Technology has a very strange habit of turning the impossible (or at the very least, the improbable) into reality. This is especially true in the automotive world, where seemingly contradictory attributes manage to find a happy middle ground with surprising regularity. Case in point – the performance crossover and SUV segment. Once a body style relegated to utility, the modern tall-bodied, cargo-tastic crossover or SUV can now be had with a heavy dose of speed as well, apparently defying the laws of physics with mammoth grip and absurd levels of power. These days, it doesn’t matter if a model is heavy and huge – add the right parts, and it’ll be quick as well.

It’s a combination that seems to be growing in popularity, with a nice assortment of options available across the market. As such, we’ve collected five of the best right here for your perusal. Each offers a decent amount of cargo space, high levels of luxury, and the option for performance as well, all for a price tag around $70,000 (give or take). Our picks look like this – BMW X3 M, Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, Mercedes-AMG GLC63, Porsche Macan Turbo, and Land Rover Range Rover Sport. We’ve got the lowdown on each right here, so read on for more info. And don’t forget to post your favorite in the comments section below!

Continue reading to learn more about TopSpeed’s Top 5 Physics-Defying Performance Crossovers And SUVs.

BMW X3 M40i

Now in its third generation, the BMW X3 is a true standard for its segment, offering a mix of luxury, utility, and if you get the right one, performance as well. The latest model year gets the same styling as BMW’s other SUV, with a tall stance, chiseled good looks, and sleek refinement. In the nose, you’ll find BMW’s Active Kidney Grille, which gets vertical polished slats for good looks and adaptive shutters for improved aero efficiency. Further aero gear includes new underbody cladding, a roof spoiler, Aero Blades, and Air Curtains. In the corners are horizontal hexagonal fog lights, while the rear gets 3D taillights and twin exhaust pipes. The options list includes new adaptive LED and Icon Adaptive Full LED headlights. Meanwhile, the M Sport Package adds new aero with a fresh front apron, bigger intakes, side skirts, and a rear diffusor. The M model gets 19-inch wheels in the corners, with 20-inch and 21-inchers offered as well.

The cabin repeats lots of the hexagonal shapes used outside as well, coming jam-packed with opulence and sporty touches, not to mention oodles of tech. Features include a color heads-up display up to 10.25-inches in diameter, as well as BMW’s Gesture Control technology. Standard spec includes sport seating and three-zone automatic climate control. Options include ventilation for the front-seated passengers and an available 9.8-inch panoramic moonroof. Go for the M40i, and expect copious M logos, an M Sport package leather steering wheel, M Sport doorsills, and Sensatec upholstery on the dashboard. In back, there’s a seatback recline feature, while cargo capacity is increased thanks to a 40:20:40 split for the rear bench. Fold it down all the way, and rear cargo room goes from 28.7 square feet to 62.7 square feet. The X3 also boasts the first-ever factory-installed trailer hitch on a BMW SUV.

Under the hood, you’ll find a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder, which is tuned to produce 355 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. All that go is routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission featuring Launch Control and steering wheel-mounted shift paddles. Putting the power to the pavement is BMW’s xDrive AWD system, which on the M model gets further rear-biased tuning as compared to the standard X3 model. Keep your foot down, and you’ll hit 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, with a flourish of aural excitement provided by the active sport exhaust system, finished in Black Chrome.

That’s a decent amount of speed, but the X3 M40i also has the bits underneath to make it work right, with M Performance tweaking the chassis and reducing weight where possible. The suspension components include double-joint spring struts in front and five-links in the back. Cutting mass are aluminum swivel bearings, and lighter tubular anti-roll bars. Interestingly, BMW managed to bless the X3 with a nearly perfect 50:50 weight distribution. Multiple drive modes manage the heft, incorporating various settings for the adaptive damper control. Electric Power Steering makes it turn. Finally, the X3 M40i comes complete with M Sport brakes, M Sport suspension tuning, and variable sport steering.

Official pricing has yet to be announced, but we would expect a figure around $65,000.

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Read our full review on the BMW X3 M40i.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

If you’re looking for a performance SUV that eschews subtlety in favor of in-your-face performance, look no further than the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. This thing is every ounce an exercise in excess, leading Jeep to declare it as the most powerful and quickest SUV ever built. All of the mechanical specs on the Trackhawk are simply over the top, and if you wanna talk about defying physics, then start here.

Outside, the Trackhawk is equipped with bi-xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights, as well as body-colored wheel arch flares, side skirts, and a sculpted hood design. There’s also an intake that feeds from the driver-side fog lamp opening. In back is a unique gloss black rear valence, while 20-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli rubber are in the corners.

Inside, the Trackhawk gets a plush interior, starting with standard Nappa leather upholstery and Active Noise Cancellation technology. A 7.0-inch driver information display is behind the flat-bottom three-spoke steering wheel, while an 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen is in the dash. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported. Options include a high-end Harman Kardon stereo with 19 speakers, two subwoofers, and 825 watts of power.

