Look, we don’t know your life. Maybe you like to go fast but also you love comfort and practicality. Maybe you originally had something small and sporty, but because life happened, you need to trade up for something roomier. The good news is if you need to combine performance and an SUV, the market has plenty of answers for you. Here are 10 of the best sporty SUVs, ranked according to MotorTrend’s testing.
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Motor Trend Group | Sep 5, 2024
10. 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC43 | MT Score: 8.3
The Mercedes-Benz GLC scores well in the luxury SUV segment, so of course everything we like about it would extend to its performance-focused AMG versions. From that list, we’d go with the 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC43, as it finds a good middle ground between the pedestrian, non-AMG variants and the bananas GLC63 models. The GLC43 is new for 2024, making do with only four cylinders—but the little AMG engine packs a punch, and downsizing from the V-8 GLC63 should improve its balance. You spend less to buy it, and less to fill up the tank. We call that a win-win.
2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC43 Pros and Cons
Pros
- Good-size SUV
- New model
- Lighter than V-8 models
Cons
- Lower on power
- Too touchscreen-heavy
- Middling fuel economy
- Price: $66,100
- Engine: four-cylinder turbo 2.0-liter
- Horsepower: 416
- Torque: 369 lb-ft
- 0-60 mph: 3.4 (est.)
9. 2024 Audi SQ5 Sportback | MT Score: 8.5
Designed for the person who wants SUV advantages in conjunction with sports car ones, the 2024 Audi SQ5 Sportback offers something with a little more excitement than just the standard Audi Q5 Sportback. We’ve all seen the videos of Audis tanking through snow, so the all-weather capabilities of this athletic SUV are a bonus. The SQ5 Sportback comes with adaptive air suspension and a sport rear differential. It’s comfortable to drive as well as ride in, and the luxury interior is a sight to behold. Its 349 hp guarantees the car won’t run away from you if you put your foot down, but it’s certainly enough to scoot through the twisties.
