2017 BMW X5 M

BMW's high-performance X5 sport activity vehicle -- the brand's moniker for its SUVs and crossovers -- moves into 2017 with no major changes, save for a $2,000 price hike.

That takes the starting tag for this slightly insane, 567-hp vehicle to $107,900. For that money, those horsepower and the accompanying 553 lb-ft of torque come from a 4.4L turbocharged V8 and pass through an eight-speed transmission before being delivered to the road through all four wheels.

The market for super-quick SUVs may be small, but that doesn't mean the X5 M has it all to itself. Mercedes-AMG's GLE 63 S, Porsche's Cayenne Turbo, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and the Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR all play in the same pot, and all bring their own unique flavour to the mix. Call the X5 M more of a car than the Range Rover, but less so than the Cayenne; Jeep's take is pure muscle car, with its naturally-aspirated V8 barking out its nostalgic exhaust note.

X5 M's fuel consumption estimates are surprising respectable, at 16.6/12.1 (city/highway), but the real-world experience will depend greatly on how much you enjoy the engine's prodigious torque.

Standard features include LED fog lights, panoramic sunroof, multi-adjustable heated front seats with thigh bolster, heated steering wheel, leather-trimmed dash, adaptive suspension, head-up display, automatic high beams, front and rear parking sensors with backup camera, four-zone automatic climate control, power tailgate, navigation and a Harmon-Kardon surround sound stereo.

New options include 20-inch jet black wheels, a $500 extra that replaces the standard silver 20-inch alloys, and silver 21s are a $2,000 extra. There are two metallic paint options (azurite black and pyrite brown) that each cost $1,000, a Premium Package adds $8,900, and a full Merino leather interior costs as much as $7,500, depending on how many surfaces you want covered in it.

A Bang & Olufsen stereo goes for $4,900, and night vision with pedestrian detection is a $1,950 add.