The boom of SUV models brought us an incredible variety of cars in all market segments -from compact, front-wheel-drive models to high-end, expensive, luxury models. But despite originating from rugged and tough off-road vehicles, modern SUVs are soft station wagons with independent suspensions and more suited to the parking lots and highways then going through mud and sand.
Don't fall for cheap marketing tricks and believe the photos of SUVs on the top of the mountain or in the jungle. Most modern SUVs are only suitable for urban driving, and even if you spend hundreds of thousands on the latest model, they wouldn't be any good on rough terrain. Here are the 15 expensive SUV that will disintegrate if go off-road.
15 Porsche Cayenne Turbo
The Cayenne Turbo is a highway star and SUV suited for jumping continents in comfort. Think of it as a Porsche 911 with five doors, 650 hp, and 187 MPH top speed. As such, it isn't built for anything rather than smooth asphalt or maybe snowy road to your favorite ski resort.
14 BMW X1
Although it looks chunky and ready to fight the wilderness, the BMW X1 is, in fact, just a Mini in drag since this model uses the same front-wheel-drive platform. The X1 may look tough, but it even struggles to climb steep inclines so you better not take it anywhere away from well-paved streets.
13 Range Rover SVR
The Range Rover was once considered one of the SUV segment's fathers since it incorporated car-like comfort with uncompromised off-road abilities. However, that was in the early '70s. Today, the Range Rover SVR with 575 hp on tap is a highway cruiser, not an off-roader.
12 Jaguar F-Pace
The F-Pace is Jaguar's SUV designed to be urban transport for soccer moms. Think of it as the F-Type but with three more doors. In fact, F-Type coupe and the F-Pace SUV share the same engines, and it is evident that the F-Pace is also designed to be used only on the tarmac.
11 Mercedes GLC 53 AMG
Mercedes is well-represented in the SUV segment, and apart from the G-Class, everything else is just wannabe off-roaders with exceptional on-road abilities but nothing to show when the road gets bumpy. The new GLC AMG can reach 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, but it won't cross the Sahara, so don't even think about it.
10 BMW X7
For those who think that the new X7 has any off-road abilities, let's make things clear. The X7 is, in fact, a 7-Series luxury sedan but in SUV form. Although it came with all-wheel-drivetrain, its engineers designed it to be a big and comfortable cruiser used for shuttling VIPs to the meetings.
9 Audi SQ7
Audi has a legendary Quattro all-wheel-drive system, but in the new SQ7, it is not used to win the rallies in dirt and mud, it is used to provide traction on wet roads and give you peace of mind when going to the Alps for a ski weekend. If you expect more from this 500-hp SUV, you're in for a disappointment.
8 Lamborghini Urus
Although Lamborghini publishes photos of the Urus on snow or in the sand, don't believe the hype. This is a supercar SUV designed to go 200 MPH on the Autobahn, not to go rock crawling. And those insanely expensive 20-inch rims and low ground clearance will prove you wrong the second you go off the pavement.
7 Bentley Bentayga
The base price for the Bentayga starts at $160,000, and for that money, you get luxury SUV with air suspension and interior similar to the world's finest hotel suits. Bentley knows that all the nature the Bentayga will see is fresh-cut grass of the golf course.
6 Maybach SUV
Mercedes don't have much luck with the Maybach brand, but it doesn't give up. The brand new and $200,000 worth SUV is the latest super-luxury SUV that can't do anything off-road. With a gross weight of over 3.2 tons, Maybach SUV will be stuck in the mud in a matter of seconds.
5 Rolls Royce Cullinan
The king of luxury SUVs must be the Rolls Cullinan. It's essentially the Buckingham Palace on wheels - it cost almost the same and has nearly the same amount of space. Can you imagine it being dirty, scratched, and dented of running through the jungle? Neither can we.
4 BMW X6 M
We don't really like the X6's design, but we cannot deny that the X6 M is a remarkable car. It has 567 hp, intelligent all-wheel-drive, and 0 to 60 MPH time of fewer than 4 seconds. It is immensely capable on-road, but off-road its power means nothing since it doesn't have suspension, tires, or construction for that purpose.
3 Porsche Macan
The Macan is an excellent driver's car and a rare SUV that appeals to driving enthusiasts. However, it is made for twisty roads, highways, and city driving. Its underpinnings limit its use and make you think twice before even driving it on the sand.
2 Audi SQ5
If you are looking for something bigger than a family hatchback, and you want performance, practicality, and quality, the SQ5 is an excellent choice. For a little over $50,000, you will get all that and 350 hp. You won't get off-road usability and try not to take it on the trail since you will be embarrassed very soon.
1 Lincoln Navigator
The Navigator is a most excellent example of new American luxury combining the big upscale sedans of the past with SUV form of the future. It is enormous, prestigious, and expensive. But it was never an off-road vehicle. Not even when it was built on the Ford F-150 chassis, this one is a pure boulevard cruiser.