Horsepower figures are one way automakers grab people’s attention. A family SUV with over 600 bhp is a compelling proposition for someone who likes power without compromising utility. However, as a new video demonstrates, not all high-performance SUVs are equal, which compares the Audi RS Q8, BMW X5 Competition, Lamborghini Urus Performante, and Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT on the dyno.

Audi advertises its RS Q8 as cranking 600 bhp from its 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine. The calculated output after the dyno pull was 643 bhp, with 530 of it reaching the wheels. However, it did weigh heavier than Audi’s claimed number, tipping the scales at a calculated 2,412 kilograms and giving it a 266 bhp/tonne rating. That’s better than the manufacturer’s claimed 260 bhp/tonne.

Gallery: 2023 Lamborghini Urus Performante: First Drive

The BMW X5 M Competition hit the dyno next, with its 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing a claimed 625 bhp. It made a calculated 668 bhp at the crank, with 552 bhp spinning the wheels. It weighed in at 2,344 kg, giving it a 286 bhp/tonne rating, which is better than the 272 bhp/tonne based on the automaker’s official numbers.

Porsche says the Cayenne Turbo GT makes 640 bhp from its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, but the dyno said otherwise. The SUV put 567 bhp to the wheels, which is calculated to be 686 bhp at the crank. It’s a tad heavier than advertised, weighing in at 2,232 kg. Calculating the power-to-weight ratio with the manufacturer’s numbers returned 288 bhp/tonne, but the real figures upped that to 307 bhp/tonne.

The Lamborghini Urus Performante is claimed to make the most of the quartet, with 666 bhp on tap from its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. It put 582 bhp to the wheels, which was 704 bhp at the crank, giving it a 309 bhp/tonne rating, a smidge more than the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT. It weighed 2,275 kg.

While Lamborghini, Porsche, and Audi, all members of the VW Group, share the same basic engine, each brand has added its own bit of flavour to differentiate them. A comparison of the horsepower curves at the end of the video showed where the powertrains excelled.