Latest News
Identifying the First-Gen Ford MustangFast SUVs Under $30,000
We’ve found the fastest SUVs that you can buy for $30,000 or less and we’re breaking them down here.Putting the Sport in Sport Utility
While many of us would love to have a garage full of different vehicles that suit very different needs, that’s simply not an option for most. Thankfully, over the years, automakers have increasingly blended different traits into more well-rounded packages for our use. To find evidence of that one need look no further than to fast SUVs. Gone are the days of SUVs simply being big lumbering beasts meant simply to haul people or things. Today, they’re more capable than ever before and we’re taking a look at five of the fastest on the market for $30,000 or less.
Porsche Cayenne
There’s no getting around it. The first properly fast SUV deserves to start our list of in style. Sure, other quick SUVs came before the Cayenne but none could really handle themselves when the road was anything other than straight. The Cayenne proved that an SUV was capable of driving like a Porsche. Under our budget, it’s not hard to find a well-sorted example from the mid-2010s with less than 75,000 miles on the odometer.
On top of that, the S trim level, equipped in most cases with a naturally-aspirated and relatively problem-free V8 is also available under budget. Those who prefer the twin-turbo V6 can find that even more easily and in most cases it’s factory-rated at 300 horsepower so there’s no lack of oomph. Regardless of which Cayenne one buys, one can be sure that it’ll come fully loaded with an excellent chassis, outstanding driving dynamics, and fantastic driver feedback.
Dodge Durango R/T
The Durango R/T sits on the other end of the fast SUV spectrum. It won’t handle anywhere near as sharply as the Porsche but it’ll sound better everywhere you go. Under the hood of the R/T is a 5.7-liter V8 pumping out some 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to get this big beast up to 60 mph from a dead stop in just about 6.2 seconds.
We’d suggest looking for one in the mid to late-2010s and with under 80,000 miles on the odometer. Such examples are plentiful and they have a few added benefits over the Cayenne. Firstly, they’re much less expensive to maintain. Secondly, they have a lot more interior cargo space. And finally, they can tow well beyond 7,000 pounds.
BMW X5 M
Probably nothing here is as quick in a straight line as the BMW X5 M. With a 4.4-liter V8 under the hood good for some 555 hp and 501 lb-ft of torque, it’ll do 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds and then scream to a top speed of about 155 mph. It’s more than a straight-line rocket too. It provides great feedback, composed handling, and excellent braking as well.
Most of the ones available under our budget are from the early 2010s so mileage is a concern. The only big downside of it is that being a used BMW, it’ll need consistent and often costly maintenance over the years. Be sure to consider whatever deferred maintenance a car has during the negotiation process. That’ll help you to come away with a car at a price that makes sense not just in the moment but in the years to come.
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
Blending all of the factors of the abovementioned vehicles into one tight package, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 isn’t exactly like any of them but features something good from each one. It’s got the big 6.4-liter HEMI that’s similar to the one in the Durango.
It’s brutish looking like the BMW and it’s smaller in stature like the Porsche. On top of that, it’s capable of doing 0-60 mph in just 4.8 seconds. That engine develops 470 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. It’s a naturally aspirated monster with aggressive styling, decent interior quality, and good overall driving dynamics.
Infiniti FX50/QX70
Consider this our dark horse pick because it’s rare, it’s obscure, it’s a bit long in the tooth, and it’s not easy to find… but it’s very special. In the late 2000s, Infiniti took its popular FX platform, ripped out the 3.7-liter six-cylinder engine, and dropped in a 390 hp 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 and it’s the one you’ll find in every FX50. This SUV will scoot from 0-60 mph in under 5.5 seconds.
Did we mention that it’s the same engine 5.0-liter V8 that Infiniti used in LMP3 racing for a time? That’s right, it took a racing engine and dropped it into the street legal FX. Then, in 2014, it changed the name of the FX to the QX and repeated the process with the QX70. Keep in mind that after 2014, the QX70 ended up with a V6 so you’ll need to check under the hood to be sure you’re getting the right Infiniti.
