So you want a four-door luxury sedan with a proper hot-blooded V-8 engine at the helm? Understandable (and we support it!). Few things on earth are as satisfying as winding out a smooth and charismatic V-8 while in the lap of luxury and style. Feel free to disagree, but the V-8 four-door luxury sedan is arguably the automotive pinnacle. Sure, there are some cooler and bigger V-10 and V-12 engines out there, but they are few and far between.
Thus, instead, we present a list of the 10 luxury sedans with real V-8 muscle that you should buy used, which will feel just as special. So, whether your interest is in a well-rounded and refined driving experience or the all-out performance of a V-8 engine, you will find only quality selections on our list. Included are luxury car champions from the last two decades, as old as 2008 and as new as 2023. Let’s dive in.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources. These entries are organized in chronological order.
2008 BMW M3 Sedan
Horsepower: 414 HP / Average Retail Price: $53,800
- Base Trim Engine
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4.0L V8 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
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6-Speed Manual
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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414 hp
- Base Trim Torque
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295 lb-ft @ 3900 rpm
About twenty years ago, BMW graced us with one of the greatest driver-focused luxury sedans ever created, the E90 M3 3-Series Sedan. Above everything else, it is the S65 V-8 engine that serves as its heart, which makes this BMW feel so special all these years later.
Because BMW axed its iconic hydraulic steering after this generation, the emblematic motorsport-derived M3 model would never feel the same after the E90 generation. Whether you select the DCT or the six-speed manual variant, the E90 M3 feels like a perfect package of high-performance capability and smooth luxury feel.
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2008 Audi RS4
Horsepower: 420 HP / Average Retail Price: $66,910
- Base Trim Engine
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4.2L V8 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
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6-Speed Manual
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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420 hp
- Base Trim Torque
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317 lb-ft @ 6000 rpm
The late 2008s gave us some of the greatest high-revving performance German sedans of all time, including the B7 2008 Audi RS4 Sedan. The Audi RS4 was a direct competitor to the BMW E90 M3, and its 4.2-liter V-8 engine is also one of the best naturally aspirated V-8s you can ever experience.
While the E90 M3 is more about all-out track performance, the B7 Audi RS4 is better suited as a comfort-focused high-speed cruiser with a naughty predisposition. With its 8,250 redline, six-speed manual, and near-unlimited grip thanks to Quattro AWD, the Audi RS4 remains one of the best V-8-powered luxury sedans you can buy.
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2011 Mercedes-AMG E63 Sedan
Horsepower: 518 HP / Average Retail Price: $87,600
- Base Trim Engine
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6.2L V8 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
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7-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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518 hp
- Base Trim Torque
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465 lb-ft @ 5200 rpm
Have no interest in a manual transmission, but still want the experience of one of Germany’s greatest performance sedans? The W212 2011 Mercedes-AMG E63 Sedan is the perfect blend of a classy executive sedan and all-out performance sports car.
If you have the runway, this understated AMG sedan can get you to 200 MPH and beyond without issue, thanks to its incredible 518-horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 engine, a now-legendary power unit. While the W212 E63 is not the only AMG to receive this coveted V-8 engine, this smooth and powerful engine feels so at home in the engine bay of this classy, yet agile Mercedes sedan.
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2015 Hyundai Genesis 5.0
Horsepower: 419 HP / Average Retail Price: $52,450
- Base Trim Engine
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3.8L V6 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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311 hp
- Base Trim Torque
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293 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
The only Korean luxury sedan on our list is the 2015 Hyundai Genesis Sedan 5.0, later renamed to the Genesis G80 after the 2017 model year. While Hyundai/Genesis suffered some identity crises in its developmental years, the second-generation Genesis Sedan saw the emerging brand finally come into its own.
Instead of merely resembling a carbon copy of a Lexus or a Mercedes sedan, the 2015 Hyundai Genesis finally found a more distinct Korean identity. Looks weren’t enough, however. A pivotal part of what made the 2015 Hyundai Genesis Sedan competitive against luxury sedan segment mainstays like the BMW 5-Series was its smooth and powerful 5.0-liter V-8 engine. Want a naturally-aspirated V-8 engine in a Genesis nowadays? Too bad, they don’t sell those anymore (thankfully, the 2015 Genesis Sedan exists and is crazy value).
