Unranked: 2020 Porsche Cayenne
$126,500 | U.S. News Overall Score: TBD
The Cayenne proves just how committed Porsche is to working its performance DNA into every vehicle it offers, including SUVs. In particular, the Cayenne Turbo comes with a potent V8 that’s twin-turbocharged to the tune of 514 horsepower, allowing it to do zero to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds.
The Cayenne Turbo is more than just a straight line acceleration machine, as it boasts adaptive air suspension, performance brakes, and even rear-axle steering, all to tighten up this hefty SUV in tight corners.
The Cayenne currently does not have an overall score in our rankings as it has not yet been crash tested.
Unranked: 2020 BMW X6
$85,650 | U.S. News Overall Score: TBD
The BMW X6 is the more coupe-like sibling of the X5, though in its third generation, it has started to grow in its own ways. It has aggressive styling, and in the case of the M50i, it boasts a twin-turbo V8 making 523 horsepower.
The M50i also features an M Sport exhaust, a limited-slip differential, and an M Performance suspension. Inside, the M50i gains a premium stereo, quad-zone climate control, and wireless device charging.
The X6 currently does not have an overall score in our rankings as it has not yet been crash tested.
12) 2020 Land Rover Range Rover
$105,950 | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.6/10
Land Rover’s flagship SUV blends performance, luxury, and off-road capability. The P525 HSE trim comes with a supercharged V8 engine that puts out 518 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque. The Range Rover also features an advanced four-wheel-drive system and a suspension setup that can raise and lower the vehicle.
The Range Rover features a world-class cabin, both in style and in substance. The center of the dash is dominated by the Touch Pro Duo infotainment system. It’s composed of two touch screens, with dials protruding from the lower display.
10) 2020 Chevrolet Suburban (tie)
$51,700 | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.7/10
If you need space, and lots of it, the Suburban has it in spades. It provides seating for up to eight and an incredible 121.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded. That’s more than the Ford Expedition, which isn’t even on this list because it employs a twin-turbo V6 as its most powerful engine.
The Suburban is built on a truck platform, and as such, comes standard with a 5.3-liter V8 that puts out 355 horsepower. The Suburban also offers sensible features, including Chevrolet Infotainment with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
10) 2020 BMW X7 (tie)
$92,600 | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.7/10
The X7 is the largest vehicle that BMW has ever sold to consumers, and announces its arrival with a massive twin-kidney grille. Behind that, powering the xDrive50i trim, is a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8. It makes 456 horsepower, routed to BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive.
The X7 has a similar dash layout to other BMW models, but with added upscale touches such as wood paneling and brightwork. At the heart of the dash is a massive touch screen that runs BMW’s iDrive infotainment, which also features wireless Apple CarPlay.
9) 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS
$98,800 | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.8/10
The Mercedes-Benz GLS was once known as the GL, and was originally designed to be a replacement for the rugged G-Class. While the G-Wagen is still around, the GLS has very much grown into its own skin as a powerful and spacious luxury large SUV with seating for up to seven.
The cabin of the GLS is truly something to behold, blending elegant lines with ambient lighting and a digital panel that spans more than half the dash. This panel encompasses both the digital instrument cluster and the central infotainment screen. The GLS 580 4MATIC comes with a turbocharged V8 that makes 483 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.
8) 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
$68,895 | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.9/10
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is available in a number of trims, ranging from the dependable Laredo, up to the luxurious Summit. While a V6 comes standard on these trims, a V8 engine is optional. Jeep also offers a pair of high-performance, road-based SUVS, each equipped with standard V8 power.
The Grand Cherokee SRT comes standard with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that puts out 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. More than just straight-line power, the SRT comes with high-performance Brembo brakes, which will aid in stopping and cornering. Turning the volume up to 11, the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk packs a brutal 6.2-liter supercharged V8 shared with the notorious Dodge Challenger Hellcat. This power plant produces a blistering 707 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque.
7) 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe
$49,000 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.0/10
The Chevrolet Tahoe delivers the rugged capability of a truck-based platform and a standard V8 engine that makes 355 horsepower. The Tahoe can tow up to 8,600 pounds, which is in line with the rest of the large SUV class.
The Tahoe has a spacious interior, with seating for eight (or seven with the second-row captain’s chairs). The front dash area has a sensible layout, with easy-to-use buttons and dials for the audio and climate controls. Perhaps easiest of all is the stock-mounted shifter, just like you’d find in a truck!
5) 2020 Dodge Durango (tie)
$44,395 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.1/10
The Dodge Durango has muscle car styling, which is fitting for a brand that sells a modern muscle car like the Challenger. Also fitting is the availability of powerful V8 engines, including the 5.7-liter V8 powering the Durango R/T. It makes 360 horsepower and is paired with more aggressive styling, and also comes equipped with a rear load-leveling suspension setup.
