10 SUVs With Naturally Aspirated Engines That Still Thrill

A browse through the list of new SUV models on sale today would have you believe that the only powertrains currently in production are all turbocharged ones. There are some outliers still building sports utility vehicles without turbos. However, the supposed benefits bestowed upon us by downsized engines have made the naturally aspirated SUV a considerable rarity.

They may be thirsty and emit more pollution, but we love the SUVs below for their ability to still bring joy and adrenaline to any mundane journey thanks to their powerful engines, unassisted by turbos, superchargers, or hybrid hardware. In addition, most of these models would be affordable to buy for many buyers, aside from the Ferrari Purosangue. Running them could result in a few extra trips to the gas station.

Audi RS Q8, front quarter view

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SUVs That Give Sports Cars A Run For Their Money

SUVs are here to stay and automakers have by now become skilled at making them agile, which means these models could even replace your sports car.

2007 Audi Q7 4.2

Average Used Value: $4,000

Audi

Specs

Although the first-gen Audi Q7 began in 2006, it still looks great today, imposing on the road, and thanks to the available 4.2-liter V8, pretty quick in a straight line. That's despite its 5,000-pound heft. Five adults and luggage can travel in relative luxury, with adaptive air suspension, a generous list of luxury features, and a locking center differential for increased off-road ability or safety in slippery conditions.

If you're not hauling a load, 60 mph is possible in 7.1 seconds. This Audi is so cheap today that it seems like a steal. A V12 TDI diesel version was sold outside of the US with 740 pound-feet of torque, an engine related to the Le Mans-winning diesel race car.

2003 Infiniti FX45

Average Used Value: $5,500

Infiniti

Specs

Another pretty cheap SUV with a magnificent refined V8 under the hood is the Infiniti FX45, the brand's mid-sized SUV from 2003-2008. It famously made no claims of being an off-road warrior and instead touted on-road refinement and sporty performance. It's certainly one of the fastest SUVs of the era, with a 0-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds.

Handling the power from the VK45DE engine was a lazy 5-speeder, and the machine weighed around 4,300 pounds. Rear-wheel drive was standard and all-wheel drive was optional, as was a less-powerful FX35 variant with the 3.5-liter engine from the Nissan 350Z. Interestingly, the Infiniti FX45 was built on the same platform as that sports car.

2004 BMW X5 4.8is

Average Used Value: $6,000

BringATrailer

Specs

BMW's X5 debuted in 2000 and was one of the first sporting SUVs from a German brand, in the same vein as the Mercedes M-Class. Since the BMW brand had links to Land Rover at the end of the 20th century, the design of the X5 was influenced by the Rang Rover which was no bad thing, although the X5 was intended to be a sports SUV.

To that end, a rear-biased drivetrain and powerful engines made it a force to be reckoned with. A straight-six and 4.4-iter V8 were offered, as well as the larger 4.6-liter V8 for the 4.6is (sport) model. In 2004, the even larger 4.8is was released and unlocked the door to 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds. Today, the BMW X5 is still going strong as one of the benchmark-setting performance SUVs.

2008 Saab 9-7/X Aero

Average Used Value: $7,000

Saab

Specs

It made sense considering GM's ownership of Saab at the time and the shared platform with models like the TrailBlazer. Unlike the latter, the Saab 9-7X Aero came only with all-wheel drive. A lazy four-speed transmission handled cog-swapping duties, but this heavy brute could still hit 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. In 2016 Saab would be defunct after a long battle.

2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS

Average Used Value: $9,000

Chevrolet

Specs

As we alluded to above - and as we're sure you already know - the Chevy TrailBlazer shared its underpinnings and engine choice with the Saab. It also shared the lazy 4-speed 'box so economy wasn't a chief concern with this 6.0-liter beast. It could shake its tail thanks to the availability of rear-wheel drive as long as you had the confidence, which is unlikely in a 5,000-pound SUV.

Handling was altered from standard models with a modified, lowered chassis setup, and a self-leveling rear suspension was fitted. 60 mph was possible in 5.5 seconds according to some sources, which is faster than the Swede. Only around 26,000 units were made which is more than the rarer Saab.

