We’ve rounded up the ten most powerful SUVs available in South Africa as of February 2026. View the list below.
Image: Peet Mocke
Starting off the list is the Land Rover Defender Octa, which was one of the most powerful vehicles CAR magazine tested in 2025. The apex Defender, which we evaluated for a road test in our November 2025 issue, employs a BMW-derived 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 producing 467 kW. Power is transferred to all four corners via an eight-speed self-shifter.
Image: Peet Mocke
The Audi RS Q8 quattro performance, which we tested in the September 2025 issue of CAR magazine, was one of the fastest-accelerating vehicles CAR magazine tested in 2025. The pinnacle Q8 is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 producing 471 kW, sent to the road via Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system – the latter mated with an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Image: Mercedes-Maybach
The sole all-electric SUV on this list, the Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 is powered by a dual electric-motor drivetrain that produces a combined power output of 484 kW. The EQS 680’s 118 kWh lithium-ion battery allows for a claimed operating range of up to 600 km on a full charge.
Image: Porsche
The first (of the two) Porsche Cayennes on this list, the Turbo GT is powered by a 4.0-litre V8, tuned to produce 485 kW. The Turbo GT’s twin-turbocharged powertrain is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Image: Peet Mocke
On our test strip, the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance completed the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 3.37 seconds, making it one of the fastest-accelerating SUVs CAR magazine has tested to date. The GLC 63 S E Performance’s PHEV powertrain produces a combined power output of 500 kW.
Image: Aston Martin Lagonda
The DBX 707, which we sampled back in 2022, is the pinnacle model in Aston Martin’s DBX lineup. The DBX 707 is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, which develops 520 kW.
Image: Peet Mocke
The Ferrari Purosangue (‘thoroughbred’ in Italian) is the Maranello brand’s first SUV. At its heart is a naturally-aspirated 6.5-litre V12 developing 533 kW. The atmospheric motor is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Image: Porsche
The Porsche Cayenne Turbo e-Hybrid employs a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 coupled with an electric motor – the latter fed by a 25.9 kWh battery. The electrified V8 churns out a combined 544 kW, which is transferred to all four corners via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Image: BMW
The BMW XM Label is powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine paired with a single electric motor – the latter fed by a 29.5 kWh lithium-ion battery. The XM Label’s PHEV powertrain produces a combined 550 kW peak power output.
Image: Peet Mocke
Topping the list is the Lamborghini Urus SE, which was the only performance SUV to feature in our 2026 Performance Shootout. The Urus SE’s 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 is supported by a single electric motor, with the PHEV setup producing a combined power output of 588 kW.
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