10 Family-Friendly SUVs With Unexpected Power Under The Hood

When shopping for an SUV, most buyers prioritize practicality, capability, and interior features. While horsepower ratings may be important to some, they are often a lower priority to others. However, there are some that crave the feeling of acceleration and the rush of being pushed back in their seat, reminiscent of a sports car.

But most SUVs aren't sports cars and are instead family haulers made to tote people around and their stuff with ease. But for those that want that rush, there are some SUVs on the market with a surprising amount of power under their hoods. Here are 10 of them.

2025 Ford Escape ST-Line

MSRP: $29,145

The Ford Escape has gone through a few generations since its debut in 2001. Since then, the Escape has gotten a little bigger, wider, and more luxurious. In its current iteration, the Ford Escape offers plenty of practicality with its flexible interior and tech-savvy features.

Performance Specifications

It also comes equipped with a couple of different powertrains. The base turbocharged three-cylinder is great for daily commuting and getting the best fuel economy, but we recommend going with the Escape ST-Line for its upgraded turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. That powerplant produces over 200 horsepower and is connected to an all-wheel-drive system for more traction and better acceleration. The current Ford Escape may be a departure from what it once was, but we think it's the best version yet.

2025 Mazda CX-5 Carbon Turbo

MSRP: $37,000

The current version of the Mazda CX-5 has been around since 2017, which is a very long time in the automotive world. However, that kind of consistency is a testament to how much the CX-5 outshines the competition with its elegance and style. In addition to its upscale appearance, the CX-5 also has plenty of substance with its eight different trim levels and two different engine choices.

Performance Specifications

Speaking of engines, the base engine is great for most drivers when it comes to daily commuting, but for those who want more gusto when accelerating, the turbocharged 2.5-liter engine is the way to go. When equipped with the upgraded powertrain, the Mazda CX-5 can scoot up to highway speeds in a hair over six seconds, which should appease any heavy-footed drivers.

2025 Dodge Hornet GT Plus

MSRP: $37,475

The Dodge Hornet may not feel as refined as its corporate twin, the Alfa Romeo Tonale, but it still offers the same basic driving dynamics, including nimble handling, all-wheel-drive, and a very potent engine. All Hornets are powered by the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes nearly 300 horsepower.

Performance Specifications

It's quite impressive for an SUV, especially one with small proportions, making the Dodge Hornet surprisingly fun to drive with all the power it packs. Of course, the Hornet also comes with all the amenities most families need in their everyday commutes, but the driver's seat is the best seat to be in.

2025 BMW X1

MSRP: $41,350

The BMW X1 is the brand's entry-level crossover, but it's just as fun to drive as its larger stablemates. Its small dimensions, superb chassis tuning, and choice of two turbocharged engines make the X1 an entertaining SUV to drive. And while the up-level M35i trim will definitely suit those with a desire to go fast, the base xDrive28i model should suffice most drivers with its power.

Performance Specifications

Inside, the BMW X1 features a tech-rich cabin with premium materials, ensuring plenty of comfort and style. Plus, its practicality shines with plenty of cargo space and versatile seating, which make it a well-rounded choice for those looking for practicality and a dose of speed.

2025 Infiniti QX50

MSRP: $43,000

Although the current generation of the Infiniti QX50 has been around since 2019, it's still a strikingly elegant SUV that can appease most drivers. Inside, the QX50 has an upscale cabin filled with plenty of technology and upscale materials, and under its hood is a novel variable compression engine.

Performance Specifications

That engine can automatically adjust its compression ratio for the most optimal power and efficiency throughout the engine's rpm band. No, we don't expect everyone to know what that means, but drivers with a heavy right foot can rest assured that the QX50 will have all the power that they crave on tap.

2025 Acura RDX

MSRP: $44,700

Acuras are known for being reliable and cost-effective alternatives to their German rivals, but most people may not know that they also pack a good punch under the hood. Take the RDX, for example. It's a two-row crossover that's filled with plenty of premium materials like leather upholstery and metallic trim, but it's also powered by a potent turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that produces nearly 300 horsepower.

Performance Specifications

That kind of power is enough to get the crossover moving up to highway speeds in a touch over six seconds, which should be plenty quick for most drivers. But it's also very practical with its ample cargo and passenger space, making the Acura RDX a well-rounded and powerful choice that rivals German competitors in its segment.

2025 Chevrolet Blazer RS

MSRP: $44,195

Some SUV lovers may lament over the past Chevrolet Blazer, which was a V8-powered, truck-based SUV that was made for bombing off-road courses in addition to grocery runs. The current iteration of the Chevrolet Blazer isn't as hardcore, but it still has some redeeming qualities.

Performance Specifications

For example, the Chevy Blazer has an attractive cabin with plenty of passenger and cargo space, in addition to a choice between two engines. The standard engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that can get the job done when it comes to daily errands. But for more fun, the Chevy Blazer RS comes equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 that produces over 300 horsepower, which can make most power-hungry drivers happy. No, it's not a V8, but this V6 is more fuel-efficient and just as powerful.

2025 Audi Q5

MSRP: $45,400

Despite its seven-year-old design, the Audi Q5 continues to impress buyers with its sharp styling, comfortable interior, and surprising power. The Q5 has gone through a few minor tweaks in the styling department in the past few years, but it still has a bold and athletic look, which the brand is known for.

Performance Specifications

Inside, the Q5 has a tech-rich interior that boasts plenty of premium materials and an impeccable fit and finish that buyers except from Audi. But under the hood is another main draw as the Q5 is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that employs nearly 300 horsepower to all four wheels. With that kind of power, the Audi Q5 has plenty of gusto to get moving up to speed quickly, which should wow some drivers with its impressive acceleration.

2025 Genesis GV70

MSRP: $46,200

The Genesis GV70 may not be the first SUV on every buyer's mind, but it's worth some consideration. The GV70 is a luxury SUV that proves that luxury and affordability are not mutually exclusive. It's priced well in the market, typically below German rivals, and has all the interior luxuries that buyers want.

Performance Specifications

Additionally, the GV70 has plenty of power under its hood, especially in the up-level trims that come equipped with a turbocharged V6. However, the base turbocharged four-cylinder has plenty of power to get the car moving quickly, which should be good enough for most drivers with a need for speed.

2025 Mercedes-Benz GLB

MSRP: $47,800

The Mercedes-Benz GLB may be one of the brand's entry-level models, but it has nearly everything that most luxury buyers need. Inside, the GLB has a comfortable interior that's adorned with the technology that most tech-savvy buyers want, in addition to plenty of premium materials.

Performance Specifications

But that's not all. Beneath the GLB's hood is a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that produces over 200 horsepower to all four wheels. That kind of power makes the GLB a capable commuter and off-roader, when needed, but also an overall fun-to-drive SUV that checks all the boxes for most SUV buyers.