Every Naturally Aspirated V8 You Can Still Buy
The NA V8 has been around for over a century, but its time on this earth may be coming to a close.
The naturally aspirated V6 may be slowly going extinct, but the naturally aspirated V8 is on a collision course with the end of time. Right now, there are just 31 separate vehicles you can buy with naturally aspirated motors. But, it's even worse than that. A lot of those vehicles are rebadges. In reality, there are just 19 totally different vehicles you can get with an NA V8.
The stats get even more grim the deeper you look. The LS/LT engine is responsible for 14 of the 31 vehicles on this list. In fact, there are currently just 10 different naturally aspirated V8s in production that stem from six different engine families. It's bleak out there my friends.
There was one point in the not-too-distant past when the NA V8, especially in America, ruled the automotive landscape. Now, that world is pretty much gone and we are left with just a handful of vehicles that are graced with God's engine. I guess it all makes sense. I mean, NA V8s are not exactly efficient, and in a world of electrification and turbocharging, they don't have a huge place left in the market.
Anyway, why don't we stop thinking about the past and look at the vehicles we can still buy with a naturally aspirated V8 motor?
Chevrolet Camaro LT1 / SS
Displacement: 6.2 liters
Power: 455 horsepower / 455 lb-ft of torque
I went back and forth about whether or not to include the Camaro. After all, it's as good as dead. However, I decided to include it anyway because this is the last semi-accessible sports car you can get with an LS (or LT, I guess) V8. The sixth-generation Camaro will soon be gone, and I'd be very surprised if whatever replaced it comes with a naturally aspirated V8.
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray / Z06
Displacement: 6.2 liters (Stingray) 5.5 liters (Z06)
Power: 495 horsepower / 465 lb-ft of torque (Stingray)Power: 670 horsepower / 460 lb-ft of torque (Zo6)
The C8 Corvette comes with not one, but two, different naturally aspirated V8s. You can either get the tried-and-true 6.2-liter V8 or the lovely and high-revving flat plane crank 5.5-liter V8. No matter what you go with, the engine is going in the middle.
Chevrolet Express / GMC Savana
Displacement: 6.6 liters
Power: 401 horsepower / 464 lb-ft of torque
I've never driven a vehicle with this engine, but it has to be such a goddamn workhorse. I've got a feeling this 6.6-liter V8 can run broken longer than most cars can run at all.
Chevrolet Tahoe / GMC Yukon / Cadillac Escalade
Displacement: 5.3 liters / 6.2 liters
Power: 355 horsepower / 383 lb-ft of torque (5.3)Power: 420 horsepower / 460 lb-ft of torque (6.2)
GM's workhouse 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter V8s have been underpinning its trucks and large SUVs for about one billion years now. They are pretty much bulletproof at this point, and they all make a decent enough noise. If you want my advice, go with the bigger motor. It's not exactly fast, but it'll leave the 5.3 in the dust. Of course, if you pay up for an Escalade, you get the 6.2 V8 as standard.
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra
Displacement: 5.3 liters / 6.2 liters
Power: 355 horsepower / 383 lb-ft of torque (5.3)Power: 420 horsepower / 460 lb-ft of torque (6.2)
Get the bigger motor. You deserve it.
Chevrolet Suburban / GMC Yukon XL / Cadillac Escalade ESV
Displacement: 5.3 liters / 6.2 liters
Power: 355 horsepower / 383 lb-ft of torque (5.3)Power: 420 horsepower / 460 lb-ft of torque (6.2)
I've driven the Suburban with the 6.2-liter V8. It makes a wonderful noise and produces more than enough power to get it out of its own way. Unfortunately, its gas mileage is piss poor. Ah, who the hell cares? You want the bigger motor, don't you?
Dodge Durango R/T / SRT 392
Displacement: 5.7 liters (R/T)/ 6.4 liters (SRT 392)
Power: 360 horsepower / 390 lb-ft of torque (R/T)Power 475 horsepower / 470 lb-ft of torque (SRT 392)
It is stunning to me that 6.4-liter, 475-horsepower motor is not the top dog in the Durango lineup. That position is held for the Durango Hellcat. Please, never change Dodge. I couldn't handle it.
Ford F-150
Displacement: 5.0 liters
Power: 400 horsepower / 410 lb-ft of torque
This is the only naturally aspirated V8 you can get in the F-150. Everything else either has six cylinders or forced induction. So much for a simple truck, am I right, Cleetus?
Ford F-Series Super Duty
Displacement: 7.3 liters
Power: 430 horsepower / 475 lb-ft of torque
Ford's 7.3-liter heavy-duty gasser V8 may not be the most powerful engine on our list, but it does have the best name. Ford decided to, rather wisely, name this behemoth the "Godzilla." That rules, dude.
Ford Mustang GT / Darkhorse
Displacement: 5.0 liters
Power: 480 horsepower / 410 lb-ft of torque
All hail the Coyote V8. Sure, it's based off the 4.6-liter modular V8 Ford had for years. But, ya know what they say: if it ain't broke, DON'T FIX IT.
Jeep Grand Cherokee L
Displacement: 5.7 liters
Power: 357 horsepower / 390 lb-ft of torque
If you want a V8 in the Grand Cherokee, you've now got to spring for the L model. That's right, you can't get the shorter GC with the V8 anymore. Too damn bad, because this motor has been powering Grand Cherokees since 2005. It's so old that the motor is now in its second year of college. And it's getting bad grades.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392
Displacement: 6.4 liters
Power: 470 horsepower / 470 lb-ft of torque
Jeep just announced that the Wrangler Rubicon 392 is dying this year with the $102,000 Final Edition. Make sure to get one if you still can (and then please give it to me).
Lexus IS500
Displacement: 5.0 liters
Power: 472 horsepower / 395 lb-ft of torque
I'm so glad Lexus decided to stuff its 5.0-liter V8 back under the hood of the IS. It's not nearly as fast as its German competitors, but it's got a character the Teutonic mindset just can't match. As an added bonus, the IS is one of just a handful of cars that still offer both an NA V6 and NA V8.
Lexus LC500
Displacement: 5.0 liters
Power: 471 horsepower / 398 lb-ft of torque
It only makes sense that the best-looking vehicle on sale right now gets a wonderful V8 engine. It would be wrong otherwise.
Lexus RC F
Displacement: 5.0 liters
Power: 472 horsepower / 395 lb-ft of torque
This engine made an otherwise bleh car really wonderful. I drove it a hell of a lot, and every single mile was a lovely experience.
Nissan Armada / Infiniti QX80
Displacement: 5.6 liters
Power: 400 horsepower / 413 lb-ft of torque
The QX80 and Armada are getting a big redesign soon, and I wouldn't think the 5.7-liter V8 would stick around. Who knows, though? We can certainly cross our fingers and hope for the best.
Nissan Titan / Titan XD
Displacement: 5.6 liters
Power: 400 horsepower / 413 lb-ft of torque
There are more slides on this list than Titans Nissan has sold in the past 10 years. Just kidding. Kinda.
Ram 1500 / 1500 Classic
Displacement: 5.7 liters
Power: 395 horsepower / 410 lb-ft of torque
This 5.7-liter V8 has been around for a long time, and it's not going anywhere. That is evident by the fact it can be found in Ram's latest refresh of its very handsome 1500 pickup.
Ram Heavy Duty
Displacement: 6.4 liters
Power: 410 horsepower / 429 lb-ft of torque
A big, beefy boy like a Heavy Duty Ram needs a big, beefy motor like the 6.4-liter Hemi.