Awesome Suvs

Hot on the heels of the smooth new Range Rover, drivers looking for a sportier SUV can now enjoy the 2023 Range Rover Sport. Its sleek styling is complemented by a performance all-wheel drivetrain. Engine options include 355 hp and 395 hp 6-cylinder, 434 hp PHEV with 48 miles of pure EV range, and a twin-turbo V8 with 523 hp.

This limited-edition Defender pays tribute to the 1993 Defender 110 First Edition. The loaded Defender 110 P300 S is painted in Fuji White with 18″ gloss white steel wheels, an Expedition roof rack, classic mud flaps, a deployable ladder, and more. Inside, you’ll find ebony leather seats and a white powdercoat cross-car beam.

The latest Range Rover takes SUV luxury to new heights. We headed to California’s wine country, where we put Land Rover’s ride through its paces and experienced its composure and refinement from its first, second, and available third-row seats. While it retains its off-road skills, this Range Rover is as sophisticated as ever.

UK sports car maker looks to the future with not only its first SUV but its first EV. The Eletre is a sharp-lined crossover with cutting-edge aerodynamics and modern technology like flush, pop-out door handles, a deployable rear spoiler, and cameras in place of side-view mirrors. It’s also fast, with a 0-to-60 time of 3 seconds.

Because the gas-guzzling Hummer H1 wasn’t big enough, Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan aka the “Rainbow Sheikh” commissioned the build of this monster edition that’s roughly three times the size of the original. It’s powered by four diesel engines – one for each wheel, and its interior serves as a conference room.

Normally, if you want a Mercedes-AMG G63, you’re looking at a six-figure price tag. Not so if you’re King of Crafts, who fabricated a drivable replica of the rugged G-Wagon out of cardboard. It rides on a homemade steel tube frame and can hit speeds up to 25 mph. It’s even amphibious… sorta.

This special edition Ford Bronco is right at home swimming with the gators. It’s ready for muddy adventures with a factory-installed snorkel, a ZEON 10-S WARN winch, and the beefy Sasquatch package. It’ll ford up to 36.4″ of water, and can pull up to 10,000 lb. with its winch. It comes in five colors including a limited-run Desert Sand.

Sharing the same platform as the 2022 Tundra and Lexus LX 600, Toyota’s great-looking, redesigned Sequoia SUV has three rows of seating and comes standard with a powerful i-FORCE MAX hybrid drivetrain that makes 437 hp and 583 lb-ft. of torque. It will come in SR5, Limited, Platinum, TRD Pro, and a luxurious new Capstone trim.

Ford Performance amps up the already impressive Ford Bronco with a model fine-tuned for high-speed desert hijinx and rock crawling. It packs a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 that makes at least 400 hp, a Raptor HOSS 4.0 suspension system, and rides on 37″ all-terrain tires. It’s also a whopping 9.8″ wider than a base 4-door Bronco.

Now in its 4th generation, Lexus LX 600 is everything the original LX was and more. More power, capability, technology, safety, comfort, and more luxury than ever. It’s powered by a new 3.5L Twin-Turbo V6 engine that makes 409 hp and 479 lb-ft. of torque that’s far more fuel-efficient than the outgoing V8.

Reporting for Pickup Truck Plus SUV Talk, automotive journalist and friend of The Awesomer, Micah Wright headed to the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon for an up-close look at some of the weird and wonderful custom SUVs, trucks, and vans on display on the show floor. That Daihatsu Midget truck is bonkers. Watch part two here.

We headed to Moab, Utah, to test out the new Jeep Grand Cherokee. The 2022 model is longer, more spacious, and has a redesigned exterior and interior with a more upscale and premium look. Improvements to the suspension, chassis, and visibility make it even better off-road while still comfortable for everyday drives.

The 2022 Range Rover brings new levels of luxury, performance, and tech. The SUV has a graceful new form and is driven by a 395 hp hybrid turbo I6 or 523 hp turbo V8, with a 434 hp PHEV in 2023. All-wheel steering improves stability and turning, while headrest speakers and noise-canceling help create the perfect sanctuary.

