospect indeed.

Tesla Model X Plaid

Hard to believe but the Tesla Model X has been on sale for 10 years next year, which in electric car terms is practically vintage. The fact that the changes over that time have been minimal, other than software upgrades to keep the technology up to date, is a testament to how successful the American SUV has been and the cleverness of its design and packaging. With its signature gullwing doors, minimalist interior and ‘outside the box’ thinking, the Model X has become one of the biggest selling electric cars of all time, and in ‘Plaid’ specification one of the quickest.

The Model X Plaid with its tri-motors and all-wheel drive set up offers over 1,000bhp and a possible 0-62mph acceleration time of just 2.5 seconds. Its famous ‘yoke’ steering wheel not only makes it feel like you’re in a fighter jet, but with acceleration statistics like that has the g-forces to match too. On a serious side it is claimed to be the most aerodynamic SUV ever and can achieve up to 335 miles on a single charge, yet on the other hand can be a 1,000bhp fireplace, have the sat nav make it look like you’re driving on Mars and show off its ‘Party Mode’ dancing trick to entertain passers-by. There really is no other SUV quite like the Tesla Model X.

BMW XM Label

BMW have one of the widest ranges of combustion engine, hybrid and electric SUV’s out of all the manufacturers. They offer familiarity and practicality in abundance, whilst focusing on driving dynamics and helpful rather than intrusive latest technology to assist with your everyday driving needs. Their flagship SUV aims to outdo all others though with its sophisticated technology, luxury, performance and presence.

The BMW XM Label takes all of their latest hybrid knowledge and finest materials and finishes to produce the ultimate pinnace of the BMW SUV range. With a combined 748bhp from the electric motor and 4.4-litre V8 engine as well as 1,000Nm of torque on offer, the XM Label can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds. As well as supercar performance it offers bespoke BMW Individual finishes, an interior called the ‘M Lounge’ which can even include Exclusive Vintage Leather and ambient lighting like you’ve never seen before. Starting at £175,000 the XM Label is definitely a statement SUV whichever way you look at it.

Oracle Finance SUV Funding

At Oracle Car Finance we are specialists in providing funding SUV’s, in fact SUV’s are the most popular cars we fund. Over 40% of the cars we funded so far this year were SUV’s of all shapes and sizes, meaning our expert Account Managers are well equipped to help you find that perfect finance package bespoke to you and your circumstances.

If you are looking at purchasing any of the above vehicles, our expert team have over 18 years experience in sourcing tailored car finance products, including these models mentioned above. Whatever type of car you’re looking for, you can get in touch with us either by calling 0800 012 6666 or clicking here.

With over 2,400 Trustpilot reviews and four-time consecutive award winners of the Best Specialist Car Finance Provider award from 2020 onwards, you too can find out why thousands of people trust us time and time again to find a smarter, tailored funding solution when looking for your next dream car.

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