The “sports” in sports utility vehicle originally reflected the needs of active-lifestyle buyers who wanted something that could carry the family while also being rugged enough for outdoor recreation. Over the last two decades, automakers have given the word a different meaning. SUVs are now more likely to be tuned for on-road performance, with engineers borrowing hardware and know-how from sports sedans and sports cars. The result is a growing list of SUVs that may look practical and unassuming but hide genuinely sporty DNA. We’ve rounded up 10 whose sporty sides might surprise you.
