Thought Experiment: ~$60k "performance" Small-ish SUVs
We are mulling over a move "into town" which would (a) make my need for a truck pretty minimal and (b) make a fullsize vehicle problematic (any space I save in future fantasy garage would be space I'd get to use to store tools...).
This has had me poking around the small-ish (~185" OAL) SUV market, particularly as relates to "performance" trims and models. Examples would be the Porsche Macan, BMW X3 M40i, Audi SQ5, Volvo XC60 T8, Mercedes GLC 43 AMG, etc. Also on the "maybe" list are what I'd consider ultra-small SUVs (~175" OAL) like the Mercedes GLA 45 AMG and the BMW X2 M35i. On the other end of the spectrum there appears to be only one player at the moment and that's the 2020 Ford Explorer ST (at ~199" OAL).
Price criteria being ~$60k+/- out the door, and performance being (and I know there's more to performance than this, just using this as a starting point) 5 seconds 0-60 or +/-.
The Volvo is my current "pick" mostly because (a) I believe the "hybrid" moniker gets me legally into the HOV lane (b) it's probably the least known as a "luxury" brand (showing up with a BMW or Benz is going to send a gaudy message in some of my circles) and (c) I really like their interior styling and infotainment. Of the two it seems to most closely compete with (the X3 and Q5) it has what I consider to be the best combination of seat up/down cargo space of the three.
Mostly as a thought experiment (more so than a "tell me how to spend my money" or "tell me what to do") but I thought it'd be interesting to have a discussion surrounding this segment as I know there's a fair number of car guys here.