The performance car world has been witnessing constant change and ushering new technology along with luxury SUVs being the preferred new genre to showcase this. There are more sporty SUVs being sold than supercars or sports cars while also being the canvas for intriguing new technology. Gone are the days when physics played spoilsport as modern-day performance SUVs come with a myriad of technologies to disguise their weight along with powertrains fit for supercars.
Hence, in this article we will carefully look at the varied landscape of the performance luxury SUV with the latest three entrants.
Luxury SUVs: 2025 Audi SQ6 E-Tron
The electric car world needed a refresh and starting from scratch which Audi has exactly done with its SQ6 E-Tron. This new midsize luxury SUV will replace the larger Q8 E-Tron eventually along with being based on a new PPE architecture. The styling is snoopier and has more presence over the earlier Audi designs while having an exuberant personality.
That matches well with the 506bhp that the SQ6 version puts out and the 0-62 mph time down is just 4.3s. More importantly expect 381 miles per charge too. Electrification means more performance but not at the cost of range as this EV showcases. As usual, the latest Audi is drenched in a lot of technology with digital OLED headlamps, an 11.9 in augmented driver’s display plus a display for the front passenger too. The bespoke architecture means more space as well without having a bulbous design.
For Audi, the SQ6 E-Tron is their biggest bet and an example on how a family luxury SUV can be transformed into an autobahn storming monster thanks to electrification. Overall, while the SQ6 may not the be the most exciting performance SUV around or have a burbling exhaust note, it represents the future.
Luxury SUVs: Land Rover Defender OCTA
The Defender OCTA is on the other end of the scale and it represents a brutal off-road supercar with a powertrain fit for a track racer. The OCTA is the Defender with its volume turned right up and showcases how the Defender was always destined to be a bonafide Mercedes G63 AMG rival.
The powertrain of choice is a thumping great mild hybrid V8 with 626 bhp and a monstrous 553 lb ft of torque which on a normal work day finds itself within the bonnet of a BMW M5! Yes, this engine is shared with the new Range Rover Sport SV and with a 155 mph top-speed, the OCTA is a Dakar Racer and can take you quickly across any terrain.
Land Rover also went to great lengths to make this a performance SUV which can be used where the road ends which means an all-new trick suspension along with even more ground clearance while it even gets a quicker steering. Water wading has also been improved.
Hence, it seems, the OCTA is an off-road performance car and while the price-tag has ballooned in this specification, it remains a more exclusive iteration of the Defender along with being true to its off-road ethos.
Luxury SUVs: Aston Martin DBX707
The DBX707 gets an overhaul and it is now the only iteration of this British SUV on sale with the standard version being axed. The powertrain continues to be a Mercedes-AMG 4.0-litre V8 with close to 700 bhp while its aggressive demeanour is flanked by its muscle car like driving experience. The V8 sounds brilliant and has an operatic roar while the driving experience is chiselled with sharp edge.
The new DBX707 is faster now and has more personality than rivals even if it is not the fastest SUV around. The looks are pure Aston Martin also but within an SUV silhouette while the old interior finally gets replaced with a new touchscreen. It is comfortable on the inside but the features list has been upgraded to match its rivals. The DBX is closer to a sports GT and is an analogue performance SUV with its loud V8 as its biggest highlight.
Somnath Chatterjee grew up around cars and most of his childhood was spent obsessing over supercars. Years later he decided to start writing about them and hasn’t looked back since. While he has had his fair share of cars, the world of automobiles never ceases to amaze him. Travelling all over the world to drive them along with sharing that experience is what ultimately keeps him going. He hopes to drive a Ferrari 288 GTO someday because, well, do you really need a reason?
