Top 10 best super-SUVs 2020

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3. Bowler Bulldog V8

Derbyshire-based Bowler Motorsport has made a name for itself developing ultra-specialised rally-raid versions of various Land Rover models. The Bulldog is its latest ware, but don't be fooled by the aestehtic: with an entirely new chassis designed in-house and bespoke bodywork, this is more of a silhouette racer with licence plates.

Unexpectedly good on the road, the 5.0-litre V8-powered Bulldog is simply sublime off it, where its suspension absorbs topography with clinical ease. What's more, Bowler is now building a luxuriously upholstered version, and what a prospect that is.

4. Lamborghini Urus

Lamborghini’s first large-scale foray (so that excludes the LM002) into the world of SUVs just so happens to be with the segment’s most extreme model yet. Powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, the four-wheel-drive Urus will hit 62mph in 3.6sec and has a top speed of 190mph – giving it proper supercar numbers.

But the hardcore Lambo SUV has one of the most divisive designs in motoring and, more significantly, begs the question as to whether a high-riding car weighing more than two tonnes can be made to handle like a proper Lamborghini.

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5. Mercedes-AMG G 63

Mercedes' reimaginging of the G-Wagen – now formally known as the G-Class – has to be regarded as a success. It retains the rich character and off-road ability of the much-loved original but thanks for a new front suspension architecture and steering, its now handles in a fashion more friendly than frightening.

And, of course, there's still a ludricous AMG offering with a hefty price-tag and far more power than you'd ever need in this sort of car. In fact, for all the cabin refinement Mercedes has introduced in the revitalised G-Class, the 63 AMG model is still defined by its shouty V8 engine, in this case the same twin-turbo 4.0-litre unit found in the AMG GT sports cars. 

6. Rolls-Royce Cullinan

Rolls-Royce's entry into the SUV segment uses a developed version of the Phantom’s 6.8-litre V12 engine, making it one of the market’s most powerful off-roaders. It also sits at the top of the tree in terms for luxury, higher than even the Bentley Bentayga, though the Cullinan can't match the on-road dynamism of its old foe.

Don't think that this Rolls doesn't justify its raised ride-height, either. The Cullinan boasts good wading depth and impression axle articulation, even if it does ultimately fall short of the standards set by the Range Rover. Of course, very little of this matters if you can't bring yourself to like the way this car looks, and for £250,000 before options, we'd certainly expect something easier on the eye. 

7. BMW X7 M50i

With a grille like that, BMW's most senior SUV hasn't exactly slipped into segment without attracting controversy, and in M50i specification it surely won't go unnoticed in any environment. The X7 M50i seems to be the car nobody was asking for, and yet of all the outlandish super-SUVs on this list, as a BMW there is arguably greater justification for its existence than many.

When it arrives in the UK, the X7 M50i will get a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 with 523bhp and 553lb ft, plus a rear-biased four-wheel-drive system with an electronic M-Sport differential. With air suspension and the same interior as the regular X7, it'll likely be impressive to drive and own, if not entirely loveable.   

8. Twisted T40S

Don’t expect all the original Defender's usual faults to be solved by throwing money at it. To sit in, it's still a Defender; okay, so the T40s's seats are a revelation and the Momo wheel leaves more room for your knees, but it remains cramped for the driver and unrefined on a long journey.

The car we tested was specced up to £116,000. Is it worth that? Objectively, no. However, most of us view the world quite differently from Twisted's T40s V8 customers when it comes to finances. If you can stomach the price, you are getting a truly bespoke service, a genuinely better-handling and better-riding Defender, and one that has an absolute gem of an engine.

9. Mercedes-AMG GLS 63

Mercedes bills this as ‘the S-Class of SUVs’, but the interior doesn’t feel as plush as you’d hope inside; the Audi Q7 has it beat. But not even the Q7 can match the big Merc’s imposing character.

Few SUVs have a more dramatic engine, either. Its twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8 produces 577bhp and can propel the big SUV to 62mph in 4.6sec, so if your tastes demand scale and power, there’s not much on sale that has more muscle than the GLS 63, save for the full-fat Range Rover SVAutobiography, of course – but that car is about £35,000 more expensive.

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10. Aston Martin DBX

Keen to cash in on the lucrative ultra-luxury SUV market, Aston Martin is set to launch its first SUV this year. It’ll be based on the DBX concept that was unveiled at the 2015 Geneva motor show, although the production model will be called the DBX.

Four-wheel drive will be implemented for the first time, while the range-topping version will make use of Aston’s charismatic 5.2-litre V12 - so it should at least have a fairly phenomenal soundtrack. The Mercedes-AMG V8 will make an appearance, as will an all-electric variant.