10 Best 4-Door Cars with a V8 Engine

2016 Porsche Panamera Turbo at Nurburgring ・ Photo by Porsche

Try looking for the best 4-door cars with a V8 and you might think this engine — as much a part of American culture as baseball and hot dogs — is under threat. Back in the old days, when cars had fins or tried to elude Lieutenant Frank Bullitt, it seemed a V8 was the only power source around. But now, not even that most American of vehicles, the Ford F-150 pickup, offers a V8. We have to make do with a turbocharged V6. It’s understandable, of course, given the desire to reduce pollution and get more mileage from a gallon of gas. However, that now makes the V8 a kind of forbidden treat. In which case, enjoy our selection and revel in the taboo.

2017 BMW Alpina B7 xDrive

The V8 engine seems iconically American, but it was invented in Europe. In another example of cross-cultural influence, the B7 seems to have adopted that all-American saying of, “go big or go home.” The basic car is the BMW 7 Series, the company’s wonderful large flagship sedan. Alpina, an independent tuning house (from Bavaria, home of BMW), took the company’s turbocharged 4.4-liter V8, then endowed it with 600 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. It also modified the suspension and brakes, and made aerodynamic additions. The B7 is eerily swift for its considerable bulk, hitting 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 205 mph. Alpina cars are available through BMW dealerships.

Photo by BMW

2017 Cadillac CTS-V

The CTS has always been considered good enough to go up against the German luxury marques. Now in its third generation, the hottest version is the CTS-V and it’s nothing short of intimidating. Its 6.2-liter V8 comes from a super-quick version of the Corvette (Z06). The magic ingredient is a supercharger, allowing this octet to generate 640 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. And people think the Mercedes-AMG E63 S is crazy with 603 hp. Straight-line speed is one thing (standstill to 60 mph in a fleeting 3.6 seconds before hitting a claimed top speed of 200 mph), but the CTS-V also has a sophisticated suspension that allows it to attack corners and obliterate each one.

Photo by Cadillac

2017 Chevrolet SS

This was Chevrolet’s best-kept secret, though it's being discontinued this year. It’s a sedan about the size of an Impala with a powertrain that consists of a 6.2-liter V8 linked to a 6-speed manual transmission (or an optional 6-speed automatic option with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters), while 415 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque drives only the rear wheels. It also has a sport suspension with General Motors’ excellent Magnetic Ride Control, Brembo brakes (suppliers to companies like Ferrari), and leather-covered sport seats. The SS is really a rebadged Holden Commodore from GM’s Australian operation, but when it sprints from standstill to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds, it can come from Narnia for all we care.

Photo by Chevrolet

2017 Chrysler 300S

The word “Hemi” is almost like a magical incantation for fans of Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep machines. It’s the name given to the company’s V8 engine, inspired by its hemispherical combustion chambers. The Chrysler 300 offers this 5.7-liter Hemi with a relatively modest 363 hp and 394 lb-ft of torque. Then again, the 300 is a large car with a relaxed feel to it. It doesn’t lend itself to being hustled around tight turns (despite a “sport-tuned” suspension), but would rather burble along the boulevard, following in the grand tradition of big American sedans. It’s the kind of car a movie villain might drive, or be driven in, giving it a particular kind of cool.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2017 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

The Hemi V8 is revered, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be messed with. In the Charger SRT Hellcat (and the Challenger SRT Hellcat coupe), a 6.2-liter version is supercharged to make an insane 707 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. All it takes is a mere blip of the throttle to send this car leaping forward. It’s awesome in the original meaning of the word. Dodge calls it a “4-door muscle car” and claims it can hit 204 mph, which might have made it the fastest sedan in the world (as per Dodge’s claim) except that the BMW ALPINA B7 can go one mile an hour faster. Even at this rarefied level, the competition is fierce.

Photo by Dodge

2017 Genesis G90 5.0 Ultimate

It’s all right if no one remembers the ultra-luxurious Hyundai Equus, because it’s been revamped and repurposed as the flagship of Hyundai’s newly minted Genesis luxury marque. The main thrust remains the same, though — lots of equipment and quality materials at a relatively reasonable price. And that includes a driver’s seat designed with the help of German physical therapists. A G90 may be obtained for the price of a smaller well-optioned sedan from a more established luxury maker. The 5.0 Ultimate version also includes a 5.0-liter V8 making 420 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. It might even deliver that pleasant V8 growl, but we may never know because the G90’s cabin is so well insulated.

Photo by Genesis

2017 Jaguar XJR

The XJR illustrates how it’s possible to supercharge a V8 to produce intimidating levels of power yet still remain civilized. It almost sounds inappropriate to call this the hot version of Jaguar’s flagship sedan, the kind of car that Prime Ministers are driven around in, but that’s really what it is. That 5.0-liter engine develops 542 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque, and the car has an adaptive suspension to suit whatever situation it’s in at the time. It’s amazing how something so big and luxurious can also feel so poised and punchy. Get this thing moving fast along an empty canyon road and some politician might want to make it illegal. That’s how much fun it can be.

Photo by Jaguar

2017 Kia K900 V8 Luxury

Two surprises for the price of one: Kia makes a big luxury car and it comes with the option of a V8. Yes, everyone’s favorite budget brand has gone upmarket, although the reasons why are unclear. Perhaps the K900 was made to please Kia’s big bosses back in South Korea. But it’s here and it’s interesting. The range-topping V8 Luxury trim is packed with standard equipment, including leather and navigation. The 5.0-liter V8 doesn’t set many pulses racing with a merely reasonable 420 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque, but the whole idea of the K900 is to soothe and cosset. Not quite so soothing are the resale values that won’t come close to a marque like Lexus.

Photo by Kia

2017 Mercedes-Benz S550

There are other Benz blasters with more powerful V8 engines. Just look at the AMG section of the catalog. Yet the S-Class enjoys a 4.7-liter V8 even in its most “basic” S550 form. Here it is gently turbocharged to generate 449 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. That’s an authoritative amount of power for what is one of the truly great luxury sedans. It would take a book to list all the good points and optional gadgetry, but the S550 has an air suspension as standard and a sunroof that goes transparent or opaque at the touch of a button. The 2017 version also receives a 9-speed automatic transmission. Not one component is stressed, and that includes the occupants.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2017 Porsche Panamera

The archetypal Porsche engine is, of course, the horizontally opposed 6-cylinder found in the back of the 911. But the term “one-trick pony” is never something that could be applied to this company. The second generation of Panamera luxury sedan debuted for 2017, and this year’s top version is the Turbo, with an all-new 4.0-liter V8 sending a mighty 550 hp to all four wheels. It’s a lighter engine than the previous generation’s, which brings benefits in handling as well as economy. And the new Panamera has an 8-speed dual-clutch automated manual (one more than before) designed and built to cope with forces even greater than the 567 lb-ft of torque this V8 produces.

Photo by Porsche