But without a doubt, the main attraction is under the hood, where you’ll find a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 monster engine, rocking an iron block and aluminum head. It’s the same lump used in the outrageous Charger and Challenger Hellcat, and wouldn’t you know it, but the Hellcat’s 707 horses are left intact. There’s also 645 pound-feet of torque on tap. Oh boy.

Providing the boost is a 2.4-liter twin-screw supercharger spinning at 14,600 rpm and making a max 11.6 psi of extra atmosphere. Power routes through a high-performance TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Grip is made by Jeep’s Quadra-Trac 4WD system, which gets an electronic limited-slip rear differential and single-speed active transfer case. There’s standard launch control to make the most of straight-line shenanigans, plus something called Torque Reserve, which pre-positions the supercharger bypass valve for on-demand boost. All told, the Trackhawk can go 0-to-60 mph in 3.5 seconds, complete the quarter mile in 11.6 seconds at 116 mph, and hit a top speed of 180 mph.

Multiple driving modes are also onboard, including Auto, Sport, Track, Snow, and Tow. Keeping it shiny side up is an independent front suspension with Bilstein adaptive dampers and aluminum for the upper and lower control arms, knuckle, clevis, and hollow stabilizer bar. In back is a multilink set-up, also with adaptive dampers and a hollow stabilizer bar. Funny enough, the Trackhawk can tow up to 7,200 pounds. Hauling it down are huge Brembo brakes, measuring in with 15.75-inch rotors in front and 13.78-inch rotors in back, enabling a 60-to-0 mph stopping distance of 114 feet.

Official pricing has yet to be announced, but we would expect a figure around $80,000.

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Read our full review on the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.

Mercedes-AMG GLC63

Mercedes has been doing the big, powerful SUV thing for some time now, starting with the ML55 back in the late ‘90s. These days, if you’re looking for a three-pointed star in this segment, you’re gonna want the AMG GLC63. Buyers get three variations to choose from, including the GLC63 SUV, GLC63 Coupe, and GLC63 S Coupe, each offering different power levels and body styles.

Outside, the GLC sports standard 10-spoke alloy wheels finished in Titanium Grey and sized at 19 inches in diameter. Upgrade to the S Coupe model, and 20-inch units replace the 19-inchers. Multiple wheels designs are on offer for customization. Front and center, the AMG GLC63 gets a Panamericana grille for the primary intake, a nod to Merc’s sporting heritage and a feature shared with the-track ready AMG GT coupe. There are also flared fenders, a lowered stance, Matte Iridium Silver exterior trim, and a rear spoiler attached to the roof. Twin exhaust tips finished in high-gloss chrome round it out.

Inside is the typical Mercedes opulence, plus a fair amount of performance cues as well. Materials include MB-Tex leatherette upholstery with Dinamica microfiber. The seats are well bolstered and get impressive side supports, while contrast stitching and aluminum trim pervade throughout. A touchpad and dash-mounted infotainment screen provide the inputs. Sit in the right seat, and you’ll be gripping a three-spoke, flat-bottom, multifunction AMG Performance steering wheel wrapped in black Nappa leather and Dinamica microfiber. Behind the wheel is an AMG-specific instrument cluster with appropriately red highlights.

While impressive to look at and TO sit in, the Merc also boasts a whopper of an engine package. Peak under the hood and you’ll find a twin-turbo 4.0-liter eight-cylinder engine, the same lump found in various other AMG machines, including the AMG GT. This powerplant mounts the turbos in a “hot vee” configuration, that is, inside the “v” of the V-8, thus reducing packaging constraints and sharpening response. Output is rated at 469 horsepower for the base-trim SUV and Coupe, and up to 503 horsepower for the S Coupe. Torque levels come to 479 pound-feet in the base trim and 516 pound-feet in the S. All said and done, and the GLC63 can do a 3.9-second 0-to-60 mph shimmy, while the S Coupe does the same in 3.7 seconds.

The engine connects to a nine-speed automatic transmission and high-performance 4Matic+ AWD system with a rear-axle limited-slip differential. There’s also an electronic rear diff for the S model. This AWD system is rear-biased, and can go seamlessly between RWD and AWD using an electromechanically controlled clutch. There’s also a manual-shifting mode if you prefer a more hands-on approach.

Keeping it shiny side down is an air suspension system with adaptive dampers and multi-chamber air springs, plus speed-sensitive steering and high-performance brakes. There are also multiple driving modes, including “Comfort,” “Sport,” “Sport+,” and “Individual,” which alter settings for the engine response, transmission, suspension, steering, electronic stability control, and AWD system. There’s even a “Race” mode if you go for the Coupe or Coupe S model.

