More often than not, a sporty SUV sits at the top of a specific model range, making it aspirational. The owner of a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a base engine feels more special because the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk exists.
Conquering rough terrain, unfortunately, has to take a backseat. An off-roader requires more than just a standard all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive system, but the complex systems that make SUVs good off-road (diff locks, sway bar disconnect, etc) typically add weight and hamper cornering performance, which is why these are removed in performance SUVs and replaced with performance-focused bits, low-profile tires, sticky rubber, limited-slip diffs, etc.
A performance SUV tends to be all about more horsepower from powerful engines, a brisk quarter-mile time, and reasonably good handling.
Let’s take a look at the history of the sporty SUV using 10 critical cars. We’ll go from the genesis model to the best example you can buy today, starting with a ’90s icon.
