10 of the Best New V6 Sedans

2019 Kia Cadenza on country road ・ Photo by Kia

If you’re in the market for a car, you may have noticed that crossovers powered by turbocharged four-cylinder engines have become prolific. But if you don’t want anything other than a four-door car with six cylinders in a V formation, there are still plenty of options available, including a few standouts.

The expert editors at Autobytel have created a list of 10 of the best new V6 sedans, including a wide range of models, from sporty compact cars to practical family sedans all the way up to luxury sedans. The powerplants on our list include naturally aspirated, turbocharged, and supercharged V6 engines, and range from a reasonable 290 horsepower all the way up past 500 hp. Read on to see what options are out there (listed alphabetically) and whether any of them strike your fancy.

2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

Starting at $73,700 the luxury compact Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is one of the most expensive of the 10 best new V6 sedans, but it offers quite a bit for the money starting with its largely Ferrari-developed engine.

The twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 engine provides 505 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, which can propel the Giulia Quadrifoglio to 60 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 191 miles per hour. The only transmission available is an eight-speed automatic, and fuel economy is rated at 20 miles per gallon combined. You also get a nice interior, a few carbon fiber exterior parts, impeccable handling, a good ride, and great Italian styling.

Photo by Alfa Romeo

2019 Audi A6

Starting at $58,600, all versions of the newly redesigned 2019 Audi A6 are powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that is good for 335 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The only drivetrain available on this luxury mid-size sedan is a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that uses Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system to send power to all four wheels, a combination that’s good for a 0-to-60-mph time of 5.1 seconds and a combined fuel economy rating of 25 miles per gallon.

Handling is quite good but the A6 isn’t particularly engaging to drive sportily, though it is quiet and comfortable. As we’ve come to expect from Audi, the A6’s interior is spectacular, with nice materials and the available Virtual Cockpit digital displays.

Photo by Audi

2019 Chevrolet Impala

The full-size Chevrolet Impala is available with a naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 that makes 305 horsepower and 264 lb-ft of torque paired with a six-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels. Fuel economy is a reasonable 23 miles per gallon combined, and you can get into a V6-powered Impala starting at $29,115, making it the most affordable car on our list of 10 of the best new V6 sedans.

The Impala's ride is good, the seats are comfortable, and there’s plenty of room inside, but the interior isn’t quite as nice as the other cars on our list. Acceleration is decent and handling is better than you’d probably expect from an Impala, though the steering is a bit numb.

Photo by General Motors

2019 Genesis G70

The luxury compact Genesis G70 is available with a 3.3-liter twin-turbo GDI V6 engine that develops 365 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque for a starting price of $43,750. All V6 models use an eight-speed automatic, which works with the twin-turbo V6 to help the G70 sprint to 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds while returning a combined fuel economy rating of 21 miles per gallon for rear-wheel drive versions and 20 mpg for all-wheel drive models.

The G70 is fun to drive and handling is good, but not quite up to the standards set by the European manufacturers. Meanwhile, the interior is quiet, uses premium materials, and offers just about every feature you'd want.

Photo by Genesis

2019 Jaguar XE

For $53,785, you can purchase a luxury compact Jaguar XE powered by a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 that puts out 380 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, which is sent to the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy is 24 miles per gallon combined for rear-wheel drive versions, while all-wheel drive versions are rated just slightly lower at 23 mpg.

The supercharged V6 is raucous in the best possible way, with a great exhaust note, and the XE is a willing partner, with excellent handling that makes it great fun to drive while also offering a ride that won’t beat you up. The same supercharged V6 can also be found in numerous other vehicles in Jaguar’s lineup, including the XF and XJ sedans.

Photo by Jaguar

2019 Kia Cadenza

The near-luxury full-size Kia Cadenza has a starting price of $33,100, and all models use a 3.3-liter that produces 290 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission that works with the engine to earn a combined fuel economy rating of 23 miles per gallon.

The Cadenza offers a comfortable ride and plenty of room inside its pleasant interior, along with many available luxury options that include heated and cooled quilted Nappa leather-trimmed seats and power rear-side and rear window sunshades. But despite its V6 powerplant, the car isn’t particularly sporty or quick. That said, it does offer great value for the money and is worth considering by drivers who aren’t looking for a sports sedan.

Photo by Kia

2019 Lexus LS

The luxury full-size Lexus LS 500 uses a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 that generates 416 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions are available, both of which use a 10-speed automatic and can hit 60 miles an hour from a stop in 4.6 seconds.

The LS isn’t as sporty as its European competition, but its V6 engine is smooth and should be punchy enough for most drivers. It also has a comfortable ride and a very nice interior, and there’s plenty of tech, all for a starting price of $75,200 that's reasonable for its class. Combined fuel economy for rear-wheel drive models is 23 miles per gallon, with all-wheel drive models coming in at 21 mpg.

Photo by Lexus

2019 Mercedes-Benz E 450

Starting at $59,950 the luxury mid-size Mercedes-Benz E 450 comes equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine that generates 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque which is sent to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission. The E 450 can get to 60 miles per hour from a stop in 5.0 seconds and is rated at 23 miles per gallon combined.

The Benz's engine is one of the smoothest on our list of 10 of the best new V6 sedans, and the E 450 offers a nice interior and a very good ride, though it does sacrifice some sportiness in the process. For more emphasis on driving performance from a V6-powered E-Class, you can step up to the AMG E 53 model.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2019 Nissan Maxima

The full-size Nissan Maxima gets a refresh for 2019, but all models are still powered solely by Nissan’s tried and true naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6. The current version generates 300 horsepower and 261 lb-ft of torque, all of which is sent to the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission.

Pricing starts at $33,950, fuel economy is rated at 24 miles per gallon combined, and despite the CVT transmission, the Maxima is surprisingly quick and good fun to drive while still offering a comfortable ride. The interior is quite nice, though a bit smaller than some of its rivals. The V6 sounds good, which is great because the CVT likes to keep the engine high in the rev range when accelerating hard.

Photo by Nissan

2019 Toyota Camry

The mid-size Toyota Camry is available with a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 that generates 301 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque mated to an eight-speed automatic, a combination that is rated at 26 miles per gallon combined — the best on our list of 10 of the best new V6 sedans.

The interior on base Camry versions is lackluster, but higher-end trims — the ones that offer the V6 — are much nicer, and Camrys have a comfortable ride and unexpectedly good handling with surprisingly communicative steering. A Camry equipped with a V6 starts at $34,050, and if you’re looking for a slightly larger and more luxurious car, the newly redesigned 2019 Toyota Avalon is also available with the same engine for a bit more money.

Photo by Toyota