SUVs That Accelerate Quicker Than Supercars

It used to be that being the quickest in the quarter-mile outside of a dedicated drag special like the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 meant opting for a pricey exotic like a Ferrari or Lamborghini, or tuning the heck out of more attainable sports cars and muscle cars. However, with the proliferation of electric vehicles – whose motors are not only able to deliver high horsepower but also instantaneous torque – we now live in a world where family-sized SUVs producing zero emissions and whisper-quiet performance can outmatch even the most potent supercars at the drag strip.

Here are three electric SUVs that have the potential to come close to, or even dip below, the magic 10-second mark in the quarter-mile, while still being roomy enough to handle the school carpool or take your family and all their gear on a road trip. Most supercars will have to look at the taillights of these three SUVs when the lights turn green.

Tesla Model X Plaid

Tesla reset the bar for cars with the best bang for the buck when it launched the Model S Plaid and Model X Plaid for the 2021 model year. The humble family sedan and SUV were given hypercar levels of horsepower, and with their ability to deliver that power efficiently, suddenly buyers had two new models able to slip below 10 seconds in the quarter-mile for a price less than half of what you’d pay for an entry-level supercar. Prices have only come down since then, with the Model X Plaid currently available for just $99,990, down from over $120,000 at launch. For the sum, you get a mid-size SUV with up to seven seats and performance that can rival a Bugatti Chiron.

Power in the Model X Plaid comes from a trio of electric motors, split one at the front and two at the rear. The motors feature carbon-sleeved rotors that Tesla says help them to deliver more than 1,000 hp combined all the way up to the vehicle’s top speed of 163 mph. With moderate driving, a healthy range is also possible: The EPA estimate is 314 miles with the standard 20-inch wheels.

As with any large EV, weight is an issue. The Model X Plaid tips the scales at nearly 5,400 pounds, which isn’t bad for a midsize SUV powered by batteries, but it will dampen the performance on a winding road or on a racetrack with a lot of twists. To help with the handling, Tesla installs adaptive air suspension, and the all-wheel-drive system also enables torque vectoring between the axle and between each of the rear wheels. Performance wheels, tires, and brakes are also part of the package.

Related

You Need The World’s Most Powerful Ferrari To Beat The Tesla Model X Plaid

Surprised? We sure aren’t.

In addition to these performance attributes, buyers also benefit from all the creature comforts normally found in an SUV aimed at families. In addition to its Falcon Wing doors – which are a neat party trick – the Model X Plaid also comes with ventilated seats, a 22-speaker premium audio system, tri-zone climate control, and a panoramic windshield.

Lotus Eletre

Lotus is perhaps best known for its lithe sports cars, but the British marque today also sells a midsize electric SUV that’s longer than a Range Rover and weighs more than 5,800 pounds. It’s called the Eletre, and in its most potent form, it will run the quarter-mile in just 10.8 seconds, according to testing conducted by Top Gear. Lotus doesn’t provide an official quarter-mile time for the Eletre but says the SUV will accelerate to 62 mph from rest in just 2.95 seconds and keep accelerating to a top speed of 165 mph.

When it comes to handling, the Eletre has benefited from much of Lotus’s chassis expertise. The result is a sporty setup that includes air springs and adjustable dampers at each corner, active anti-roll bars, brake-based torque vectoring, and rear-wheel steering. Powerful 10-piston brake calipers and carbon-ceramic rotors can also be added.

The Eletre made its debut in 2022 and has only recently arrived in the USA, where it is available in a single trim known as the Eletre Carbon. It carries a steep starting price of $229,900. Lotus had plans for more affordable trim levels, but those plans changed after the Biden Administration in 2024 announced a 100% tariff on Chinese-made EVs. The Eletre is built at a plant near the Chinese city of Wuhan, where Lotus also builds the sleek Emeya electric sedan. The situation is likely to have worsened with the Trump Administration’s own tariffs on Chinese-made goods, including vehicles.

Related

Hear Me Out: The McLaren SUV Won’t Fall Victim To The Same Betrayal As The Lotus Eletre

Necessary evil or ultimate betrayal? A McLaren SUV is probably coming, but maybe it won’t be as bad as everyone thinks.

The Eletre Carbon aligns with the Eletre 900 (previously Eletre R) sold overseas and draws its performance from a dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain with a two-speed transmission and peak 905 hp. The EPA hasn’t published range estimates for the Eletre Carbon, but Lotus quotes a figure of 280 miles. Unlike the Model X Plaid, the Eletre comes with only two rows of seating.

Lucid Gravity

Luxury EV startup Lucid finally has a second vehicle in its lineup, the Gravity SUV, which arrives for the 2026 model year. It’s currently available to order in the Grand Touring trim, which makes it the most affordable model on this list, and comes with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain delivering a peak 828 hp. Lucid only quotes a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds for performance, but Lucid’s Air Grand Touring sedan, with 819 hp, has a quarter-mile time of under 12 seconds. This suggests the Gravity Grand Touring’s quarter-mile time should be close to 12 seconds.

In addition to likely being quicker down the strip than many supercars, the Gravity Grand Touring also has exceptional handling. This is partly due to borrowing chassis components from the sharp-handling Air, but there are also new elements that aid the Gravity, like its unique rear suspension, air springs, and continuously adjustable dampers. The Gravity also comes with rear-wheel steering, which the Air lacks. This helps with maneuverability at low speeds and stability at high speeds.

Despite its performance capabilities, the Gravity Grand Touring is primarily a practical luxury vehicle. Like the Model X Plaid, it offers up to seven seats split over three rows, as well as features like heated and ventilated massaging seats, a panoramic glass roof, and a 23-speaker premium audio system. The EPA hasn’t published a range estimate but Lucid said owners can expect up to 450 miles.

Related

2026 Lucid Gravity First Drive Review: Pulling Us In

With impressive electrical efficiency, excellent driving dynamics, and a classy interior, the 2026 Lucid Gravity should be a knockout.

As the current range-topping trim, the Grand Touring sets a high bar, but it’s likely not the end of the performance road for the Gravity SUV. Lucid has a history of pushing boundaries, as seen with the Air sedan’s flagship Sapphire trim, which boasts a tri-motor setup delivering 1,234 hp, or enough for a quarter-mile time of 8.95 seconds. Lucid hasn’t said anything about such a trim for the Gravity, but the potential for one is undoubtedly there.

Sources: Tesla, Lotus, Lucid, Top Gear