To promote their electric G-Class Concept EQG, Mercedes-Benz enlisted director Nina Holmgren to create a lighthearted promotional film that imagines this futuristic vehicle from the perspective of a 1970s television viewer. The style of the cinematography, color grading, and voiceover work are spot-on.

Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations have crafted the ultimate incarnation of the Range Rover Sport SVR. The 575 hp V8 performance SUV comes in bespoke blue and grey paints with sparkly glass flake base coats, or satin black. It has a black roof, white accents, a carbon fiber hood, and rides on 22″ gloss black alloy wheels.

The most powerful Porsche SUV has a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 that makes 632 hp and 623 lb-ft. of torque. Combined with a modified 8-speed transmission and traction management system, it zooms from 0-to-62mph in 3.3 seconds, with a top speed of 186 mph, while carrying your family and cargo in style and comfort.

The new QX60 is a complete redesign of the family-friendly three-row SUV. It has more room for its seven passengers, a hands-free liftgate, and one-button 2nd-row seats that pop forward for easy 3rd-row access. The gorgeous Autograph edition offers quilted semi-aniline leather, open-pore wood trim, Bose audio, and more.

After driving Jeep’s plug-in-hybrid Wrangler 4xe, we spent a week with a high-torque Wrangler of a very different flavor. The 392 model packs a 6.4L HEMI V8 that makes 470 hp and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The Rubicon Unlimited trim means it’s fully kitted out for off-roading. It’s got an awesome exhaust note too.

Ringbrothers built this incredible restomod of Chevy’s classic Blazer SUV. This K5 model has a beastly LS3 6.2L V8 that makes 430 hp, a carbon fiber hood, Flowmaster exhaust, 18″ HRE wheels wrapped in 33″ General Grabber tires, Warn locking hubs, and a custom leather interior. The vehicle is currently being given away on Omaze.

Toyota is adding a new TRD Sport trim for its rugged and reliable 4Runner. The SUV gets a sport-tuned X-REAS cross-linked suspension, a TRD hood scoop, 20″ wheels, a color-matched grille, door handles front fascia, and nameplate, and black roof rails. Inside, Softex seats provide comfort and durability and are stitched with TRD logos.

Luxury automaker Genesis continues to knock it out of the park with their first-ever SUV. The GV80 offers a smooth ride, premium materials, the latest technology, and incredible versatility, all wrapped up in a grand and sophisticated package. We spent a week driving the V6 AWD model and enjoyed every minute of it.

The Land Rover Defender is known for its impressive off-road capabilities and ability to go places few other vehicles dare to tread. But the latest model is so much more, offering comfort and technology that transform it into a splendid luxury SUV for the other 364 days of the year that you’re not hitting the trails.

Jaguar’s compact SUV gets tweaks to its grille and LED headlights with slick double J-blade running lights. Inside, there’s a new 11.4″ curved glass touchscreen, a streamlined center console with a new shifter, and an optional digital rearview mirror. Available in 246 hp and 296 hp mild-hybrid variants with 2.0L turbo engines.

Lexus teamed up with Expedition Overland to create this luxury off-road monster. The LX-based SUV packs a 550 hp supercharged V8, a lifted suspension, an air snorkel, LED trail lighting, and more. The J201 will make its debut at the punishing Rebelle Rally on 10.8.20 with defending champs Rachelle Croft and Taylor Pawley behind the wheel.

The ultimate incarnation of Acura’s sporty RDX crossover gets slathered in the rich Thermal Orange Pearl paint from the NSX supercar. It also gets the RDX Advance and A-Spec packages, SH-AWD, 20″ black alloy rims, gloss black trim, and leather, Ultrasuede, and orange stitching inside. Just 360 of the vehicles will be made.

Jaguar’s excellent and sporty AWD crossover gets refreshed with slim new quad LED headlights, a more modern and refined new interior with an 11.4″ curved glass touchscreen, and updated 3.0L supercharged engines with 48V hybrid tech, making either 335 hp or 395 hp, as well as a torquey 2.0L turbo-4 that makes 246 hp.