Best V6 Sedans. 2022 Ratings

Characteristics of Sedans with V6 Engines

There are more than a few V6-powered sedan models in the USA, so the commonalities are not always so easy to spot. That being said, there are some things you can expect from the powertrain in particular.

Performance: More cylinders generally means more power, so you can expect better performance from a V6 sedan. High horsepower figures are common in the segment, and these skyrocket on models equipped with turbo- or superchargers. Rear-drive is most common in these types of cars, though all-wheel drive is also more readily available than it is on four-cylinder vehicles.
Economy: Apart from having extra cylinders, V6 engines also usually have higher displacement. This means the consume a lot more fuel to produce power. As such, they cost more to run, especially when pushed to perform. Keep in mind that a V6 car will usually cost more to buy than a four-pot, too, since the engines are more expensive to build.
Reliability: There are some other advantages to additional cylinders besides sheer output numbers. They also have fewer cycle strokes, which means they don’t wear out as quickly. This is why V6 sedans are often considered to be highly reliable. The widespread availability of such cars also means that getting hold of spare parts is not difficult, and many mechanics know just how to maintain them.

What to Consider Before Buying a V6 Sedan

Before you go out and buy a 4-door sedan with V6 power under the hood, you may want to weigh the pros and cons carefully. You could get more performance from a V8 or better efficiency from a four-cylinder. So here’s what you need to consider:

Pros

The V6 is a pretty powerful engine
Since they are designed with performance in mind, these cars usually look good
Many luxury brands rely on V6 power to move their premium cruisers
Wider availability of hybridization has helped soften their gas-guzzler image

Cons

You’ll almost always spend more than you would on a four-pot
Even the most efficient V6 is thirsty
A V8 still sounds better

FAQs

What’s the best midsize sedan with a V6?

While there are plenty of honorable mentions and brand loyalty often plays just as big a part as empirical evidence, the Genesis G80 is arguably one of the most impressive V6-powered sedans on the market. It’s not quite as big as a Mercedes S-Class, and it costs significantly less. Nevertheless, it delivers comparable performance and feels almost as luxurious.

Are there any affordable V6 sedans?

The V6 is not the most expensive powertrain out there, so you can definitely find some very good V6 sedans at an affordable price. The Kia Stinger is such an example, offering great performance, handling, and practicality for less than $40,000. However, if that’s still too rich for your blood, consider a used model. There are a lot of cars in this segment, even looking back only as far as 2021. This means that you can often find a great deal with very little wear and tear for a lot less money than you would spend on a new model.

Is a V6 engine better than a V8 or four-cylinder?

No one type of engine is purely better or worse than another, which si why they each continue to be used in modern cars. The V6 offers some benefits over each, such as better stability and lower fuel consumption than a V8, or improved performance and reliability over a four-cylinder. However, it can’t compete with the break-neck acceleration delivered by a V8 or ever hope to be as economical as a four-pot.

Best V6 Sedans of 2022