Official pricing has yet to be announced, but we would expect a figure around $70,000.

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Read our full review on the Mercedes-AMG GLC63.

Porsche Macan Turbo

The Macan was the first-ever Porsche in the compact SUV segment, and it’s got all the quickness appropriate of that kind of title. Stuttgart offers a broad variety of models under the nameplate, including the base model Macan, the Macan S, and the Macan GTS, but the one we’re most interested in sits at the top of the line, dubbed the Macan Turbo. The nameplate itself hails from the Indonesian word for tiger, so you know Porsche has some pretty obvious intentions when it comes to performance. That much is communicated with the exterior styling, which appears to pull heavily from the 911, with a few 918 Spyder influences thrown in as well. There are classic Porsche features throughout, including lots of curves, a broad hoodline, and a rounded roofline. There are also huge wheels in the corners, Porsche’s Dynamic Lighting System in the nose, and LED lighting for the taillights. The twin exhaust tips are set in a diffuser, with the tips finished in a chrome plating as an available option.

Inside, the Macan mixes performance and luxury in equally liberal doses. There’s a multi-function sport steering wheel with side-mounted shift paddles for drivers, plus a three-dial gauge pod and 4.8-inch central driver’s information display. A high-performance audio system from Burmester and electrically operated tailgate round it out.

But more important than tailgates is what makes the Macan go. Opt for the Turbo model, and you’ll get a 3.6-liter V-6 stuffed by twin turbochargers and mated to a seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission. Peak output is rated at 400 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, enabling a run to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 164 mph. Making the traction is a high-performance AWD system, which features an electronically controlled rear-axle differential, an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch, an Automatic Brake Differential, and an Anti-Slip Regulation system, not to mention the Porsche Traction Management system.

Options include the Sport Chrono package and a full air suspension system. The Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus system is also optional. The Macan comes equipped with an off-road mode, but buyers reading this guide will probably be more interested in the “Sport” button. Underpinnings include a five-link suspension set-up in front and a trapezoidal-link in the rear, with the Porsche Active Suspension Management system offering extra tunability if desired. The brakes are also upgraded on the Turbo model, up to 14.17 inches for the rotors. Finally, there’s the newly introduced Performance Package, which adds 40 horsepower (up to 440 ponies total) and drops the 0-to-62 mph time by 0.4 seconds (4.4 seconds). Torque is up as well, adding 37 pound-feet total. The package also upgrades the brakes even further, lowers the stance, enhances the chassis, and adds the Sport Chrono Package and a sports exhaust as standard.

Pricing starts at $77,200.

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Read our full review on the Porsche Macan Turbo.

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

First introduced in 2004, the popular Range Rover Sport model is now in its second generation, with a generation update revealed back in 2013. A third gen should be on the way now, but for the moment, the second-gen model has aged well. It’s kept fresh thanks to a recently update that offers a new exterior Design Pack, giving buyers a wide variety of options when it comes to choosing an exterior paint color. The rest of it looks as good as it always has, with lots of long horizontal lines, solid blocky shapes, and an air of refinement throughout.

Inside is an optional third row bench seat, which means this SUV can seat up to seven passengers total. The cabin was also recently got an upgrade with a suite of new driver assistance technology, which adds in stuff like Advanced Tow Assist, Blind Spot Assist, and Intelligent Speed Limiter. The Range Rover Sport is also offered with the optional Drive Pack, which adds a Blind Spot Monitor, Traffic Sign Recognition, and Reverse Traffic Detection. The Infotainment is now the cutting-edge InControl Touch Pro system, with inputs made courtesy of the upgraded 10.2-inch touchscreen, a replacement for the outgoing 8.0-inch unit. Hit the right menus selections, and this display will show pertinent off-roading information when taking on the rough stuff. The infotainment also features a rear-facing backup camera, further app support, and satellite navigation.

When it comes to the hard bits, the Range Rover Sport is still a helluva off-roader, especially with the updated Traction Launch technology which adds even more all-terrain capability. If you’re a bigger fan of tackling the black stuff, there’s also torque vectoring technology and dynamic stability control. The engine options include a supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 as standard, as well as a 3.0-liter turbodiesel making 254 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. Overseas buyers will be able to get theirs with a 2.0-liter Ingenium turbodiesel four-cylinder, producing 240 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. More importantly, a supercharged V-8 is also on the table, offered in two levels of tune. Anyone looking for the fastest out there should opt into the top dog SVR model, which was introduced in 2014 at the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, California. The SVR gets a slew of upgrades over the standard Range Rover model, the most important of which is the supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 engine good for 550 horsepower, 502 pound-feet of torque, and a sprint to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. Of course, if you do choose the SVR, expect to pay a whole lot more for it.

Pricing starts at $65,650

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Read our full review on the Land Rover Range Rover Sport.