10 Best New Cars With V-6 Engines

Summary

• The V-6 engine is becoming less popular in sedans and sports cars as manufacturers prioritize efficiency and fuel economy over fun and power.
• The Toyota Camry, Lexus IS350, Kia Stinger, and Audi RS5 are some of the top cars still sporting a V-6 engine, offering a balance of performance and luxury.
• The Nissan Z, Porsche Panamera, Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio represent the resurgence of sports sedans with powerful V-6 engines, offering thrilling performance and handling.

While the V-6 engine is still decently common in pick-up trucks and full-size SUVs, they are rapidly being phased out, especially in sedans and sports cars. The past decade has seen a massive effort by engineers to decipher what the most efficient engine format is in terms of power, performance, and fuel economy and most manufacturers have decided that the V-6 is no longer the way to go.

While four-cylinders are becoming more and more efficient, both in terms of space and power, they’re not always as fun as a V-6. Cars are becoming more and more cold, aiming for the best numbers on a page instead of the most fun behind the wheel. While efficiency and futureproofing should absolutely be priorities, we hope that car makers don’t forget enthusiasts in their march forward.

Not all have given up on the V-6. There are still some brave few who believe that the format is good enough to power their performance cars. Anywhere from sleeper family sedans to high-performance wagons, here are our top picks for new cars still sporting the endangered V-6 engine.

This top 10 list of best new cars with a V-6 engine was put together using data from manufacturer press releases.

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10 Toyota Camry TRD

Top Speed: 135 MPH

There are few sleeper cars that come off the factory floor ready to perform. The Toyota Camry is interesting; it comes with a ton of standard safety tech, space for passengers, and looks like any other regular passenger car, yet you have the option of putting a V-6 under the hood.

Camry TRD Performance

To get the V-6 in the Toyota Camry, you need to go for the XLE, XSE, or TRD trims. Unlike the base powertrain option in the Camry, the V-6 turns this little mundane sedan into a surprisingly good time. Pair its engine with its velvety transmission and the Toyota Camry is an impressive little sedan that will keep the family happy and give you that little extra oomph you need in your life.

9 Lexus IS350

Top Speed: 143 MPH

Lexus has built its name as a luxury car manufacturer, offering cars with unmatched comfort and an incredibly compliant ride. The IS350 is a sports sedan that aims to maintain that standard while also offering drivers thrilling speed and exciting handling, and it those things quite well.

IS350 F Sport Performance

While it may not be quick as other sports sedans, it certainly manages to blend elements of luxury and sportiness together, offering a niche package. It’s V-6 engine is definitely its most refined powertrain and delivers some brilliant power. Above all, it is possibly the most attractive sports sedan on the market right now.

8 Kia Stinger

Top Speed: 149 MPH

Kia is not a company that many associate with sports cars and for good reason, their bread and butter are small hatchbacks like the Picanto and SUVs like the Sportage. The Stinger has been around for a while and often goes under the radar, but it is a brilliantly respectable sports sedan that offers top-tier performance.

Stinger GT2 Performance

While the base-level Stinger comes fitted with a turbocharged four-cylinder, the GT2 features the elusive V-6. For its price point, there are few performance sedans that are as quick or agile as the Kia Stinger. If you always dreamed of owning an M4 Gran Coupe but it was well out of your price range, the Stinger may be your saving grace.

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7 Audi RS5

Top Speed: 155 MPH

If refined German automaker, Audi, are using a V-6 then the layout can’t be that bad right? The RS5 is a loud and proud sports coupe that will feel just as home on the highway as it will on the track. You also have the option of the competition package which comes with a number of fine-tuned extras aimed at dialling up the performance.

RS5 Coupe Performance

The Audi RS5’s twin-turbocharged V-6 engine is engineered to near perfection, dealing out a ton of power and making a wonderful noise while doing so. Between the high-quality interior, the brilliantly designed exterior, and the otherworldly powertrain in the RS5, it is one of the best new cars to sport a V-6.

6 Genesis G90

Top Speed: 155 MPH

Hyundai’s luxury brand, Genesis, has been doing quite well for itself recently. The company’s flagship sedan, the G90, has been a particularly big hit, competing with some big brand luxury automakers who have been around for decades longer than Genesis has even existed.

G90 Performance

The G90 makes use of the newest and best technology to offer its drivers and passengers the most refined experience possible all while undercutting competition. The G90’s ride quality is one of the best in the world and its cabin is exceptionally quiet, which is impressive given that under the hood it has a powerful twin-turbo V-6.

5 Mercedes- Benz AMG C 43

Top Speed: 155 MPH

Mercedes-Benz have always strived to develop high performing luxury cars and their tuning arm, AMG, has done a great job of helping them achieve the high-performance part. AMG has pulled out all the stops to make the C 43 one of the best-performing coupes that money can buy.

C 43 Coupe Performance

The C 43 features a ton of technology designed to boost its performance, among which is rear-steering and adaptive dampening. Mercedes has not updated the Coupe model with the V-6 at all for this year and are instead developing a sedan trim with a smaller turbocharged inline-four. The V-6 will likely be phased out pretty soon.

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4 Nissan Z

Top Speed: 155 MPH

Sports cars from Japan have made a huge comeback in the last 10 years, with plenty of classics getting a reboot. The Nissan Z brings forth some of that nostalgia from the golden era of JDM and blends it with modern tech and high-performance parts.

Z Proto Spec Performance

Since as far back as the late 60s, Nissan has been giving the world affordable sports cars under the Z badge. The new Z was built on the bones of the 370Z and offers a ton of interior upgrades as well as a 400HP V-6. We also have the NISMO Z to look forward to next year which will come with a slew of upgrades and a few extra horses too.

3 Porsche Panamera

Top Speed: 175 MPH

The Panamera is definitely the black sheep in the Porsche family; it has four doors and its engine mounted up front. What it doesn’t do is stray far away from the German automaker’s knack for high-performance cars, positioning this sedan as one of the quickest cars with four-doors on the market.

Panamera 4S Performance

The Panamera comes with a variety of different powertrains and trim levels. The 4S represents the highest performance trim you can get without moving into V-8 territory. While its not as quick as the GTS or the Turbo models, the 4S shows that the V-6 engine isn’t dead but is alive and kicking, even at the heart of a Porsche.

2 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing

Top Speed: 189 MPH

When it comes to performance sedans, its fair to say that Europe has been leading the charge lately. Who would’ve thought that it would be Cadillac that decided enough was enough? The CT4-V Blackwing is perhaps one of the best modern sports sedans on the market, especially at its price point.

CT4-V Blackwing Performance

What is so impressive about the CT4-V Blackwing is that while its brawn is so overwhelming, it has the handling capabilities of a track car. It may not pack quite the punch that its V-8 big brother, the CT5-V, does, it has the muscles to make it rocket down any stretch of tar. It may not be as fast as the BMW M5, the gold standard for sports sedans, but it just simply has more soul.

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1 Alfa Romeo Guilia Quadrifoglio

Top Speed: 190 MPH

Italy is a country that is known for its twisty mountain roads and sexy sports cars. Alfa Romeo is one of the many high-performance brands churning out works of art, like the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. There are few cars built for enthusiasts the way the Giulia is.

Giulia Quadrifoglio Performance

With a roaring twin-turbo V-6 that churns out 505 horsepower, the Giulia is a force to be reckoned with. Whilst Alfa Romeo has not exactly garnered their reputation through their reliability, the Giulia Quadrifoglio is worth any incurred costs and will make you feel alive in a way that few things can.