High-performance crossovers make no sense, but that’s okay.
With the popularity of SUVs continuing to grow exponentially, it was inevitable that car firms would start making high performance versions. And, sure enough, they’re beginning to flood onto the market.
Now, I’m not thinking of the various high-end sports car firms breaking into the market – whether Porsche, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Lotus or even Ferrari – here.
I’m thinking of the souped-up hot versions of everyday SUV runabouts: think of the Cupra Ateca, Skoda Kodiaq vRS, Audi SQ2 and more.
And, as more of these hot high-riding machines arrive, I’ve come to realise something. So it’s confession time: I actually quite like high performance hot SUVs. I know. Believe me, I know.
I know that the whole concept of a high-performance SUV is wrong. I know that the physics simply don’t work, that the high-riding stance and bulk that defines an SUV is the antithesis of the low centre of gravity and lightweight design that I know that, in essence, they’re cynical ploys to create a desirable ‘halo’ model that firms can charge a premium for by offering performance most people don’t really need.
And I know that, if you really want a hot machine with a large luggage capacity, a performance estate offers far fewer compromises and far more practicality.
And yet, the chance to sample a few hot SUVs in the last year or so has led me to develop a soft spot for them. It’s taken a while to work out why. But I think I’ve got there: I like them precisely because they make no sense, because the physics simply don’t work.
It helps that car firms eager to show off the performance credentials of their hot SUVs often do so on a race circuit – somewhere I imagine few buyers of such machines will ever take them. But that means that, in the last year or so, I’ve had the chance to try both the Cupra Ateca and the bonkers Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk (complete with 5.7-litre turbocharged Hemi engine) on circuits.
Obviously, a hot SUV on track is never going to rival a McLaren Senna or similar. But they’re actually quite fun: usually surprisingly nimble, and plenty powerful. In fact, it’s easy to forget you’re in a heavy SUV – until you reach a corner and start to brake.
No matter how smart engineers are they cannot, as Scotty knows, change the laws of physics.
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Compromised doesn't mean character
Some cars have their quirks and these can give character and add to the appeal. But I don't see how creating something as fundamentally flawed as a hot SUV is in anyway fun. If you want performance and practicality buy a fast estate, you'll get more of both than you would in an SUV.
Its each to their own but I'm
Its each to their own but I'm not a fan of suv's, hot or not, I like old school off roaders but modern suv's leave me cold. As for driving enjoyment, I'm sure they are more than capable of delivering, I enjoy driving and have enjoyed far less performance oriented cars in the past that others would immediately disregard and I wholly get what eseaton is saying about the pickup.
Pah!
Bah humbug, tosh and piddle.
So much hate so unfairly aimed. Wild assumptions SUV drivers don't know how to brake or Manufacturers fit braking systems unable to cope. That because it can be fast, every owner clearly drives it that way. Oh and SUV's can't be fun because everyone knows you can only do that with go-kart ride height and an osteopath on speed-dial.
I am a fast-SUV owner and proud. I also love driving in all its forms from track to Campervan. I hadn't realised enjoying driving for what it is, rather than striving for an unreachable motoring nirvana, makes me a vehicular outcast!
The better-half wanted our Celica on stilts after a crash-for-cash ass did her back in. The resulting Cayenne S (Forester too ugly, FX35 no garages) isn't perfect but it is hugely entertaining.We drive slower because it's relaxing, with little throttle because that's all it needs and yet it's completely addictive to press sport and let the monster roar. It's not a Telsa, Cayman or even a modern GTi but there's something fabulous preposterous about a 2.2T giant surging up to speed.
To those who've not driven one. They really can handle but you are ever aware of the weight in the braking and steering. All it takes is a couple of careful drives to understand the limits of the physics involved so making wild claims of recklessness only applies insomuch as it does to a driving an Aygo or MX-5.