Peter earned a Bachelor of Archeology and Creative Writing from the University of Alabama and has since joined his love of driving and riding with storytelling. His voice is full of southern pleasantries and witticisms. Peter has been writing stories about cars, trucks, and motorcycles since 2017, which can be enjoyed in The Gentleman Racer, The Vintagent, Gear Patrol, Iron & Air Magazine, Classic Car Club Magazine, and MotorBiscuit.
Before working as an automotive writer, he spent years as a working musician in NYC, playing shows, making records, and composing for TV and Film. He spent some time learning to race with the Classic Car Club of Manhattan, doing forestry work in Wyoming, roofing in Alabama, and leading the sales team at Matt Umanov Guitars. All of these varied experiences seep their way into his writing.
If there’s one thing the auto world keeps proving, it’s that the V6 engine just won’t quit. While the V8 gets all the glory and the EV steals the headlines, the humble six-cylinder sits right in the middle—refined, powerful, and endlessly adaptable.
In 2025, the V6 isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving. From luxury sedans and sports cars to pickup trucks and minivans, the V6 remains the go-to powerplant for balance and performance. So, whether you’re a parent, a commuter, or someone who simply loves the sound of a turbocharged six, here are the best new V6 cars in 2025.
The Chrysler Pacifica continues to be one of the most underrated showcases of V6 engineering. With its naturally aspirated 3.6-liter Pentastar engine, the Pacifica makes 287 horsepower. Whether you’re carting the kids to soccer or gliding down the highway, vans are coming back. And hell, they’re refined enough for luxury, and capable enough for road trips.
And let’s not ignore the fact that Chrysler still gives you a plug-in hybrid variant, offering electric cruising with V6 backup power. It’s a van that respects efficiency but doesn’t forget the joy of a well-tuned six-cylinder. The Pacifica doesn’t scream performance, but it whispers confidence.
The Honda Odyssey may not sound thrilling on paper, but anyone who’s driven one knows it’s secretly one of the best-engineered family vehicles in existence. Powered by a 3.5-liter V6 making 280 horsepower, it’s smooth, responsive, and tuned to feel like an extension of your right foot. The Odyssey is a driver’s minivan in disguise—quiet, planted, and with just enough low-end torque to make merging drama-free.
Honda’s 10-speed automatic keeps the engine in its sweet spot, and you can tell this van was designed by people who actually drive. It’s refined enough for luxury duty, yet still as dependable as an old pair of jeans. If you think V6 engines are dying, Honda’s not on board with that narrative.
The 2025 Honda Ridgeline keeps the same 3.5-liter V6 as the Odyssey but applies it to something (slightly) more rugged. With 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, it’s not going to win any drag races—but it’s one of the most civilized midsize trucks you can buy. Power delivery is smooth, acceleration is linear, and the standard all-wheel drive gives it real-world confidence that most trucks only pretend to have.
Honda’s unibody platform makes it ride more like an SUV than a pickup, which means your back won’t ache after long hauls. The Ridgeline’s bed innovations—like the in-bed trunk and dual-action tailgate—show just how clever this truck is. It’s the anti-brodozer, and that’s exactly why enthusiasts secretly love it.
The 2025 Audi S4 remains a masterclass in subtle performance. Beneath its polished exterior lies a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 pushing 349 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough to hit 60 mph in under 4.5 seconds—faster than anyone expects from a refined German sedan that could easily sneak past the HOA.
Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system gives the S4 unshakable grip, while the eight-speed automatic keeps the turbo six in its power band with effortless precision. It’s not a wild, tail-happy machine—it’s a scalpel. For those who prefer quiet dominance over loud declarations, the S4 is still one of the best V6 sports sedans on the planet.
The Genesis G70 3.3T remains the sleeper hit of the luxury sport sedan segment. With a twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6 making 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque, it delivers the kind of muscle that makes BMW and Audi nervous. The engine feels eager, almost mischievous, with a rush of torque that never fades.
Genesis pairs that grunt with rear- or all-wheel drive, precise steering, and an interior that feels handcrafted. This is a car that thrives on twisty roads and looks good doing it. The G70’s balance of refinement and aggression proves that a V6 can still be the perfect performance heart.
Toyota’s twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6 has transformed the Tundra into a genuine powerhouse. With 389 horsepower (or up to 437 with the i-Force Max hybrid), this engine delivers smooth, instant torque that makes towing, hauling, and highway pulls effortless. Gone is the old-school V8 rumble—this V6 feels modern, efficient, and muscular in its own right.
The Tundra’s 10-speed automatic and coil-spring rear suspension make it more comfortable and responsive than ever. Toyota has successfully reinvented its full-size truck without losing its signature reliability, proving that less displacement doesn’t mean less capability.
The Ram 1500 bids farewell to the HEMI era with a twin-turbo 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six that puts out 420 horsepower in standard tune—and up to 540 in the high-output variant. While technically an inline-six, it earns its spot here for being the successor to one of the most beloved V6 truck platforms in the game.
The result? A pickup that’s both smoother and stronger than the outgoing V8. It pulls hard, sounds fantastic, and still offers that Ram-level luxury inside. Whether you’re towing or just cruising, this engine proves that downsizing doesn’t mean downgrading.
The Ford F-150’s EcoBoost 3.5-liter V6 remains the most dominant gas engine in the segment. With 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, this twin-turbo workhorse has nothing left to prove—it’s been powering everything from Raptors to family haulers for years. Ford has mastered turbocharging for torque, and it shows the second you put your foot down.
Whether you’re towing a trailer, climbing dunes, or simply merging onto the freeway like a boss, this engine feels unstoppable. And yet, it’s surprisingly refined at cruising speeds, offering both brawn and brains in one legendary package.
The Lotus Emira feels like the last true analog sports car, powered by a Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter supercharged V6 making 400 horsepower. It’s a rare blend of old-school emotion and modern precision. You can still get it with a manual gearbox—something you can’t say about almost anything else in 2025.
Every inch of the Emira is designed for connection: light steering, perfect balance, and an exhaust note that sounds like adrenaline itself. It’s a spiritual successor to the Elise, but with the refinement to compete with Porsche. The Emira makes the V6 feel like art again.
At the top of the food chain sits the Ferrari 296 GTB—a plug-in hybrid masterpiece with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 and electric assist combining for 654 horsepower. Ok, so this one is stretching a tad. But, if we are going to talk about the best V6s in 2025, the GTB has to be one of them. In fact, this isn’t just the best V6 in 2025—it’s one of the best engines ever. The sound, the throttle response, the instant torque—it’s classic Ferrari.
It might have six cylinders, but it performs like twelve. The hybrid system sharpens performance, and the design is very modern and very Ferrari. The 296 GTB proves that the V6 can be both the heart of practicality and the soul of perfection.
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