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2015 Porsche Panamera GTS
Horsepower: 440 HP / Average Retail Price: $114,395
- Base Trim Engine
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3.6L V6 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
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7-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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310 hp
- Base Trim Torque
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295 lb-ft @ 3750 rpm
So you want a Porsche 911, but you have a family, and you love the sound of a naturally aspirated V-8 engine? The 2015 Porsche Panamera GTS was created just for you because this was the last generation that offered the 4.8-liter naturally aspirated V-8 engine in a Panamera body.
While the newer twin-turbo V-8 Porsche Panamera models are both faster and more efficient than the 2015 GTS variant, they don’t feel quite as special behind the wheel. While the Panamera GTS might be a big and heavy sedan, the combination of the N/A V-8 responsiveness, the upgraded PDK, and active AWD makes this Porsche feel twice as agile as it looks.
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2019 Cadillac CTS-V
Horsepower: 640 HP / Average Retail Price: $87,990
- Base Trim Engine
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6.2L Supercharged V8 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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640 hp
- Base Trim Torque
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630 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm
There are powerful, classy luxury sedans, and then there is the 2019 Cadillac CTS-V. When the supercharged LT4 6.2-liter V-8 that powers the 2019 CTS-V debuted in 2016, it was the fastest Cadillac model ever produced.
There is no reason you need this much power in such a comfortable luxury sedan, and that is why we love the Cadillac CTS-V. Unlike its predecessor, the 2016-2019 Cadillac CTS-V was no longer offered with a manual transmission, but its spiritual successor, the CT5-V Blackwing, has brought back the manual gearbox as standard equipment.
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2020 Lexus GS F
Horsepower: 467 HP / Average Retail Price: $86,035
- Base Trim Engine
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5.0L V8 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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467 hp
- Base Trim Torque
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389 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
In 2016, Lexus introduced the first-ever high-performance “F” model of the Lexus GS, touting an impressive 467-horsepower 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V-8 engine. The Lexus GS is renowned for its comfort and high quality, but with the 2UR-GSE V-8 at its helm, the 2020 Lexus GS F is just as fun as it is comfortable.
The clean and smooth sound of the Lexus 2UR-GSE is something you have to hear for yourself, and although the GS F is big, it feels good to stretch its very capable legs. Although it may be niche, we love how well the 2020 Lexus GS F represents all the positives of the high-performance V-8-powered luxury sedan segment.
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2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance
Horsepower: 472 HP / Average Retail Price: $57,575
- Base Trim Engine
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5.0L V8 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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472 hp
- Base Trim Torque
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395 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
When Lexus announced the IS 500 F Sport Performance, we were surprised that it was still willing to take risks on small sedans with big naturally aspirated engines. Most of Lexus’ German competitors have long moved on from this once-golden sport sedan recipe, and we have to say we love it.
The IS 500 F Sport Performance is essentially the modern equivalent of the Lexus IS F with all the latest Lexus upgrades and fixings. Although not technically a full Lexus “F” model, the F Sport Performance is the first of a new tier between an F Sport and a full-blown F model in the Lexus line-up.
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2023 Chrysler 300C
Horsepower: 485 HP / Average Retail Price: $56,595
- Base Trim Engine
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3.6L V6 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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292 hp
- Base Trim Torque
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260 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
The 2023 Chrysler 300C is perhaps the most underrated V-8 luxury sedan on our list. The 2023 Chrysler 300C is a celebration of the final model year of the Chrysler 300 with a limited 2,200-unit run of this sweet luxury sedan powered by the iconic 392 Hemi V-8.
Is the interior as nice as the Mercedes E-Class of the same year? Not quite, but we guarantee the howl of this 485-horsepower Hemi V-8 and riding in plush comfort will be your primary concerns. Despite the amazing engine, the 300C is the complete package you’d want and expect out of a high-quality performance luxury sedan.
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2023 BMW M550i xDrive
Horsepower: 523 HP / Average Retail Price: $80,895
- Base Trim Engine
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2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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248 hp
- Base Trim Torque
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258 lb-ft @ 1450 rpm
Is there any reason a sedan this big and imposing should be able to launch to 60 MPH in under four seconds? No, but why not? The 2023 BMW M550i xDrive is not built for reason, but rather, indulgence.
The 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 powering the BMW M550i xDrive is in a league of its own and can be easily pushed to even more terrifying heights with a little aftermarket assistance. The M550i xDrive also takes its overall performance a step further with its impressive standard package of the Adaptive M suspension, M Sport brakes, and the M Sport differential. Leave it in drive with the comfort-based settings, and you’d think it’s just another 5-Series. Yet, put your foot down for even a moment, and you unlock the way the turbos sing, resulting in your smile widening 100 percent of the time (it doesn’t get old).
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