Top 10 Most Powerful American SUVs in 2025
While the United States celebrates its Independence Day, the trade war with Canada continues, with tariffs and counter-tariffs complicating matters for car companies, their suppliers and dealers. But hey, the idea here is not to bore you with politics and economics. Instead, we simply want to highlight big-muscle vehicles that stand out for their power and performance.
Since way more people prefer SUVs than cars, we decided to focus on them, so forget the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, Lucid Air Sapphire, Ford Mustang GTD and others. Without further ado, here are the top 10 most powerful American SUVs in 2025. Unsurprisingly, the majority are electric.
- Also: Guess Who Makes the List of the Most American-Made Vehicles of 2025
- Also: 10 Vehicles That Are More American Than You May Think
Note: Only series-produced SUVs were considered. We identified only one model or trim level for each vehicle.
10. Cadillac Lyriq (515 horsepower)
The Lyriq is an all-electric midsize luxury SUV. In 2025, the all-wheel drive variant got a boost from 500 hp to 515 hp. For 2026, however, the new 615-hp Lyriq-V will arrive as the fastest production model in Cadillac history. Click here for more details.
9. Jeep Wagoneer S (600 horsepower)
The new Wagoneer S is similar to the Grand Cherokee in terms of size and should not be confused with the gas-only Wagoneer. This battery-powered, two-row midsize SUV is built on Stellantis’ STLA Large platform and impresses with power (600 hp) and acceleration (0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds). Click here for more details.
8. Chevrolet Blazer EV SS (615 horsepower)
As you know, Chevrolet is using the Blazer name for two completely different vehicles. The fully electric Blazer EV rides on a dedicated electric platform that can accommodate an 85kWh or 102kWh battery. Output starts at 220 horsepower for the base FWD model and goes all the way up to 615 horsepower for the sporty SS AWD model (in Wide Open Watts mode). Click here for more details.
7. Cadillac Escalade-V (682 horsepower)
The Escalade continues to be one of Cadillac's flagship products. Already a segment leader, it received an update for 2025. Under the hood, a 6.2-litre V8 is the standard engine, producing 420 horsepower. The high-performance, supercharged Escalade-V cranks output up to 682 horsepower—and burns a combined 18.1 L/100 km in the process. Click here for more details.
6. Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat (710 horsepower)
The Durango soldiers on for another year in 2025 (and will return in 2026). Remember, the current generation of the three-row mid-size SUV dates back to 2011. The SRT Hellcat models feature a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 that unleashes 710 horsepower. It’s the most powerful gasoline-powered American SUV on the market today. Click here for more details.
5. Cadillac Escalade IQ (750 horsepower)
In addition to the very popular gasoline-powered Escalade, Cadillac now offers the fully electric Escalade IQ. This full-size SUV is equipped with a huge 200kWh battery. Weighing more than 4,200 kg (9,300 lbs), it needs all the power it can get, hence the dual motors producing 680 horsepower as standard or 750 horsepower in Max Velocity mode. Click here for more details.
4. Lucid Gravity Grand Touring (828 horsepower)
The Gravity SUV is the second vehicle to emerge from the workshops of American electric car manufacturer Lucid. It boasts impressive capability, as evidenced by the Grand Touring model delivering a combined 828 hp and 909 lb-ft of torque. The 900V electric architecture is just as potent, by the way. Click here for more details.
3. GMC Hummer EV3X VUS (833 horsepower)
GMC arguably won’t save the planet with the Hummer EV, the battery of which is just as heavy as a Fiat 500e. In its tri-motor configuration, the imposing electric SUV generates a total output of 833 hp along with 1,206 lb-ft of torque. Keep in mind that it is less powerful and slower than the Hummer EV pickup, which generates 1,011 hp. Click here for more details.
2. Tesla Model X Plaid (1 020 horsepower)
The Model X has basically featured the same design since launching in 2016. However, this electric midsize luxury SUV continues to stand out with outstanding range and performance. In particular, the tri-motor Model X Plaid delivers a mind-boggling 1,020 hp and sprints from 0-100 km/h in just 2.6 seconds. Click here for more details.
1. Rivian R1S Quad Motor (1 025 horsepower)
The Rivian R1S underwent a significant evolution for 2025. A key highlight is the addition of a tri-motor configuration producing 850 hp. Meanwhile, the quad-motor R1S got a boost to 1,025 hp. The latter also produces 1,198 lb-ft of torque and, just like the Model X Plaid, reaches highway speeds in 2.6 seconds. Click here for more details.