2011 Dodge Durango R/T

Average Used Value: $9,000

Dodge

Specs

Dodge's third-gen Durango continued to offer the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 for the R/T model. A 5-speed transmission was a lackluster offering but an update in 2014 introduced an 8-speed unit. The standard engine was Chrysler's hard-working Pentastar V6. There was the option of rear-or-all-wheel drive as well, and later on in 2018 the mighty 6.4-liter Hemi joined the range.

This Durango was of unibody construction, shared with the Jeep Grand Cherokee, while the last generation used an older body-on-frame method. 7.4 seconds to 60 mph is a reasonable time for a hefty SUV, but its fuel economy can drop to 13 MPG in the city.

2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8

Average Used Value: $11,000

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Specs

This Jeep was sketched as a performance vehicle from the start, in contrast to the regular Cherokee. The Grand Cherokee SRT-8 was one of the fastest SUVs of its time thanks to its 6.1-liter Hemi engine and all-wheel drive, and this is despite it still having to convince all of its 4,800 pounds to get moving. Once it did, it could hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds.

What makes this SUV impressive is that it is faster to 60 mph than other sports SUV icons of the era, such as the Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG 4MATIC or Porsche Cayenne Turbo S. It could drink gas about as fast: 12 MPG is a realistic figure, but this SUV would be just as thrilling on a sunny boulevard on Sunday. It can also handle and stop reasonably well thanks to Brembo brakes and upgraded Bilstein shocks.

2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (JK)

Average Used Value: $12,000

Mecum

Specs

Thrilling can also be applied to vehicles that are not designed with speed in mind, such as this Wrangler. Everything about it is fun, from the styling to its innate simplicity and purpose, to the kind of adventures it can provide in the great outdoors. Part of the third generation of the trusty and iconic Jeep, the JK started life with a 3.8-liter V6 in 2007 that offered 202 horses from its stable, but the 2012 model year provided more firepower in the form of the trusty aluminum Pentastar.

Power and torque were raised substantially, which would have made the Wrangler more capable and more fun on the open road thanks to torque that rose from 327 pound-feet to 260 pound-feet. It might not light up the asphalt behind you, but 60 mph can be seen in 6.7 seconds.

Porsche / TopSpeed

2010 Porsche Cayenne GTS

Average Used Value: $12,000

Mecum

Specs

Porsche's first four-door and first off-road model was introduced to a mixed reception back in 2003, but it has aged pretty well. Today, the Porsche Cayenne is a capable SUV, and it was also capable back in the first generation when this model debuted in 2008. A range of powerplants graced the big engine bay of the Cayenne, starting with two VR6s, a naturally-aspirated or twin-turbo 4.5-liter V8, and a 4.8-liter mill that was also either turbocharged or not, depending on the model.

A diesel was offered too, which would have made Porsche purists happy. The Turbo models are the flagships with the best performance, but the excellent GTS sat above the naturally aspirated range. GTS models were separated by a wider body kit with features from the Turbo model, a lowered chassis with stiffer springs, new wheels, a custom exhaust system, and other features to make this the great-handling, 5,000-pound show pony that it is.

2023 Ferrari Purosangue

Average Used Value: $553,000 (avg. auction value - Classic.com)

Ferrari

Specs

This machine eclipses every other model in our naturally aspirated SUV roundup by every metric. That is, except for affordability. Anything with a Prancing Horse on it will be both expensive and outperform regular SUVs, which the Purosangue does. We included the Purosangue partly as a homage to the fact that Maranello chose to power this brute with the naturally aspirated V12 and no turbos or electric hardware - and also because it is one of the fastest production SUVs in the world.

Ferrari's first SUV was always going to be divisive, but it does have a twelve-cylinder up front, and it is capable of moving four adults in relative comfort at high speed or covering snow-dusted roads up to ski resorts with its wide tire tracks. 0-60 mph will pass you by in about 3.2 seconds and high-tech motors on each corner keep the chassis in check by eliminating body roll, while four-wheel steering makes this all-wheel drive Ferrari SUV agile, as well as presumably, easier to park than a Testarossa.