Best sports SUVs 2024 reviewed and rated - and those to avoid

If you want performance as well as practicality and an elevated driving position, the sports SUVs in our top 10 should be on your shortlist. We also reveal the models we'd avoid...

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by
George Hill
Updated22 January 2024

If you’re looking for an SUV that prioritises sport over utility (SUV stands for Sport Utility Vehicle), then you’ve come to the right place. Sports SUVs are a type of car that are fun and fast, but also practical enough to live with every day. 

So, to help separate the best from the rest, we’ve named the top 10 sports SUVs you can buy. But before we show you the list, it’s worth noting that this class features a wide variety of models, including those large and small. One thing they all have in common is a powerful engine, and handling and thrills are very much on the agenda, too.

Best sports SUVs - Audi SQ5, Porsche Macan

To define the list, our team of road testers have spent countless hours testing every single sports SUV on sale, both on the road and on track. We’ve also driven the regular versions of each model so we can see how much fun has been added to the equation. Following our extensive testing, we believe the Ford Puma ST is the best all-round sports SUV you can buy, although some rivals are stronger in certain areas.

To find out more, read on. And if the Puma ST or any of the other cars on the list appeal, just click on the appropriate links to read our full review or see how much you can save by using our free New Car Deals service. Alternatively, read our rundown of the best SUVs on sale today.

Our pick: 1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid mHEV 155 ST-Line 5dr

0-62mph: 8.9 sec
MPG/range: 51.4mpg
CO2 emissions: 124g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 456 litres
Insurance group: 14E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Immensely enjoyable to drive
  • Surprisingly big boot
  • Great driving position

Weaknesses

  • Occasionally bouncy low-speed ride
  • Auto gearbox version is underwhelming
  • A VW T-Roc R is bigger in the back

In a class that’s becoming increasingly defined by cars that are weighty, complex and pricey, the Ford Puma ST takes the opposite approach.

It uses a turbocharged 1.5-litre engine that produces ‘just’ 197bhp, and yet it’s a joy to drive because you can work the engine to your heart’s content with the six-speed manual gearbox. In fact, if you want such a feature in your sports SUV, the Puma ST is almost unique.

At times, the Puma ST can give you the impression that you’re driving a hot hatch (other than the fact that you sit up slightly higher). That’s helped by the optional Performance Pack, which adds grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, launch control and a limited-slip differential (LSD) for some extra excitement. The LSD is a handy addition because it gives you more traction on the way out of corners. 

Being based on the regular Ford Puma, the Puma ST is a practical car, too. The boot can swallow up to six carry-on suitcases, while passengers in the back should have enough space to enjoy the ride.

Read our in-depth Ford Puma ST review >>

Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance

Strengths

  • Savage performance – especially from the V8 S
  • Incredible agility for something so tall and heavy
  • Spacious rear seats and a big boot

Weaknesses

  • Expensive to run
  • You'll want to add options
  • Some rivals are even more comfortable

One of the biggest strengths of the Porsche Cayenne is its agile handling.

In fact, our preferred S model is far more fun to drive than anything this tall and heavy has any right to be, with great body control and steering that weights up beautifully through bends. Meanwhile, a thunderous 468bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine can thrust it from 0-62mph in just 4.7sec.

We’d recommend adding air suspension to maximise comfort, but no matter how you spec the car, you get to relax in an interior that's as spacious as it is classy.

Read our in-depth Porsche Cayenne review >>

Our pick: V8 550 5dr Touchtronic

0-62mph: 4.5 sec
MPG/range: 19.8mpg
CO2 emissions: 323g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 638 litres
Insurance group: N
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • The engine has character
  • The handling is entertaining
  • It's quick – especially the DBX707

Weaknesses

  • The ride is lumpy on rough roads
  • Interior quality is disappointing
  • The infotainment system is old

Offering an immersive and interactive driving experience, wrapped in a luxurious package, the Aston Martin DBX is a more appealing all-round choice than the Bentley Bentayga or Lamborghini Urus

Powered by a mighty 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine, the DBX 707 – our favourite version – can sprint from 0-62mph in a startling, supercar-rivalling 3.3sec. That's seriously impressive for a car that weighs 2.2 tonnes.

Perhaps the best thing about the DBX, though, is the way it manages to combine its agile handling with a comfortable ride.

Read our in-depth Aston Martin DBX review >>

Our pick: T 5dr PDK

0-62mph: 6.4 sec
MPG/range: 28mpg
CO2 emissions: 229g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 488 litres
Insurance group: 44E
Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance

Strengths

  • Performance ranges from punchy to rapid
  • More rewarding to drive than most other SUVs
  • High-quality interior

Weaknesses

  • Some rivals are more spacious
  • Important safety kit optional
  • Thirsty petrol-only engines

Above everything else, sports SUVs have to deliver fun – and the Porsche Macan does so in spades. 

You can have a V6-engined version in S or GTS trim, but our pick, the Macan T, has more than enough power from its 261bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine. 

Like the Cayenne, the Macan T’s handling really helps it shine. It’s the most agile model in its line-up, because it's lighter than the larger-engined S and GTS. There’s also minimal body lean and you get lots of feedback through the steering.

The Macan has less rear space than both the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, though, and safety provisions are disappointing because most systems are optional extras.

