These days V8 engines can be hard to come by for the average consumer. While being a dime a dozen in the past, there aren’t that many on the market with prices that could be considered affordable. Whether its stricter emission laws or sales struggles on certain models, the V8 market is very thin. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few 8-cylinder gems still available on the market.
Base Corvettes and Mustang GTs still hanging on
One obvious option available for a V8 is the Chevy Corvette. Even though trims such as the Z06 and ZR1 have a much higher price, the Stingray still starts in the low $70k range. For a dollar-for-performance car, it's hard to compete with the C8 Corvette.
If the Mustang ever lost its iconic 5.0 V8, the fans would riot in the streets. While there are cheaper 2.3-liter
EcoBoost options, the V8 is readily available in the GT trim and everything above it. It's also the only V8 that can be paired with a manual transmission that will be available new for the 2027 model year. The GT has a base MSRP of $47,795.
Stellantis has V8s in everything but their muscle cars
The new Durango lineup features multiple V8 options. The GT comes with a 5.7-liter hemi, the 6.4-liter V8 in the 392 and the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 for the Hellcat variant. While the Charger currently doesn't have a Hemi in it, the Durango is the last Dodge vehicle bearing the Hellcat name at the moment. The base Durango V8 GT starts at $43,675.
The Jeep Wrangler 392 can still be optioned with a V8 but they are pretty rare to see on the road and have a base MSRP starting near $80,000.
Most full-sized American trucks
While these aren't considered enthusiast cars, each brand of trucks has a loyal following behind them. Each of them also have a V8 option available for those who are interested. While most of them start in the $40k range, pickup trucks have been very expensive these days. For those who want a more performance-oriented truck, there are the RAM Rumblebees which have three V8 engines to choose from. For those who want a giant truck to drive really fast and never haul anything, then the RAM TRX and Raptor R have got you covered.
Select luxury SUVs
While full-sized SUVs have had V8 engines for many years, many of them have downsized to more efficient 6-cylinders. GM has kept the 6.2-liter V8 in the Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban and GMC Yukon. While these can be found for under $100,000, the Escalade is a different story. It still comes standard with a V8 but with a starting MSRP at $91,000, it can be very expensive after options.
Other options that were taken from us recently
The V8 market was slim already, but there were some great cars that are discontinued that would be a great pickup on the used market if they are found at the right place.
The Lexus IS500 was a twin-turbo V8 sports sedan that came with 472 horsepower that started at around $60,000. BMW had a few choices with the M550i and X5 that replaced their V8 engines for hybrid 6-cylinders. The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing had a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 and could be optioned with a dual-clutch or a manual transmission, but they hold their value well and are still pricey on the 2nd hand market. Then there was the Mercedes-AMG C63, which was known for its growling V8 that was replaced by a 4-cyllinder for whatever reason.
While there were mixed opinions on the current generation of Mustangs when they were first released, Ford can do as it pleases since there is no Chevrolet Camaro at the moment and the Dodge Charger doesn't have a V8 in it yet. This makes the traditional muscle car market have only one competitor in it.
So why are there so few V8 engines left for the average enthusaists?
There are several reasons for the lack of affordable V8 engines. One of the main factors is emissions standards being stricter on larger displacement engines so companies will downsize to a more efficient powertrain. This looks good on paper but for cars known for a V8 engine, this always results in lower sales and confusion from the consumers. Another reason is turbocharged smaller engines can generate more power than a naturally aspirated V8 while achieving better gas mileage. While they can technically be faster and more fuel efficient, many car enthusiasts don't really care about that. The sound of a growling V8 can make a car more memorable than a muffled turbocharged 6-cylinder.
In my personal experience
Earlier this year I test drove a 3.0 inline-six Dodge Charger Six Pack Scat Pack High Output for a week and I thought it was a pretty good car. The year prior I drove a Charger Hellcat Redeye Jailbreak for about 10 minutes and I had much more fun. The sound of that supercharger whine along with the Hemi engine was more memorable than the newer and faster car without the V8.
Keenan Thompson is a car culture reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Keenan at kthompson@freepress.com. Follow him on Instagram at @keenanautos. To sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: The V8 market is a barren wasteland for car enthusiasts these days