Inside, the Durango has a spacious, comfortable cabin, with three rows of seating. Upfront, the R/T comes with unique sport seats which will bolster the front passengers in hard corners. The Durango also features the easy-to-use Uconnect infotainment system.
5) 2020 Mercedes-Benz G-Class (tie)
$130,900 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.1/10
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is an unmistakably capable and adept off-roader, but it also features a luxurious side. Shutting the door feels like closing a vault, and once inside, you’re treated to a comfortable and modern interior, one with a large panel encompassing the infotainment system and digital instrument cluster.
The G550 comes standard with a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that makes 416 horsepower. It also has 9.5 inches of ground clearance, a two-speed transfer case, and front-, rear-, and center-locking differentials.
4) 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC
$73,750 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.2/10
The Mercedes-Benz GLC has a smooth ride, composed handling, and a posh, high-quality interior. The GLC is also a luxury compact SUV, so stuffing a big V8 into the small AMG GLC 63 4MATIC+ trim makes it something of a rocket ship.
The GLC 63 comes with a twin-turbocharged V8, making 469 horsepower. This allows it to blast off from zero to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds. Other performance goodies include a self-leveling air suspension and a wider track for harder cornering, as well as a limited-slip differential and high-performance braking system.
3) 2020 BMW X5
$76,150 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.3/10
The BMW X5 is one of the longest-running entrants in the modern luxury midsize SUV space and continues to prove how much performance and luxury you can extrude from a single platform. With the xDrive50i, the X5 boasts a twin-turbo V8 making 456 horsepower.
The X5 also boasts a top-notch cabin with comfortable seating and modern infotainment technology. In the xDrive50i you’ll find genuine leather upholstery, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, quad-zone climate control, and wireless device charging.
2) 2020 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid
$161,900 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.4/10
Don’t let the fuel-saving attributes of the Cayenne Hybrid’s drivetrain fool you, this SUV can be even more powerful and faster off the line than a gas-only Cayenne when properly equipped. The Turbo S E-Hybrid uses a V8 and electric components to create a combined 670 horsepower, resulting in a 0-60 mph time of just 3.6 seconds when equipped with the Sport Chrono package, on the way to a top speed of 183 mph.
This vehicle has a plug-in hybrid setup that allows for an all-electric range of about 14 miles, and at speeds up to 83 mph. Like its conventionally powered sibling, the Turbo S E-Hybrid features numerous chassis upgrades that maximize cornering and stopping performance.
1) 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE
$77,600 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.7/10
The Mercedes-Benz GLE is a comfortable, capable, and advanced luxury midsize SUV. It has a spacious, opulent cabin, and balanced, refined handling. The GLE also has state-of-the-art infotainment and safety technology.
But we’re here for the horsepower, and the GLE 580 4MATIC gets it done with a twin-turbocharged V8 making 483 horsepower. It also provides all-wheel drive, as well as an available adaptive air suspension system that helps keep the vehicle stable in corners and can raise or lower depending on driving conditions.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is your prime source of up-to-date car and SUV information. If your dream SUV wasn’t included on the previous slides, take a look at our new car deals page, where we track hundreds of the best car, truck, and SUV deals each month.
We rank and review nearly every vehicle available using data from hundreds of independent reviews written by America’s top automotive journalists. Explore our new SUV rankings, where you can see which SUVs deserve a spot on your shopping list.
The deals that we list can save you a tremendous amount of money, and our U.S. News Best Price Program can save you even more. By partnering with local dealers, we help consumers save an average of thousands off sticker price.
12 Best V8 SUVs
- 12) 2020 Land Rover Range Rover | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.6
- 10) 2020 Chevrolet Suburban (tie) | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.7
- 10) 2020 BMW X7 (tie) | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.7
- 9) 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.8
- 8) 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.9
- 7) 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.0
- 5) 2020 Dodge Durango (tie) | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.1
- 5) 2020 Mercedes-Benz G-Class (tie) | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.1
- 4) 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.2
- 3) 2020 BMW X5 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.3
- 2) 2020 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.4
- 1) 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.7
- Unranked: 2020 Porsche Cayenne | U.S. News Overall Score: TBD
- Unranked: 2020 BMW X6 | U.S. News Overall Score: TBD
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No Replacement for Displacement
Since the turn of the century, great strides have been made in the ways of engine technology. Direct injection, variable valve timing, and forced induction (turbocharger and supercharger) have all allowed automakers to extract big power from smaller displacement engines.
But sometimes you just want a V8. And the good news is that all of these aforementioned drivetrain advancements have also helped big V8 engines return respectable fuel economy numbers. These powerful-yet-advanced V8s have found their way under the hoods of some of the best SUVs on the market today. Here are the top performers, based on U.S. News overall scores.