Best V8 SUVs of 2017

Here Are the Top SUVs With V8 Engines in U.S. News Rankings

The SUVs on this list all have V8 engines, though they use them differently. Some of the more truck-like SUVs use them for towing power, while others harness that horsepower for performance.

There’s a wide range of styles and prices on this list. The difference between the least expensive SUV with a V8 and the most expensive is about $50,000. If a V8 engine is a box you need to check when buying your next SUV, there are choices from family-friendly workhorses to top-end luxury rides – and everything in between.

Check out the following slides to see the top-rated SUVs with V8s from our rankings.

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2017 Toyota Land Cruiser

381 hp | Towing: 8,100 lbs | Price With V8: $84,325 (Details Below)

Any 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser you buy is going to come with a 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V8, since it’s the only available engine. Luckily, that engine is powerful enough for this luxury large SUV, even when filled with passengers and cargo.

Even though the Land Cruiser is large, it doesn’t feel like a beached whale on the road. Its steering is precise, and its ride is smooth. It is built on a body-on-frame chassis, which makes for a stiffer, old-school SUV feel rather than the car-like ride of smaller SUVs and crossovers.

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2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT

475 hp | Towing: 7,200 lbs | Price With V8: $66,795 (Details Below)

To get the 6.4-liter V8 Hemi engine making 475 horsepower, you’ll need to upgrade to the top-of-the-line 2017 Grand Cherokee SRT. But this upgrade gets you lots of performance bits to maximize the capabilities of that powerful engine, like a sport suspension, high-performance brakes, and launch control for accelerating from a stop.

The SRT trim also has eight driving modes to choose from, whether you’re headed to the mall or taking your SUV to track day. The V8 can also tow a maximum of 7,200 pounds, if you wanted to tow another car to track day.

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2017 Dodge Durango R/T

360 hp | Towing: 7,400 lbs | Price With V8: $42,095 (Details Below)

It’s not so surprising to learn that the top trim level of the 2017 Dodge Durango, the R/T, has a Hemi V8 with 360 horsepower as standard equipment.

The Durango R/T also comes with performance steering and a lowered sport suspension, plus power-adjustable front seats and a premium audio system. These performance upgrades result in a stiffer ride, but it’s capable of towing up to 7,400 pounds.

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2017 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Supercharged

510 hp | Towing: 7,716 lbs | Price With V8: $80,650 (Details Below)

The 2017 Land Rover Range Rover Sport has five engine options available, but the Supercharged trim is the least expensive with the 510-horsepower supercharged V8. Like all Range Rover Sports, this V8 is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Range Rover Sport has a smooth, luxurious ride, but it’s still very capable off road. The ground clearance can be adjusted from 8.4 inches to 11.3, and it can ford nearly three feet of water. Back on pavement, it can tow 7,716 pounds.

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2017 Mercedes-AMG GLE63

550 hp | Towing: 7,200 lbs | Price With V8: $101,690 (Details Below)

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV has plenty of powerful engine options, but if you want a V8, you have to go all the way to the AMG GLE63. It comes with a sport-tuned, twin-turbocharged V8 with 550 horsepower and a seven-speed automatic transmission, plus the 4Matic all-wheel drive system.

If you didn’t balk at the $100,000-plus price tag, you might be interested to know that there’s an even sportier version. For an extra $10,000 or so, you can get 27 more horsepower in the GLE63 S Coupe. That’s an SUV with a sloped rear roof and a more sports-car-like profile.

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2017 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged

510 hp | Towing: 7,716 lbs | Price With V8: $103,895 (Details Below)

The 2017 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged trim comes with a 510-horsepower 5.0-liter supercharged V8, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and four-wheel drive. It may be a large luxury SUV, but you’ll feel every one of those horses pulling. The Range Rover Supercharged is capable of zero to 60 mph times around 5 seconds.

The air suspension smooths out any bumps in the road, even when the road is rough. The suspension can also raise the Range Rover to 11.6 inches of ground clearance. All Terrain Progress Control keeps the vehicle at a constant, very low speed while the driver navigates obstacles. And it can tow up to 7,716 pounds.  

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2017 Chevrolet Tahoe

355 hp | Towing: 8,600 lbs | Price With V8: $47,215 (Details Below)

The only available engine for the 2017 Chevy Tahoe is a 5.3-liter V8 making 355 horsepower paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. That’s enough for reasonably good acceleration and the ability to summit mountain passes without straining.

The Tahoe can also tow 8,600 pounds, which is a truck-like towing capacity. It feels like a truck too, with a wide turning radius and a large footprint. However, the steering is precise and the body doesn’t roll as much as you might expect as you round curves.

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2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS550

449 hp | Towing: 7,500 lbs | Price With V8: $93,850 (Details Below)

It’s not necessary to head straight for the most expensive AMG-tuned model in the GLS lineup to find a powerful V8. The 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLS550 has a twin-turbocharged 449-horsepower 4.7-liter V8 with a nine-speed transmission. Sure, it’s $25,000 more than the base GLS450, but it’s $30,000 less than the AMG GLS63.

The GLS550’s V8 is plenty peppy. Handling is tuned for comfort rather than sport, but it has all-wheel drive for extra traction on pavement and even some off-road capability. All GLS SUVs are able to tow 7,500 pounds, which is common for V8s in this segment.

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2017 BMW X5 xDrive50i

445 hp | Towing: 5,952 lbs | Price With V8: $72,300 (Details Below)

The 2017 BMW X5 xDrive50i is the first trim level for this SUV that comes with a V8, in this case a 4.4-liter twin-turbo engine with 445 horsepower. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and comes standard with all-wheel drive.

The standard V6 engine already gives the X5 plenty of punch, and the V8 only adds to the potency. The ride is quite firm, which is what you’d expect from a sporty SUV like the X5 with its athletic handling. If you’d like a cushier ride around town, there is an optional Dynamic Damper Control suspension available that adjusts on the fly as you drive. 

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2017 Porsche Cayenne Turbo

520 hp | Towing: 7,716 lbs | Price With V8: $116,500 (Details Below)

To get a V8 engine in the 2017 Porsche Cayenne, you have to leapfrog up the trim levels to the Turbos, which have twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8s. The Cayenne Turbo makes 520 horsepower – 50 fewer horses than the Turbo S, but it's also more than $40,000 less.

The Cayenne Turbo is capable and powerful, but the handling gets even better with upgrades that tighten up the SUV’s body roll and optimize the power to the wheels while turning. Like most performance-oriented SUVs, the ride is a bit firm, but the Turbo has an adjustable suspension that changes that to your liking.

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More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report

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