What could be more appropriate for our "Power and Performance" issue than a listing of the hottest hot rods sold in the U.S.? Here's a chart showing some of the more powerful offerings in SUV and pickup-truck trim, and although it may seem arbitrary, there's a method to our madness. To begin, price was never a consideration, high or low. Our emphasis centers on manufacturers that prioritize raw power and performance in the form of power-to-weight ratios--sometimes that means big horsepower, sometimes not.
BMW X5
It's easy to see the benefits of a strong horsepower number and 0-to-60-mph time, like those of the ML63 or Porsche Cayenne Turbo; in other cases, such as the Toyota X-Runner and Saab 9-7x, their strengths exist in how well they make use of the relatively small amounts of power they provide--in other words, their handling prowess. Finally, we've considered each for its strong bang-for-the-buck proposition. In the end, our editors felt there's no getting away from the tremendous balance between price and sheer brawn that the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 offers, running close to the supreme power hitters from Mercedes and Porsche at less than half the cost. And you get a Hemi.
Toyota Tacoma X-Runner 2WD
GMC Sierra Denali
Range Rover Sport S/C
Saab 9-7x
Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG
Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS
Porsche Cayenne Turbo 4WD
Cadillac Escalade