Performance SUVs With Engines Fit For A Muscle Car

Muscle cars are a distinctly American invention, yet defining them can be trickier than you’d expect. Most people think of massively overpowered sedans and coupes running from the mid-1960s to about 1970 when asked for a definitive answer. But over the years, there have been plenty of more modern Ford Mustangs, Chevy Camaros, and Dodge Challengers that could fit the bill, too.

We’ll let our knowledgeable CarBuzz community hammer out the details, but one thing that everyone agrees on is that a muscle car must have a big V8 under the hood. However, eight-cylinder powerplants are in rather short supply in 2025, but not in the world of SUVs. Some of the biggest and meanest modern SUVs have V8 engines that would be a perfect fit for a muscle car, and we picked out some of the best here.

We picked a selection of V8-powered SUVs that have engines a muscle car would be proud of. All vehicle data is from reputable sources. Pricing excludes additional charges and destination fees unless otherwise stated. The vehicles are in alphabetical order.

8

Aston Martin DBX707

Starting Price: $260,000 est

The DBX not only looks like an Aston Martin, but it also handles like one. For the 2026 MY, an even more powerful 717-hp S model will beavailable, and it will be over 100 lbs lighter thanks to weight-saving measures like a carbon-fiber roof. That said, 100 pounds off a 4,940-pound curb weight is unlikely to make a huge difference, but every little bit counts.

In both models, the star of the show is the AMG-derived 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. It is a beast of a motor, found in several AMG products. In the DBX, it provides supercar-rivaling acceleration, as well as a soundtrack to rival some big-block V8s.

7

BMW X5 M Competition

Starting Price: $129,700

As with most new things with no precedent, BMW’s first X5 M, introduced in 2009, was met with some skepticism. It was the first M-badged car to use all-wheel drive, and BMW’s first M-branded SUV. It turned out that people loved the idea of a mega-horsepower SUV that could also handle corners, and this range-topping model has been a part of the range ever since.

The latest version now boasts 617-hp and has recently been updated, featuring a sportier exterior and an even more tech-laden interior. If you prefer your SUVs with a more comfortable ride quality and don’t plan to attend any track days, then the X5 M60i should be a better fit. It uses a non-M version of the 4.4-liter V8 and makes 523 hp, which is still plenty. Another benefit is the deeper exhaust note, which sounds very much like a modern muscle car.

6

Cadillac Escalade-V

Starting Price $169,995

The supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8 used in the Escalade has done duty in sports cars like the Chevy Camaro ZL1 and the Corvette C7 Z06. It’s even used in the Cadillac CT5 in a slightly lower state of tune, and that is as close to a modern muscle car as you can get.

Thanks to its massive supercharger, the engine pushes out a serious 682 hp in this guise. Despite the fact that the Escalade-V weighs almost as much as two muscle cars, it can still hustle to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The regular 420-hp Escalade does the sprint in around 6.0 seconds, and that already feels way too quick for something this big. Get one of these mad behemoths now, before someone realizes how ludicrous a 682-hp Escalade really is.

5

Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat

Starting Price: $84,995

If you’re ever feeling old or think that your best years are behind you, consider the third-generation Dodge Durango, an SUV introduced in 2011 that continues to chug along 14 years later. Like a movie star that refuses to admit defeat, it has undergone two facelifts and numerous updates to keep up with the times.

In truth, it is now well past its prime, but you can’t deny those handsome lines, and the V8 models can still teach these newer turbocharged V6s a thing or two about performance. If you have a particularly troublesome new rival, may we suggest the 710-hp supercharged SRT Hellcat? It is not at all subtle and sounds like an exorcism gone wrong when you put your foot down – in a good way. This engine was spectacular in the Challenger Hellcat, among some other very fast Stellantis products, and it certainly gave the Durango a new lease on life.

4

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392

Starting Price: $99,995

Today, nearly every performance SUV tends to have some form of forced induction to boost its power figures, but the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 relies on good old natural aspiration to pump out its 470-hp. This is probably a good thing, considering the Wrangler body shell isn’t exactly designed for high-speed driving, yet a 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds is still seriously rapid. The brawny lag-free 6.4-liter V8 should also be great at hauling the Wrangler over the biggest obstacles or launching it up a steep rock face without breaking a sweat.

3

Maserati Levante Trofeo Ultima

Starting Price: $189,495 (2024)

The Levante stands out from the crowd, partially because of its good looks, and partially because hardly anyone bought one. 2024 marked the final year of production, and the Levante Trofeo Ultima was the final edition model that topped the entire range. Just 103 were made.

The Ferrari-derived 3.8-liter motor may be a little small in this company. However, it is a V8 with two turbochargers, so the 572-hp power output is right in the ballpark for the class. The exhaust note sounds like a well-cultured opera singer, and it is perfectly in line with the Levante’s exotic nature. Unfortunately, the V8 is possibly going away in favor of a range of electric Maseratis, so now is the time to get one before they are gone forever. Good thing Levante Trofeo Ultima values are melting like an ice cream cone left out on the curb. In Florida. During the Summer.

2

Mercedes-AMG GLS 63

Starting Price: $151,050

Mercedes’ 4.0-liter V8 is fitted to a range of AMG models, as well as a few Aston Martins, but we have to mention the powerplant again as it’s also the central feature of the current GLS 63. In this application, the mill makes 603-hp, and the tuning gives the heavy SUV effortless performance at any speed. It also sounds glorious when you press the pedal onto the plush, thick-pile carpet, sounding more like a muted muscle car, rather than an ultra-luxurious SUV.

1

Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT

Starting Price: $210,600

The VW Group 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 in the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT can also be found in the Lamborghini Urus, Audi SQ8, Bentley Bentayga, and several other SUVs, sports cars, and sedans. But for this list, we chose the Cayenne to represent the engine.The Turbo GT isn’t the most powerful Cayenne in the range. That honor goes to the 729-hp Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid, but the Turbo GT is a lot lighter and quicker. It also does without any hybrid assistance, just like a proper muscle car or, in this case, an SUV should.

Sources: BMW, Porsche, Dodge, Aston Martin, Cadillac, Mercedes, Maserati