Where are available SUVs? 2022 Volkswagen T-Roc and Tiguan R, Cupra Formentor coming soon to compete with Hyundai Kona N

The Volkswagen Touareg R plug-in hybrid combines performance and efficiency.

From domestic V8 sedans to Japanese sports coupes and European hot hatches, Australian buyers love performance vehicles.

In recent years, the trend has shifted from coupes and sedans to performance SUVs, which is not surprising given the overall market shift towards high-riding station wagons.

But, at least in Australia, the vast majority of fast SUVs on showroom floors are from premium brands.

It seems like every week the European brand releases another incredibly powerful six-figure SUV.

Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz specifically offer powerful SUVs in a variety of sizes and body styles.

There are small SUVs such as the Audi SQ2, RS Q3 and Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 S, medium offerings such as the BMW X3 and X4 M, Audi SQ5 and Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S, large SUVs including the Audi SQ7, BMW X5 and X6 M. and even larger models such as the Audi RS Q8 and Mercedes-AMG GLS 63, to name but a few.

And that's not to mention the various sport utility vehicle offerings from Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Jaguar and Land Rover.

The Hyundai Kona N is currently in its own right in the compact SUV category.

Therefore, the question arises - where are the affordable sport utility vehicles from popular brands?

There are currently very few performance SUVs from mainstream brands. In fact, the only dedicated model available in dealerships right now is the recently launched Hyundai Kona N.

The Kona N is on sale now for $47,500 before travel expenses. The Kona N is powered by a 206kW/392Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine, but that power rises to 213kW when the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic is in 'N Grin Shift. ' Mode. You can accelerate to 0 km/h in just 100 seconds.

Volkswagen Group to the rescue

However, Volkswagen has several high-performance R-badged models on the horizon, covering key SUV segments.

The smallest of them all, the T-Roc R, will arrive in 2022 with a facelift to compete with the Kona N.

It is powered by a 2.0kW/221Nm turbocharged 400-litre engine and drives all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in 4.9 seconds.

The Tiguan R will add a twist to the midsize SUV segment in 2022.

For a family car with a very spicy twist, VW is also offering a mid-size Tiguan R in early 2022. the most powerful SUV in its segment. Pricing has just been announced and it will cost $235 before travel expenses.

It might not be super affordable, but we have to include the mighty Touareg R because Volkswagen isn't technically a premium brand.

VW's first plug-in hybrid in Australia will also be a performance flagship. The five-seater large SUV combines a 250-litre V450 turbo-petrol engine with 3.0 kW/6 Nm and a 100 kW/400 Nm electric motor for a total output of 340 kW/700 Nm.

Pricing has yet to be confirmed, but considering the current top-end Touareg 210TDI Wolfsburg Edition costs around $120,000, it's fair to bet you won't get big changes from $130,000.

Another VW Group brand, Skoda, is launching an updated version of its Kodiaq RS sport utility vehicle. Warm rather than hot, the RS ditches the previous model's turbodiesel in favor of a 180kW/370Nm turbo-petrol unit borrowed from the Octavia RS. Acceleration to 0 km/h takes 100 seconds, which is 6.6 seconds faster than a diesel car.

Cupra will launch two SUVs in 2022, including heated versions of the Formentor (above) and Ateca.

If that European giant wasn't enough, VW Group is launching performance brand Cupra - a sub-brand of the Spanish marque Seat - in 2022.

In fact, Cupra will offer two powerful SUVs, the 221kW Ateca and the 228kW Formentor, both with all-wheel drive as standard. Formentor will also be available as a less powerful plug-in hybrid.

Okay, that's weird, but what about the Peugeot 3008 midsize SUV as a performance car? Listen to me. Coming in early 2022 alongside the PHEV version of the sleek 508 liftback, the new GT Sport plug-in hybrid variant is more powerful than you think.

It uses a 147kW petrol engine coupled with two electric motors - 81kW on the front axle and 83kW on the rear axle, giving a total output of 222kW. This is only slightly less than the Tiguan R.

A pug with one leg can travel 60 km on electricity alone and accelerates to 0 km/h in 100 seconds. Peugeot has priced the eco-SUV from $5.9 to $79,990 excluding road traffic.

Hot SUVs we want in Australia

In the not-too-distant future, Nissan may have two performance-focused versions of the hulking Patrol SUV.

Nissan is working with Melbourne engineering firm Premcar on a more extreme version of the Patrol, which will carry the moniker Warrior, much like the rugged version of the Navara that recently went on sale.

It will have accessories and mechanical tweaks to make it even more off-road capable than the regular Patrol.

Soon, Nissan may release two modified versions of the Patrol, including the Patrol Nismo.

But another possibility is Patrol Nismo. It's been a long road, but given the insatiable appetite for big SUVs like the Patrol and the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, it could be on the cards for Australian buyers.

The Nismo version uses the Patrol's 5.6-liter V8 but boosts power by 22kW to 320kW and 560Nm of torque. It also has a Nismo body kit, huge wheels and Bilstein shocks.

Another capable yet powerful SUV is the Jeep Wrangler V8, but don't hold your breath over that. Despite the company's local division insisting on it, Jeep prioritizes left-hand drive markets.

The Wrangler Rubicon 392 is powered by a brutal 351-liter Hemi V637 engine with 6.4kW/8Nm, which drives all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission and accelerates to 0 km/h in 100 seconds.

Finally, we'd all like to see Ford add the Puma ST compact SUV to its lineup, but that's not the case because it's only offered with a manual transmission and Ford thinks local buyers want the car.

It uses the same turbocharged 1.5-litre powertrain as the 147kW Fiesta ST and will be a terrific addition to the popular SUV segment and a great competitor to the Kona N.