Read our in-depth Porsche Macan review >>

Our pick: 2.2 D 210 Sprint 5dr AWD Auto

0-62mph: 6.6 sec
MPG/range: 46.3mpg
CO2 emissions: 160g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 525 litres
Insurance group: 34D
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Entertaining handling
  • Razor-sharp accelerator responses
  • Generous standard kit

Weaknesses

  • Engine only sounds good in Race mode
  • Interior feels cheap in places
  • Rear space is a bit tight

If you want your SUV to come with an enlivening soundtrack, then the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio should be on your shortlist. Its 503bhp 2.9-litre V6 petrol engine delivers scorching acceleration and an engine note that will make you want to press on at every opportunity.

Ride comfort isn’t as good as in the Porsche Macan, but the firm suspension set-up is by no means harsh. 

The steering is precise, albeit a bit light, and the rear-biased four-wheel drive system ensures you can have fun through corners.

Interior quality lags behind both the Macan and the Audi SQ5, but there is enough room for four average-sized adults.

Read our in-depth Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio review >>

Our pick: RS Q8 TFSI Quattro 5dr Tiptronic

0-62mph: 3.8 sec
MPG/range: 21.2mpg
CO2 emissions: 301g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 680 litres
Insurance group: 50E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Ballistic performance
  • Handles like a much smaller car
  • Great interior quality

Weaknesses

  • Heavy fuel consumption
  • Distracting infotainment system
  • Gearbox can be sluggish

The Audi RS Q8 is an outrageously fast SUV that can corner with incredible composure.

Like the cheaper SQ8, it has a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine with a bassy exhaust note. But this RS model pumps out 592bhp, making it even quicker than its sibling, with a 0-62mph time of just 3.8sec.

The eight-speed automatic gearbox can be a little slow to react if you floor the accelerator, but it works well if you’re a little gentler, and the engine has so much grunt that it thrusts you forwards anyway. 

The RS Q8 is well finished inside, and you get a decent-sized boot, making it more practical than some rivals. And, although it may seem pricey, it's cheaper than both the BMW X6 M Competition and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo Coupé

Read our in-depth Audi RS Q8 review >>

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Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Thrilling handling
  • Strong and flexible engine
  • Well equipped

Weaknesses

  • Firm ride
  • Some road noise
  • Not the roomiest

Blending the regular Volkswagen T-Roc's practicality with the performance of a hot hatch, the T-Roc R handles brilliantly, with quick steering, vice-like grip and a four-wheel drive system than can direct more power to the rear wheels to help the car turn in to corners more eagerly. 

Ride comfort isn’t as good as some rivals, but it’s still better than that of the BMW X2 M35i.

The interior is relatively spacious, with plenty of room for six-footers up front. And while the interior was originally let down by some cheap feeling plastics, these have since been upgraded.

Read our in-depth Volkswagen T-Roc R review >>

Our pick: 300kW 55 Quattro 114kWh Sport 5dr Auto

0-62mph: 5.6 sec
CO2 emissions: 0g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 569 litres
Insurance group: 49E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Effortless performance and a great V8 noise
  • Composed ride and tidy handling
  • High-quality interior

Weaknesses

  • Porsche Cayenne Coupé is more fun
  • Distracting touchscreens
  • Cheaper SQ7 is even more spacious

When the Audi SQ8’s 500bhp 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 petrol engine rumbles into life, you immediately know you’re in for a treat. Not only does it sound good, it also offers impressive performance; 0-62mph takes just 4.1sec.

Despite its performance focus, the ride is comfortable and the air suspension deals with potholes well. That performance does come at a cost, though, with the SQ8 managing just 20mpg even if you drive it gently. 

Although it's not as spacious as its seven-seat sibling the Audi SQ7, it’ll fit three passengers in the rear pretty easily and they won't feel too hemmed in, even if they are tall. 

Read our in-depth Audi SQ8 review >>

Our pick: 1.5 TSI 150 V1 5dr DSG

0-62mph: 8.9 sec
MPG/range: 42.2mpg
CO2 emissions: 151g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 450 litres
Insurance group: 19E
Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance

Strengths

  • Very well equipped
  • Surefooted and grippy handling
  • Smart interior for the money

Weaknesses

  • Not as practical as some family SUVs
  • Fiddly dashboard controls
  • Not the quietest car at 70mph

In its most powerful form, the Cupra Formentor has the performance to keep pace with rivals, such as the BMW X2 M35i.

Under the bonnet sits a 310bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine that helps the car achieve a 0-62mph time of just 4.9sec.

Through corners, the Formentor is agile. What's more,  there's plenty of grip, due to the wider tyres that come with the most powerful version. Mind you, it doesn't thrill in the way that the very best sports SUVs can.

Inside, the Formentor is relatively well finished, featuring perforated leather and contrast stitching.

Read our in-depth Cupra Formentor review >>

Our pick: 4.0T FSI V8 S 5dr Auto

0-62mph: 3.5 sec
MPG/range: 20mpg
CO2 emissions: 320g/km
Seats: 5
Insurance group: N
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Mind-bogglingly fast
  • Comfortable ride
  • Sharp handling

Weaknesses

  • Rear head room is a little tight for tall adults
  • Fuel economy in the low 20s
  • Hefty purchase price

The Aston Martin DBX 707 is a better all-rounder, but if you're looking for an SUV that blends jaw-dropping looks with awesome pace and enough practicality to be usable every day, the Urus takes some beating.

Power comes from a 4.0-litre V8, with a couple of turbochargers strapped on for good measure. The result is a mighty 657bhp – enough to hurl the Urus from 0-62mph in just 3.5sec.

Just bear in mind that the Urus is very thirsty, and tall adults will wish they had more head room in the back.

Read our in-depth Lamborghini Urus review >>


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